Here it is! Chapter 3 and the first appearance of Uncle Iroh the dragon of the west and the second appearance of the sharp-red eyed mysterious girl. Banzai!
Chapter 3: I know
The sky was clear and big puffy clouds were spread out across it. Appa yawned and drifted to the left "See! Even Appa is still sleepy!" Sokka complained and flopped down in the middle of the group. "Oh stop complaining! We'll be there soon and you can take a snooze there" Suki laughed. Aang, who was sitting in his usual spot, turned around to look at Zuko. "Isn't your uncle running a tea shop now?" He asked.
"Ya, and he's proud of it too. I think today is his day off. So it's a good time to visit him" Zuko opened his eyes and answered Aang.
"You know. I like that old man of yours" Toph smiled and gave Zuko a punch on his shoulder.
"W-what was that for?" Zuko rubbed his arm and glared at Toph.
"Dunno. Just felt like it" She shrugged and grins. "You look kind of stressed out….Just relax! " She stretched her arms and folded them behind her head and laid down.
"Aren't you in a good mood!" Katara pointed out and smiled.
"Guess So" Toph shrugged but looked down and blushed so no one can see.
-Ba Seng Sa-
"Uncle" Zuko called out as he knocked at his uncle's house/ tea shop. There was no answer and no sound from inside. Zuko looked at his friends and knocked once again. "Uncle! It's me! You there?" Suddenly, the sound of breaking glass alarmed the group. Zuko broke down the door to find his Uncle Iroh standing with the same black haired, sharp-eyed girl he saw just last night.
"Ah! My nephew! What a great surprise! What are you doing here?" Uncle Iroh greeted his nephew and acted as if nothing was unusual. Zuko stepped in between his uncle and the mysterious girl. His and his friend's eyes glaring at the invader.
"Hello. And who might you be?" The girl asked as she tilted her head side-ways.
"I am fire lord Zuko! The one you delivered the letter too last night!" Zuko roared at her.
"Oh, didn't recognize you with your hair down like that" The girl shrugged.
"What are you doing here?" Katara asked her eyes became narrow and glared at the girl.
"Nothing. Just thought I'd drop by and get a cup of warm tea" She looked at Iroh and bowed "Thank you for your time sir" and once again the girl vanished as air blew through the room.
"Uncle. What did she want from you?" Zuko asked as he gripped his uncle's shoulder.
Iroh looked at the group and sighed "Come inside and sit. And when everyone is rested, we will talk with some warm tea"
Aang looked at Zuko and nodded in agreement. "Woohoo!" Sokka yelled as he ran to the living room and flopped on the floor. Everyone followed behind and watched as Sokka grabbed a pillow on the chair and started to sleep. Katara, all red from embarrassment, just sighed as she watched her big brother act. Everyone sat at the table and looked at each other awkwardly. Iroh excused himself and left the room.
"So, um. Do you think she's a bad guy?" Sukki asked.
"I don't think so. I mean she's helping Zuko on finding his mom" Aang looked at Zuko and smiled.
"I guess" Zuko closed his eyes and crossed his arms.
"I have a feeling she's a bad person" Katara frowned.
"You had that same feeling with Zuko" Sokka spoke up, his eyes still close.
Everyone, except Katara, giggled or laughed. "Hey, His fault." Katara pouted and blushed.
"Anyhows, about that girl-"Toph was cut off when Iroh came back into the room with a tray full of tea and snacks. Iroh raised one of his eyebrows and smiled "What girl?" He asked.
"Ah, the one just while ago" Katara answered.
"Oh….."Iroh paused and started to pass out the tea.
"Yes?" Toph nodded her head.
Iroh looked at her then to everyone else. "Ah…."
Zuko opened his eyes and stared at his uncle. "What happened?" Zuko stood up and faced his uncle, eye to eye. Iroh gave a sigh and opened his mouth "Well,-"
-Few Minutes Ago-
Iroh stood at his kitchen sink and washed his hands. "May I help you?" He asked. A girl with long black hair and red sharp eyes emerged from the dark corner and smiled. "I'm surprised" She spoke. She had on a cloak with her hood down, and showing her face. There was blood dripping from her forehead and scratches here and there. "I need shelter for a few minutes" She stumbled foreword and fell to the ground. Iroh ran to her side and helped her up on a chair. Iroh looked at her and gasped.
