Revenge of the Cabbage

by Fokusas

Cabbage guy got so fed up with young kids always destroying his precious cabbage, so he decided to teach them a lesson and created Kyoshi games where blood will flow freely!

4. Chapter 4

As the celebrations came to an end the tributes were whisked away aboard a massive airship bound for their final destination – Games Island.

The organizers put on a splendid display for this occasion as well, bidding the tributes farewell in the most sincere way they could. The chief executive of Cabbage Corp, Cabbage man himself, was in attendance. As the kids made their way up the ramp to the airship he gave them each a head of cabbage. For strength and wisdom of course, almost like a trinket to hold dearly in times of trouble, so the odds may ever be in their favor.

Perhaps it would have been a sincere gesture, if it weren't for the fact that each head of cabbage was also the tributes' only ration for the entire trip to the island, a week long endeavor from Ba Sing Se. No one bothered to tell the tributes of course, even as the ramp was pulled up and the latches to the steel doors were tightened, with the airship rising to the clouds.

Water from the on board purifiers, as the tributes soon found out, was heavily rationed and tasted of rusted steel. Some drew suspicious looks toward the few water-bending tributes, guessing that the rationing was to keep them under control. They would be made to suffer along side them, packed into their tiny cabins like flying-sardines on wall-mounted cots.

It was a far cry from the relative luxury their rooms in Ba Sing Se, more like a prison floating above clouds.

Days passed as their meager rations dwindled. All Sokka could focus on was the growling in his stomach and the urge to find a better cot to sleep on.

He sat up, rubbing the painful knot in his lower back as he bumped his head on the iron bar holding up the cot above him.

He cursed under his breath. "Ugh, I can barely move without bumping my head into something. I hate waiting on this floating tin can."

Just across from him, sitting on a stool as she peeled rotting leaves off a cabbage on a nearby table, Yue attempted to keep things optimistic.

"It's not that bad really. We're not dying."

Sokka scoffed. "Hmph. Not yet anyway."

Her fragile smile broken, Yue sulked. "We've made the cabbages last for longer than was expected. That's thank to Katara of course."

She turned to Sokka's sister, pleading with her eyes to keep up a semblance of hope.

Katara bit her lip, a bitter look twisting face as she leaned back against a cold, steel wall. "Dabbing these things in a bit of water won't do them any good for much longer. The guards are not going to give us more either."

A cynical chuckle as Sokka leaned forward in his seat. "I was getting tired of cabbages anyway. Now that we're out of Ba Sing Se and on our way to our inevitable deaths they don't care about keeping us in shape for the games."

"You found out the hard way didn't you?" asked Katara.

"Yup. Went right up to a guard and asked when dinner would be served. I got a… polite answer from him."

"I hardly imagine a punch to the jaw is a polite response, Sokka," said Yue.

"Maybe he didn't like my tone. I'm told I sound very sarcastic."

Katara rolled her eyes. "That, or maybe he was just ticked that he has to share what little space there is on this ship with a bunch of tributes."

Sokka sighed. "Well, it won't be much longer for him. At least, I think it won't be much longer. I kind of lost track of time dying of boredom on this hunk of metal."

"Yes. Our time to fight is coming soon. Little chance of boredom then," added Yue.

Hopeful at first, the weight of her words began to sink in and the small cabin grew awkwardly silent. It was a sobering feeling. Soon they would have to fight, to die for the amusement of thousands of cheering spectators.

o0o0o0o

"Hey princess, wanna see your brother do something stupid?"

Pursing her lips tightly, Azula was sorely tempted ignore such an insolent remark. Unfortunately, the mind-numbing boredom and sheer anxiety she was subjected to over the past few days were starting to get to her. She was already forming a kill list in her head, with the names of tributes she found most annoying taking priority.

The offer of a brief respite from the boredom was too good to ignore.

Azula sighed. "Very well, little one. I have nothing better to occupy my time with anyway."

Toph soured, attempting to smirk. "Call me little again, princess. I dare ya."

Amused, Azula chuckled imperiously. "How cute. I never thought you would be so easily offended. And here I thought the heir of the illustrious Beifong Clan had tougher skin."

There was brief pause and Azula could feel the blind girl's glossy eyes stare through her. Then, Toph grinned. "Heh. You're right. I am pretty short anyway. C'mon, let's go see your brother."

