The gang flow high above the clouds, to keep out of sight of the fire nation. Appa's tongue hang out, enjoying the blast of wind from the windy day… and windy Wednesday. Momo was curled up on Suki's lap, purring softly as she pet him.
Katara was sewing up any rips in the clothing, as usually no, one else knows how to sew. Sokka was stirring Appa… trying to tune out the argument, for the past 7 hours.
"Seriously" said Aang "How didn't you notice i was gone?"
"Cause your a whiny little bitch that everyone sees as a liability" said Ai "Besides, you'd have gotten in the way of the fight… that Tanya bitch was ruthless"
"So you killed her" said Aang
"Crippled" said Ai, thrusting her hand forward "There's little to no chance she'll walk again"
"Monster" said Aang
"Pussy" said Ai
"Murderer" said Aang
"Pansy" said Ai
"Blood Thirsty" started Aang
"I swear to god, i will reach back there and smack you both if you don't stop" said Sokka
Aang's mouth buttoned up, sulking… Ai turned her head, she glanced back at Aang, flipping him off.
"Sokka" started Aang
Sokka turned around, eyes bulged, vein throbbing in his forehead, and a look up unholy rage on his face.
"Try me Aang, fricking try me" said Sokka, taking one hand of the rein and pointed "With my weights on i can easily handle your airbending"
"Grooaaahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh" grunted Appa, as if laughing
Aang turned around, grumbling to himself… and that his best buddy wasn't backing him up. Ai stood up and stretched, Sokka also turned back to his flying.
"Careful Ai, wouldn't want you falling off" said Sokka
"I dove from higher heights" said Ai
Sokka snorted, turning slightly
"Yea? When did you… oh, right. You did" said Sokka "Never mind"
Suki and Katara chuckled, even Sokka did.
"Keep forgetting how much a badass you are" said Sokka
Ai walked over to the edge of the saddle, looking over. The clouds parted slowly… Ai's eyes widened, she turned to Sokka.
"We need to land and hid, fire nation ships are below" said Ai
"God damnit, seriously" said Sokka
"Yes" said Ai, going through hand-signs "Everyone, put a little bit of chakra into Appa"
Doing as they were told, even Aang barely willingly… they put their limited chakra into him.
"Transform" said Ai, shrouding Appa's whole body in smoke
Zuko let out a growl, he hasn't see hide nor tail of the avatar since their last encounter. Iroh came out with scroll, he played with his beard.
"Zuko, we need to talk… about you, and capturing the avatar" said Iroh
In an instant Zuko turned around, glaring at his uncle.
"Uncle Iroh, you know i can't do that… I need the avatar if i'm ever to return home" said Zuko
"I know, but… things have... change" said Iroh, reading the scroll. "Seems the avatar had a run in with Admiral Tanya"
Zuko's blood ran cold, Admiral Tanya… as in the Admiral Tanya von Degurechaff, the same Tanya whom oversaw Azula's training before she was shipped out to sea.
"And… what happened?" asked Zuko
"Admiral Tanya barely made it out with her life… she is currently on route back to the fire nation capital for proper treatment." said Iroh
Zuko swallowed a lump, he turned around and shook… Tanya von Degurechaff, defeated by the avatar. Zuko was actually contemplating asking for her help, should things have gotten that bad. Of course that would mean having to degrade himself in front of her, so that he could take the credit for it… but now.
"I don't have a choice" said Zuko
"Everyone has a choice my boy" said Iroh
"Not this time, the avatar will change the tides of battle… we have to find her" said Zuko
Iroh sighed, but relented.
"If that's what you wish… just make sure you stay up on your training" said Iroh
*Shreeeeeeeeeeeeech*
Both Zuko and Iroh glanced into the air, high above them… soaring like the majestic beast it was, was the Golden Vulture-Eagle, a massive bird about the size of Zuko's boat.
"That's odd see one of them this time of year" said Iroh
Zuko narrowed his eyes
"Follow it" said Zuko, he turned to the captain "You hear me… follow that bird"
"Yes… sir" said the captain
"Zuko, this isn't another one of your wild Goose-Turkey chases is it?" said Iroh
"The avatar was able to summon beasts that were out of place before, wasn't she?" said Zuko
Iroh stroked his beard, glancing up at the flying beast again.
"You have a point" said Iroh, turning to the captain "Onward"
After landing deep within the forest, Ai undid the jutsu… then hopped off of Appa. Sokka quickly slide off as the other slowly climbed down, and unpacked.
"What the hell was that… did we, become a Vulture-Eagle?" asked Sokka "How?"
"Transformation Jutsu" said Ai, looking over "Its to trick enemies. Become an ally of theirs to, gather info… or in this case, become something common in the world… and hide in plain site"
"So… it's like that Sexy Jutsu you used, but… more useful" said Suki
"My Sexy Jutsu is useful." said Ai "I got You, Sokka and Katara to blush… so i did something right with it."
Katara turned her head in embarrassment as Suki looked over at her with an arched eyebrow. She dismissed it as she was getting hungry, and she was planning on cooking up some ramen.
