[Edited as of 5/27/2014]
Binas: We are building upwards now, sorry if anything seems OoC... And I am also sorry for taking so long. Who wants to come to Lake Laogai for a swim with me?
Oh also great news, so far we have been informed by the source that Sailor Moon Crystal is coming in July at minimum. That is exciting cause I am not just a Naruturd, I am also a Moonie, Pegasister, Phan, Avaturd, and Inuyasha fan. ^.^ *Begins playing the Instrumental version of the Deutsches Playback of the Sailor Moon theme.* I don't just listen to the theme in English, ya know. I also listen to it in Japanese. Though I prefer my Anime in English Dub when I can get my hands on it.
More good news: IT'S SUMMER VACATION TIME! WAAAAHHHHHOOOOOOOO!
I will admit, I felt really bad about what I had to do to Jet in this chapter... Sorry if I upset any Jet fans...
Review time!
TheMagicManWithThePlan: Thank you. I am glad I was able to improve from your help. It still maybe a bit rocky, but I think I can start building upwards now. And of course I like characters that follow their own beat and nobody else's. It makes them seem more one of a kind. And yeah, the contest scene was a bit forced... That I agree on. Comedy is very versatile when it comes to covering something up.
Guest 1 May 13th, Chapter 1 and Guest 2 May 23, Chapter 1: He only has C1, working on perfecting C2, and he will be making C3 sometime later. I will not be adding C4 and C0 because that would end our story WAY too soon and make him overpowered. I like to keep characters at a similar level in power when I write so no one has more power than the other. I don't need people flaming to me about the power issues. And yes, he will be meeting Azula soon and clashing will occur. And yes, I agree, if I did allow C0, then he would use it.
Kingtutgaming, Yoshi Forever 51, and Cyber Orteck: Glad you guys are having a blast with the story! Azula will make her debut soon without a doubt. Let's say the clash will be rather explosive... ^.^ Aren't puns just an amazing work of art? XD
Please leave your thoughts in the reviews, and I may get back to you.
Did you know:
* That Deidara ranked number three on popularity polls, which was one rank higher than Naruto at the time, after his first appearance? That's pretty impressive if you ask me. Talk about bombing the charts.
*That one of America's nicknames, "Canada's underwear", is a response to Americans for calling Canada "America's Hat"?
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The floor was littered with papers. Not just any papers, horrendous doodles. It was hard to tell exactly what the doodles were of but one thing was for certain, Sokka was the one drawing them. As Sokka was finishing up one of the doodles, Aang, Katara, and Deidara burst into the house with stack loads of papers. These papers had very precise drawings of Appa on them.
"We found a printer to make our wanted posters!", Katara said as Aang and Deidara held up some of them to show Sokka.
"Not my style but they are rather well detailed.", Deidara said.
"Hey! I thought it was my job to make the wanted posters!", Sokka complained and held up one of his crude doodles with a proud smile, "I have been working on my Appa!"
Katara tried to hold back her laughter. Aang was disappointed at the horrendous depiction of his friend. Deidara was another story. He was ticked off at the picture.
"What the heck is that suppose to be, hm?!", Deidara asked as a vein pulsed in his forehead.
"Sokka, the arrow is suppose to be on his head, not his butt!", Aang said.
Sokka took a look and turned the paper a bit. He pointed at what they thought was not Appa's head. Mostly likely, what they thought was Appa's butt.
"It's Appa and this is his head!", Sokka said.
'Your such a crappy artist, Sokka!', Deidara thought in disgust.
"That looks more like a reject than Appa, hm!", Deidara said and crossed his arms.
Katara took a closer look at Sokka's doodles ad found one that confused her yet amused her a bit.
"Why are Appa's feet on his head?", Katara asked.
Sokka snatched the picture from Katara. He slouched in humiliation.
"Those are his horns! I haven't seen the guy in awhile, okay?", Sokka said in defense before sighing.
"I say you got his exact appearance!", Toph said in a mocking tone.
"Why thank you Toph, I really...", Sokka said then realized that Toph was messing with him again, "Did you really need to do that?"
"Let's stick to the professional posters.", Katara said.
Deidara snatched the horrendous doodles from Sokka and made mince paper out of them as he ripped the horrors to shreds. Sokka didn't even bother to complain due to his bruised pride. He walked over to the window and chucked the torn paper into the neighbor's yard. The neighbor of said yard began complaining.