Ignoring the unusual cheerfulness in her tone, Azula stepped through her doorway and followed Toph down the cramped hallway. Through the steel walls she hear the hum of the engines resonate through the airship and the echo of her boots against the grated walkway. Some of the doors to the cabins were open and a few of the tributes milled about, either talking idly or sleeping.

When Toph had finally led her to the observation room at the lower bow of the airship, Azula was looking forward to a loud and ridiculous spectacle. What she found was a deserted and quiet room. Only one other tribute seemed to occupy the space and it was one Azula wanted avoid altogether, at least until the games.

Toph lifted a finger to her lips. Both girls remained quiet as they cautiously made their way toward the unsuspecting tribute. While a bit disappointed it wasn't her brother, she figured scaring Sokka one more time might alleviate some of her boredom.

Strangely, he had not noticed them, kneeling down and keeping his head to the floor. He seemed to be looking through a hole of some kind, but what he hoped to find was beyond anything Azula could come up with. He looked ridiculous anyway.

When they were finally close enough, Azula took her chance. Inhaling, she made every effort for her voice to pierce Sokka's ears. "Fool!"

The boy practically jumped from the floor like a cat, his chest heaving from the shock. The look of pure terror was too much for Azula. She couldn't prevent herself from laughing as he laid on the floor glaring at her.

Just as Sokka was about to respond to her cackling the metal floor beneath them shifted in a peculiar way, steel straining at the seams. Before he had time to react Azula had fallen on top of him, taken off balance by the sudden shift. Their lips connected as they bumped their foreheads.

Toph's laugh echoed through the room. "Look who's short now, princess!"

There was a shout from the hallway behind her soon after. "What the… Azula!"

Zuko and Ty Lee rushed in, eyes boggling at the awkward sight before them. Her brother couldn't quite believe what he was seeing or with whom he was seeing her.

And then, to Azula's chagrin, he smirked. "Can't wait for mother and father to hear about this. I won't look like the family disappointment anymore."

Cheeks red, infuriated by his tone, Azula violently pushed herself off of Sokka, glaring daggers at her brother.

"Oh, it's okay Azula; girl has her needs! At least you kissed the cute one!" Ty lee chimed in, "Now I get why you were so angry last time he fell over us. I bet you wanted to kiss him too, huh?"

"Shut up! I will not stand for this humiliation!" Azula snapped, the pent up anxiety of days crammed into an airship with people she'd rather kill pouring out of her.

She forcefully pushed pass Zuko as she stormed off into the hallway, his back hitting the wall with a dull metal clang. He grunted in pain, hearing Sokka snicker at him as Toph cackled uncontrollably.

Angered at his sister's behavior, Zuko lashed out at the nearest person he set his eyes on. Impudently, be conjured a ball of fire in his hand and directed it at Sokka who dodged the shot with surprising ease as he got to his feet

Zuko growled. "I'll teach you to laugh at me, peasant!"

Before he could send another ball of fire toward Sokka a swift smack to the back of his head threw him off balance. He turned to find his sister pulling painfully at his ear.

"Idiot! Lets go!" she commanded, forcing him out of the observation room.

While Sokka attempted to piece together the circumstances that led to such an odd encounter, Toph leaned against a wall as she tried to rein in her fit of chuckles.

The pieces suddenly came together for Sokka. "You're enjoying this way too much, Toph."

"Oh, lay off Snoozles, I'm bored out of my skull! How else am I going to entertain myself?"

"How about pranking someone that doesn't involve me?"

"Heh, fat chance of that happening."

Sokka sighed. "You're the worst, you know that?"

Toph grinned unapologetically. "Thanks for noticing!"

o0o0o0o

Dragging her brother swiftly down the cramped hallway and into their cabin, Azula shoved him against the wall, hands on her hips as she glared at him.

"What was that?" Azula demanded, "Did you just try to bend fire at that peasant?"

Zuko grunted, rolling his eyes. "So what if it was fire?"

"Well, apart from the fact that we're on an airship kept afloat by flammable gas, you can't go around harming tributes before the games. Those are the rules."

He smiled grimly. "Maybe I just wanted to have a bit of fun before I die a glorious death. You seemed to be enjoying yourself, kissing that tribesman."

