Chapter 15: Whatever Floats Your Boat
General Iroh was not a man anyone ever should underestimate.
In spite of his rather benign, sweet disposition, his eyes still glimmered with an acute shrewdness that went well beyond the average person.
It was with such keenness that he was keeping watch for suspicious actions that night.
On the pretence of wanting to drink tea and watch the sun rise he sat by the fire as everyone slept in their tents, even his nephew.
But if his suspicions were correct he knew that there was one other person beside himself who could not sleep tonight.
And sure enough as he watched from his side of the dying campfire, the flap of one of the smaller tents opened and a girl's head poked through.
Thought as much…
The old general sighed to himself softly, closing his eyes and resting his chin on his chest. As he did this he pricked his ears to listen as the young girl did her best to creep around camp.
He had to admit she was actually rather good. Even with his sharp ears he could barely hear her footsteps over the crackling of the embers. But then again, he reasoned, she had been trained to be a servant, and as such she would have had had to acquire the skill of being seen but not heard rather fast to keep such a position.
But why would she be using such stealthy means to leave in the middle of the night?
Iroh wondered an golden amber eye sliding open just a fraction, only to see the girl was no longer there.
Well…now it was time to see what all the fuss was about.
With a small sigh he stood up and stretched, only to notice notice that the flap of another tent was open and empty as well.
Oh dear…
He shook his head worriedly to himself.
Looks like I'm not the only one suspicious…Please spirits I beg of you, do not to let either of them do anything foolish!
Jade's plan was simple. Or at least it seemed that way in her head.
Sneak out of camp, go back to the water tribe girl and use her earthbending to quietly undo the bonds that tied her to the tree whilst she chatted up Lieutenant Ji and her brother.
She could see their spot now. Could see the tree where the young water bender was tied captive. She was sitting on the ground now, leaning against the trunk.
Sleeping…
Jade sighed heavily, only to almost groan out loud as she caught sight of her brother and lieutenant Ji both standing on either side of the tree. Both of them were wide awake.
Damn! They must've taken turns watching her! Maybe if I could make a rock appear or something spontaneous I could-
"Jade?"
Jade jumped and spun around just as someone came through the trees.
"Spirits do you ever stop following me?!" she sighed as she caught sight of the familiar blazing scar illuminated in the dim grey hours of twilight.
"Maybe I wouldn't follow you if you weren't always acting so suspiciously" Zuko scowled as he walked over to glower sleepily down at her. "What are you doing here?"
"To check on my brother" Jade snapped folding her arms "Those pirates are still out there"
Ok so that was not half a lie. But it wasn't half true either. She could only hope the prince wasn't sharp enough to pick up on the fact she had both her sharp sais stashed secretly on her legs under her robes.
"So? They're on our side?" Zuko narrowed his eyes and Jade's eyes rolled irritably.
"Zuko they're pirates. They take no one's sides no matter how much gold is offered to them. All they care about is themselves. What makes you think that they wouldn't take the girl by force and then make you barter for her and the avatar for the scroll? Or worse, what if they found out he was the Avatar and kept him for himself? I daresay he'd fetch a much bigger reward than that scroll, don't you?"
Zuko opened his mouth to argue…only to shut it hastily.
He hadn't thought of what would happen if they were double crossed. What if she was right? And worse still, what if they captured both the girl and the Avatar and then attacked him and his group by surprise and took the scroll as well?
"Fine. You have made your point" he grumbled with a scowl only to wince as something bright hit the corner of his eye.
But it was only the light of the sun as it's topmost edge rose over the distant horizon line.
Jade followed his gaze, her own relaxing as she watched the grey sky become stained with gold.
"It's nice isn't it?" she murmured softly, staring as the lining of the clouds glistened with shining light. "the sunrise." She added hastily.
Alright not the best of diversions, she knew, but it was half true. It was a nice sunrise, what with the lovely golden sheen over the clouds slowly becoming bleached ever so slightly with pink and light blue. She gulped as the prince made to answer her softly.
"yeah…I guess it is…"
"The…the umm… the way light sparkles on the river…it's lovely." Again she internally winced at herself.
