Chap. 6
"How do you do it Jack?" Osc said as he walked through the palace corridor a few hours later, Sparrow at his side. The bat had been assigned to show Jack the rooms of the palace, as it seemed likely the pirate would stay there until he could be sent back to his own world. Osc had taken to the task with all the joy and dedication that his relationship with Jack Sparrow would muster. It was for that reason that he had kept Jack away from all the treasury rooms.
"Seriously. How do you manage to keep getting to us, even when we're in another dimension?"
"Trade secret, mate." Jack replied, as he looked around at the majesty of the palace. "But I'd be willing to share if you'd tell me..."
"For the last time I am not showing you how to use the Shadowblade." The bat replied.
"Oh nothiing of the sort." Jack replied. "I simply wanted to inquire why you keep me alive to cause you trouble?"
"As I said, for some ungodly reason, killing you never seems to work." The bat replied. "No matter how many times we try."
"You wouldn't be planning something new in that regard would you?" Jack asked, as he motioned to Fuego, Tierra, and Agua as they walked beside them, flanking Jack on all sides.
"No. We just don't trust you." Fuego replied.
"Ah. All's well then."
Fue sighed, as the group passed the section of the palace where the murals of the past Fire Lords were kept. Jack turned his head then, and gogged at the huge paintings that stared down at him from on high.
"There's an angry looking sort, isn't it?" he asked, pointing up to a particular Fire Lord.
Tierra glanced up briefly, then said, "Dat's Fire Lord Sozin. He started a hundred year war with the other Nations of da world. We just finished it a couple months ago."
"Mm. Any relation to the boy we got now?"
"His great-grandfather. Why Jack? Little scared ta scam him now?"
"Just wanted to know if I'd be pressed in service. After all, a pirate needs his freedom. Speaking of which, is there a particular place that we're going?"
"Nowhere near the treasury. We're heading to the courtyard. Zuko told us he'd gotten a message that some friends of ours are arriving today, and I want them to know about you right off the bat." Oscuridad replied. "And Jack? My wife will be there."
At that, Jack visibly gulped, as the bat said with a grin, "Yes. She remembers you too."
The courtyard was a huge lush garden, with various plants growing all around, along with fountains, and a small pond. The Elementals and Jack stepped out of the palace and onto the grass, as Zuko, Jin, and a small number of guards stood in place, all looking up to the sky.
"These friends of yours... aside from yet lovely wife, what sort of people are they?" Jack asked, as they approached the procession.
"One is the Avatar, the spirit of the world in human form that helped to regain the balance of this earth." Agua answered. "The other is a Master Waterbender. Both can cut you to ribbons Jack. So do be on your best behavior."
"Wouldn't dream of anything else." Sparrow said, as he followed the glances of the otehrs. "So do these fine persons simply fly in or... Bugger!"
"That's one way to put it." Osc said, as the huge form of Appa began to descend from the skies. Jack was spellbound as the huge bison slowly landed on the ground, allowing his passengers to descend. AS the pirate watched, he whispered, "Which one the big mucky muck?"
"See the bald guy?" Tierra replied.
"The kid?" Jack said, as he watched the boy hug Zuko, while behind him, Bosque helped Katara and Luz down from Appa. "Doesn't seem to have much interest in the ladies? Not a uniek, is he?"
Oscuridad sighed, then moved over to Luz, who smiled at the sight of her husband.
"So, what's this big disaster that they had to call you away from me for?" the fox asked, as she embraced her husband.
"I heard about it from Zuko's messenger hawk. Have you been able to find anything out?" Katara asked.
"Agua was doing research. But something else has come up." Osc said.
"Really? What was so important that Mr. Research got pulled away?" Luz asked.
"Well,... do you remember the time we...."
"WHAT THE.... SPARROW!!!"
"Thank you Bosque." Oscuridad said with a grimace, as Luz's expression quickly darkened. Pushing Osc aside, she looked ahead to see Jack standing there, with an nervous looking of greeting, and a small wave of his hand. As Aang and the others watched, Luz crossed the field and walked until she was face to face with Jack. They stared at each other, until Jack finally spoke.
