Yes, I know my grammar is bad – stop reminding me of how I failed grammar class miserably! I can't help it if proper English isn't my first language (my family is Creole and speaks this weird psuedo-English Jamaican Caribbean thing). Also, I'm not too sure about Uncle's real name, I think it's General Iroh…if I'm wrong, someone tell me– ZeroSoul

muted fate, chapter IX: sayven, ashes, and other things

Flying through Hell, Aang saw that all the demons and tortured souls were slowly emptying out through several opened doorways hanging in mid air while other spirits entered Hell and peeked around ('Who in their right mind would want to visit Hell?' Aang thought and then he realized he was one of those spirits out of their mind). Aang turned to Beelzebub, who just had finished flying over the sulfur fields.

'Where did The Devil and Thanatos go?' Aang asked.

Beelzebub shrugged and flew between some rocky pillars, 'I doan know. There's billions o' billions of realms out there and with all the doors open, they could be in any one o' them,'

Aang looked as they approached one of the doors in the air, 'Do you know which way we're going?'

Beelzebub laughed, 'Coarse I do! Belial and me used to escape to the mortal realm when The Devil would have one of her hissy fits!'

Beelzebub picked up speed as he flapped his wings. Aang felt wind rush at his face as Beelzebub went through the air. He flapped his wings even more as they passed through one of the doors. The inside of the doors was a misty gray place, like a tunnel. There were several other doors floating nearby them. Aang was about to let go of Beelzebub's hand when Beelzebub's grip tightened.

'Stay close tah me, kid,' Beelzebub said, 'this place is dangerous – another dimension ya know – ya lost here and ya'll be forever. No up or down or left or right or anything either, I tell ya, – just one helluva confused place,' Beelzebub led Aang through the misty passageway and continued talking. 'We demons got troubles going through these dimensions sometimes since we got flesh and not pure essence like spirits,' He then added with a smirk. 'But then again, so does angels,'

Aang looked at him, 'Angels? You mean…there's actually angels?'

'Doan be stupid! 'Coarse dere's angels! If weren't angels, what would be keepin' us demons from the gates o' heaven – 'sides fact that the gates burn ya skin if ya touch,'

'Ever seen an angel?'

Beelzebub laughed, 'Seen one! I used to BE one long 'go 'fore ya parents o' ancestors were even born! Ya, me, The Devil, Mammon, Avarice, Belphegor, 'n Leviathan too! We all used to be angels! Yeah, we all used to be the top angels too – well, that was until The Creatrix started that big plan o' hers/his,'

Aang paused in thought at hearing this, '…so, you've seen The Creatrix and everything? Does that mean you know how time began and how the first people came on the earth?'

Beelzebub smiled wickedly at Aang and then laughed, 'Now doan be tryin' to trick me, kid! I'm a 56,784 years old 'n I know that NO ONE – I say NO ONE – is s'posed to know how things REALLY began! Even I doan know how it began 'cuz I used to know when I was an angel but as soon as we got kicked out, parts of memories got wiped 'n stuff,'

'…so no one knows?'

Beelzebub smiled, 'No one but The Creatrix herself/himself,'

Aang then paused again, 'What happened in Heaven? I mean…why did you get thrown out?'

Beelzebub's looks hardened, 'Tell dat story tah ya some other time, kid,'

Beelzebub came to an open doorway and went through it. Instantly, Aang felt warm air wash over his body and blinding sunlight hit his skin as he fell from the door and onto soft terrain. Beelzebub landed flew nearby him and then landed on the ground, folding his wings into his body. Beelzebub breathed in the air of the realm and let out a sigh.

"Belial an' me used tah come here often and escape," Beelzebub said, "Was fun 'til we got caught an' we both hung upside down fer that 'cuz the rules say we're not s'posed tah,"

"Wait…" Aang said. He looked at himself and saw that he was still flesh. He even touched himself – skin. Cold clammy skin. He then got off the ground and looked at Beelzebub, "We're…we're solid here! Does…does that mean people can see us?"