Aang glanced over to see a pond, grinning from ear to ear he quickly striped to his short and flew towards the water.
Ai shook her head at Aang's antics… she turned towards the forests. In an instant she had out her kunai, she turned to Suki.
"What kind of meat do you want?" asked Ai
"Whatever you can find, i'm not picky" said Suki, glancing at Aang "Unlike some people"
Ai nodded, turning to Sokka… who must have known what she wanted as he readied his machete, and boomerang.
"Can i join?" asked Katara
"If you want" said Ai, tossing a extra kunai
Katara caught it with ease, and the trio went off to hunt whatever they could find deep within the forest. As they moved through the forest, it was rather quiet… not uncommon at times, but not even a bird was chirping.
*SNAP*
Ai swung up her hand, then tightened it, Katara and Sokka stopped… they followed Ai's lead as she crouched slightly and moved throughout the brush. Peaking over the bush Ai spotted a massive beast, she ducked.
"What did you see?" asked Sokka
"A predator… a Saber Tooth Moose-Lion… and her Calf-Cub" said Ai, slipping away "Not a prime target"
"Why not?" asked Katara
Sokka turned, being a hunter he knows a lot about hunting.
"Well, for starters it's a female, and those tend to have season when they're breeding or not, so it's a no go… trust me, it is morally devastating to gut a pregnant animal. And then there's the Calf-Cub, if we did kill its mother, we'd have to kill it to, or it would die." said Sokka
"Yup, that's pretty much it… but that does only go for creatures that can only produce one or two at a time." said Ai, turning "Anything that gives birth to litters is free game. So we need to find a Pig creature, or a Boar"
"I will admit, i have grown very fond of Pork dishes" said Sokka "Expectantly bacon, taste so much better than Seal rubber"
"I agree" said Katara
"Ok, now we know what we're after" said Ai, she peaked over the bush again "Clear"
The group stood up and brushed himself off, then moved out of the brush and into the clearing. Ai inspected what the mother Moose-Lion was interested in earlier… tracks and feathers. From the looks of the tracks, it did look like hoofs… but the spacing of the tracks suggested the animal in question, was bipedal.
"Interesting" said Ai, quietly to herself
From the looks of it, it seems there are many of them, each going in different paths.
"We go east, opposite direction of those two" said Ai, pointing at the tracks "Judging from how deep these tracks are, i'd guess that whatever made them is very fat and meaty"
"You're the boss" said Sokka, following
Back at camp Suki was preparing the broth for there food, she wanted to wait for the other to bring the filler. She cracked a few Chicken-Hawk eggs in… even just dropping a few into boil. Then with a few splashes of other seasonings she let her brew cook.
""Brrr-grah?" chirped Momo, dropping some vegetables near Suki
Suki looked down and smiled as Momo offered them to her. She reached down and rubbed his head.
"Thank you Momo" said Suki, pulling out her knife
Momo watched as Suki gave them a small wash, then cut them up for the ramen. Momo ran off looking for something… probably more veggies, getting Suki to laugh.
"Crazy little lemur" said Suki
"Gobble-obble-obble oink" cried the creature
Said creature stood on its two pig legs, covered in brown feathers. It had the body of a turkey with the head of a pig, with two pig tusks. Judging by its size, it was a juvenile… 75lbs
"A Boar-Turkey" said Ai, licking her lips "That's our dinner"
Ai turned to Sokka and Katara, signaling for them to follow her, yet spread out once in the clearing. Ai watched at the scrapped its hoof on the ground, digging it out… it bend down to start eating.
Ai burst from the bushes, hurling her kunai at soon to be meal. It sunk into its side, hitting mostly fat… but the beast still let out a squeal. The Boar-Turkey jumped high into the air, gliding upwards and towards a tree.
Sokka, being next to it, quickly started to climbing up it… Ai making a mental note to start tree climbing exercises. Sokka pulled out his machete, hacking at the limb a few times, getting the fat beast to drop.
Katara rushed up, water streaming from her pouch… it whipped around, and as Ai watch… something different. The water, freezing as Katara made her slashing motion… ripped into the Boar-Turkey's flash.
Yet another squeal burst from the creature, he scrapped its hoofs on the ground and charged at Katara. The beast flapped its wings as its feather ruffled as its anger came to a boil… Katara jumped out of the way, but the beast turned on a dime.
Once more Katara swung her arm, her water whipped around and down on the beast neck… severing it. Of course, its body thrashed around for about a few minutes before finally dropping dead.
"That hell was that, i thought Katara killed it" said Sokka
"She did… but it's nerve were still alive" said Ai "Now let's pluck and gut this bastard"
Zuko growled in irritation, everywhere he went… everyone he ask, just looked at him like he was stupid. Zuko let out another irritated sigh… he turned to his uncle, only to see no uncle. Zuko looked around the market, trying to spot his uncle… then noticed a boat dock.