"YEAH WHATEVER! IT'S YOUR PROBLEM NOW, NOT MINE!", Deidara hollered and snickered as more complaining reached his ears, "ENJOY THE CRAP-WORK, HM!"
Sokka sulked a bit in the background. Deidara didn't give a care as he continued to mock the neighbors for their laziness when it was really the other way around in terms of who was lazy.
"Cheer up Sokka, let's get busy!", Aang said as he held up the stacks of fliers, some of which went flying.
Fliers went flying all over Ba Sing Se as Momo, Aang, and Deidara tossed them all over the city from the skies, from the Lower Ring to the Upper Ring. This confused a lot of people at first until they took a look at them. Deidara however, made his dispensing methods rather obnoxious and unorthodox...
"YOU LITTLE SON OF A BUZZARDWASP!", One woman yelled when she found Deidara dumping an entire bag of fliers into her backyard.
"Thanks, I get that a lot, hm. I will take it as a compliment.", Deidara said with a cheeky smirk as he hopped onto another roof to bother the next family.
Aang landed on a nearby roof and saw Deidara tormenting the woman with the fliers. He was surprised and shocked at what Deidara was doing.
"Deidara! What are you doing?!", Aang shouted, "Were suppose to drop the fliers!"
"That's what I am doing.", Deidara said and continued what he was doing as his clay bird began to help out in the 'fun' too, "Besides, this is rather amusing... Maybe some fliers on that guy... That area looks a little dull..."
"I didn't mean bothering everyone with them!", Aang said and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Come on, I finished dropping my fliers and you had enough fun with your's. Besides, your wasting them."
Aang grabbed Deidara, dragged him onto his glider, and took off. Deidara's clay bird cocked its head in confusion and returned itself into one of Deidara's clay pouches as a blob of clay. Deidara gave an annoyed look, not very happy that Aang spoiled his 'fun'.
After what seemed forever of being dragged across Ba Sing Se by Aang, Aang landed in front of their house. Aang and Deidara entered the house to see Sokka and Katara playing something similar to Shogi. Toph however, was lounging against a wall using her Seismic Sense to 'watch' the game.
"We finished dropping the fliers. Well, in Deidara's case, tick off a bunch of people.", Aang said and came over to he game board, "So, did anyone come in with news on Appa?"
"It's only has been a few hours. Try to be patient, Aang.", Katara said.
Aang laid his head on the table that the game board was on. Deidara decided to head into the next room, but before he could step through the doorway, someone knocked on the door. Aang perked up in excitement.
"Wow! Patience really pays off!", Aang said and raced to the door just find the first Joo Dee they meet, "Joo Dee?"
Deidara winced when he heard that name. That woman was way too happy for her own good. Oh how he wanted to brutally get rid of her and her irritating peppy attitude.
"Hello Katara, Sokka, Aang, Toph, and Deidara.", Joo Dee said.
"What the heck happened to you? Where you thrown in jail by the Dai Li?", Sokka asked.
"Jail? Of course not! The Dai Li are only the cultural protectors.", Joo Dee said.
"But you disappeared at the party.", Toph said.
"I merely went to Lake Laogai, out in the country.", Joo Dee said, "It was a really refreshing vacation."
"You weren't gone long enough... Again, hm...", Deidara muttered under his breath as he decided to come to the front door.
"They also replaced you with another woman who claimed to be you.", Katara said.
"I'm Joo Dee.", Joo Dee said in surprise.
Aang raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you here?", Aang asked.
"Dropping fliers and putting up posters is illegal without proper clearance within Ba Sing Se.", Joo Dee said as she held up one of the many fliers that were distributed, "It's also illegal to torment people with them."
Deidara blew on his bangs, giving a 'I don't care' look to Joo Dee.
"I can do whatever I want, hm.", Deidara said.
"We can't wait around for permission for everything!", Sokka said.
Joo Dee gave a blank smile as she looked forward at all of Team Avatar.
"You are strictly forbidden by the rules of Ba Sing Se to continue putting up posters and dropping fliers.", Joo Dee said.
Aang got up in Joo Dee's face as he turned red with anger. If Aang could use Jutsu, he would be using Big-Head Jutsu right now.
"WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE RULES AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO ASK FOR ANY PERMISSION! WE WILL FIND APPA ON OUR OWN AND YOU WILL NOT GET IN OUR WAY!", Aang shouted and slammed the door rather loudly on Joo Dee's face.
Aang began to cool off from his outburst. Deidara picked at his ringing ears, trying to unclog them from the insane volume.
'Man... Aang can really shout...', Deidara thought.