Azula growled. "Use your head, you idiot or do you have a cabbage there instead? Knowing you i wouldn't be surprised if you really had it. The organizers punish tributes severally for infractions like that. It robs the people of the precious blood they want to see spilled. Do you want to humiliate yourself before you fight? Bring dishonor to yourself and the family?"

Zuko's smile faded. His eyes were cast down to the floor, unable to say much more.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "I thought not. No more mistakes, no more fooling around. There will be enough time to break free of this crushing boredom. And it will be on the battlefield. Try not to make a fool of yourself until then."

Another day came to an end on the airship as dusk filtered through the small porthole of the cabin. Having been scolded by his sister earlier that day, Zuko took refuge with the few people he could tentatively call his "friends", at least for the time being.

Jet sat on the cot across from him, a leg hanging idle off the edge, while Ty lee sat beside him as she played with his hair, occasionally pecking him on the cheek with her lips. Chan looked incredibly jealous, keeping his fists balled up in his lap. Jet just smiled. Zuko had to grudgingly admit to himself though – he was a bit jealous too.

"So, its true, then? About what happened to Hahn?" Chan insisted.

"I keep telling you man, it's what I heard," Jet said.

"What a loser. From the moment he got here he was boasting how strong he was. Guess he wasn't that smart though. Who breaks into a warehouse just to eat and drink booze?" Chan asked.

"Someone who wanted to wash down the taste of cabbage I guess," Jet retorted, making Ty Lee giggle.

Chan scoffed. "I mean, I can't blame him for that, but come on! What an idiot!"

"Yeah, real stupid move on his part. He shouldn't have gone alone either. No one to help him out," added Zuko, giving Jet a knowing look.

He merely shrugged as a response. "Who would go with him? I don't think ticking off the Dai Li is exactly a great plan."

"And now look at him! He's been quiet and miserable ever since he came out of the administration building back in Ba Sing Se," said Chan.

Ty Lee shivered uncomfortably. "He's like a different person now… I mean, didn't know him that well, but his aura just seems so pale and grey."

Raising his voice, Chan felt vindictive. "Whatever they did to him, I say he deserved it! It's not fair that he got to eat and drink like a king in that warehouse."

"His partner, that white-haired girl? She looks miserable too," Ty Lee added.

"So what? When the games start it won't matter how miserable she looks. What's going to matter is if she can fight or die. That's all the crowds want to see," Zuko growled.

"And we've talked about this already. Alone we die, but if we team up we might have a chance of surviving. Put on a little show for the people watching. We can help other tributes 'leave' the games, then decide what to do next. So what do you say?" Jet said.

It didn't take long for the tributes to come up with an answer.

Zuko nodded. "I'm in."

o0o0o0o

Flying through the clouds toward Omashu on their final leg of the journey, the airship transporting the tributes was followed close behind by another twice its size and twice as luxurious. Unlike its smaller, sparsely decorated counterpart, the influential men and women aboard enjoyed spacious cabins, comfortable beds, and sumptuous food from across the empire.

There was just one problem – their host and owner of that ship, Varrick, was missing. The guests aboard made their displeasure known to anyone who would listen, even to the two games masters who accompanied them on the journey. They were promised entertainment and business deals that only the most eccentric man in the empire could give.

Needless to say they only grew angrier as the days passed, going so far as to threaten refunds for their tickets and take back their investment deals for the games if they were not promised the entertainment they paid for. Some even threaten to leave once they stopped in Omashu, grounding the airship that transported the tributes as well.

For the game masters, Shiro and Xin, things were quickly turning into a public relations nightmare. They could only hope that whatever concerns their guests had would be sorted out once they landed in Omashu for resupply.

"Varrick, you old dog! Where were you hiding? You missed the show in Ba Sing Se!" greeted Xin.

"And all the nobleman wanting to skin us alive because no one was on the airship to entertain them," Shiro added.

When they finally found their missing host both Shiro and Xin were truly relieved.

Varrick grinned. "Well, what can you do, right? Spending some quality time with Zhu Li at a swanky new resort tends to make me lose track of time! Better question: who the heck decided to move up the start date for the games by a whole ten days? And without telling me!" Varrick asked.

Xin was shocked. "Wait, you didn't know about this? We've been sending messages out to you over the wireless about the change a week before! How the hell didn't you get that?"