"You look great luv."
Luz actually smiled at that, but a second later, her fist flew across Jack's face with a crack, sending the pirate down to the ground in a heap.
"Hey! What was that for?" Aang asked, as he ran over to the fallen man. "Luz, he didn't do anything to deserve...."
"Oh yes he did." Luz said, cracking her knuckles. "In face he deserves a whole lot more."
"He uh, he got here through some sort of dimensional rift." Osc said. "Zuko's.... Zuko's granted him sanctuary here."
"Ah didn't think Ah's ever say this, but Zuko.... What the hell is wrong with you!" Bosque said.
"You told him about Jack.?" Luz asked, staring at the bat and the other Knights. "Everything?"
"He told me the whole story." Zuko said, moving to stand with the others. "I know that Jack is a pirate, but his crimes were committed in another world. I can't judge him for that here."
Luz gave no answer, just stared holes into Jack, as Aang helped him to his feet. Once the pirate was upright, the young Avatar turned to his friends and said, "Before anyone does any judging, I want to know exactly who this guy is."
"And more importantly, what did he do that was so terrible?" Katara asked. "Even if he is a pirate, you let him walk around instead of imprisoning him."
"His name is Jack Sparrow." Zuko said.
"Captain Jack Sparrow." The pirate corrected.
"Right, Captain Sparrow." Zuko said.
"If you want to know about him Aang, then come inside. We'll tell you everything." Osc said.
"And does he get to speak in his defense?" Aang asked.
"Of course." The bat replied.
Once inside, the Knights once again told the tale of Jack Sparrow, as Aang and Katara sat spellbound. Jack of course, entered in his own thoughts this time, ("No love, it was a thirty foot horn." "Two sea turtles. With hair from my back"). But eventually, the tale was told, and so Luz and the others looked at Aang, waiting for the Avatar to voice his opinion.
At first, Aang could only shake his head and say, "Wow." Jack replied with a large smile, which quickly faded as the Knights glared at him. Katara too, had nothing to say, but a stare. Finally Aang said, "So.... what are you going to do now?"
"Oh I don't know. Dedicate my life to the arts perhaps."
"Jack." Osc warned.
"I'm in the market for a purpose, as it were." Jack said. "It's rather hard for a man to have one, when what he was looking for is a world away."
Aang mused on this on a moment, then said, "I can help you with that. Why don't you spend time here, working with the Fire Lord? He's got a sea based problem, and you've dealt with a lot of weirdness in your life."
"Ah, scuse me, but would this mean me going out in a boat looking for a monster all by me onesome?" Jack asked.
"It would if I had anything to say about it." Luz replied.
"No. Even he has done things wrong, you deserve a chance to redeem yourself." Aang said. "I'm sure the Fire Lord feels the same way."
Zuko nodded, while Jack rubbed his chin, and said, "Well, perhaps then I can be inclined to help... given the proper motivation."
"Of course." Luz snapped. "And how much gold do you want this time?"
"Ideally more then I can imagine." Jack said. "But at the moment, I'd settle for a ship. And a crew to help me sail her."
"I can't let a pirate back out onto the open seas." Zuko said.
"Ah, but I have information that you need mate." Jack replied. "Or in a better sense, I have leverage."
"That remains to be seen." Osc said. "And if you think Zuko won't give you a ship, then we don't want you anywhere near one."
"Hey come on guys." Aang said. "I mean, he is a captain. He needs a ship. So why don't we just give a ship we can control?"
"Wait. You mean... put him in the navy?" Zuko asked.
"Who would know how to get pirates better then a pirate?" Aang asked.
Zuko pasued a moment, then said, "Aang has a point. Jack, I'll consider your request..... if you can help us with our problem. Agua, I want you and Jack working 'round the clock on this. That way, we know he's really helping out."
"You shan't regret this." Jack said, as Agua just sighed.