"That might bite us in blubber later...", Sokka said.
"I don't care! From now on, we do whatever we can to find Appa.", Aang said.
"YEAH! LET'S BREAK SOME RULES!", Deidara and Toph cheered.
Deidara threw several clay spiders into a wall. Toph launched several boulders at another wall. Both rule breakers destroyed said walls in a brutal manner, leaving gaping holes on each side of the house. Aang, Katara, and Sokka exited the house and stared at the destruction that Deidara and Toph caused in shock.
"Should we separate those two? I don't want to die in my sleep...", Sokka said as he shrunk back a bit.
Inside, Toph and Deidara grinned at the mess they made. Maybe they could have some fun together later.
Later...
Deidara was prohibited from tossing fliers from the sky, and was forced to gluing the posters. He was not very happy at first, but he did find some rather... creative methods for them too...
"YOU LITTLE TURD! THIS ISN'T FUNNY!", A man shouted as he chased Deidara all over the street.
"I think it is!", Deidara said as he ran, "Besides it makes you look a whole lot more decent, hm!"
The man that Deidara decided to torment was a strong Non-Bender who unfortunately had posters glued all over his torso. He looked beyond ticked. He nearly managed to grab Deidara several times, just only grab, much to his bewilderment and anger, a clone. The clones either disappeared in a puff of smoke, or melted into clay every time the man tried strangling them.
The real Deidara, however, was hiding on a rooftop, amused by the scene he caused. He got a good laugh out of one clone's idea of putting a glue mustache on the man. Another clone decided to force the man into giving him a piggyback ride, in a rather brutal way.
At that moment, Sokka and Toph came around the corner and Sokka was shocked by the events going on, and the two remaining clones that were climbing all over the man. One was yanking on the guy's hair while the other was holding a brush that was covered in glue. Sokka ran forward with his hands up in a 'stop it now' manner.
"STOP! STOP! Deidara, I mean... Gah, this so confusing! Listen, just leave the man alone!", Sokka shouted.
"What if we don't want to?", Clone #1 asked.
"Yeah!", Clone #2 said.
Sokka winced and grabbed both clones by the ponytails, and dragged them off the man. The clones smirked and melted into clay puddles. Sokka groaned in aggravation, not amused that Deidara was messing with him. Little did he know, Deidara was still hiding on the rooftop behind him. Toph noticed he was there but didn't call him out.
"I am never going to trust Deidara with glue again...", Sokka said, noticing the glue mustache on the man, who was now leaving.
"You can say that again, but that was genius!", Toph said with a big grin.
"Who's side are you on Toph?", Sokka asked in annoyance.
"I am sure as heck that I am not on your's!", Toph said, making Sokka fume briefly.
In the alley behind Deidara, a large wave of water came about, shifting into spears of ice as it crashed into the alley's dead end. Deidara saw Toph and Sokka run towards the next alley, and decided to turn around. He saw Katara using her Waterbending to pin a boy to a wall. Deidara jumped off the roof and landed behind Katara.
Once Sokka and Toph made it to the alley, Sokka saw Deidara, but restrained chewing him out when he saw Katara's posture.
"Katara, what's going on?", Sokka asked.
"Jet's back...", Katara said with grimly.
Deidara looked at Jet, who was pinned to the wall by several ice spears. Jet had very shaggy, dark, unkempt hair, a baggy red jacket with navy blue sleeves and mismatched shoulder plates, and baggy dark red pants that had some metal plates covering the thigh region. Of to the side were what looked like hooks made for battle. Most likely a form of swords in that manner with small daggers at the butts of the weapons.
"Don't trust what Jet says, he could just be leading us into a trap.", Katara said.
"But we don't even know why he's even here!", Sokka said.
"I don't even know who he even is, hm.", Deidara said.
"I don't care why he is even here, it doesn't matter if you know him or not! Whatever his reason is, it isn't for a good one!", Katara spat.
"How do you know?", Deidara asked.
"We meet before.", Katara said with venom.
"I am here to help you find Appa!", Jet said and let go of a flier.
Everyone looked at Jet. Aang thought on it for a moment and looked at everyone.
"Maybe we should give him a chance to hear what he has to say, Katara.", Aang said.
"I promise you I have changed. I was troubled and I let my anger out of control. Heck, I don't even have the gang now! It's all in the past!", Jet said.
"You're lying!", Katara spat.
Toph walked up to the wall that Jet was pinned to, and felt it.
"He's not lying.", Toph said.