The boat in question bore a Jolly Roger, the uniqueness to this pirates flag, was the skull was stout and slightly elongated, with three fat teeth. So after the drock, tiny black creatures pulled out sighs and the dropped the walk way.
A tan girl with purple hair soon stepped out, and started to dance.
"Earth Nation! Fire Nation! Water Nation! So long as bargains are your inclination, you're welcome here! Don't be shy, come one by!" sang out the tan beauty
Zuko slowly raised an eyebrow… some pirates, they're just salespeople.
"We have everything from weapons, to foods, to spices, to medicines and even artifacts" said the tan beauty
Zuko rolled his eyes, what does he have to lose. Zuko moved through the crowed and went to board the ship… the pirate girl in question turned with a smile, but soon flinched.
"Whoa… uh, i think we got something that" said the pirate
Zuko's eye twitched, he walked past her and boarded the ship. It was fairly large on the inside, as she said there were many items from all over. A sound caught his attention, he looked over to see, whom he supposed was the captain enter the room.
The captain, was none other than Risky Boots… self-appointed Queen of the Pirates. Instead of her usually attire, Risky was wearing something simple… yet still in the theme of the pirate. Zuko couldnt help but notice that her bra and pants looked like a skull as well.
Risky looked up from her scroll she was reading and flinched slightly at seeing him.
"Let me guess" said Zuko, pointing to his burn "Got something for it?"
"No… i was just surprise Shantae was able to ring a customer so fast." said Risky Boots, going to her counter
Zuko turned back at browsed, glancing at some weapons and armor.
"This is fire nation… where did you get it" said Zuko
"I appropriated it from its previous owner" said Risky
"So you stole it?" said Zuko
"Your words, not mine" said Risky
"Brrak… your words, your words" squeaked the Iguana-Cockatoo
"Now, if you ain't gonna buy anything… get the fuck of my ship" said Risky
"I do plan i buying something" said Zuko, approaching the counter "Information"
Risky cocked an eyebrow, then tapped the counter… demanding pay up front. Zuko obliged and put many gold coins on the table. Risky grinned and scooped them up, dropping them in her pets cage.
"Be a good boy Iago and count these" said Risky
"Brrak, better get payed for it" squawked Iago
Risky rolled her eyes to her pet, then looked back over.
"Ok… ask" said Risky
"Have you seen a Golden Vulture-Eagle lately" asked Zuko
"It's almost winter… those big bastard are migrating" said Risky
"I know… but i've heard those things are loyal, and will follow anyone, anywhere if there trust is gained" said Zuko
"So you're not looking to poach it? You're looking for whom ever's its master" said Risky
"Yes… now, did you see it?" asked Zuko "I saw it head this way"
Risky smiled, tapping the counter again… Zuko scowled for a second, refusing to pay more. Risky smirked and crossed her arms, her smirk grew into a full blown grin. Zuko slammed more gold on the table… knocking over Iago's coin stack.
"Son of a mother fucker" screamed Iago
"Did you see it" growled Zuko
"I did… from where i was, it looked like it flew inland… deep inland" said Risky
"Did you see anyone on it?" asked Zuko
"Who in the hell would be riding it?" asked Risky
"The avatar" said Zuko
Risky's eyes popped, then she started to chuckled and held her head as she went into a full blown laugh. She calmed down after a few moments, staring down a very anger Zuko… while she wore a untelling grin.
"Ok… now, i have literally seen everything" said Sokka
Momo, was standing on his hind legs, with small pieces of cloth on his front paws… cutting veggies. His tongue hand from his mouth as he diced them as small as his sharpened rock could.
"He reeeeally likes helping me" said Suki, she turned to see their prize "Hmmm, tasty"
"CANNONBALL" screamed Aang
The group looked over to see Aang, and Appa come slamming down into the water. The water exploded upward and outward… and swept over the camp, taking it out. The group stood there, soaked and enraged.
Aang grinned and rubbed the back of his head.
"Oops" said Aang
"Oops my ass" said Ai "You just washed all our gear down the river"
"And our kill" said Katara
"And our Ramen" said Suki
"I said i was sorry" said Aang
"No you didn't, all you said was oops" said Katara "Now we have to go to the market, because we literally have nothing now"
Ai sighed and shook her… wondering if this is what Uncle Kakashi went through training her father. No, her father was different… sure he got into trouble with his playful antics, but he never deliberately sabotage his team.
"Let's go to the market" said Ai, glaring at Aang "Again"
The scene has located since the two started talking, Zuko's uncle Iroh had joined them sometime ago, at a small restaurant… he was sipping his tea, listening in and reminding Zuko to mind his manners. Standing outside dinning area was Shantae, staying close to her captain… listening in on everything.
"I see" said Risky, tapping her hands in an arc
"Are you up to it or not" said Zuko hotly
"Zuko, manners" said Iroh
Risky held up her hand, calming Iroh. She smiled at Zuko with assurance.
"I play in Hurricanes and Tsunamis… like they're a little rainstorm" said Risky
Zuko grunted, unamused by her boasting. Risky closed her eyes, her fingers moved up and fell on the table a numerous times.