"I don't know…" Zuko's voice sounded strangely distant and wistful "I can think of many other things that are prettier…"
"Oh yeah? Like…what…."
Her voice trailed away as she quickly glanced at him, and her insides did a massive summersault.
Zuko wasn't looking at the sun in the east, no. He was looking right at her.
It was that intense stare that pierced straight through her and sent shivers down her spine. A enthralling stare that always made her heart leap over several bounds.
It was the look she had seen before when they had both been together on the deck. The same look he'd given her back in the kitchens AND….the same look he'd given her just last night by the river bank.
In short…it was that look he gave her every time they somehow found themselves alone with one another.
And like those other times she'd been caught in that gaze she stood there, heat flushing fast to her cheeks, her feet rooted to the spot as she stared back, a deer caught in the headlights.
She didn't understand why, but it was both a frightening and thrilling experience.
Zuko likewise was finding it difficult to keep his own brain in balance.
Half of him was hissing at him in a familiar girl's voice, one that he recognised at once to be his sister's.
Back away
It told him.
Back away, leave her be. Can't you see she's scared? See? She's just as repelled as all the others. She doesn't want you even close to her?! Who would? You're just the banished spoiled brat she's forced to serve.
That's not completely true…
Came another voice, and Zuko was surprised and a little confused at it's contribution, for it was a voice that rarely let itself be heard even in his own head, though unlike the other one it used the sound of his own voice.
She's here…with you… she's helped you, been loyal to you… she's not backing away…
And indeed she wasn't. But maybe that was because he had backed her into a tree during his questioning.
Now they were close, toe to toe in fact.
Zuko could feel his ears go warm, but whether it was because of the sunlight hitting his back he did not know and nor did he care.
All he could focus on were those round jade green eyes staring up at him as he leaned a little bit further int-
"Prince Zuko? Is that you?"
Jade yelped in shock and Zuko actually jumped backwards in alarm as none other than Lord Iroh poked his head through a bush to their right.
"Oh? Have I interrupted anything?" He smiled wide as he caught sight of the two teenagers quickly leap away from one another. Or rather Zuko leapt away coughing very loudly, and Jade looked down at the ground, fiddling with her robes.
Both their faces were brighter than fire and just as red as they spluttered.
"No uncle we were just finished talking!"
"No sir we were just finished talking!"
"Ah I see, that's good" Iroh nodded though it was plain to see that he wasn't fooled for an instant. However seeing their obvious embarrassment he was willing to turn a blind eye as he turned to his nephew.
"I was just coming to tell you. The pirate's have captured the Avatar and his friend. They are waiting to seal their end of the deal"
"Right. Thank you uncle" Zuko nodded as he quickly made to dash past the older man who shook his head fondly.
Wow he really must be flustered if he is so polite…
Iroh turned to Jade who was still doing her best to fiddle around and blend into the scenery. A difficult feat considering she wore red.
"Jade"
"Y-yes sir?" Jade almost squeaked much to the older lord's amusement.
"Come, we must re-join our group. Your father will undoubtedly be worried by your absence.
"Yes…of-of course" Jade mumbled to her feet.
Great just what she needed. Her father hearing about this.
How could her day get any better?
All in all, it was fair to say Prince Zuko had woken up to a fairly good day.
He and Jade had not argued, in spite of his earlier suspicions. The water tribe girl was still held prisoner and oh yes, how could he forget, the pirate's had captured the Avatar.
Yes destiny was really on his side today.
"Nice work" he smirked at the sight that greeted him.
There standing at the front of the large pirate crew, right on either side of their captain, two boys were standing.
One Zuko recognised as the water tribe boy, Sokka, whom he'd met back at the South Pole and at the Fire Temple. He was currently looking around nervously, his face giving away whatever gears were obviously trying to turn in his brain.
Whereas the younger boy beside him, Avatar Aang, was looking fearfully at Katara as she stood tied to a tree, both Jade and Lord Iroh standing close to her.
For some reason Zuko could not help but note that Aang was looking, not just at his friend but at Jade as well and he was very confused.
It was almost as if he recognised her.
But how could they have met?
But as the thought swirled over his mind, words flashed over the prince's mind.