"'Coarse people can see us…well, to a certain point I s'pose," Beelzebub answered, "Regular peoples can't see our demonic aura o' anything like dat so they think we're human like dem, which we en't. 'Coarse good side o' dis is dat we can see other spirits an' stuff," He tapped his horns. "Regular peoples can't see this, but peoples like priests o' Benders can,"

"So where do we go from here?" Aang asked.

"We go to the nearest town," Beelzebub said. He pointed towards rising smoke over the woods, "Looks like we en't that far from civilizashun, huh?"

"…yeah…" Aang said as he looked at the woods. He felt a little uneasy about the woods, remembering the woods on the island he died on. He stayed close to Beelzebub as they went through the woods. Aang himself was nervous and kept jumping at every shadow.

Beelzebub took no notice of Aang's discomfort and continued on walking, looking at every tree and leaf with interest. Finally, he spoke to Aang: "So…why'd ya do it?"

Aang looked at it him, "Do what?"

Beelzebub looked at Aang and smiled, "Aw, doan be all stupid on me. Ya know what I mean," When he saw Aang's blank face, he clarified. "Why'd ya become a demon, o' 'coarse? What else am I gonna ask ya?"

Aang shifted around uneasily at this and sighed, "I…have to protect someone,"

"Who?"

Aang looked up at the sky, filled with nostalgia. "It's a girl, she was a friend of mine…before I died. Now she's The Vessel for the new Avatar to come through but there's something after her. There's this spirit called The Shadow that's going to try and kill her and if that happens we're all doomed to die. This was the only way I could go back without causing total chaos,"

"Seems you caused chaos by letting The Devil meet Thanatos,"

Aang chose to ignore this statement and decided it was time to ask Beelzebub a question, "Why did you get thrown out of Heaven?"

Beelzebub paused and looked uneasy. Aang decided it was one of those things you shouldn't talk about or bring up, so he decided to temporarily drop the topic. After walking for what seemed to be an hour, Beelzebub announced that he was tired and that they should get some rest. They were still in the woods. Aang set up a small fire just as the sun began to go down over the distant trees and Beelzebub went away from a few minuets and returned with two squirming rabbits.

"What's that?" Aang asked, pointing to the rabbits.

"Our meal," Beelzebub answered as he tossed one of the rabbits to Aang.

Demon instincts taking over, Aang gripped the rabbit. It looked up at Aang with huge sad brown eyes that seemed to say 'please don't eat me'. Aang made a face as he stared at the rabbit.

"Beelzebub, I don't eat meat," Aang said.

"Ya doan have tah eat it. Just snap its neck open 'n drain it all of its life fluids," Beelzebub answered casually, "See?" Beelzebub then demonstrated for Aang as he quickly snapped the neck of the rabbit open and sucked the dribbling blood out. Aang grimaced at the demonstration. Beelzebub then answered, "Ya're a new demon, kid, so ya can't go too long without feedin',"

Aang made a face, "Isn't there…another way?"

Beelzebub paused for a minuet and Aang could have sworn that he had seen him momentarily blush a little. The blush faded away quickly and night finally fell over them.

Beelzebub then quickly shook his head, "No, dere isn't another way," Aang sighed and held onto the rabbit. He felt like letting it go but then he would go hungry. Beelzebub then said, "Ya didn't expect da life of a demon to be any easier dan a life of a mortal, did ya?"

Aang didn't reply. He closed his eyes and whisper a silent "I'm sorry" to the rabbit as he snapped it's neck open and feasted on the blood. The blood felt neutral slipping down his tongue but it was refreshing – like crimson colored water. He discarded the rabbit's body, licking the remnants of blood off his lips.

Beelzebub glanced at him from over the fire, his eyes seemed twinkling with a little sadness mixed in with subtle joy as he looked at Aang. Aang twitched nervously, remembering Beelzebub's sexual preferences.