"To take on the avatar… would be a feat" said Risky, grinning "Of course… i do except pay"
Zuko head his head and rocked back, groaning.
"But i just... fine, fine, fine, fine" growled Zuko, pulling out a large bag of gold "Here, i feel i've given you more than enough"
"You want a mercenary, you pay big kid" said Risky "So, what's this Avatar look like"
"She is a young 10 year old girl" said Zuko, putting his hands on the table "But do not let her look fool you… she is more than capable of handling herself."
"I see" said Risky, sipping her own tea "And just how many elements can she bend at this point"
"All 4, and she has master them to unbelievable levels" said Iroh "and she is very skill in the art of deception"
"So, the target is a fully realized avatar? Hmm" said Risky, shaking the bag again "Seems light"
"Oh you bitch" said Zuko
"Zuko" said Iroh, pulling out his own bag of gold "You want the avatar caught or not"
Zuko's face twisted into a rage, this Pirate was bleeding him dry… Risky went for the bag, but Zuko place his hand on it.
"I want to be the one to finish her, got it" said Zuko
"I can't making any promises" said Risky "This is the avatar were talking about"
Risky stood to leave.
"You better get her" said Zuko
"I won't stop until i do" said Risky, turning with a deadly grin "Mercenary work pays good, so i give it my all, and never quit until the job is done… now, i think i'll need more info on the avatar"
Katara and Suki walking through the Market to find them some food and supplies, Ai and Sokka were punishing Aang for what he did. They had little to no doubt that he was gonna get ran into the ground… much like her intense training. Katara was think about Ai for a moment, Suki was looking at her and she saw little drool appeared on the side of her mouth.
Katara was thinking about dirty stuff because the way that Ai was training. The image of her sweating made Katara want to lick her clean. Then Suki started to giggle for a moment which made Katara lose her train of thought.
"What were you thinking just now?" asked Suki, still giggling.
"I-I-I wasn't thinking about anything!" said Katara, blushing.
Suki just giggle as they both continue walking to the market which Katara wipe away the drool from her mouth. She was still blushing because Suki must have put two and two together. They both manage to buy fruit and meat until suddenly... a water whip was heading towards Suki, but Katara blocked with her own bending.
"Who are you?" asked Katara.
"Names Shantae and I am your worst nightmare. Tell me where the Avatar is, and i might spare you, little girl." said Shantae, walking among the fleeing crowd
"Little?! You no bigger than me!" said Katara.
"Whatever, shorty." said Shantae,
Katara had a ticked sign on her head because she was called short again and her eyebrow started to twitch. Suki was about to say something but in her head tells her not to intervene. Shantae was laughing at her and hold her ribs because she was laughing hard.
"I AM NOT SHORTY! YOU FLAT CHEST!" yelled Katara.
Then Shantae looked down at her chest which she gasped and was shocked to see that someone knew that she had flat chest. She glared at Katara for a moment. They both were face to face which their heads was pushing each other back and forth to assume dominance and their eyes was shooting lightning.
"Shorty!" said Shantae.
"Flatty." said Katara.
"Shorty" said Shantae.
"Flatty." said Katara.
"SHORTY!" yelled Shantae.
"FLATTY!" yelled Katara.
Suki just had a sweatdropped and she just grin at the both of them. She was going to wait until they was done as they just continue with their name calling. Then Shantae just had enough with Katara and she started to waterbend which she attack Katara with a tsunami wave.
Katara bend some of the water and she counter with her own attack. Shantae block her attack and she freezes the water to stopped Katara in her tracks. Suki jumping in the fight and she took out her fans and she took her earthbender stance. She was trying to read Shantae's movement because she was trying to think two steps before Shantae.
Shantae bend the water towards Suki which turned the water into sharp ice shards which Suki had to use her steel fans to block the ice shards. She looked from for a moment and she saw that Shantae was gone. Suki was looking around to find her but she felt water hit her and she was looking up to see a giant bobble and Shantae was inside of it. She bend the water and she bust the bobble as the water and it came down hard.
Suki was trying to protect herself, but Katara manage to break free from her frozen prison and she bend a small dome for two people around both her and Suki. Shantae landed on the water as she bend towards the ground and she was looking at the two of them. She was greeted by a club, but she dodge it.
"Sokka!" yelled Katara "What are you doing here?"
"My gut told me something bad was gonna happen, so we came to help" said Sokka
Sokka was looking at her and he continue his attack, Shantae dodge with ease… almost making a dance out of it.
"Wait? Did you say we?" asked Suki
As Shantae dodged another strike, she was also greeted by a whirlwind of air and Aang was on top of the roof. He jumped down, but when he landed on an frozen ice water which he slipped and landed face first.
Katara was looking from the dome and she was shook her head. Shantae was laughing at him, but she let her guard down for a moment to be greeted by a kick from Suki. She was sent flying a few feet away from Katara and the others. She rise back up on her feet and she saw that the dome was open for Suki to strike her.
"Very good, but you guys didn't know that I didn't come here a alone." mentioned Shantae.