Annoyed, Varrick threw up his arms dramatically. "How the heck should I know Xin? Either the signal took a wrong turn somewhere or I was too busy relaxing it up to notice."

"Well, the important thing is that you're here," Shiro added, sighing audibly, "Maybe now you can finally keep our guests occupied. They're acting like rabid wolf-bats at this point."

"Yeah, Cabbage Corp's CEO is trying to rein them in, but by now he probably thinks we've abandoned him to the whole pack and they ate him alive, not that it would be any loss, but …."

Puffing out his chest rather dramatically, Varrick beckoned the games masters to follow him. "Fear not my incompetent companions! The Great Entertainer has arrived! C'mon, I'll show you how to sweet-talk 'em! It's all in the act you see, conjure magic for them and they'll be like pudding in your hand!"

Confused, Shiro quirked an eyebrow. "But, why pudding-"

"Nope! Don't question it, already moving on! So is either one of you going to tell me why this schedule was changed or what?"

"We got an update on the weather forecast. Management on the island said there was a storm predicted to hit during the original start date, bad weather for flying the airships," Xin said.

Shiro piped up. "No flying, no killing, and no killing-"

"Yeah, yeah, I get the picture, public outrage, riots in the streets, the districts rising up, the whole world ending," interrupted Varrick, "Pure anarchy, and on top of that, burnt cabbages! Everywhere, the smell of burning cabbages! Nope, can't have that apparently."

Xin eyed Varrick with a puzzled look. "Wait, are you being sarcastic-"

"So I imagine his Highness decided to change the starting date then?" Varrick asked swiftly.

"Um, yes, with Cabbage Corp's insistence of course," said Shiro.

"Right, right, that's predictable," Varrick added, rolling his eyes, "Hey, those two should just up and marry, am I right? Like what Zhu Li and I did! Quick, fast, spur of the moment, let love take them on a journey, all that good stuff."

"Uh, I don't think-"

"Yeah, your probably right, Shiro! Would be the most boring marriage ceremony this side of Snores-ville! Now then, where are our guests? They wanted fun, well, fun just found them! They're gonna have so much fun they'll explode all over the wall in sheer joy, I tell ya!"

o0o0o0o

The day had finally come.

Standing tensely in their starting positions the tributes waited for the inevitable signal to start the games. To start the blood bath they had been training for.

With barely enough time to take in their surroundings, it came. It was a sound like thunder piercing their ears and echoing across the lush, open ground - the signal to start.

Without a second to lose the tributes began to move, their lives hanging in the balance.

"And there they go folks, the time is finally here! Coming to you now live from our airship high above the action, I'm Xin Fu!"

"And I'm Shiro Shinobi!"

"And welcome all to the first day of the Kyoshi Games!"

"I'm certainly excited Xin! I don't know about you, but I've been waiting far too long for these games!"

"Same here Shiro! Let's hope we won't wait long for some blood to be spilled today. There are a lot of expectations riding on the tributes for this year."

"Indeed Xin! We'll keep the folks at home posted on all the latest events. Now then, lets drop in to see the action unfolding below, shall we?"

Once the signal was given Sokka and Katara rushed in the direction of the forest. Toph, Duke, and Teo decided to follow their example, running through the thick under-growth bordering the trees. The rest of the tributes rushed to the massive pile of bags, hoping to get much needed supplies.

Sprinting as fast as they could, Zuko and Azula were the first pair to reach the pile, snatching up several bags before rushing away from the on-coming group of tributes.

In the desperate melee that ensued Zuko managed to land a succession of hits on Haru. The earthbender crumpled to the ground in pain, clutching at his bruises. Rushing just behind him was Azula, side-stepping Meng before landing a swift kick to her side. Her breath knocked out of her, the poor tribute fell into the dirt.

As the siblings rushed away Jet managed to reach the goodies pile next, opening several bags as he looked for anything useful. He tossed away daggers in one, missing Haru only several centimeters, but scaring the crap out of him, while throwing a boomerang over his shoulder at some imaginative tribute. Finally grasping at something worthwhile, Jet hoisted up a small hatchet from one of the bags. Turning, he quickly set his gaze on an airbender and with a powerful throw the hatchet sailed through the air. Several seconds later the hapless tribute had his head split open. A fountain of blood spewed from his forehead. He was dead before his knees touched the ground.