This confused Deidara. He has seen many methods for lie detecting, but feeling a wall for it was not one of them at all. He was used to hearing about the infamous psychological torture that is used by the Hidden Leaf and other methods like it. This was a whole new method all together.
"How can you tell?", Sokka asked.
"I can feel his heart and breathing rate. When someone lies, there's a reaction, causing it to become irregular. There was none of that, so he was telling the truth.", Toph said as her hand left the wall and she backed away.
'Interesting. Too passive for my tastes, but really effective.', Deidara thought then shuddered, 'More than that one method used by that one Hidden Sand Jonin.'
"We don't have any leads. If Jet claims he can take us to Appa, then we have to check it out.", Aang said.
"I agree. Besides, Lie Detector here proved he was not lying at all.", Deidara said chucking a thumb at Toph.
"If you are trying to give me a nickname, I think you did well for an amateur.", Toph said.
"Alright...", Katara said but quickly shot a glare as she stabbed her finger at Jet, "But we got our eyes on you!"
Later...
Jet lead Team Avatar into a large stable like building. It was devoid of animals, which was weird considering it's purpose. There was hay, hair, and fur scattered all over the place. There was an old man who was sweeping up said debris. Deidara looked at some of the debris. He saw that it was familiar. It was very similar to Appa's.
"This is the place I heard about.", Jet said.
Katara got into a Waterbending stance as she glared at Jet.
"If this is a trap I will-!", Katara began but was cut off.
Jet turned around and faced Katara.
"I already told you! I work nearby and I happened to hear about the fact they had a huge furry guy and I figured it might have been Appa.", Jet said.
"I think this might be his fur, hm.", Deidara said showing some of the fur he found.
Toph crossed her arms, still holding the fur she found.
"You beat me to calling it, Hot Fuse.", Toph grumbled, "But from what I can tell, he was here."
"We missed him...", Aang said sadly.
"They took that big shedder yesterday. Exported him to some island. About time they got rid of him, I have been having to deal with his shedding.", The old man said.
"What island? Where's Appa?", Aang asked as he excitedly went to the old man.
"The Foreman mention that some royal family on Whaletail Island purchased him. Most likely for a circus but they could also just want the meat.", The old man said.
"We have to get to Whaletail Island!", Aang said at first being determined but fell into confusion, "... Wait, where's Whaletail Island?"
Sokka pulled out a world map. Deidara took a look over Sokka's shoulder.
"Far away... Very far away...", Sokka said sadly and showed everyone the map and pointed to a small Island that was near what seemed to be this world's South Pole, "Here it is, Whaletail Island. It's near the South Pole, almost all the way back home."
"It would take us weeks to get to the southern tip of the Earth Kingdom. Then we would have to find a boat to take us from there.", Katara said, "Or hope Deidara can maintain his clay birds for that long distance."
Deidara narrowed his eyes at what he heard. Something didn't sit right and he knew it. This seemed too fishy.
"Something tells me this is a wild goose chase with a decoy. If we went after Appa and he is not there but some fake, then we would have gone for nothing, hm.", Deidara said, "It sounds similar to what I would do to get a bunch of Tracker Nin off my trail."
"I don't care. We have a chance to find Appa, even if it's a small one. We have to try!", Aang said.
"Must be nice to go to an island. I haven't had a vacation in decades.", The old man said.
"Don't you have sweeping to do?", Katara asked.
"Shuffle on, I get you. No more need for Old Sweepy.", The old man said.
"I think Aang is right. Even if this just a wild goose chase, Appa's our main concern. We can come back when we have him.", Katara said.
"Alright, let's get moving.", Sokka said.
Sokka, Aang, and Deidara began to leave the stable, as Jet, Katara, and Toph remained behind a bit longer.
"We are finally leaving Ba Sing Se! Winner of the Worst City on Earth Award!", Toph cheered.
"Let me come with you.", Jet said.
"We DON'T need your help.", Katara spat as she crossed her arms.
"Why don't you trust me, Katara?", Jet asked before following Aang, Sokka, and Deidara.
"Oh I wonder...", Katara said with harsh sarcasm.
"Was Jet your boyfriend or something?", Toph asked making Katara's heart rate rapidly increase and her face to fill with blush.
"What?! HECK NO!", Katara said.
Toph pointed at Katara with a large grin. She was obviously getting satisfaction out of this.
"I can tell you're lying!", Toph sang, causing Katara to run off.
Everyone once everyone had left the large stable, Jet and Team Avatar began to walk to the nearest train station.
