Chapter 42
Birth of the Rebellion
I let the introductions wash over me, not particularly paying attention as we walked into the animal skin tent and took our seats.
"I believe that the first matter business is what we are going to do next." Chief Hakoda started only to be cut off by an old man.
"No offence chief Hakoda but I would like to hear where the girl Maddison plays into this before we start talking strategy." I felt my stomach curdle at the words. I did not like where this was going
Maddi
I took a deep breath, everyone was staring at me. I had hoped to put this off for last but apparently this man's curiosity was not going to wait.
"I see no issue with that. Palartok? Would you care to tell us how you play into this, why do my children trust you so much that they are willing to keep your secrets from even their own father?" I decided not to mention that Katara wasn't exactly happy with her father, now that she knew that he was both alive and unharmed she felt relaxed enough to hold a grudge over him leaving. That meant it was probably Sokka he had questioned. I smiled at Sokka who nodded before I turned to the rest of the group. Mentally I made a list of the people there. There was Toph, Aang, Katara, Sokka and I sitting to the left side of the 'door'. Chief Hakoda and his six counsel members sat at the head which left Su Sen, Iroh and Zuko to take the right across from us. I bit my lip before sighing. I didn't want to talk about this but it had to be done.
"I'm not sure where to start." I admitted.
"How about at the beginning," the old man snapped. I shot a glare at him. It was clear that the two of us were not going to get along.
"Peace Tikaani," Hakoda warned before turning back to me, "please continue."
"If it were that easy I wouldn't be having problems," I bit out before pinching the bridge of my nose and continuing.
"This story... is complicated. It involves spirits and races thought to have been extinct, batting with oneself and... quite a lot of fear. I need you all to agree that you won't interrupt me while I'm telling my story." There was silence.
"I agree as does my counsel." Chief Hakoda decided.
"We agree." Iroh echoed.
"I agree." Su Sen finished. I nodded and began my tale.
"Well, it all started with an earthquake..."
As my story unfolded I watched the reactions of the people watching. Sokka and Katara's father seemed shocked beyond words as did many on his counsel. The one that didn't looked shocked was Tikaani and he seemed just determined to hate me for some bizarre reason. I hadn't even met the man before today so what was his problem? Iroh watched and listened impassively, only his eyes giving off the rare emotion. Su Sen and Zuko were both open books. Su Sen's mouth dropped open several times and he leaned forward in his seat as if he swore he couldn't have heard me right. Zuko's eyes kept widening in shock and he too didn't seem to know what to make of the tale. Even my traveling companions who had been with me since the very beginning sat quietly in contemplation. Toph was the only one comfortable enough to make the occasional sound, usually a snort or a laugh, depending on the situation.
"On the winter solstice, after calming down Hei-Bei we headed to the temple on crescent island in the fire nation so that Aang could communicate with his previous incarnation, Avatar Roku. When we got inside we managed to trick the fire sages into opening the door for us with Sokka's ingenious plan." Sokka blushed deeply at the compliment while his father raised an eyebrow, interested.
"Anyway," I continued with a small smile, "After the doors to the sanctuary shut with only Aang inside I collapsed, at least that is what it looked like to everyone but for me I was dragged into the spirit world by Agni." Toph whistled at my words causing me to chuckle lightly.
"I was approached by the five deities of the four nations, Agni for fire, Prithvi for earth, Tui and La for water and of course, and Lung for Air. They told me that if I wanted one of them would give me the ability to bend. The thing is spirits have this nasty tendency to hold a grudge against someone who excludes them so I chose to be literate because the sprit who brought me here for some reason didn't think it was important. I think Agni was really appreciative of my choice though because for some bizarre reason I can read both common tongue and fire nation."
"Wait, you could actually read that scroll?" I blinked up at Zuko in confusion.
"I thought you could too? Why is that so weird?" I questioned, not even annoyed at the interruption. The genuine shock in the eyes of Zuko and Iroh was enough to make me worry.
"Because it wasn't written in common fire tongue, it was written in the language of the sages, in other words only sages and the royal family know that language anymore."
"But that's not possible, he was a commoner."
"A commoner who was being recruited for the sages." I stared at him.
"Okay I need this to be explained because I clearly missed some major points when reading that scroll." Everyone else besides the two fire nation royalty and myself looked totally lost. My heart was racing, I couldn't focus on anyone right now.
"It was a code, an advanced one too." Iroh explained easily, "telling about the war, including major political decisions from the perspective of a fire sage."
"Are you telling me that we have a document on the war? Tactics and so forth?"
"An outdated one, it hasn't been updated in at least ten years but it is fascinating that Maddison could read it. It is not surprising you did not discover the code, I only knew to look for it because I was trained by the fire sages as a boy, all fire nation royalty are." I nodded. I really wanted to know what the code was and how it worked, if Zuko and Iroh would permit I was going to ask for it back to decode. Of course, if Iroh would help me I would appreciate it, I wasn't sure for what to look for.
