WHOO! 5 Chaps and going strong! Shout out to RueBroadway, Talon88.1, charizardag, kitkat1327, Akriloth Warrior, mystery writer5775, Khajmer, Sora's Nobody (don't be intimidated, I am just a man)
ST. PETER: Sir, I think the Shibui guy gets it
GOD: OKAY, CALL OFF THE PLAGUES
MastaDrumma22, Luiz4200, and wtfbrunteesoftball. Do I really need to keep telling you I own nothing? Now without further ado on with the show
The Search for Shang-wēifēng
Chapter Five:
An Unexpected Rescue
"You just left her there?!" demanded Aang.
After an hour of digging, he Toph, Teo and Momo had managed to reemerge in the clearing he and Zuko had trained in earlier. They moved swiftly, keeping to the cover of the trees in case Azula had sent patrols along the canyon rim. When sun was sinking beyond the western mountains and raccoon-toads hidden within the grass and trees were chirping their twilight melody, the bellow announcing Appa's presence was heard by all and Teo spotted the bison flying overhead. Aang opened his staff into a glider and flew up to motion his animal guide down to where their other friends waited. After they had landed, he explained what had happened since their separation and asked where Katara was when he didn't find her among them. Predictably, he reacted badly when Sokka told him what happened.
"She didn't give us much choice after she spanked Appa," the warrior remonstrated. He was just as troubled by the thought of his sister in Azula's hands, and he already blamed himself for the whole debacle. He didn't need the Avatar's reproach to compound it.
Haru and the Duke were silent, but the expressions they wore couldn't have made their feelings more apparent had they howled in anguish. Appa groaned, forlornly shaking his shaggy mane.
Momo chirped sadly, from his perch on Teo's shoulder as the inventor's son bowed his head.
"How could you just leave her?" the Avatar shouted unheedingly.
"That's enough Aang," cut in Toph sharply. "You know Sokka did everything he could."
Aang lowered his eyes, regretting his harsh words. He knew that Sokka cared for Katara as much as he did, and was just as distraught over her capture. But if he lost her...if she...
He took a breath and steadied himself. He had already promised Zuko he would come back for him, and now Katara was included in that promise.
"Well," continued the tiny earthbender, cracking her knuckles. "Are we just gonna sit around with our thumbs up our asses or are we gonna go up there and spring Sunshine and Fussy-britches?"
"I don't know if you've noticed Toph," Sokka replied dryly. "But Azula's airship is huge!"
"I have not noticed, thank you," retorted Toph just as dryly.
"Right," said Sokka sheepishly scratching the back of his neck. "Sorry."
The blind girl just grinned in response, and mockingly waved a hand in front of her sightless sea-foam green eyes.
"It is big," agreed Teo speculatively. "But it moves slowly. We can easily catch up and outmaneuver them aboard Appa. It may have another weakness. It's not fueled by hot air."
"It's not like the war balloons?" asked Sokka, his interest in science momentarily overcoming his previous embarrassment over forgetting Toph's blindness - yet again - and worry for his sister.
"Before we were called to the Fire Nation," continued the inventor's son. "My father was experimenting with the lighter than air gas we stored beneath the Temple. I was looking at that airship and wondering how something so big can stay in the air, and I came to the conclusion that, while a steam engine may propel it..."
"The Mechanist's gas is what holds it up!" exclaimed Sokka excitedly.
"Exactly!" said Teo just enthusiastically.
The Water Tribe boy grinned. "Teo, you're a genius."
"No," said Teo, with mock humility. "You're a genius."
"No," repeated the warrior. "You're a genius."
"Hey, lovebirds," interrupted Toph. "Care to clue the rest of us in?"
"Absolutely," smirked Sokka, a mischievous glint in his eye. "We've got a plan that'll not only save Katara and the angry jerk, but shake Azula off our tail..."
Aboard the massive dirigible, Katara occupied herself with counting the sacks of rice, boxes of Fire Flakes, and barrels of dried pickles that were stacked all around her. The airship wasn't designed with prisoner transport in mind, so Ty Lee had just stuffed her into a storage room full of military rations and tied her to a chair. It was a small closet-like space made even more cramped by the piles of supplies.