"Okay, we will ride the train to the outer wall then we will go from there on Deidara's birds.", Sokka said.
"Who said I was gonna let you guys ride on them?", Deidara asked in annoyance, "I still think this is hoax."
"Will you at least consider the possibility that Appa is there?", Sokka asked.
"Consider the possibility of me kicking you off my clay birds, hm.", Deidara retorted.
Sokka raised his hands slightly in a defensive manner.
"Okay, okay! No need to get that way!", Sokka said, "Besides, I am not ready to become a splat mark on the Earth."
"Let me know when you are and we can arrange something.", Deidara said.
"JET!"
Everyone turned around to face the voice that sounded. Two people, a boy and a girl, ran up to them in their own form of excitement. One was a small girl wearing tomboyish light armor with a well worn, red breastplate, a blue pelt-like thing hanging off her waist, long gray sock-like shoes, and mismatching shoulder plates. The boy had a conical hat on his head and wore a blue haori , blue capris, and long off white sock-like shoes.
Katara then turned her spiteful attention to Jet, who was confused.
"I thought you didn't have your gang anymore!", Katara said harshly.
"I don't!", Jet said as the girl crashed into Jet's arms and hugged him.
"We were so worried!", The girl said in relief that Jet was okay, "How did you escape from the Dai Li?"
Katara's face clouded in shock. She was not expecting that. Deidara narrowed his eyes, things were fitting together just how he thought they would. He secretly gave the 'I was right/I told you so' look.
"The Dai Li?!", Katara asked.
"I have no idea what Smellerbee is talking about!", Jet said.
"Longshot and I saw the Dai Li arrest Jet a couple of weeks ago!", Smellerbee said.
Jet showed more confusion. It was genuine.
"Why would I be arrested? I have been living in the city without any problems.", Jet said.
Toph placed her hand on the ground and felt the vibrations of Jet and Smellerbee's heart rate and breathing. They both remained normal and as if, both were not lying. This confused Toph greatly. Deidara was now becoming a bit prideful on the outside as the situation turned up more kudos to his previously ideas of what was going on. He didn't have an outburst nor did he break out into a boastful dance, though.
"This doesn't make any sense. They both seem to be telling the truth.", Toph said.
"Impossible!", Katara said.
"It's not. Remember earlier when Deidara thought Joo Dee was brainwashed? That could be what's happening here! Jet has been brainwashed!", Sokka said and jabbed his index finger in Jet's direction.
Jet had no clue what was going on. He thought the world had gone insane on him. He looked all over the place and at everyone. He backed away, trying to get away from what he thought was the mad house.
"What?! That's crazy!", Jet shouted, "STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
Everyone closed in on Jet, ensuring that he didn't escape. Jet then looked down and saw he stepped in something. It was clay... Deidara's clay. It then slid up Jet and bound him by the legs and torso. Jet began to struggle.
"Don't worry. It won't blow up unless you try something like, oh let's say, escaping, hm.", Deidara said.
That didn't ease Jet's nerves at all. It in fact made him more anxious.
Later in a secluded building...
Jet sat on a stool, no longer bound by the clay. Instead, he was surrounded by clay spiders, much to everyone's unease and discomfort.
"The Dai Li must have sent Jet to get rid of us.", Katara said, "Same with the janitor."
"Maybe you guys will listen to me next time.", Deidara said.
Katara resisted the urge to Waterbend a snowball at Deidara's smirking face. He was being too smug at the wrong moment for his own good.
"So that means they have Appa somewhere in the city. Perhaps in the same place they took Jet!", Aang said then faced Jet, "Where did they take you Jet?"
"Nowhere! I have no idea! I don't know what you guys are talking about!", Jet said, just for a clay spider to blow up, shocking Jet, "What was that?!"
"Deidara! Knock it off! We are trying to undo the brainwashing, not blast him to bits!", Toph said.
"Whatever.", Deidara said.
"Okay back on track, we need to jog his real memories. Any ideas?", Aang said.
"Maybe Katara should kiss him! That might bring something up!", Sokka said with a teasing grin.
Katara slapped Sokka, obviously not amused.
"YOU should kiss him.", Katara said.
"Hey, it was just an idea!", Sokka said defensively.
"A bad one.", Aang said as a small amount of jealousy emitted off of him.
"I've got it!", Sokka said.