"…what…what is it?" Aang said as he sat nearby the fire, and across from Beelzebub.

Beelzebub snapped out of it and shook his head, "No, it en't nothin', kid. Doan mind me. Ya just looked a bit like Belial back for a minuet,"

"There's something I've been meaning to ask you," Aang said, "…why do you have an accent?"

Beelzebub looked a little amused by this question and smiled, "'Cuz I en't got no real tongue,"

"What?"

Beelzebub opened his mouth wide enough so that Aang could look. Aang stood up a little and leaned over the fire a little and gasped. Inside of Beelzebub's mouth was a silver tongue. Beelzebub saw his surprise and closed his mouth.

"How…how did that happen?"

Beelzebub's smile thinned out and he looked down at his hands as he spoke: "Let's just say someone and me had a fallin' out o' sorts,"

Aang sat down on the ground, intrigued by Beelzebub's story of how he got his silver tongue, "You mean…with The Creatrix?"

Beelzebub shook his head, "No, much after that. It was some time after we had all gone down to Hell – at least a year o' so. All of us has our positions 'n stuff 'n The Devil was pretty hot n' angry back then, so we left her alone. Dis was before Belial was created too. I was with Belphegor. He was older than me 'n we had gotten serious 'n he wanted me to move into his domain–"

"Domain?" Aang asked.

"All us higher demons got domains in Hell – now doan interrupt! Anyways, I said 'Yes' to Belphegor. But the only problem was Belphegor had Leviathan as a roommate. One time I was in dere waitin' for Belphegor 'cuz I wanted to surprise him 'n Leviathan tackles me 'n tries to force me into bedding him. One thing leads to another 'n Belphegor's at the door 'n he gets the wrong idea since Leviathan is mountin' me right around then 'n he's so angry 'n heartbroken that he rips my tongue so I won't 'enchant any others with my lies'."

Beelzebub paused in thought, rubbing his chin as he was stuck in the memory of having his tongue forcibly removed. He then continued on speaking, "I was mad with pain, I'll tell ya. I wanted tah die so badly. Belial was The Devil's smith and he made me this tongue. It took me some gettin' used ta since we demons are allergic ta silver 'n such but silver was the only metal dat would work 'cuz it's malleable 'n stuff 'o so Belial told me,"

Beelzebub gave Aang a weak smile to cover the pain the memory was causing him. Aang remained silent, now uneasy from the gruesome telling of Beelzebub's story. He found that he was tired and wanted to sleep.

"I'm going to sleep," Aang said. Beelzebub gave him a little nod. Aang laid down on the grass and closed his eyes. Normally, when he was alive and in his former body, he would have made a bed of leaves or something – but what the point? It wasn't like he would freeze to death or anything since he was already dead. Slowly, Aang closed his eyes as Beelzebub still watched him.

With all the time they were in the town marketplace, Uncle had managed to purchase the following: food, medicine, maternity clothes (for Katara obviously), scrolls on childcare and the like (for Zuko obviously), and tea (Uncle's payment for doing the shopping). Uncle was directing the guards to load the things on the ship when Zuko and Katara arrived.

Surrounding Katara were five scrawny, ragged looking children They were huddled close to Katara, glaring maliciously at Uncle and the other members of the Fire Nation. One boy in particular looked down right hostile.

"Who are they?" Uncle said, walking over to Katara and pointing to the children.

"They're our…guests," Zuko growled, his voice expressing growing inner rage. He then added, "temporary guests,"

"They're orphans," Katara said, "and some soldiers were going to hurt them,"

"I don't know, Katara. The ship is no place for children," Uncle began.

"That's what I said," Zuko growled.

"There has to be a place where they can all stay, just for a little while!" Katara pleaded.