She whistle for her boss's crew and they swarmed from the building like Ant-Cockroaches with their weapons ready. They started to surround them which Shantae started laughing evilly. The band of pirates started to charge at them and they were waving their weapons around.
Sokka use his club and Machete to take some of them down and he was relief that the training with Ai would paid off. Suki use her fans to knocked one of the female's out cold. Katara was waterbending couple of pirates and she went after Shantae, They were having a waterbender fight and they were trade water attack after water attack. Shantae twirl her hands to get the water to shape like a snakes and she move her arms to get the water to attack Katara, but Katara blew a cold air to freeze the water snakes.
She waterbend a stream a water at Shantae but she knew that Katara was going to need more practice to match with her. She use her water attack to knock Katara a few feet from her while Suki helped her up. Sokka was backing away from the group of pirates and he had his weapons ready for another round. More pirates started to appeared out of nowhere which Sokka look like he just wet himself for a more pirates.
Sokka use some of his Taijutsu on some of them and he saw a huge pirate. He grabbed Sokka, but Sokka just smile for a moment and he grabbed the giant pirate's wrist and he flipped him which he landed hard on the ground. Sokka ran as fast as he could, but he was running circles around a group of pirates which they was getting dizzy and they all started to collapse to the ground.
Aang, finally coming to his scenes got up and he grabbed his staff. He summon a tornado of air to blew the crew and Shantae away. Quickly summoning a tornado under his friend lead them to the forest.
"Get up you idiots and get after them." Shantae ordered.
They all got up for a moment and he they chased after them. Aang was leading to back to the forest while the pirates and Shantae was hot on their trail. Aang airbender at tree down to get them a sip. The tree fell on some of them while the some of the pirates went back for them.
Shantae was looking around for a moment and she spotted Aang, Suki, Sokka, and Katara heading towards the water. She whistle for the remaining of her crew started to follow. Sokka stopped for a moment and he thought about the their training that they had done in the forest.
"Sokka, what the hell are you doing?" said Katara.
"Remember Ai's training in survivable?" asked Sokka.
"Yeah." said Suki.
"Let's use them to our advantage because these guys probably don't know the forest like we do." said Sokka.
"Probably? Sokka, thats a bit of a risk… don't you think" asked Aang
"The path we have chosen will be full of risk" said Sokka "We're enemies of the fire nation so long as we travel with Ai"
Katara, and Suki looked at each other for a moment and they smile at the idea. They started to separate while the Shantae and the remaining of large group of pirate started to split up. Some of them went after Suki, other went after Aang and Sokka. Shantae took three female pirates to chase after Katara.
Katara was looking running to the traps that Ai had set up for their training… presumable for later this day. She jumped over a pile of leaves. One of the females pirate jumped, but she was greeted by a homemade net, she was quickly flung to the river. Shantae was shocked to see the trap was sprung. Katara was further away from Shantae and two remaining female pirates.
They started to charge at her, but Shantae stopped for a moment while two pirates fell into the water and Katara use her freezing bending to freezes the water. Katara had a evil grin on her face and she was looking at Shantae. She turned her back to Shantae and she bend over and patted her butt. Then she stick her tongue out.
"Yar, I am Shantae, the flattest pirate of the sea." said Katara.
Shantae face boiled, and she started to water bend a Tsunami wave at Katara. Katara was running for her life as she had hit the Shantae's pride as a pirate. Shantae was hot on her trail because she wouldn't let Katara insults would not go unpunished. She waterbend a slash which it cut down a couple of trees and she manage to hit Katara which send her flying into a tree branch. Katara fell to the ground hard and she was holding her ribs for a moment because of the pain. Shantae was walking up to the injured Katara and she had a huge amount of water ready to strike Katara.
"Any last words, shorty?" Shantae asked.
"Yeah, How does it feel to get mistaken for a femboy." said Katara, grinning with a spot of blood dribbling down her mouth "Flatty"
That was the last straw and Shantae raise her hands the huge amount water started to come down on Katara, but a fireball destroyed the water. Shantae was looking around to see if there was a firebender and she was greeted by sucker punch by Ai. She landed on her back and she was looking up to see Ai was standing on a tree branch. She noticed that Shantae was sitting in water and she performed hand signs and her hands started to spark up.
"Lightning Style: Chidori stream!" Ai called out.
Then she shot the jutsu at the water which it shock the water and send a 100 bolt of lightning through Shantae's body. Shantae collapse for a moment and Ai jumped from the tree branch. She landed next to Katara and help her up to her feet. Sokka, Aang, and Suki came from the other parts of the forest and they was happy to see Katara was safe and Ai had come to help. Shantae woke up for a moment and she was looking Ai. Ai just show Shantae her hand and lightening formed around it which she had an evil grin. Shantae looked at Ai with fear in her eyes.
"Boo." Ai said.
Shantae scream and ran for her life. Her scream echo through the forest which Ai, Sokka, Katara, Suki, and Aang was laughing at her. Shantae was not the only one that was running out of the forest because all of the pirates was running. Some of them had burn hair while others had bear traps on their butts. They all ran back to their ships at the docks. Ai turned to Suki and Katara for a moment because she was hungry from using up her chakra.