Still it wasn't the worst prison she had been in. She was ashamed to admit that she had been imprisoned often enough to become something of an afficionado. She recalled that the bamboo cage she and Toph had been held in was far more cramped than her current quarters. And the Fire Nation coal-mining silo was cold and uncomfortable with their scratchy prison uniforms made of burlap. The crystal caverns beneath Ba Sing Se, on the other hand, possessed a breathtaking beauty and something of a romantic air...
She shook her head. There was nothing romantic about what went on in those catacombs.
She had long regained feeling in her extremities where Ty Lee had blocked her chi. Unfortunately that meant she could feel her cell mate behind her.
Zuko had also been put in the room, strapped to a chair, with his hands bound behind him together with hers. Needless to say, neither were happy with their close proximity to one another.
"Stop touching me!" she snapped, jerking her arms. "You made me lose count!"
"I can't help touching you, we're tied together!" growled the Fire Prince, jerking back. "And why are you counting at a time like this?"
"It's an alternative to talking to you!"
"Then why are you talking to me?"
"Because you made me lose count!"
"So it's my fault," retorted Zuko sardonically. "How original."
"It is your fault," snarled Katara. "Because you keep touching me!"
"Hey!" shouted the guard posted outside, poking his head through the door. "Keep it down! Don't make me come in..."
"STAY OUT OF THIS!" they both snapped at the guard, who shrank back into the hall and latched the door, muttering something about "scary demon faces". There was a silence.
I hope the others are okay, she thought to herself. Aang and Sokka were probably besides themselves with worry.
"Don't worry," whispered Zuko, as though reading her thoughts. "I'm sure they got away."
Just then, the door opened again, this time to admit Azula. Her pretty features were twisted into a smug smirk as she strode into the supply room, with the air of elegance and grace due a firebending prodigy such as her, to stand before her brother, who stubbornly met her gaze.
"Hello Zuzu," she sneered.
"Azula," Zuko replied curtly.
"What do you want?" growled Katara, turning in her seat as best she could to glare at the Fire Princess. Azula cocked her head and regarded the Water Tribe girl with something akin to curiosity. Then her amber eyes widened in recognition.
"I remember you," she smiled as she walked over to stand in front of Katara, who followed her with a wary gaze. "You were in Ba Sing Se with the Avatar." Suddenly her hand whipped out and grasped a tuft of Katara's hair, making her cry out in surprise and pain.
"As I recall," drawled Azula. "You came close to giving me the worst haircut of my life."
"I would have taken your head," snarled the waterbender.
A dagger of blue flame flared to life in the other girl's fist. "Is that so?" she smiled wickedly, bringing the flame close to the Katara's throat. "Perhaps, I should respond in kind."
"Leave her alone." rasped Zuko harshly.
"I see no reason why I should," said Azula, giving the hair a hard yank. Katara bit back another cry. She won't give her the satisfaction. "As far as I'm concerned she's just extra baggage."
"You need bait," explained Zuko. "If you want to lure the Avatar into your trap."
"Shut up Zuko!" barked Katara, never taking her eyes off the Azula's blue flame. "Just shut up right now!"
But the Fire Princess cocked her head to the side, speculation creasing her features. "I still don't see what I need with her," she went on disinterestedly, giving the Katara another hard yank. "After all, I have you, his new firebending teacher. Surely that'll be enough to set him running."
"I've lost my firebending."
Azula's dagger disappeared and her grip on Katara's scalp slackened. "What was that?"
"I've lost my firebending," repeated Zuko, steadily. "I'm useless to the Avatar."
Following a pregnant pause, Azula began to laugh, a chilling sound that seemed to lower the temperature of the tiny room.
"Now that's just rich!" chuckled the Fire Princess, releasing Katara's hair and walking over to face Zuko once again. "At least it would be, if I were inclined to believe you."
"You should know whether I'm lying Azula," said Zuko. "After all, you're good at it."
"Very true," smirked Azula, absently examining her nails. "But even if you are telling the truth," she went on, a blue orb of flame appearing in her hand. "You have yet to explain to me why I should keep her? Why not just incinerate her right now?"
"Because the Avatar," said Zuko, just above a whisper. "Is in love with this Katara."
"Zuko!" squeaked Katara, her face coloring. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Is that so?" said Azula, interest returning to her tone. She examined the Water Tribe girl appraisingly. "I can believe it," she finally stated. "Although I can't say much for his tastes."
Katara fixed her with a baleful glare to which Azula only smirked.