Smirking proudly, the thrill of his first kill was soured by a scream. A tribeswoman, the white-haired waterbender he barely knew, flung herself to the dirt for protection. When she got to her knees she cried out in horror, her clothes and face spattered with the airbender's blood.

Over her cries a loud bang announced the first kill of the games, echoing through the air. Stunned, the other tributes went on. To live or die, they could not tell. All that was left for them now was to survive.

Shiro's eyes widened at the spectacle below. "Wow folks! Only several minutes into the games and we can already announce that one of the tributes has claimed first blood!"

"You're telling me Shiro! We got a gusher over here!" said Xin.

"The first kill goes to Jet from District Three, practically vanquishing Jinju from District Ten with a quick and bloody blow to the head with a hatchet! It should be no surprise he would be first to draw blood."

"That's right Shiro. From a recent survey by the good people of Ba Sing Se, Jet was voted as one of the tributes to wrack up their first kill, with Longshot and Suki as other top contenders."

"Indeed, Xin! Non-benders usually dominate the early stages of the games and it looks like this first kill is no exception to that rule."

"Helps that the benders are chi-blocked too beforehand I suppose. To make the opening phases of the games more fair of course, forcing all tributes to rely on their strength and wit to survive initial blood bath."

"Looks like the tributes from District One had the right idea then, bugging out before they could commit to a fight. To let the effects wear off."

"Looks like it Shiro," Xin agreed, "I'm pretty ticked off that tribute from District Twelve wasn't killed by now. That boy, whatever his name was. I imagine many among our audience betted he'd be one of the first to go."

"Well my friend there may yet be time for that! We haven't seen our first Water Tribe kill and I know our audience is chomping at the bit for one! We'll keep them updated as events play out."

Running toward the large pile of bags at full speed, Smellerbee reached out and quickly swiped up the closest one she could grab.

And it was only a moment later that, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a tribute rushing toward her, roaring at the top of his lungs, a long spear glinting in the sun. Her eyes widened. It was a tribesman, the one that got caught drunk at the warehouse in Ba Sing Se. Looks like he decided to redeem himself by showing initiative and ferocity.

With her heart pounding in her ears, she hastily opened her bag, hoping for something to defend herself with. As luck would have it she grasped at the handle of a short sword.

As boy's war cry grew louder, her fingers tightened quickly over the handle as she wrenched it from the bag. Lunging to the side, wincing at the sharp cut on her right arm, Smellerbee barely dodged the attack. The tribesman's spear lodged itself into the pile. In one swift motion, just as the tribute turned to face her, struggling with his spear, Smellerbee cut him down, opening his belly with a deep cut. Blood sprayed her sword and face. With a cry the tribute went down, red staining the grass under him, his eyes forever opened in horror.

She barely had time to register what she had done, her brush with death shaking her nerves as she rushed away from the bag pile, the fear of dying propelling her forward, refusing to look back. The deed was done. All there was left now was to run and survive. She hoped Longshot made it out too.

o0o0o0o

Weaving through the chaos around goodies' pile, Suki struggled to grab a hold of any bags within her reach. When she finally took hold of one, she quickly opened it to find two war fans and a trident. The spirit of Kyoshi surely smiled upon her this day, in her most desperate struggle.

As she leapt down from the pile, keeping any onrushing tributes at bay with her trident, Suki turned away to flee into the forest. She slowed her pace when she spied Yue hunched in the grass beside a lifeless body, her shoulders trembling, patches of blood spattered across her tunic.

She made her way over to Yue as cautiously as she could, eyes darting from the tributes near the bag pile and back. The girl didn't even seem to notice her, even when she brandished her trident, her tense fingers gripping the shaft. She just knelt beside the body, completely frozen. She was in a miserable, shaken state.

During their short stay in Ba Sing Se Suki was able to get along with her. She had befriended Katara and Toph as well, in way that only some tributes could bond when faced with inevitable death. They made small talk, shared stories of their respective districts, and even discussed the possibility of alliances when the first day of the games finally came. They were so hopeful, so optimistic.

All those promises, all those long hours of talking like gossiping girls by the village well, faded away. Katara, Sokka, and Toph were long gone. To Suki, they had gone back on their word as soon as she made a rush for the pile. They had betrayed her trust.

