Authors Note: Going try a more comedic angle for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar world, that is all owned by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko.

Chapter 13

The Vendor

Wikilow leaned against the side of a thick metal gate. Going through the lists of supplies in his head. The three had split up to buy food and other necessities, Gale naturally going with Elsi. The Avatar had given himself the larger part of the supply, yet had finished the earliest and was now waiting for his two companions. He pondered going to search for them when Arlo's energetic voice rang out.

"Hey, Elsi not here yet?" The fire bender asked as he plopped his bag of food down on the grass.

"Correct." Wikilow replied, checking the bag over.

"Wonder what's taking her so long?" Arlo asked out loud, to which Wikilow looked up.

"Why did you take longer to return, Arlo?" The Avatar questioned, tilting his head.

"Erm… I got… the… the guy took a while to get the stuff is all." The ex cirque rapidly excused. Wikilow stoically blinked, not buying his lie. "Fine… there was a small gadget exhibit near the place. Stuck around for a bit to check it out." Arlo admitted with a fondness in his voice. "Don't worry, dude. Just checked it out is all!" He added as an afterthought.

"…We can evaluate if any of it is of use… If you would prefer?" Wikilow stated, saying the last part unsurely.

"Are you serious?" You're usually all efficient this and useful that." Arlo said surprised.

"… I am aware of that. I am simply testing some new thoughts." Wikilow dryly explained.

"Really?" The fire bender responded, before the conversation could go on Elsi turned the corner. Shyly and slowly approaching the group, Gale resting on her shoulder. "Elsi, there you are!" Arlo happily greeted as she plopped her bag down next to the others. However, the young woman had a sullen air around her, as if weighed down. "Er, you okay?" Arlo asked.

"Yeah…" Elsi quietly replied, obviously not meaning it. Her eyes darted down to her side, where a large grotesque wool doll hung in her hand.

"…Spirits above! What is that?" The fire bender shouted, backing up in surprise upon noticing the horrid object.

"It's… uh, a thing." Elsi explained, embarrassed by the display.

"Why do you have it?" Wikilow inquired.

"I… it's embarrassing." The air bender stalled.

"That doesn't sound good, Elsi!" Arlo said in turn.

"I… okay…" She relented, and began filling them in about a very annoying vendor.

*Flashback* Earlier that day…

"Here you go miss, enjoy." The clerk said as they handed Elsi a bag full of supplies. The air bender slightly leaned to one side with the added weight.

"Thank you, I will." Elsi cheerfully replied as she headed out. Gale flew down and landed on her shoulder, tentatively poking at the bag. "I know Gale. They're in there, just wait." She jokingly chided. The spirit bird peered up at her, beady eyes guilt tripping her. "Okay, that's not fair, no, no!" Elsi went, playfully shaking her head. "Ha, fine you win, you win. Just give me a second." Elsi relented, and walked to the side of the street to place her bag down and retrieve Gale's snacks. She took a handful of the rich white seeds out, offering them to the spirit bird. Who gleefully ate from her palm. "Slow down!" Elsi laughed.

The young woman picked her bag up once more when Gale was done. However, before she could continue on her way, Elsi bumped into someone. Sputtering out an apology, the stranger cursed.

"Watch it, you klutz!" The stranger, a male vendor with spiky ashen hair snapped.

"I'm sorry! I wasn't looking!" Elsi frantically apologized, waving her hands in front of her.

"Well that's obvious…" The vendor muttered, annoyed.

"I'll just uh go, I'm really sorry once again-" She tried to say before the vendor interrupted her.

"At least help me clean up your mess, girl!" The vendor demanded, grunting as he heaved a large wooden puppet back onto its stand.

"I… okay…" Elsi stumbled and moved to assist the vendor. After all the puppets and dolls were put back into place, she tried to discreetly exit.

"What? You just going to leave after interrupting business, girl?" The vendor angrily questioned from behind his booth. Elsi unsurely looked to the sides, seeing that no one seemed interested in the booth.

"I… it was an accident, sir." Elsi mumbled, taking a step back.