Sokka rushed to a nearby mattress, plucked out a piece of hay, and shoved it into Jet's mouth as if it were a chewing twig. Jet was not amused as Sokka smiled, thinking his idea was working. Deidara rolled his eyes, this was by far, the stupidest idea he has ever seen in action.
"It's not working.", Jet said and spat the piece of hay at Sokka in annoyance.
"Of course it's not, because it was a lousy fashion tip instead of an actual idea, Hm.", Deidara said crossing his arms.
"Shut up!", Sokka snapped.
"Try thinking of something from your past that sets off your emotions.", Toph said.
"The Fire Nation. Think of what they did your family and village.", Smellerbee said.
Longshot nodded in agreement to this suggestion.
"Close your eyes and picture it.", Katara said.
Jet did just that. Sweat fell from his forehead. His face scrunched up in pain.
"I can't, it's too painful.", Jet said.
Katara stepped forward and bended some water out of her Waterbending pouch.
"Maybe this will help some.", Katara said.
The water coated Katara's hands and began to glow an eerie icy blue. She placed her glowing hands on Jet's temples. The soothing water seemed to erase the pain the thoughts were causing. Deidara was surprised at the technique she was using, with just water. He was used to seeing water related techniques and Jutsu being used for combat purposes, but for healing, that was different. The healers he had seen used only Chakra to heal, not water.
Jet's eyes eased open. He seemed a lot calmer now.
"The location is coming back to me... They took me to their headquarters... It's under a lake...", Jet said.
"Hold on! Remember what Joo Dee said? She said she went on vacation to Lake Laogai!", Sokka said.
Jet shoot up, obviously the name of the lake seemed to be ringing a bell.
"That's it! Lake Laogai!", Jet said.
Later at Lake Laogai...
The lake was rather large and was flowing softly against the small breeze. Sokka turned to Jet.
"So where is this secret headquarters?", Sokka asked, making Deidara face palm.
'How could you forget already?!', Deidara thought.
"Under the lake I think.", Jet said.
"There's a tunnel right over there by the shoreline.", Toph said pointing near the shoreline off to the side.
Toph whistled as she walked over to the place she was pointing and used her Earthbending. A platform rose out of the water, complete with a sewage like cover at the end. She Earthbended the cover off to the side. It was most definitely covering a tunnel.
Everyone went down the tunnel in a single filled line. Everyone that is, minus Momo, who flew away from the eerie sensation the tunnel emitted.
Team Avatar, Jet, Smellerbee, and Longshot walked along the hallways, gazing around. Many of the things about this place sent shivers down everyone's backs like icy water from the South Pole.
"It's all coming back to me...", Jet said, breaking the eerie silence, "I think there maybe a cell that is large enough to hold Appa in up ahead."
At that moment, everyone passed a room filled to the brim with young women and a Dai Li Agent. Deidara figured it was a room for 'reprogramming' the brainwashed females that the Dai Li got their hands on.
'So Joo Dee is just a disposable person with no identity... Where have I seen that before...?', Deidara thought, 'I guess they wouldn't mind if I had 'fun' with a few... Maybe use a few for testing some new forms of my art on as well...'
Those thoughts made Deidara give a slightly insane smile. Sokka looked at him with a bit of concern.
"Your starting to creep me out a bit... Are you okay?", Sokka said.
Deidara realized what Sokka was talking about, and shook the insane smile off.
"Yeah I'm fine. Just a few ideas here and there, hm...", Deidara said.
Jet stopped in front of a large earth slab door. Too big to be moved by normal means.
"I think the cell is through here.", Jet said.
Toph Earthbended the slab open, revealing a dark room. The darkness in the room was unsettling and too calm for everyone's liking. Suddenly, the room was lit up. Everyone looked up and saw Dai Li Agents hanging upside down from the ceiling.
"That's something new...", Sokka said.
"Not to me. It seems too cliche for my tastes...", Deidara said glaring at the Dai Li Agents.
At that moment, Long Feng entered the room. He was very annoyed.
"You have made yourselves enemies of the state. Arrest them.", Long Feng said.
The Dai Li Agents fell from the ceiling and landed on the ground in uniform columns and rows, effectively surrounding them. They fired rock gloves at them, but Toph broke them up. Deidara made a hand sign and went into the ground, as if it were quicksand. Jet ran towards an agent and broke several rock gloves with his hook swords. He then ran at two other Dai Li Agents with his hook swords low to the ground. The swords got caught on the ankles of the two Dai Li Agents, effectively tripping them.
Longshot fired several arrows at some incoming rock gloves as Smellerbee used her close combat skills to keep the much more closer rock gloves at bay.