The boy holding the toddler's hand spoke up, "Most of us have relatives on Hishigata Island. We've been trying to get there,"

Uncle paused in thought. Children were always trouble, especially unruly orphans, but he saw the pleading look on Katara's face and sighed, "I suppose…we could put them in one of the abandoned guard's barracks down below…" He then added. "But they have to stay out of the way and do what they're told,"

"Of course they will!" Katara answered. She then smiled widely – the first time she had in a week and some days, "Thank you, Uncle,"

All of the children ate loaves of bread that Katara had found in the cupboard of the kitchen. Most of the children sat on the floor, chewing happily. Only one the children, the oldest boy who was known as Sayven, picked at his food with high scrutiny. Then he sniffed it, as to make sure it wasn't toxic. After more inspection, he finally ate.

"Explain to me why we're letting these little monsters eat our food?" Zuko said to Katara.

"If you're going to be negative, you can leave," Katara said.

"And let you and these brats run amuck on my ship? I don't think so," Zuko answered.

"Do you even own this ship?" Katara asked.

"Of course of do! I'm a prince!"

"In exile,"

Zuko grumbled in reply. At this point, the children were done eating.

"Now," Katara said, smiling down at the orphans, "tell me about yourselves," The children didn't say anything. Katara then pointed to herself. "I'm Katara,"

Seyvan glared at Katara, "Don't see how our names are any your business,"

"Sayven, don't be rude!" said a girl.

"Yeah, she was nice," said the boy holding the toddler's hand. Sayven snorted in reply.

"Can throw that one overboard?" Zuko asked, pointing to Sayven. Sayven glared at Zuko.

"No!" Katara answered.

Zuko grumbled and Sayven stuck out his tongue at the Fire Nation prince and then retracted it when Zuko noticed.

"I'm called Pepper," said the girl from before. She had deep brown eyes and stringy black hair.

"Pepper?" Uncle asked.

Pepper looked a little embarrassed, "…not all of us remember our real names. I think I was named after my Mama," She then nervously played with her hair.

"I'm called FourEyes," said the boy from before. His hair was blonde and short and he had blue eyes. He added, "I used to have spectacles but they broke some months ago,"

"I call myself Rain," said the boy holding the toddler's hand. The boy had red hair in a curly, chaotic mess. He then pointed to the toddler, who was sucking her thumb and had straight dark red hair. A big, long, faded and patched golden-yellow ribbon was tied around her neck, "This is my sister. Her real name is Mirany–"

"RIBBON!" the toddler protested.

"–but she likes to be called Ribbon," Rain finished. Rain tried to pick up and hold the end part of the golden-yellow ribbon, but Ribbon smacked his hand away from touching it.

"MINE!" Ribbon yelled and then went back to sucking her thumb.

"Our parents were tailors. When our house burned, this ribbon was the only thing we could find," Rain explained. He patted Ribbon on the head, "Ribbon was really small back then. Our mother had just named her," Rain the pointed to Sayven. "And that's Sayven. He's the oldest,"

Katara then realized one of the children hadn't spoken. She then saw one of them was in the corner, staring at their surroundings. It was a small girl. She was a tiny little thing, shaking a little, with a bony body, her skin alabaster, her hair white, and huge crimson eyes. She clutched a full burlap sack and stared at everything, everyone.

Katara smiled warmly at the tiny child, walked over to her, and bent down to her height, "Hello there, what's your name?"

No answer. No reply. Not even a gesture that the girl even heard. The girl kept staring into nothingness.

"We call her Ashes. When we found her, she was just sitting in the remains of her house – staring at nothing," FourEyes said, "and she doesn't talk,"

"Is she mute?" Uncle asked.

Pepper paused, "…yes,"

"She does damn well can speak," Sayven piped up. He folded his arms, "She's just too fucking stuck up!"

"Sayven!" Rain said, he covered Ribbon's ears protectively, "You know my sister mimics whatever she hears!"

"Well, it's true!" Sayven said, "She used to live in a big mansion and her Dad worked with those Firebenders and he was crooked at hell!" He pointed to Ashes. "It's her Dad's fault we're this way right now!"

"Sayven, stop it! Leave Ashes alone!" FourEyes said.

"Make me!" Sayven said.