"May we please get back to the topic at hand." The old man, Tikaani grumbled. I sighed and continued, making sure to cover every spirit encounter and place of divergence that I could remember. While I told the story I thought on my ability to read fire nation. I had thought it was the fire common tongue, it hadn't fully occurred to me that the fire nation may have two native languages. Possibly more, I added while watching Zuko, after all they are based on the Japanese.
"Anyway, that leads us here. That's all I know."
"But there are parts missing," another water tribe man, this one I didn't remember the name of at all, stated, face scrunching, deep in thought. Zuko sighed.
"The other 'changes', the missing parts were caused by me. Maddison didn't realize how much she effected me when she talked to me on Kyoshi island." He looked at me and then told us his story. I found myself gaping at the changes that had occurred because of him, including from the looks of it Su Sen's arrival.
"That's amazing, in the original timeline Lee rejected you, he wouldn't even look at you after you showed you were a firebender."
"He probably wouldn't have if I hadn't been so... vocal about my opinions on Sozin, opinions that you influenced."
"Well now that we know the changes, Maddison would you care to tell us what is supposed to happen. Anything that can help us figure out a strong strategy against the fire nation," chief Hakoda leaned forward, his fingers forming a steeple, blue eyes fixed on me. I sighed and pulled myself to my full height.
"I think the only things that are still going to be stable are actions already taken. In which case the fire nation knows to expect an attack on the Day of Black Sun and that there are two bunkers where the fire lord will hide, the first is a trick to catch the attention of the raiders where Azula and the Dai Li will most likely be waiting and the second is where the Fire Lord will be hidden. I don't know the exact locations of either." I admitted. Tikaani snorted while everyone else turned to look at Zuko and Iroh.
"The fire nation knows of our plans! How is there a traitor in our midst?" Tikaani snarled, shooting upright.
"No," I replied coolly, "King Kuei accidentally revealed the plans to Princess Azula when she was masquerading as Suki," everyone looked shocked so I sighed, "How do you think she took over the city? I just hope that she didn't actually capture Suki and the other Kyoshi warriors, they did in the original timeline." There was a small gasp from my friends. I looked away in shame. There was nothing we could have done to save Suki, I just hoped that everything would turn out alright. Iroh coughed lightly to attract our attention.
"I will do the best to share my knowledge, however I'm afraid that I am only aware of one bunker," Iroh admitted, "Although it would be like my brother to create a second and use the first as a diversion."
Toph
I walked out of the tent hours later, frustrated and confused. I hadn't understood most of what everyone was talking about. Except hearing about Maddi's 'exploits' that had been interesting. The tactics had been boring so I had ignored them for the most part. Around me I could tell the camp was busy. I definitely needed to work on my sand bending, it was still slightly out of focus.
"Hey, you're Toph right?" I turned, I had noticed the footsteps behind me of course but I had been focusing on my long range so hadn't paid him much mind.
"The one and only, what'd you want?" I crossed my arms slouching to one side. Now that I was focused on him I could feel his weight shift through the sand. Judging from the weight and how he stood he was about the same size and weight as Zuko.
"I'm Su Sen, we met in the council, I was wondering if I could ask you a few things."
"About what?" I retorted, a single eyebrow raising in interest.
"Do you know how to fight?" I stood straight up, sucking in a breath to pull myself to full height.
"Of course I can, I am the best earthbender ever, I can even metal bend." He whistled in appreciation of my skills before continuing.
"Actually I was meaning more along the lines of a weapon." I furrowed my brow in surprise.
"Why would I need to? I'm an earthbender. I can just crush someone with my rocks and they're gone." He hummed but said nothing. I shrugged and was about to go when he called.
"If you don't want to can I interest in a drink and meal instead?" I grinned, my smile quirking at one corner, I wasn't going to turn down someone spending money on me.
"Lead the way."
Maddi
I wandered through the camp, my heart sinking with every new scene. Men preparing for war, preparing to die. I knew that we would be leaving the safe cove soon, bringing ourselves out in the open for attack, and it terrified me. This was my fault, what would have happened if I hadn't changed anything? Would the war have continued as it was supposed to?
A faint whisper of a tune caught my attention, curious I turned and followed the noise. Not everyone was preparing for war. The tune changed slightly as I rounded a corner. A dozen men sat around a fire, laughing and drinking and singing. They were off tune but not one cared, it reminded me of the old campfire songs that I used to sing as a child. Except of course for the... interesting content.
Tinker! Oh, dear Tinker, won't you mend a pot for me?
Tinker asks the mistress don't you got a labor man?
"Yes but," she replied, "he lacks your talent and your hands
And I can tell you got the skill to hit the spot you see"
So Tinker oh dear Tinker, won't you mend a pot for me
I snorted at some of the ruckus laughing going around the fire. I had a feeling I knew what 'mend a pot for me' actually meant. Judging by the looks on the men's faces they were throughly enjoying it.
