Just a quick reminder to reveiw! I want to know what you think! Not everyone who reads reveiws, and I'd like to know how I can make it better.
Oh, when Rie fell through the portal, she gained ten years, making her 25, not 15. Thought I'd mention that.
Fun? Rie scoffed when she remembered what she had said only two days ago. Yes, only two days and already she wished that Prince Zuko had never bought the stinking boat. Iroh, now Iroh Rie could have lived with. But Zuko was annoying, with all his temper flares and obsessions about capturing poor Aang. He was grating on Rie's last nerves. And that was bad, since living with Beth for most of her fifteen years had given her nerves of steel.
Zuko was storming through the ship, furious at having missed Aang again. Rie and Iroh were smart and stayed out of Zuko's way. Sadly, one of the crew members wasn't so smart.
Rie was in her room, eating lunch, when a disturbance from right outside her door made her spill. Swearing, she got up and went to look outside. She groaned when she saw what the problem was.
Chi, one of the crew members, had run into Zuko by accident. Chi had been on his way to see Rie when Zuko abruptly stormed out of his room where he had been meditating in between his wild rages.
Chi was now cowering under Zuko, who looked fit to be tied. Rie couldn't hear all the words being said over various crew members trying to help Chi and Iroh trying to calm down Zuko. When Rie saw fire sprout from Zuko's fist, she did the only thing she could think of to do. She went up to Zuko and punched him. "Don't you dare threaten anyone who's helpless in my range of sight. I don't care who you are," Rie said, breathing heavily. "I'll knock your lights out next time."
Zuko had another bruise, this one on the side of his face. Gingerly rubbing it, Zuko's temper flared, this time at Rie. "Just who do you think you are?" Rie stood tall under Zuko's fiery glare, returning it. To anyone watching, it was quite funny to see a five-foot, three-inches tall young woman glare at a roughly six foot tall teenager. Finally, though, Zuko turned away, muttering. Rie gave a satisfied "Hmph!" and bent down to help Chi up.
When everyone has dissipated, Iroh came over to Rie. "That was very bold, Madam. But I would not anger my nephew if I were you. He has a temper, as you saw."
Rie shrugged and turned on her heel. Heading back to her room, she called over her shoulder, "I don't care. I will not tolerate attacks on any of the crew, regardless of who the owner is. Excuse me, General, but I left my lunch unfinished in my room and I don't want it to get cold." Rie shut her door on a very surprised general.
Rie turned as she shut her door, but all thoughts of food left her mind when she saw Avatar Roku standing in her room.
Gasping in shock, Rie slumped against her door. "Couldn't you have warned me, Avatar Roku? I'm easily scared, you know," she said, gaining her composure. Roku smiled.
"Really? That little scene out there seemed to tell a different story." Rie gave Roku a look, and Roku spoke again.
"I've come here to give you two things: advice, and a little information on Aang's current whereabouts. Again, if anyone where to see you, they'd assume you fell into another trance as you were eating." Here Rie interrupted.
"I'm assuming that whenever I see you, I'm in a 'trance'?" Roku nodded, then continued.
"Yes. Now, unto what I need to tell you. First, my advice. After the incident out in the hall, Zuko will think more highly of you, since no one has yet to punch him, then return his glare unwaveringly. Use this to the advantage of the quest. And, my congratulations on not backing down. Had you turned away, he would have shot at your back.
"Now, my information. Aang is currently above and to the left of the ship. In fact, you could see him from the window in this room. Tell Zuko this when you wake up. Naturally, he will try and find something to lure Aang down to his level. Sadly, Aang will take the bait and someone will fall off of Appa."
Rie nodded. "Katara?" she asked.
"Yes. She will slip on the saddle while trying to calm Aang down. And-"
"And by the time Aang calms down, Katara's already fallen," Rie completed. "But, won't the ship's deck, like, kill her when she hits it? Or is she gonna fall on something?" Roku shook his head.
"I can't tell you. Now, go and tell Zuko that Aang is outside the boat." Rie felt a jolt and suddenly, Roku was gone.
Scrambling to open the door, she rushed to Zuko's room. Remembering not to barge in, Rie knocked. "Enter," Zuko's voice said from the other side of the door.
Rie slowly opened the door. Thankfully, Iroh was there. Rie assumed they had been talking before she came. "Prince Zuko, I have some news that might just be of use to you," Rie said, putting on the tone of a woman clearly unhappy with the Prince.
"The only news I want to hear is of the Avatar," Zuko said, obviously trying to restrain himself from yelling at Rie. Rie noticed that the bruise she gave him was pretty bad.
Flinching at the sight, Rie replied, nonchalantly, "I just saw the Avatar outside my bedroom window." Rie was nearly trampled as Zuko made a mad rush to the deck. Iroh extended a hand to steady her.
"Sorry about that. Zuko gets excited when news of the Avatar reaches him."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Rie replied dryly, heading up to the deck.
By the time she had gotten up there, Zuko was already looking for something to lure Aang down with. Rie, knowing that this would be the first step to succeeding in her job, helped him. Actually, while he ravaged the ship, Rie stood and thought.
"What about attempting to wound the bison he rides?" Rie said after a few minutes deliberation. Zuko looked at her like she was mad.
"What good would that do?" he asked, continuing his search.
"Well, a wounded animal drops a few levels when they are hit while flying, right? After the bison is hit, you could throw a net over the Avatar," Rie explained, hating the very words she spoke. I can't believe I said that! I don't want him to hurt Appa or capture anyone! But, if I want to get home, I guess I have to go with it.
Zuko realized the logic in her idea, and ordered a catapult launched at the Avatar's bison. Rie winced as the boulder barely hit Appa's second leg and made Appa moan. Rie could barely hear Aang's voice calling to the others to hold on. Appa dropped a good bit, but it wasn't close enough for a net, just as Rie had figured.
Suddenly, she saw Aang's tattoos and eyes go electric ice blue. "Aw, damn!" Rie muttered. "Roku could have warned me about Aang goin' all blue on me."
Iroh, who was standing nearby, heard her mutter. "What was that, Madam Rie?"
"What? Oh, nothing," she said, watching horrified as Aang took Appa closer to the ship. Rie watched as Katara stood up to attempt to calm Aang, and slipped.