"What's the matter?" mocked the Fire Princess. "Afraid to chase after real men so you resort to cradle robbing?" She made for the door while the Katara seethed with indignation. "Alright Zuzu, I'll leave her alive...for now."
She knocked on the door and the guards outside opened it. She was about to exit when she paused.
"Oh, I almost forgot," she said turning to face her prisoners again. "What is the significance of the White Lotus?"
Katara prayed to all the Spirits that she had managed to hide the surprise and fear from her face. She knows! she inwardly lamented. Oh Spirits, she knows!
"White Lotus?" repeated Zuko. "Isn't that a Pai Sho game piece?"
"Drop the act," drawled the Fire Princess. "My men found the Pai Sho chamber and saw how the pieces were arranged. And did you think I wouldn't notice the empty slot in the center of the floor? Within a fresco of a White Lotus no less."
Katara mentally kicked herself for not thinking to at least close the slot they had found Guan Yin's scroll in. Zuko remained silent.
"Very well, brother," smirked Azula. "Play dumb as long as you please. It's the one thing you were ever good at. But we'll see if a visit to the inquisitors upon our return home won't loosen your tongue."
She turned, stepped through the portal and the door closed behind the Princess with an ominous thud.
"What the hell was that about?!" demanded Katara, once she was certain Azula was gone.
"I just saved your life," countered Zuko. "You should be grateful. Azula's cruelty is infamous. Torture has been her hobby since she was small. She would have made you beg for death before the end."
"That's not what I mean!" snapped the Water Tribe girl. Hobby? she wondered fearfully. Just what kind of upbringing did the Fire Nation Royal children have? "Why did you have to say that about me and Aang?"
Zuko turned to face her with the burned side of his ruined face, with his withered ear and half closed eye, and fixed her with a flat stare. "Well it's the truth isn't it?" he asked finally.
Katara could only gape at him
"You mean you didn't know?"he said incredulously. "It's obvious to everyone that Avatar Aang fancies you. I mean, how can anyone be so oblivious?"
"Oh, just shut up!" growled Katara, sullenly turning away from him to hide her blush.
"Just so long as you will," retorted Zuko.
"Fine," growled Katara.
"Fine," the Fire Prince growled back.
"Fine," gritted the Katara, icily.
"Fine," Zuko returned with equal warmth.
The guard poked his head in again. "Hey..." he began.
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUT OF THIS!" they both shouted in unison, and he shrank back out muttering "Just who're the prisoners here?" Another silence followed
"Look," sighed Zuko at last. "I managed to buy us some time but I can't bluff Azula forever. She knows about the White Lotus, or at least suspects its importance, and she won't stop until she figures out what it is. One way or another, she always gets what she wants. We're stuck here together, so we may as well work together on a way to get out of here."
"And how do you propose we do that, O mighty Prince Fizzle?" inquired the Katara dryly. "We're tied up on a flying ship full of soldiers. Even if we get out of here, you've lost your bending and your swords and they took away my water skins."
"You'll just have to trust me," whispered the Fire Prince.
"Trust you?!"demanded Katara in disbelief. "After everything you did?!"
"Yes," answered Zuko bluntly. "Unless you think you can count your way out of here."
Katara bit back a retort. He's right, damn it all, she thought darkly to herself. Why does he have to be right?
"Alright," she sighed in resignation. "What do I have to do?"
Mai stood beside the helmsman in the airship bridge, the perfect picture of a noblewoman; elegant, contrite, and perfectly bored with the world. And cold. Above all, she was cold.
Over to the side, Ty Lee had her palms pressed up against the glass surrounding the cockpit "oohing" and "aahing" at the sinking sunset, like a child gazing into a toy shop. The whole experience of flying still made her giddy.
That girl finds joy in the simplest things, thought Mai, finding nothing pleasant in this elevated altitude nor in the plethora of colors the fading light provided. I almost envy her.
The door opened and the sound of Azula's measured footsteps approached her. The helmsman visibly stiffened and gripped the ship wheel so tight his knuckles turned white to match his face.
"Steady as she goes my Lady," the slug of a captain saluted to the Fire Princess.
"Do we need a newsflash every time this ship does something?" drawled Azula dryly. "Just stay on course for the Fire Nation, I'm sure you can at least handle that much."
The captain just blinked stupidly and returned to doing what he had been doing before, standing around and trying to look important.