And now Yue had deteriorated into a shaking, blood-covered liability. Even her partner, Hahn, was dead. Suki passed his body sprawled on the ground near the bag pile, the grass around him stained red. The girl wouldn't last for much longer. Someone would pick her off.

As Suki stood over Yue, flies buzzing around the dead airbender she hunched beside, she was left with one grim choice. There were people watching her, people that might have a vested interest in seeing her survive the games. If the only way to garner favor was through blood, then there was no other choice left to her. It was like her own blood, Kyoshi's blood, demanded this bloody sacrifice.

"I can't," Yue muttered, rocking back and forth as she balled her hands into fists, "I can't do this… I can't do this… why did they send me here?"

Suki's lips tightened, her eyes stinging with grief. If it had to be done, then it would be by her hand. She raised her trident up and aimed for the most vulnerable spot she could find. It would be a swift, clean kill. An honorable death for a person she knew only for a few days. Perhaps she deserved that much.

Her shadow loomed over Yue like the specter of death. Suki gulped hard, bitterly swallowing the last of her emotions. The trident fell swiftly. Yue's body fell with it.

Hands shaking, the phantom feeling of steel piercing soft flesh sinking into her mind, Suki let go of the trident, buried deep into Yue's neck as her body hunched forward over the dead airbender.

She quickly unsheathed her fans preparing to face anyone brave or stupid enough to attack her. Seeing that no other tribute approached her to do battle, many of them still struggling over the supplies by the huge bag pile, Suki rushed to the safety of the outlying forest.

She didn't look back. As she rushed pass the pine trees, sunlight dappling in her eyes, she steeled herself for the worst and hoped that, in the bloody days to come, she would not join her would-be friend in the afterlife.

o0o0o0o

Xin was positively thrilled. "And another one bites the dusts, folks! It's our first Water Tribe kill!"

"Make that two Water Tribe kills, my friend!" added Shiro.

"Ah, right you are! Their tracking collars chimed in almost at the same time. Those little things are a blessing, Shiro, I tell ya!"

"Indeed! Not only do those metal collars the tributes wear track their every movement, but they can also register when they die."

Xin nodded, "Right, and that little signal gets sent back to us, so that we can update our audience on the latest kills."

Shiro laughed, "Well don't keep them waiting!"

"Sure, sure, don't get your panties in a jumble. Anyway, looks like Yue and Hahn from District Eleven have been eliminated, which also makes this our first pair from a district completely killed off."

"Yes, and as expected Suki from District Seven delivered the final blow against Yue, with an unexpected theatrical touch to it. Almost like watching a mover drama unfold. Those Kyoshi Warriors certainly live up to their name."

"Yeah, and Smellerbee from District Five cut down Hahn with some surprising finesse. Just one step and one cut was enough to do him in!"

"She certainly stings like a bee, eh Xin?"

He laughed. "Got that right, Shiro! As of now though the rest of the tributes have scattered from the starting area, carrying off as many supplies as they can. There were a couple of scuffles here and there near the pile, but nothing too serious. They'll be saving their strength for the days ahead." Shiro nodded.

"I agree. Now, don't you worry folks, even though the action is dying down there will be plenty more to come. With this lull we can afford to touch upon this year's stage." Xin chimed in.

"Right, right. Well this year's fighting area is centered on a little uninhabited island in the southern seas, near Kyoshi Island. Thick forests, grassy clearings in between, and tall rocky shores with a few sandy beaches."

"I heard the waters around this island are practically infested with unagi, Xin."

"Well, that's absolutely true Shiro. Any tribute that tries to take a dip in the ocean is gonna get a nasty surprise."

"I'll say! One last little detail for you folks. Somewhere on this island is a little building, or a safe house if you want to get technical, where a few lucky tributes can rest. This year's safe house is huge comfortable bath."

Xin raised an eyebrow. "That's a bit strange, don't you think?"

"Well, previous buildings from past games had more strange features than this one has. If any tribute can find this hidden place, they'll certainly have a rare luxury waiting for them."

"Or one of them can get the bright idea to turn it into a place for an ambush." Xin added.

"That's also true! It's whatever the tributes need it for. Either way it's just another thing for them to exploit as they try to survive the games. For those listening at home, stayed tuned to this channel for more exciting updates as the games unfold! We'll be back after this commercial break."