"Speak up! I can't hear you." He snapped, slamming a hand on the booth's surface. The vendor then reached under the table, pulling out a nightmare inducing abomination of cloth. Elsi's eyes widened at the sight, but tried to beat it down to be polite. "Here, you just buy this for twenty yuan and get out of here, got it!" The vendor demanded, stretching his hand out for the expected sum.

"Twenty yuan? I… I'm afraid… I c… can't do that-" Elsi stuttered in response.

"Just do it, girl!" The vendor violently snapped. Gale moved to charge the vendor but Elsi held the spirit bird back with her arms.

"I…" The air bender trailed off.

*Flashback End*

"That was not a necessary purchase or action to take." Wikilow stated after she finished explaining.

"I know…" Elsi shyly agreed, rubbing her arm.

"You really need to work on that, Elsi. How have you not got scammed till now?" Arlo asked.

"I've been lucky avoiding those kinds of people. I always just clam up when talking." The air bender sheepishly replied.

"We should attempt to return the doll. Where was the booth located?" Wikilow questioned while picking the bags up.

"It's only fair that Elsi does the talking then." Arlo added, crossing his arms. "Come on, it's better to start now then later." He encouraged at Elsi's objecting expression.

"…Yeah… you're right." Elsi consented, proceeding to lead the group back into the streets. Gale nestled their head against her check, eliciting a small giggle from the young woman. "There it is." The air bender alerted as they neared the booth. The vendor was still behind it, fleetingly trying to sell his merchandise. Occasionally, the vendor would re attempt the stunt he pulled with Elsi. Setting up accidents with shoppers then attempting to guilt trip them into buying.

"Okay… you can do this, Elsi!" She encouraged to herself, stepping forward to confront the vendor. Doll in hand while leaving Gale with Wikilow and Arlo. Elsi confidently strolled back to the vendor's booth. "Hello." She greeted, getting the vendor's attention. Elsi speedily dropped the doll on the booth.

"You again? We don't do refunds, get lost!" He snapped. Elsi breathed in before answering.

"…Yes, I know that. But, we both know that it-" She tried to say before the vendor cut her off.

"Wait… did you call the freaking Dai Li on me?" The vendor accused, slamming both hands on the booth while aggressively leaning forward. A dark look raged in his eyes while piercing both Elsi, and Wikilow who intently observed the scene a way off.

"…I, no…" The air bender tried to defend, confidence rapidly depleting with each passing second.

"You little!" The vendor growled but before he could say any more Elsi grabbed the doll and sped back to the group.

"That did not look good." Arlo awkwardly noted.

"I saw the vendor negatively stare at me before the situation escalated. I apologize if it was my fault." Wikilow stated.

"You okay, Elsi?" The ex cirque inquired, looking at her concerned.

"I'm fine… sorry…" Elsi apologized, looking ashamed as Gale hopped up her arm.

"Well, you tried. I'll give it a go then. Be right back!" Arlo decided while taking the doll from Elsi. He strolled up to the vendor determinedly. Things appeared to begin civil, before Arlo said some things. The vendor got angry, which Arlo didn't seem to compute. The fire bender cracked a joke. Things got heated and the vendor yanked up a smaller, but all the more creepy puppet which sent Arlo speed walking back.

"Go on! Run to the hills you ash maker!" The vendor yelled at his retreating back.

"…That insult's long outdated." Arlo muttered with a puzzled face. "That guy's a tough nut. But I think he can be reasoned with." He reported with a lopsided grin. "Just don't think about it!" He advised to Elsi.

"Err…" She said in turn. Remembering some particularly memorable events involving the fire bender.

One day…

"I'm going to check the cave out!" Arlo yelled while entering a dark cave.

"Be careful!" Elsi shouted in turn.

"What's the worst that could happen?" The fire bender went. Seconds later the screams of the ex cirque could be heard while he sprinted out of the cave, a ferocious platypus bear chasing him.

Another day…

" Hey, can someone help me set this up?" Arlo asked while constructing a small device to humous himself. It was made from stuff he could find lying around the forest: sticks, rocks and the occasional shoelace.

"What are you manufacturing?" Wikilow questioned as he scouted the area.

"Just a catapult, nothing serious." The ex cirque answered, while loading a small stone into the contraption.

"You should make sure nothing problematic is near." Wikilow warned while inspecting the ground.