With a sigh, Mai made for the door.
"Where are you going, Mai?" Ty Lee asked, tearing her eyes away from the sinking sun.
"I feel ill," the nobleman's daughter answered curtly. "I think it's the thin air."
"Well," grinned Ty Lee. "You do look a little pale."
"Ha, ha," muttered Mai sourly. "I just need to lay down for a bit."
"Very well," said Azula. "Just don't make any detours between here and your quarters."
Mai paused to glace at her former schoolmate, shrugged and went through the door.
As she trudged through the hall, crewmen and firebenders and even a few engineers paused and attempted polite conversation, but she brushed them off and they swiftly went about their business. When she was sure no one was looking, she snuck into a supply closet and hid what she had recovered beneath her skirts, then continued her walk down to the makeshift prison quarters.
She found the two guards that were stationed both had their ears propped against the door, and were chuckling lewdly. Mai cleared her throat and the two soldiers straightened, turned to find her, and directed abashed gazes to the floor like children caught stealing candy from the sweets jar.
"Princess Azula sent me to relieve you," she sighed. Keeping her voice steady took an effort she had never needed before.
The guards exchanged curious glances.
"Is there a problem?" asked Mai, raising an eyebrow. Men respond to that, Ty Lee had told her. They usually assume they had done something wrong when a woman raises her eyebrow.
"Well," said one of the guards nervously. "Are you certain you can take care of them by yourself?"
Mai sighed again. She had asked nicely, now it was time to take an Azula-like approach. She pulled up one of her sleeves to reveal the shurikenjutsu device around her wrist and waved it beneath the frightened guard's nose.
"I think I can handle myself," she answered curtly. "However," she continued, turning her back to the flustered soldiers. "If you want to question Azula's orders you can talk to her..."
She left the sentence dangling like a hangman's noose.
"N-n-no," one began as the other stammered, "W-w-we're s-s-s-s-sure the P-P-P-Princess kn-knows wh-what she's d-d-d-doing."
She watched impassively as the guards almost fell over one another trying to get away. She reached for the door latch, then hesitated. What were those two listening to so intently before? After a pause she put her ear to the door and listened.
"Zuko, no..." groaned what Mai concluded was the voice of that Katara. "You're hurting me."
"Almost... got it," rasped what she recognized as her Fire Prince's voice, followed by a series of rhythmic grunts.
"Stop..." moaned the Water Tribe girl. "You're not... doing it right."
"I've done this before you know," protested Zuko. Mai almost squeaked. What are they doing in there? she thought. Wait. 'Done this before'? Done what When? With who
"No, no," breathed the Katara. "You need to ease it through there with slow up and down motions. There'll be blood if you just pound away like that."
Mai stifled a gasp. They weren't...no, no, no. Don't be ridiculous, she chided herself. They were both bound to chairs and besides, Zuko wasn't that kind of guy. On the other hand, she thought suspiciously. He still is a guy
Mai pressed her face into the door, straining to hear more.
"I don't understand," muttered the Fire Prince. "It's never been this hard before..."
What in seven hells?!
"Look, I'm just as impatient as you, but..."
Mai didn't hear the rest. Instead she straightened, cocked her stiletto ready for the kill.
How dare he? How dare he? the nobleman's daughter thought angrily to herself. He hasn't even been gone a week and already he's getting his rocks off on some Water Tribe...trollop
She recalled the letter he had left her. '...good of the Fire Nation and the rest of the world' my ass! I'll...I'll...
With a murderous snarl, Mai tore open the door and aimed her shuriken...only to find the Fire Prince and Katara still tied to their respective seats.
Eyebrows raised in confusion she lowered her weapon and noticed that the skin on Zuko and the Water Tribe girl's bound wrists were raw and irritated, as through prolonged rubbing against coarse rope. They were only trying to wriggle free of their restraints.
Of course they were, she thought sheepishly. I knew all along.
Praying that her face wasn't as red as it felt, she silently scolded herself for allowing the dirty minds of soldiers and her own assumptions allow her to believe that they were actually...
With another effort she had never needed before, she smoothed her features to their usual emotionless mask, and moved so that she stood before Zuko.
"Mai," he whispered.
"First thing's first," said Mai cooly. And she promptly slapped Zuko across the face with all her might.
The Water Tribe girl gasped and Zuko looked stunned.