Tinker said the neighbour boy can probably get it done
"He's far to inexperienced I never go that young
I'm sure he can be broken in or taught but he's too sweet"
So Tinker oh dear Tinker, won't you mend a pot for me?
I froze when my eyes fixed on a smaller figure laughing and drinking with the men.
"Toph!" The circle went silent. In unison the men turned, all with faces that reminded me of a child with a hand in the cookie jar. Complete guilt.
"Maddi?" Toph asked, placing her feet back on the ground, she had been swinging them in excitement so hadn't noticed me. Beside her Su-Sen stood, looking particularly guilty.
"What's going on here?" I asked, looking around.
"We were just having fun." Toph stated looking at me angrily. My eyes flicked between the grown men, the petulant Toph and the beer. I began to laugh. I couldn't help it, the song, the embarrassed expressions, Toph's anger. After I regained my breath I walked over and sat myself on one of the logs that the men had been using.
"Can I learn that song too or is it only for men?" Toph blinked then grinned and sat down. I laughed as I heard all the lyrics to the song. I was right, the 'mend a pot' was an innuendo, one that was ruined on the second to last verse where 'the bed was broken'. Honestly. The men at first had been wary of teaching me the lyrics to the song, probably afraid I would tell the royalty here. I wouldn't of course but they didn't need to know that. For a few minutes I was able to forget. Forget the war, forget what might happen, forget the danger. I understood why the men participated in such activities, it was an easy way to push the fear behind them. For me it was guilt.
"So what are you planning to do now that you are involved in this rebellion?" I blinked and looked over. I had been so focused on the others that I had ignored everything else going on around me.
"Fight, help the troops I guess," I shrugged, "What else is there to do?
"There's a lot that goes on in an army, there are the leaders, those who give the orders; the commanders, those who give more orders and fight as well; there are the moral, the ones who keep the men fighting for the cause and not desert; there are the soldiers themselves, those who take orders and die; there are the healers, the cooks, the animal handlers, who do not fight but play an important role as well."
"You know your way around an army, this isn't your first time." It wasn't a question, he knew that just as much as I did.
"Yes." We were silent for a few moments. The men and Toph began another song.
"I'm a soldier but here I am also a leader, maybe a commander. What are you?" He asked me after a few moments. I sighed and pulled out my necklace.
"I don't know. I'll be a soldier, everyone here is going to have to fight I know that, I don't... I don't know what else I'll be." I bit my lip as I played with the thin medallion.
"It is yours to decide," Su Sen stated firmly, "but it is also theirs, the army needs all those roles to function correctly."
"Are you scared?" I asked. I winced mentally screaming at myself for showing my fears, I needed to be strong for my friends. I had to be strong and brave and fearless. But I didn't want anyone to die, least of all myself. It was a selfish thought but I still wanted to live. It was ironic, when I had first come to this world I hadn't cared, then for a short time I wanted to die. Now that death could be approaching I wanted to live. Su Sen snorted.
"Of course I'm scared. I'd be a fool not to be but I can't show my fear, these men rely upon me it is for them that I am brave."
A gong rang, telling us that we finished packing or be left behind. I watched quietly as Su Sen stood, calling to the men to clean up. In moments the fire was doused and the men vanished to their respective jobs. I walked away. While I had been allowing myself to forget the camp had been cleaned up. It had practically vanished before my eyes and now was being loaded up onto the water tribe ships. I joined a group of men who were loading the items onto the ships, noticing that everyone was helping. Around me the faces were serious, concentrated on their work, their way of distracting themselves from what was going on in the world around them.
"Pala! Pala I need to talk to you," I turned at Katara's voice, placing down one of the boxes I had been carrying.
"Sure, what is it?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at the water tribe girl. Katara's eyes flicked down to my necklace, still hanging over my shirt.
"We're trying to figure out somethings," she admitted, beginning to walk away. I quickly followed as she continued, "such as who is going to be the healers, I've done a head count, we only have seven people including me who are capable and have had the training to be healers." She paused then admitted, "Sokka's worried. We don't have a lot of people for a full out attack on the fire nation if they're expecting us. We need more people."
"You need to find a way to recruit more people." She nodded.
"And to do that," Katara stated softly, looking out over the ocean, "we need a flag."
Tinker in the Kitchen is a piece written by Robert Jordan for his series Wheel of Time. I do not own this song nor the additional lyrics written by Nick Masters. It is a really funny song though so look it up if you're interested. Anyway I'm sorry that this was so short, Friday night was grad for me (I am free! Yay!) and dry grad as well and I stayed up until 3 in the morning. That may not seem like very late for some people but I'm a severe introvert so spending that much time around people is really draining. Additionally I have never had much success staying up past 11, usually I'm unconscious by 12 so that late night was killer. Anyway the action is rising and I hope that you enjoyed this chapter. Apologies once again for taking so long.
Princess Kassie Out.