Sayven, stop being a bully!" Pepper yelled.

Sayven then quieted and looked at the ground angrily. The boy was angry and his face was made up but it was one of those "Nobody-listens-to-me-and-I-didn't-get-my-way" looks (which was the exact one Zuko had on his face at the moment. Ashes still started into nothing.

"Prince Zuko, I think we've found your long lost son," Uncle said to Zuko.

"More like brother," Katara added. Before Zuko could protest, Katara then turned warmly to the children, "Children, let's stop fighting and let me show you to your room!"

"We have a room?" Rain said.

"Great!" FourEyes said.

"Thank you, miss!" Pepper said.

Ribbon clapped her hands in joy. Ashes and Seyvan said nothing. Ashes stared and Seyvan still had his face made up. Katara smiled and led them out of the kitchen.

"Where's the room?" Katara asked Uncle.

"Follow me," Uncle said.

The children were bouncing around, bubbling over the top with happiness as they went down the hallways. The guards took momentary glances at the children and then decided it would be for the best not to ask questions. Uncle and Zuko walked head of Katara and the children.

"Uncle, you must agree with me in saying that bringing these brats on the ship is idiotic," Zuko whispered.

"Yes, Prince Zuko, I do agree with you," Uncle said, "but it makes Katara happy to care for them, and her happiness will ease her pregnancy. Anyways," He then smiled. "this is a good opportunity for you to learn some parenting skills," He then stopped at the door. "Oh, here were are!"

Uncle opened the door to a dim, dusty, room. Inside were dusty, hard looking cots lined up against the wall. Blankets and pillows were discarded around the ground. There were also abandoned clothes, trash, and some boxes filled with junk as well as a stinking trash barrel.

"I don't like it," Pepper said, clinging to Katara as they entered.

"Now, now, it can't be as bad as it looks," Katara said, patting Pepper on the head.

Everyone stepped into the room. Uncle found an some lamp and tried to find a match lying around nearby.

Sayven stepped into the room and wrinkled his nose, "It smells like piss and junk,"

"You know, for a little boy, you have a very foul little mouth," Zuko said.

Sayven took one look at Zuko, "And you have a huge scar on your face," He then laughed. "What'd you do? Get hurt by your own fire, Fire Bender?"

"I'll show you fire, you little brat!" Zuko growled. Flames ruptured from his hands but before he could attack Sayven (who didn't seemed bothered), Uncle quickly rushed over and restrained Zuko.

"Come on, Sayven," Katara said, walking over and leading Sayven away from Zuko, "Let's go over here before my –" She coughed out the word. "–husband gets mad at you," As Katara led Sayven away from Zuko, Sayven stuck out his tongue at Zuko, making sure Zuko would see.

"Let go of me!" Zuko snapped at Uncle. Zuko then tried to calm his increasing rage and now wore the "I-really-hate-that-damn-kid" look.

"Oh, don't look so sad," Katara said to the orphans, who were a little afraid of being in the room alone. She then smiled at them, "We just have to fix up the place!" She went to one of the windows and pulled the cover off of it. "Let's get a little light in here!"

The windows revealed an underwater scene. Brightly colored fish were swimming about in salt water. An large eel streaked pass the window and shocked some of the fish, making a meal out of them. A squid blew blank ink at a predator. The children were amazed at the life going on in the window and they stared at it. Then they rapidly began to open the other two windows. The water refracted light from the outside sun and let a azure light to the room.

"See? I told you it wasn't all that bad," Katara said.

"It might just get better," Uncle said. He had located a box of matches under a cot and lit some of the lamps. The room brightened even more.

"I wanna sit under the window!" Pepper proclaimed as she sat on a cot right under one of the windows.

Instantly, the children scattered around, claiming their own cots in a flurry. Katara stepped away from them and went back to Uncle and Zuko, who were standing nearby the door.

"They're…like a swarm locusts," Zuko said, watching the children rush around.