"That," explained Mai curtly. "Was for leaving without saying goodbye."
Zuko only stared at her in bewildered astonishment, but the Katara girl regarded them both with curiosity.
"But," the Fire Prince finally protested. "My letter..."
"You thought that was an appropriate goodbye?" Mai demanded, again cocking her shurikenjutsu. "You're lucky I don't pincushion you right here."
Though she was careful not to show it, she was uncomfortable with discussing this in front of the Water Tribe troll...girl. But the Katara seemed content to stay out of the way and mind her own business, though she eyed the stilettos warily.
"Before I do anything," Mai went on coldly. "Just tell me - to my face this time - why you left."
Zuko blinked. "I already told you in my letter..."
"Mention that damn letter one more time," Mai hissed darkly as she aimed her darts considerably lower. "And you'll be able to join the Royal Fire Academy for Girls' choir."
Zuko snapped his mouth shut and flushed a little.
"I want to know," continued the nobleman's daughter carefully. "Why you left me."
Her Fire Prince blinked again. He's so clueless sometimes, Mai sighed inwardly.
"You are nobility," Zuko finally began after a silence. "You have wealth, prestige, and a close friendship with the Crown Princess of the Fire Nation. If you'd have come with me, you would have become a fugitive. A traitor beyond redemption in the eyes of the aristocracy. You would have lost everything. I was also reaching out to those who had once been my enemies, people with reason to hurt me and those who associate with me. I couldn't ask you to give up everything for me."
Mai studied him for a moment and finally lowered her shuriken with a sigh. "Yes you could," she whispered sadly. "You just chose not to."
Then she shook her skirts and something fell to the floor with a clunk. She bent to pick it up and Zuko saw that it was his dao swords. With icy grace, Mai drew them and crept towards him.
"Thank you," she said coldly, raising one of the swords. "For the opportunity to prove where my loyalties truly lay."
With a quick swipe she cut away the roped holding her Fire Prince and the Katara.
They stood slowly, gingerly rubbing their wrists and looking at her in disbelief. Mai then dropped the blades to the floor.
"Mai," whispered Zuko. "If Azula finds out you helped us..."
"That's not what happened," Mai smiled mirthlessly. "I came by, found the guards had left their posts and went in to check on you. I surprised you as you were trying to escape, then you overpowered me and tied me to the chair. I've known Azula for a long time, I know a thing or two about deception."
"Are you asking us to...?" the Water Tribe...girl...began before Mai interrupted. "We'll have to make it look good. The ropes have been cut so you'll have to use pieces of my dress. Be quick about it, before Azula gets suspicious."
"Oh," she added, grinning at Zuko. "You'll have to frisk me for my weapons too. I've quite a few hiding places."
Her Fire Prince blushed furiously at that and Mai smirked in satisfaction.
With her weapons removed, Zuko and the Katara set to work binding her, stripping off pieces of her skit and deftly binding her wrists and ankles. She also told them to gag her. Zuko wadded up a piece of cloth, but hesitated before putting it in her mouth.
"Mai," whispered Zuko. "You could still come with us..."
"Sorry Zuzu," she teased though there was no strength in her smile. "But too little too late."
"Thank you," said the Katara.
Mai studied her for a moment - She is rather pretty in a naive little girly sort of way, she grudgingly admitted. And what's with those huge ears? - then sighed, "Don't thank me. I didn't do it for you. You just happened to be in the right place at the right time."
The other girl made an unflattering noise and Zuko gently stuffed the gag in Mai's mouth then securely tied a piece of cloth over it.
Their eyes met and her Fire Prince whispered, "I'm sorry Mai."
He then turned recovered his swords and left the room, followed by the Katara, leaving the nobleman's daughter alone with her thoughts. Tears once again rolled down her cheeks and for once she made no effort to stop them.
What can I say? I've got a soft spot for goth girls. On an unrelated note, I've read your reviews, I've listened to your suggestions, and cuz you demanded it, my story will now feature longer, more detailed fight scenes, and a slightly meaner Katara, at least until our charming Fire Prince finally wins her over. While I tolerate other pairings I'm really a Zutarian at heart. I've already broken the heart of our favorite knife-throwing emo girl. Could Aang be next? And just what are Sokka and Teo planning? Tune in next time for The Big Leap. Reviews are my crack. Plz feed my habit. Shibui out!