Sokka and Katara were back to back, protecting each other from the rock gloves as they also took out some rock gloves. Sokka with his machete and and boomerang, and Katara with her Waterbending. They missed two pairs and they came hurdling towards them. Toph saved Sokka and Katara in time by making an earth wall, effectively stopping the gloves. She then sent the earth wall at the two Dai Li Agents, knocking them down and giving painful bruises in the process. They were unlucky to land in a certain area, though...
*BOOM!*
*BOOM!*
Deidara had set up a well hidden minefield trap right under everyone's noses. The explosion surprised everyone on both sides. The two Dai Li Agents tried to maneuver the area they landed in, but kept setting off the hidden mines. Only Toph and Aang could tell where the mines were via seismic sense. Toph had to admit, they were in rather creative and strategic positions. Somehow, he also managed to spell out the words 'Eat my crap, Long Feng' with them. That got Toph snickering a bit.
More Dai Li Agents got launched into the minefield zone, sharing the first two's fate. Dust clouds were stirred up and everything as the room filled with the sounds of intense explosions.
All the mines finished going off, revealing several unconscious Dai Li Agents, and the calligraphy Deidara made. Long Feng's eyebrow twitched in anger. Not only did Deidara take out about a third of his Dai Li Agents without being seen, he also insulted him in several ways with that stunt.
Long Feng then began his escape. He was barely halfway through the tunnel he ran through when he saw something that was shocking and surprising. Deidara was actually part of the earthen tunnel itself. The kid gave a cocky grin, pleased by the shocked expression on Long Feng's face.
"We have score to settle, hm...", Deidara sneered and removed himself from the tunnel's wall.
"What are you?", Long Feng asked as he backed away slightly.
"The one who you should have never messed with to begin with.", Deidara said darkly as his obvious loathing of the man before him showed more.
Long Feng uplifted a large boulder and shoot it at Deidara. Deidara dodged it and retaliated with several clay spiders to Long Feng's face. The clay spiders crawled all over Long Feng and began to bind him with clay webbing. He struggled just to find his hands were well bound by the spiders.
"What is the meaning of this?!", Long Feng shouted.
"You have no idea how long I wanted to do this to your stupid rear end! How much I wanted to kick you off that high horse, hm! The look in your eyes when you see me makes me sick!", Deidara said as his hatred showed through at it's fullest.
Long Feng watched as Deidara made a hand sign. He felt something his stomach drop as a sadist smirk appeared on his captor's face.
"Any last words before you become art?", Deidara asked.
Just before Deidara could even say 'Katsu', Aang and Jet came running down the tunnel to see Deidara to end Long Feng.
"Jet, the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai.", Long Feng said.
Deidara was confused by the phrase. He was not expecting that. He turned around to that Jet had froze in his tracks. Jet then stared blankly as his voice became monotonous.
"I am happy to accept the Earth king's invitation...", Jet said and threw his hook sword at Deidara.
Deidara was forced to dodge the hook sword, thus losing all focus on controlling his clay spiders. The clay spiders melted into ordinary clay, thus rendering Long Feng free. Deidara saw this and burned in anger. He was beyond ticked off now.
"YOU SCOUNDREL!", Deidara screamed.
Aang began to try to stop and reason with the brainwashed Jet. Jet kept trying to attack Deidara, who the latter was not even wanting to bother with, because his real prize was Long Feng. Long Feng dodged every rage induced punch and kick Deidara threw at him.
Deidara fumed greatly. He formed and hand sign and disappeared into the ground again. Only this time, Long Feng felt something grab him by the ankle. Deidara grabbed it from underground. Long Feng struggled against Deidara's tough grip. Deidara then yanked Long Feng under the ground, with only his head showing.
"How does it feel to be on the losing side?", Deidara asked with a smug look.
Deidara sent a new batch of clay spiders at Long Feng. The clay spiders crawled all over Long Feng's head. Long Feng tensed, he knew this would be a rather messy if he didn't do anything right away. Making use of the limited room he had, he kicked a bit, loosening up the earth around him bit with his Earthbending. Some of the spiders fell into the loosened ground, acting like they were drowning when they weren't.
"Katsu!"
The spiders blew up. A large dirt cloud was kicked up, making Deidara cough a bit. When the dirt settled, he saw Long Feng's body was no where to be found. At that moment, Aang had finally talked some sense into Jet, thus waking up from his brainwashed state. Jet held his head.