"Be nice," Katara said, "they're sweet and they probably haven't had a roof over their heads or a good meal for who knows how long. It's a hard world out there…especially when you don't have anyone to care for you!"

Zuko was about to reply, but he saw the angered look in Katara's face and decided it would be the best to keep his mouth shut in this argument.

"Prince Zuko! General Iroh!"

Zuko and Uncle turned to the hallway to see a guard rushing towards them. He looked out of breath.

"I've been looking for you both and when you weren't above thought–" the guard began. He was gasping for breath.

"What happened?" Zuko said.

"General Zhao has arrived here, sir," the guard said, "He wishes to have a word with you,"

Zuko clenched his fist, "General Zhao? That pompous ass! What's he going here!"

The guard continued, "Something about orphans and your wife,"

Zuko looked at Katara accusingly. Katara looked back at him, not knowing who this Zhao person was. The children were standing nearby the door to see what was going on. Zuko drew a deep breath and tried not to look so peeved at the fact General Zhao was in their midst.

"Go tell General Zhao that we will be up there shortly," Zuko said, calmly.

"Yes, sir!" the guard said, and rushed away.

As soon as the guard was out of sight, Zuko walked over to Katara, "YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THOSE SOLDIERS WERE ZHAO'S!"

"Who's Zhao?" Katara asked.

"Calm down, Prince Zuko," Uncle said, "don't take it out on Katara,"

"But that ass Zhao is here!" Zuko answered, "And since little miss bleeding heart here interfered, I'm going to have to put up with him!"

"Why can't you just refuse to see him?" Katara said.

"You don't get it, do you?" Zuko said, "I'm a prince, but I'm in exile! Zhao is a general who's got a very ranking in the Fire Nation army and there's no stopping him if he just decides to sink our ship, especially when we're docked in a town he controls!" He rubbed his temples in irritation and grumbled. "I'm surrounded by idiots, idiots and brats!"

"It's not my fault! I've never the guy!" Katara yelled.

"Well, you're going to meet him now! This is your mess!" Zuko said, grabbing Katara and rushing away from the room.

Katara called to Uncle, "Uncle, will you watch the children for me?"

"WHAT!" Uncle yelled in panic.

Zuko was walking fast, holding onto Katara. Eventually, Katara pulled away from him.

"Wait a minuet!" Katara said, "Why the hell do I have to come?"

Zuko then stepped close to Katara and spoke through clenched teeth to her in a whisper, "Because for all he knows, you're my wife. And if Zhao suspects anything fishy about us and if he figures out the actual truth, he will inform Fire Lord Oza and things will go straight to hell from that point for all of us, including those brats you care about so much! So smile, look nice, act like my wife, and keep your damn mother shut unless I tell you to open it!"

Katara sensed Zuko was under extreme stress and decided it would be the best to just comply with his wishes for now and yell at him later. Zuko led Katara up into the top level of the ship. They stood outside of the doorway to the open.

"Try to look sick," Zuko said to her.

"Look sick?" Katara said.

"I have an idea that just might work," Zuko answered, "and would it kill you smile and get close to me? We're supposed to be married!"

"Fine," Katara said. She got a little closer to Zuko and he put his arm around her waist. Katara made a face and glared at him, "What are you doing?"

"We're supposed to be married, remember?" Zuko hissed, "I'm your husband, you're my wife,"

Katara glared at the hand on her waist, "Fine, but if that hand goes anywhere else but my waist, we're going to have problems – marriage or not,"

Zuko chose to not listen to this comment – he had better things to worry about. The two then stepped outside of the ship, clutched close together. Sitting on top of a rhinoceros, surrounded by soldiers, some feet away from the ship was General Zhao himself. He looked down at Zuko and Katara from his height. Katara took one look at General Zhao and felt her stomach quiver. The child suddenly twitched and Katara started to feel the cloud of sickness start to hover over her.

"Prince Zuko! What a reunion this is!" Zhao said in a very false, overly friendly tone. He got off his rhinoceros and walked over to Zuko and Katara, "Tell me, what brings you to my humble little territory?"