"What's the worst that could happen?" Arlo joked as he released the lace, causing the stone to go flying. The fire bender jogged to see where it landed. Seconds later the screams of the ex cirque could be heard while he sprinted away, a ferocious platypus bear chasing him.

Another day…

"Look what I found!" Arlo cheered, while holding out an armful of strange looking fruits. They were coloured purple, with curled orange vines at the top and bottom. He took a bite out of one of them, lighting up at the taste.

"That's not a good idea." Elsi chided, turning down his offer.

"This type of fruit should be left alone." Wikilow stated.

"What's the worst that could-" Arlo began but didn't get the chance to finish. A ferocious platypus bear charging into their temporary camp.

"It's extremely well liked by the local platypus bear population." The Avatar apathetically elaborated on as Arlo ran, the animal intently hunting him throughout the clearing.

"Would've been good to know a few minutes ago!" The ex cirque shouted.

Present day…

"Err…" Elsi continued as she thought back. "Maybe not not thinking at all. But he has point about thinking less." The air bender thought. Arlo was chattering about something random. The doll was abandoned on the floor, as no one desired to hold it. "…Why can't I just get over myself? Why am I like this?" Elsi despaired in her head, as she thought back to simpler times.

*Flashback* Three years ago…

A younger Elsi sat in her room alone. Nursing an arm wound that was beginning bruise over with an ice pack. Useless objects were piled on a shelf in the corner, mixed in with various books that regaled tales of fiction. The air bender was downcast, sighing as she peeked out the window. Gazing over the sea of white and blue, frigid gusts rushed through though she took no mind.

The sound of the front door opening drew her attention elsewhere.

"Elsi, I'm back!" Her Great Aunt Tala announced while entering their snowy abode. The old woman wore a long fur coat that hid a thick cloak underneath. Her greying hair was bunched into a tight pun.

"How was work?" Elsi happily answered, suppressing a wince as she entered the living room.

"Oh, the usual. Community centre's busier this time of year after all." Tala regaled with a youthful air about her. The older woman looked Elsi up and down, eyes suspiciously narrowing. "How was your day?" Tala airily asked as she walked to the kitchen.

"Good, same old, same old." Elsi replied, arm twitching as she took a seat.

"…Elsi, show me your arm." Tala ordered with a sigh. The younger of the two blinked before sheepishly nodding, rolling up her sleeve for inspection. Tala grabbed some white bandages and began wrapping her arm. "Was it the same kids who did this?" Her Great Aunt questioned after finishing up. Elsi slowly nodded, arms behind her back.

"…I'm sorry." The young air bender apologized.

"Don't say sorry. You're almost fifteen, you need to start standing up for yourself, Elsi." Tala chastised with a serious face.

"I know…" Elsi quietly replied.

"You can't keep saying 'I know' forever." Her Great Aunt criticized, eyes hardening.

"…" Elsi had nothing to say. She grimly stared over at the mantle in the other room, where a large picture depicted her alive parents. Tala followed her gaze, eyes softening.

"Elsi, I…" The older woman started before stopping. "…I'm worried about you… about what will happen when I'm gone." Tala said, full of remorse. Elsi's head quickly flipped toward her Great Aunt. "I don't have that many years left… I don't want you to be all alone again." The older woman sobbed, face in her hands.

"Great Aunt Tala…" Elsi said, grabbing Tala's shoulder.

"I want you to be happy… Elsi." Tala cried.

"I know…" Elsi softly went.

"…I'm not asking for much… I'm not asking for you to suddenly change over night. But… but just promise me you'll at least speak when it matters. Start slow… promise me that…" Tala asked of Elsi, wiping her tears away with her hand.

"…I…I will, Great Aunt Tala, I will…" Elsi told her, tightly gripping Tala's wrinkled hand. Hiding her uncertainty of if she could keep that promise.

*Flashback End*

"…But promise me you'll at least speak when it matters…" Tala's words echoed through Elsi's head. The air bender brought Gale close, stroking the spirit bird's feathered head as she thought.

"I'm so… I have't done a very good job at keeping that promise…" Elsi glumly admitted. She had always been a shy person. When her parents died that trait only entrenched itself deeper. And though the grief faded, the insecurity remained. Then Tala died, and instead of confronting an empty home she fled. If any of her family could see her now, Elsi knew that they would be so disappointed in her.