"So, did you two get dinner?" asked Ai.
They both show her some fruits and meat and they all started to head back to camp to cook the food.
=== Risky's ship ===
Risky was looking at her crew because she was little disturbed at the sight of them. She was tapping her foot against the floorboard waiting for them to explain how why her crew look beating up. Shantae was shaking in fear of her captain.
"Care to explain why you all look like trash on the street?" asked Shanate
"Well, as you can see, Captain Risky. I lead the crew on an attack of a target of interest-" said Shantae.
Risky waterbend a whip to scare Shantae and her entire crew.
"So you started a fight… in the market, IN THE TOWN" said Risky
Shantae swallowed a lump, and nodded. Risky was looking at Shantae and her crew. She started laughing which Shantae and the crew started laughing awkwardly, but Risky grabbed Shantae which she bend her over her knee. She pulled down her pants and she waterbend a whip across Shantae's butt.
WHACK WHACK WHACK
"WAHHHHH... I'm sorry... WAAHHHHHHH... I'm sorry..." cried Shantae.
"What the hell were you thinking, i had to pay a hefty fine" scolded Risky.
WHACK WHACK WHACK WHACK
"Who pretell did you attack… whom could be worth the risk?" growled Risky, deeply upset over the 5000 Gold fine
"WAHHHHH... it was… was...the... WAAHHHHHHHH... The Avatar" cried Shanate.
Risky stopped the punishment… she put her hand on Shantae's sore ass, giving it a little rub.
"The avatar?" said Risky "Where is she?"
"Are you serious?" said Sokka
"Yes" said Ai, finishing her tea "They'll be back… but, this time there captain will be with them"
"Wait, wasn't that flat breasted girl the captain?" asked Katara
"No, she was the first mate" said Ai "The captain will come, and she will be vicious… They want me alive, you four would be collateral" Ai turned to them "Flee deeper into the forest, none of you are ready for an opponent of this caliber"
"Ai" started Katara, worried
"I'll be fine… now go" said Ai
The gang looked at each other for a moment, slowly they got up, packed their stuff on Appa's back… and had him flee into the forest. Katara looked back at Ai, to see her calmly stand up and cross her arms.
Moment past, and nothing happened… Ai quickly jumped into the sky as a massive wave washed into the shore, flooding the camp area and forest behind. Ai landed on the deck of the incoming boat, that pulled out just as quickly as he came in.
Ai opened her eyes, to see she was already surrounded by Risky's crew members, each one had either a pistol, sword or any kind of weapon. They either had a blood thirsty look to show how hungry for murder they were, look of rage mixed with smiles for the amount of gold on Ai's head and even cautious looks due to what the Fire Nation is willing to do to capture her.
Ai, however had seen these kinds of guys before, they were nothing but uncouth thugs unknown to what she's fought long before she met Aang and the others. However the one she noticed out of all of them was their captain, Risky, she seemed to have an air of power and authority around her, a little similar to Tanya from before but it held more of a greedy powerful air than a air of sadism like Tanya's.
"A mighty fine bounty on you, 50,000 gold pieces, 20,000 silver… and dozens of fire nation shiny gems." said Risky with a glimmer in her eyes.
Ai tilted her head hearing that from Risky.
"Shiny, what are you a crow or a sea cow?" asked Ai.
Risky smirked a little, she then gave a hearty laugh
"Ha Ha Ha, you're as funny as you are small" laughed Risky, getting Ai to growl a little at the joke "but I won't underestimate your abilities." said Risky.
She drew her sword, she then twirled in the air. Ai noticed that some of the water moved around a little when she did this.
'Is she a waterbender too, I'll have to wait to see and keep my guard up.' thought Ai as she got ready for a fight.
"Capture her boys, no killing, that's the order!" yelled Risky.
The pirates all charged at Ai with intent on beating her until she passed out, but Ai didn't care, as stated before she had seen millions of guys like this even before she met Katara and the others so this was nothing.
"Sending drones after me, I'll take these guys out first and then take out the captain." said Ai.
As each Pirate approached her she decided not to waste any chakra, energy or any actual effort on Risky's crew and opted out for simple Taijutsu to dispatch them.
One of the approaching pirates tried to stab her with a knife she stepped out of the way and grabbed his wrist, noticing one with a large hammer about to strike. She quickly tripped a pirate, then caught and threw him behind her hitting the tinkbat with the hammer making him fall over.
5 more tried to hit her, one tried to kick her head, another tried to attack her legs, two of them her sides and one tried to hit her with a long chain with an overhead swing, but Ai responded by dodging each attack as if they were moving in slow motion, and effortlessly knocks them out, she then takes the chain that was used to try and hit her.
"This could be handy." said Ai
Soon several pirates swung their swords at Ai but she uses the chain and whips them in the faces causing them to fall down in pain. Ai swung around then chain wildly, completely uncaring about her so called opponents, hitting them and rarely missing a beat. One of the pirates got brave and thrusts an iron staff in the chain's trajectory causing it to wrap around the staff.