"Y-you!" he uttered. The girl looked at him with confusion in her eyes. "you know me?" She asked as she wiped the blood from her eyes. Iroh nodded, he looked at her once more before walking over to a cabinet and pulled out a cloth and bowl. He poured some water in the bowl and heated the water through fire bending. "Can I ask how you got the wounds?" Iroh walked over and started to wipe the blood and bruises. The black haired girl flinched from the pain.
"I tripped" She lied and looked away, trying to avoid eye contact.
"Mhm" He played along.
"Anyway," The girl tried to change the subject "How do you know me?" She asked as she put her hood on after Iroh finished washing her face.
"Well" He started to say but then there was a sudden knock on the door and then a voice calling out "Uncle!" The two looked at each other then at the door. "I have to go" The girl tried to walk away. Another knock came and the same voice called out "Uncle! It's me! You there?"
The girl smiled and turned around just in time to knock the tea pot off the table. She looked at Iroh and whispered "Sorry" Just then the door was blasted open and a group of people walked in…
"So she just happened to drop by?" Sukki asked.
"Yup" Iroh nodded and took a sip of his tea.
"So you recognize her?" Aang asked.
"Yes, don't you Zuko?" Iroh turned to his nephew with a serious face.
"She seems familiar, but" Zuko paused and rubbed is temple "I just can't remember from somewhere!" Zuko ruffled his hair and took a sip of tea.
"Who is she then?" Katara asked.
"I think it's better if you find out yourself. Better for you and for her" Iroh smiled and took another sip of tea "I think this has got to be the best tea I have made!"
Everyone laughed and agreed with him. "So what can I help you with?" Iroh folded his hands and looked at the group of teenagers.
"Well, that same girl came to us last night and gave us this letter from Mother." Zuko pulled out the letter from his shirt pocket. He spread the letter, or so to say, picture on the table for everyone to see.
"This place…" Iroh rubbed his beard and tilted his head. "Is the place of our last family picnic"
"I knew it!" Zuko smiled but then frowned once more. "What do you think the message is?"
"To be honest, I don't know." Iroh closed his eyes and shook his head. "Maybe, you're mother is trying to tell you to meet her there."
Zuko's eyes widened and a smile grew on his face. "Where is it?" There was silence in the room for a few seconds before Zuko spoke again. "You don't know where it is? Do you."
"No. I can't recall where it is. It's been so long." Iroh grabbed his nephew's shoulder and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Don't worry. We'll find it." He reassured him.
"I know" Zuko smiled.
"Oh! I almost forgot. This thing fell out of that girl's pocket when she was here." Iroh pulled out a white and black metal from his sleeve. "It's Lu ten's Medal. I don't know how she got it though"
Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the round black medal Iroh held. It had on the fire nation symbol and his name inscribed on it. Aang took the medal and turned it over to reveal, on the back "Bravery for his nation" written in gold. Below it was a small hole as tiny as a grain of rice. "What's the hole for? Was it some kind of craftsmanship mistake?" Aang looked up and asked Iroh as he passed the medal to the other guys.
"I don't know, I just saw it a few minutes ago." He shrugged and took another sip of tea.
"I've seen this kind of material before" Katara spoke up. "When I was little. Gran-gran had something familiar except, in a bracelet form."
Sokka rubbed his chin and put on his thinking face. "The 'Black Hole' Tribe" He uttered.
"The what?" Toph asked.
"Some group of men in the northern water area. That's all I know" Sokka frowned and shrugged.
"We can ask Gran-Gran! Maybe she may know something!" Katara smiled and clapped her hands together.
"Well then, I guess we're going south!" Sukki exclaimed. "Here comes Team Avatar!"
So….how was it? I know kind of long but I kind of had to explain some stuff :P anyhow, chapter 4 will be on its way. School has started once again (boo) so it will take time! Thanks again and have a fantabulous….(is that a word?)….day =]