"Just a little shopping for my new bride," Zuko answered. Katara smiled weakly. She felt nausea come back like in the marketplace with the crone.

"And this must be the lucky girl," Zhao said, looking at Katara, "What's your name, girl?"

Katara stalled for a moment. She then realized that with the Avatar gone and now being placed on a Fire Nation ship, she was no longer a fugitive and no longer needed to assume another name. "Katara," she finally said.

"You two look very happy. May you both have many happy years and be blessed with children," Zhao said.

'You don't know the half of it,' Zuko and Katara both thought.

"How about we continue our discussion inside of your ship, Prince Zuko?" Zhao suggested.

Zuko stiffened, "I'm sorry, General Zhao, but my lovely wife has been ill lately She needs bed rest and quiet. I only brought her along because she insisted on it,"

Katara was already looking pale and sheepishly nodded. She held onto Zuko, hoping she wouldn't get ready to faint again.

"It won't take very long," said Zhao, "and this will be men's talk. Your wife can stay in her room,"

Zuko forced a smile of false friendliness, fighting the growing temper. "Let me just have some words with my wife,"

Zuko then faced Katara, turning her around so that they were standing sideways, still wearing the false smile, about you go inside for a while so I can talk to General Zhao alone?"

Katara nodded, play acting a faithful young wife, "Of course…" Katara coughed out the word. "…husband,"

Zuko then leaned towards her and made to kiss her on the side of her face facing away from Zhao and his soldiers. Instead of kissing her cheek, he quickly whispered into Katara's ear, "Go into the kid's room. Stay there until I come. Don't leave it,"

Katara gave a subtle nod and Zuko stepped away from her. Katara went back inside of the ship. Zuko was left with Zhao. Now both Zhao and Zuko dropped their acts as soon as Katara left.

"Just you and me, Zhao," Zuko said, with the familiar hostility in his voice.

Aang was shaken awake by Beelzebub at midday. The two fed on two more rabbits and then continued their walk through the woods.

"Beelzebub, how are we going to find The Vessel and The Shadow?" Aang said, "At this rate, they'll both be long gone!"

"Aw, doan start fussin' at me, kid!" Beelzebub said, "We need tah getta map 'n a compass so we knows where we're gonna be goin' first! Plus, we can make some bigger trips soon as ya wings come in!"

Aang didn't reply. He was getting tired of walking around with the demon and not knowing what was happening to Katara and he wondered if she was safe where she was at now. Mainly, he wondered if The Devil meeting Thanatos would affect their realm.

"Here we are! Told ya I'd get ya here!" Beelzebub said.

Aang and Beelzebub were on top of a grassy knoll looming over the town. Aang looked down at the town before them. It was a very small town in the woods – no major marketplace or anything, but it had a few inns and a healer's shop. Then Aang's eyes widened in amazement when he realized another feature of the town.

Spirits.

Spirits, demons, goblins, and everything else you can think of.

All of them were floating above and in the town. People walked about and went on their daily business, oblivious to the creatures around them. The spirits themselves were causing all sorts of mischief, such as upsetting barrels of food or drink or whispering evil ideas in the ears of men, women, and children. Some hovered over people, causing them bad luck. Aang felt he should say something, but his words were caught in his throat. It was overwhelming to see how many spirits had invaded now that all the doors were open.

"Kid! Ya okay?" Beelzebub called to him. He was already at the bottom of the grassy knoll they had been standing on.

"I…I don't know…" Aang gasped. He fell to his knees, "Is this…is this…this…chaos all my…fault?"

Beelzebub made a sympathetic face towards Aang and sighed, "C'mon, kid. I'll buy ya a drink at an inn an' we'll talk dere,"

Beelzebub walked towards the town, picking up stones along the way and stuffing it into his shirt, while Aang followed him. Beelzebub then selected one of the finest inns in town, called The Modest Elixir. The Modest Elixir had a tavern on the bottom and rooms upstairs. The inside of the tavern was dimly lit and filled with drunken yells and the starts of brawls. Aang stayed close to Beelzebub as they walked towards the counter where the manager of the inn was.