"Got you, you miserable bitch!" said the tinkbat.
Several pirates took this chance to try and capture Ai, but all that came out of her was a simple sigh as she let go of the chain.
'These kinds of guys never change.' though Ai
She charged at the pirates and grabs one of their swords by the blade and takes her other hand and strikes him in the neck, she sweeps another's leg making him fall and hitting the ground, she kicks him in the side causing him to fly into other pirates.
The pirates then stop attacking fearing Ai's power, despite the fact that they knew she was the Avatar, even with the Fire Nation wanting her and Zuko paying them to bring her in with a large sum of money they had all underestimated the job that they were to do.
When they saw Ai they saw a little girl not capable of much but the bruises and broken bones of their comrades proved this to be otherwise. Soon the air was filled with doubt about this entire affair.
"W-We don't stand a chance." cried a tinkbat
"She's a monster, a Beelzebub!" cried another
"S-She really is the Avatar!" screamed the 3rd
Ai looked around and saw the fear that was plaster on the crew's faces, it didn't take long for her to psychologically bring them to their knees, she watched as they all began backing away and even tripping over themselves as they did.
However Ai was not about to let her guard down, despite the smell of cowardice being put off by the crew that had chosen to fight her, she still felt an air of power, of superiority that was trying to suffocate her until she drown.
"What's the captain doing?" asked Ai to herself as she looked at Risky,
She expected to see a look of discontent but Risky was just smiling, as if she knew something that Ai did.
"Well your more interesting that Prince Zuko let on" said Risky, lifting her sword in the air "I can see a born killer in your eyes, a bored one at that."
Ai noticed that the water was moving around again and even caused the ship to rock a little.
'So she is bending the water!' thought Ai.
Then within a matter of moments the water began swirling around simulating a whirlpool that rocked the ship more and more until it felt violent. Ai was surprised by Risky's amount of control and watched as her crew members were getting more and more scared as this was happening.
Then Risky stopped, causing the water to slowly go back to it's still motionless state after a while.
"She did that with just one hand, she's more powerful than I had imagined." said Ai.
The crew then began to run, Ai prepared for her to get charged at but in reality they were running for boats, water or land to get away from the ship, they scramble like cockroaches with the lights on
"Captains' going to fight run!" yelled one of them.
"What hell, they're afraid of her power?" questioned Ai.
Then in no time flat there was no one around them except for Ai and Risky, not knowing what to expect Ai had her guard extremely high.
"Now it's just you and me little shrimp, now with my crew gone I can even wreck my own ship to kick your scrawny ass." said Risky.
"What did yo-" started Ai
Before Ai could finish she saw water being sent toward her from her side view, she jumps out of the way of a stream of water that cut through some of the ship like a blade of water. Ai looked over and saw that Risky had already made the movements to bend the water even as she was taunting her.
'Slippery, she might be stronger than what I'm used too.' thought Ai.,
Ai decided to form hand signs, but as she touched the deck of the ship water pressure was shot at her like a cannon, as water and wood from the ship flew and scratched Ai's body she continued to form hand signs but Risky merely bends the water to try and hit her again causing her to jump out of the way.
'She doesn't want to give me room to attack, but she doesn't know about handsigns so that may do me good.' thought Ai.
"Dance you little bitch dance!" yelled Risky as she waterbeds, as if she's dancing
The water continues to fire at Ai who jumped out of the way like a mosquito dodging the swing of a human. Ai continued on this until she formed the hand signs for a jutsu.
"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" yelled AI.
Water came up from the side of the ship in the form of a giant water dragon, Risky looked at the attack and was impressed.
"Well well, that actually looks cool." said Risky with a smile.
"Keep talking pirate bitch!" said Ai.
The Dragon then tried to attack Risky but before it got close enough she moved in quickly and fluently like a raging river and created her own dragon from the water behind her causing it to clash with Ai's.
"Got her!" said Ai as she dashed at Risky to attack her as she was bending.
Ai's eyes flashed purple, showing her her death once more, so that she may avoid it. Ai grit her teeth and formed her handsigns as Risky's dragon had overpowered Ai's in an instant causing the dragon to dash towards her. The dragon overtook Ai's form, and was smashed, revealing a wooden barrel.
Realizing that Risky was more powerful than she appeared Ai decided to change her strategy up. Risky makes a hearty laugh and points at Ai.
"I think it's cute how you keep trying to fight knowing I'm much stronger." said Risky as she quickly raised her hands in the air causing a wall of water to rise around the ship.
Ai responded by increasing her numbers.
"Shadow Clones!" yelled Ai as she summoned several clones
However Risky did nothing but lowered her hands, Ai prepared to dodged any of the water but all that happened was that it crashed down on the ship getting them all wet. Ai wondered if this was a distraction but decided to take initiative before Risky had a chance to initiate her trap.