"You're almost an adult, and you still can't hold on your own?" Tala would chide.

Elsi looked back to the vendor, who continued his business. The air bender felt her hand move toward her pendent, concealed under layers of clothing. She gave the crystal a small squeeze, as if reassuring herself. Elsi felt herself calm down and enter a state of tranquility.

"Alright… small steps…" She mumbled to herself. Proceeding to grab the doll from Arlo and confidently walk back to the booth. "Excuse me? I would like a refund." She told the vendor, a serious expression on her face.

"Ugh…Get lost, girl!" The vendor tried to shoo in his same aggravating voice. Elsi took a reflexive step back before catching herself, taking a breath in.

"No, I don't think I will. I didn't want to buy this and you know exactly what you're doing." Elsi argued, crossing her arms resolutely. The vendor raised a thin eyebrow at her before scoffing.

"So what? You bought and paid for it all legally. I didn't break any rules." The vendor defended. Elsi blinked before turning to face Wikilow, making sure they made eye contact.

"…I can't believe I'm doing this! I hope Wikilow won't be mad…" Her mind screamed as she turned back to the vendor. "Should I go alert the authorities then? Because tricking people into buying your stuff is clearly warrant for some form of punishment." Elsi stated, hand on her hip. The vendor's face paled dramatically before morphing into a snarl.

"I can go right now actually…" Elsi said, taking a few steps toward Wikilow.

"Ugh! Fine, fine! Take your money back and leave me alone!" The vendor grunted, throwing the yuan at her face. Elsi happily pocketed the sum and ran back to the group.

"You received the yuan." Wikilow noted.

"Yeah!" Elsi cheered, feeling proud of herself. Gale flew around her head in celebration.

"That's good." The Avatar bluntly stated. However, Elsi noticed that their resident fire bender was missing. "Where'd Arlo go?" She asked, looking around.

"We had a lengthy discussion on the type of equipment a local exhibit was showcasing. He went to make a thirty yuan purchase before we leave." Wikilow explained.

"And you let him." Elsi asked, surprised.

"I calculated that an insignificant decrease in the monetary number would not be a massive loss. And I evaluated Arlo to not purchase something completely useless to us." Wikilow further explained.

"And you're okay with even a small loss?" Elsi questioned, shocked at the small but extremely noticeable change.

"…I find it acceptable for this single occasion. That it is the right thing to do." The Avatar went.

"That's…" Elsi started but was interrupted by a loud horn from the road. "Who is that?" She instead asked, looking with Wikilow for the cause of the noise.

"Guys! Over here!" The voice of Arlo rung out. Searching the road, they found the fire bender sticking his head out of a car window. The car was of the cabbage corp brand. Whose newer models were sleeker and more modernized to compete with their rivals. The car was coloured a dull lime, with dirt splotches littering the doors and back.

"Why do you have a car?" Elsi questioned, looking over the automobile in stunned shock.

"I bought it!" Arlo cheerfully answered.

"This was worth thirty yuan?" Wikilow asked, figuring it was from the exhibit.

"Yeah, it was practically junk when I bought it though. So I got it for a wicked good price! Just needed some quick fixing up." Arlo explained, marvelling at his handy work with a sly grin. "Thought we could use a change of pace. But, there's only enough gas for a couple days. Then we've got to ditch it." The fire bender continued, awaiting their reaction.

"This is… this is incredible, Arlo!" Elsi praised, after briefly picking at a bumper sticker of a flying bison.

"It's a very effective use of a limited budget. I am concerned about the risks involved with road travel." Wikilow noted, the cirque's face briefly falling. But, the Avatar wasn't done speaking. "However, a few days should be manageable if we take the proper precautions." He stated, blocking out some of the windows. "Keep your identity as inconspicuous as possible." Wikilow told Arlo, who nodded and began messing his appearance up. Hiding his white streak and covering one of his eyes with hair.

Wikilow and Elsi proceeded to get in the back seats.

"Lets go!" Arlo cheered as he started the car up, driving out town and onto the road.

Authors Note: Ended up not being as comedic as I thought, longer too.