"And what will you young sirs be wanting in this place! Be off with you!" the manager said. He was a balding man in his late 40s and wore a dirty smock, "I'll have no hooligans in my fine inn!"

Beelzebub pulled four stones out of his pocket. Aang tilted his head at Beelzebub but Beelzebub took no notice. The manager looked at the four stones, but did not see stones, but four gold pieces instead. His eyes were dazzled by greed as he looked at the gold.

Beelzebub then spoke, "Now that I have ya attenshun, sir, my brother and I are ambassadors for our king and we are tryin' tah travel tah another city. Now, we want complete privacy – no maids or nothin' 'n I want one of ya finest rooms, with good curtains on da windows 'n a lock on the door as well,"

In back of the manager, where the doors to the kitchen were, a couple of teenaged girls and a few women waved at Beelzebub and Aang flirtatiously. Beelzebub gave one of the girls and wink and she fainted right then and there. Aang just blushed and did nothing. The manager ignored the fainted girl and took the coins.

"Why of course my two sirs!" the manager said. He clapped his hands, "Jina! Jina, you lazy girl! Get in here!"

One of the girls hurriedly rushed from the kitchen, her eyes still locked with Beelzebub's. Her face was flushed with happiness. The manager spoke to her. "Jina! Quit your day dreaming and show these two men their rooms!" The manager dug in his pocket and pulled out a rusty key. "And show them a good time as well!"

"Yes, sir!" Jina said, smiling at Beelzebub.

Jina showed Beelzebub and Aang up the stairs in the back of the tavern. Jina prattled away with Beelzebub, clinging to his arm and still flirting away with him. Aang did his best not to laugh at how the girl was throwing her feet to a demon in disguise. Jina continued on talking even as she unlocked the door to the room. The room was in the top of the inn, wooden, with two small beds and a table with chairs. There was only one large window, covered with a crimson curtain.

"This is where you'll be staying," Jina said, "It's a such a nice room!" She then looked at Beelzebub. "And the beds are big enough for two as well,"

"Thank you, Jina, I'll call ya if I need any whorin' done!" Beelzebub said, pushing Jina out the door.

"HEY!" Jina yelled.

As soon as Jina was out the door, Beelzebub promptly locked it. He then smiled at Aang, who was sitting on his bed and quietly looking at Beelzebub.

"Women! Can't live with 'em 'n can't live without 'em, huh?" Beelzebub said.

Instead of replying to this, Aang said something else, "How did you do that?"

Beelzebub looked at him, "Do what?"

Aang forced a crooked smile, "You know. With the stones. The guy took them,"

"Oh, that old trick?" Beelzebub said. He pulled a stone out of his pocket. He pressed the stone in his palm and squeezed it tightly. He then showed it to Aang after a few moments of squeezing and it shined with a golden light, "Dat's just a glamour. It's an illusion ya put over somethin'. Very easy," He tossed the golden stone to Aang. Aang caught it and looked at it. "'Coarse we demons can see right through it but stupid folks like da inn manager fall for it easy,"

Aang then sighed, "Beelzebub…" He then looked deep into Beelzebub's eyes. "…did I do something really wrong when I let The Devil be with Thanatos?"

Beelzebub paused and looked at Aang, "…do ya wanna know da truth?" Aang nodded. "The truth hurts, kid,"

"I want to know,"

Beelzebub sighed and took a seat next to Aang, "Okay, kid, make yourself comfortable because this is going to take a while to explain…"

Okay, reason why I am ending right now is because my grandmother is in the hospital. She just had a heart attack and I've been a little busy and I knew I had to get this up before someone comes over my house and harms me. (nervous laugh) So, I present this long chapter! The next one will take a shorter time for me to put up, I promise! - ZeroSoul