First Ai and her clones engulfed themselves in fire nature chakra to dry themselves off and then turned it off.
"So that's how you bend fire, I didn't see you take in any air though." said Risky.
'So she's been evaluating my movements too, she's not fucking around.' thought Ai, her eyes narrowed 'She's much more dangerous than i thought'
All of the Ai's took out a kunai and some focused wind chakra and others molded lighting release into blades and they all charged at Risky, but Risky quickly bent the water with strange movements, when she did Ai widened her eyes by what she had seen, water had risen behind her clones and presumably her as thorns and stabbed them in their backs, while the original Ai had ducked evading the attack and charged at Risky.
"No dice!" said Risky,
She waterbends a large wave from behind her, it spins into a typhoon that fires past Risky without even touching her and sends Ai flying back like a rag doll in a hurricane until she hit the railing of the ship causing it to break to pieces. Ai's body slumped a little over the edge of the boat but she saw that the water was rising up and she moved out of the way at the last moment to avoid the attack, rolling to the deck of the ship. As the water fell Ai felt like she was slipping during this fight.
"Close one." uttered Ai
She noticed strands of her hair were on the deck of the ship.
"Too close." patented Ai
Ai focused lighting release into her hands and launched it at Risky before she could make another move. Risky then quickly bends the water into large floating streams that split off and go into the water the block the attack, the crackle of the lighting and its light flickers as true heaven's judgement but doesn't not hit Risky.
"That was close." said Risky nonchalantly.
'She used her water to deflect my attack!' thought Ai.
"Did you honestly think you're the first lighting user I've come across." said Risky.
She quickly bends the water that was on Ai's body, turning them into blades that cut her all across her body, blood and flesh from each cut, the surprise attack that Ai was not prepared for.
'So this is a bending master!' thought Ai.
Ai didn't fall to the ground, though she had lost a lot of blood and was still bleeding. Kurama's chakra going over time into healing, but Ai was losing a lot of chakra.
"I have to counter attack." said Ai.
Just as Ai was about to attack, water collected around Ai's head and began to trap it in a sphere of water, drowning her.
She tried to fight it but Risky bends a large amount of water and causes it to assault Ai as if she's in the middle of the hurricane, fast, powerful and unforgiving the waves crash against Ai's body as if they were aiming to break her, combined with the fact that Ai was drowning, nothing could be done except for passing out.
Ai opened her eyes, she glanced around to no avail as she was blindfolded. The passage of time was lost to her. She went to move, but to no avail… she was hogtied and shackled down good.
She heard footsteps, she turned her head to the sounds… the steps were full of confidence, and pride. The captain.
"So… what now?" asked Ai
"Now? Now i hand you over to the fire nation" said Risky, lifting Ai up
"Don't you know what will happen if you turn me over" asked Ai
"I don't really care… i've got my pay" said Risky
"Then why even come after me, why not take the gold and run" asked Ai
"I gave my word as a mercenary, and unlike other pirate mercenaries I keep my word" said Risky "If i didn't… i'd be no better than a barnacle"
"What if i were to hire you?" asked Ai, seeing a ray of hope
"Sorry kid, no conflicting jobs" said Risky "It's bad for business… if you managed to survive the fire nation, and we meet again… you're free to hire me, so long as i'm not contracted to come for you again"
Ai remained quiet, after a few minutes she was soon plopped on the ground, like a sack of cabbages.
"Yea, just throw me on the ground" said Ai
"You actually captured her" came Zuko's voice
"I told you i'd do it" said Risky, a grin came to her face "Now… i believe we negotiated more pay, should i bring her alive"
Zuko frowned, begrudgingly he tossed her a sack of gold, silver and gems.
"The avatar… she's mine at last" said Zuko
"So, you couldn't capture me, so you hire someone else huh?" asked Ai
"So what if i did… your a threat to the fire nation" said Zuko "As my uncle would say, all's fair in love and war"
"Indeed, that is true" said Ai, clearing her throat "So, you pay your mercenary yet? Her job done?"
Zuko looked up at Risky, still deeply upset with the cost… but happy with the outcome.
"Yes" said Zuko
"Good" said Ai "Risky, i hire you to get me out of here… your reward will be mountains of gold"
Before Zuko could even respond Risky swung her hand up, bending water at Zuko. Zuko flew backwards and onto his boat, frozen to the floor. Then the boat was flung into the air, and into a tree.
"Nothin personnel kid, just business" said Risky, with a hearty laugh as she grabbed Ai, and jumped back to her boat.
As Risky sailed away with Ai, Zuko's uncle came out of the boat… groaning as he rubbed his back.
"Zuko, you really need to be more careful with your steering, i think you might have thrown out my… why are you we in a tree?" asked Iroh, then looked down "and why are you frozen to the floor?"
"I don't wanna talk about it" said Zuko with a sigh
"Hmm" said Iroh with a nodded, playing with his beard "So… has the pirate returned with the Avatar"
Zuko's eyes filled with rage, and he let out a scream.
"So is that a no?" asked Iroh
X
AN: Sorry about the delay