"What... What happened?", Jet asked.
"Long Feng managed to get control of you, but your free now.", Aang said.
Jet and Aang turned their attention to Deidara, who look happy as ever.
"Are you two done yet, hm?", Deidara asked.
"Where's Long Feng?", Aang asked.
"I killed him.", Deidara said simply and gave a big grin, "The fart needed to be put in his place."
Aang and Jet gaped like goldfish at the statement.
"How can you even say that like it's the greatest thing in the world?!", Aang asked.
"He captured me back at the Earth King's Party and I wanted to get revenge and I got it, hm.", Deidara said.
Aang face palmed.
"I can understand why you hate Long Feng, but you just can't go running around killing people left and right!", Aang said, "We could have interrogated him and make him tell us where Appa is!"
"Whatever, hm.", Deidara said, obviously not listening.
Aang sighed in disapproval, Deidara was a strange ally and team member all right.
"Let's go find Appa. Since Long Feng is out of the way, we won't have to worry about him popping up again.", Jet said.
That was a bit of relief. But little did they know, they still had to worry.
Later at a cell...
Empty... It was empty. All that remained in the cell was Appa's fur, Appa's footprints, and large chains. Everyone was saddened by this reveal. Even Toph, but Deidara could care less. Longshot held his hat and bowed his head as Smellerbee and Jet gave a sympathetic look to Aang.
"Appa's gone! Long Feng, even in death, beat us here.", Aang said.
"If we kept moving, maybe we can still find him.", Sokka said.
Everyone rushed out of the cell and back the way the came to the surface. At that moment, Dai Li Agents appeared left and right, flanking Team Avatar and the three Freedom Fighters in from all sides with both men and earth walls. Deidara then glared in intense rage when he saw a certain someone.
"DANG YOU TO HECK!", Deidara screamed, "HOW THE HECK DID YOU EVEN SURVIVE?!"
Long Feng stood before the raging artist. He was covered in second degree burns and bruises ans wore an unamused look.
"Clearly we underestimated each other.", Long Feng said and turned to Jet, "I have no use for you anymore Jet."
Long Feng launched a fast hurdling boulder at Jet. Smacking him in the chest, hard enough for a small amount of blood to escape his mouth. Jet, with a loud, pain filled scream, went flying and landed into the lake. Air bubbles came from under the water.
Team Avatar and the Freedom Fighters were shocked by this turn of events. Many were burning with rage, others filled with intense sorrow.
"JET!", Smellerbee screamed as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Longshot and Smellerbee ran to the lake, diving in.
At that moment, Momo came flying in.
"Momo?", Aang asked.
Momo circled around Aang a bit before flying towards the sun. Deidara squinted his eyes.
"Is that...?", Deidara asked in confusion.
A familiar roar sounded. Appa was flying in with Momo. Everyone lit up with joy.
"APPA!", Aang cried happily.
Appa used his body weight and smashed one of the earth walls down. Toph and Aang used their Earthbending to knock another wall down. Deidara made two miniature clay dragons.
"Feel the beauty of my C2!", Deidara shouted the two mini clay dragons flew towards the last earth wall, blowing it up.
Many Dai Li Agents fell of the walls as the walls were being destroyed. Some who had the guts to, ran away. Appa landed next to Long Feng. Long Feng got into an Earthbending stance with a determined look.
"I can take you myself!", Long Feng said.
Long Feng attempted to kick Appa's teeth out, but all he succeed in doing was securing his biggest embarrassment ever. Appa latched down on Long Feng's leg and tossed him around like a rag doll. Deidara enjoyed the sight and began mocking Long Feng. Long Feng was then launched from Appa's mouth and towards the lake. Long Feng skid across the lake like a skipping stone before going under. Appa spat out Long Feng's disgusting shoe.
"YEAH! WAY TO GO APPA!", Sokka cheered.
Aang ran up to Appa and hugged his furry head.
"I missed you buddy.", Aang said.
At that moment, Longshot and Smellerbee returned with Jet. Jet hanged weakly from their arms. Katara rushed over and began to use her Waterbending to heal Jet. She had a worried look.
"This doesn't look good. Long Feng did a number on him.", Katara said.
"We will take care of him from here. He's our leader.", Longshot said.
"Don't worry about me...", Jet said and coughed a bit of water and blood up.
With that, Team Avatar left on Appa to a secluded island on Lake Laogai. Smellerbee began to mourn over her best friend. Longshot stood guard, hoping no more Dai Li Agents come in and ambush them.