"Yeah. Like I could've held the Avatar captive in the kitchens"
Of course!
Zuko mentally slapped himself.
Of course how could he have forgotten? Jade had helped the Avatar the last time he was on his ship.
Well…not completely helped him...she only fed him one tart…
One of the small voices in his head piped in annoyingly loud whilst another snarled with resentment in the background.
However for some reason Zuko could not tell whether it was snarling at Jade's frustratingly overwhelming compassion or the Avatar somehow knowing her.
But then suddenly he was snapped out of his thoughts as Katara made to call out to the young Avatar, her tone very remorseful.
"I'm sorry Aang. This is all my fault"
"No Katara it isn't" Aang tried to say only for Iroh to shake his head.
"Actually it kind of is."
Katara opened her mouth to retort only for Jade to cut across her with an irritable roll of the eyes.
"Look it doesn't matter which one of you was at fault. The fact of the matter is, is that stealing from pirate's is definitely a sure-fire way to get yourself in trouble"
Katara opened her mouth to speak, but then shut it hastily.
Enemy or not…the girl had a point.
Not that she liked the thought of that very much.
Taking advantage of their captive's, and her crewmate's distraction, Jade quietly slipped her hands under her robes and slipped her sais both into the back of her sash.
She had a feeling she was going to need these very soon, if the stare down between Zuko and the Pirate Captain was anything to go by.
"Give me the boy" Zuko's golden eyes narrowed dangerously, but the captain did not flinch.
"You give us the scroll"
"Whoa! Back up! You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for a stupid piece of parchment?"
There was a very pregnant pause as everyone turned to look at Sokka, who had given up trying to undo his bonds but was smirking very wide as the pirate's around him all looked at him in astonishment.
"What?"
"Don't listen to him!" Zuko cried out sharply "He's trying to turn us against one another"
But too late, the pirate's had absorbed the other boy's words like water to a sponge.
"Your friend is the Avatar?" the Captain looked down on Aang in confusion, his eyes flickering over the blue arrow tattoo on top of the bald head.
"Sure is!" Sokka grinned much to Aang's obvious terror "And I'll bet he'll fetch a lot more on the black market than some fancy scroll"
"Shut your mouth you Water Tribe peasant!" Zuko cried out, panic making his strong voice waver ever so slightly, as Aang hissed through gritted teeth at his friend"
"Yeah Sokka you really should shut your mouth"
No he shouldn't! he's saving all your asses!
Jade pursed her lips to keep herself from smirking with admiration as Sokka made to shrug oh-so-nonchalantly.
"I'm just saying, it's bad business sense. I mean, just imagine how much the Fire Lord would pay for the Avatar? You guys would be set for life"
Zuko opened his mouth to roar out in anger but the Pirate Captain merely put up a hand as he and his crew began to turn away.
"Keep the scroll. We can buy a hundred with the reward we'll get for the kid"
"You'll regret breaking a deal with me" Zuko snarled, his face contorting as with a loud yell he and two other fire benders blasted balls of fire at the pirates.
They all jumped out of the way, a couple of the pirate's all blasting down a couple of small but potent smoke bombs down to the ground, just as the rest of Zuko's soldier's charged.
Jade coughed and backed away quickly as grey smog made to engulf everything in front of her save for herself and the tree where Katara was tied.
Right now here's my chance.
"Hey what are you doi-"
"Shh!" Jade clapped a hand over Katara's mouth as she rushed to stand behind her, whipping out one of her sharp sais. "Almost…there…got it!"
Katara's blue eyes widened as the ropes binding her hands and body to the tree suddenly fell loose around her feet.
"Uh…thank's….But why?" she breathed, looking at the other girl with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"Because the world needs it's Avatar" Jade hissed fiercely "And right now the Avatar needs you, and your brother!"
Katara still looked confused, but nodded all the same only to suddenly register Jade's last word.
"Oh no Sokka! AH!"
Both girl's squeaked and jumped apart as something sharp and metallic came flying toward's both their heads.
At the same moment something that looked like a monkey with long ears and black and white fur came swooping down, catching the sharp dagger in it's two back paws.
It chittered loudly overhead as it dropped the blade to the ground and circled over their heads.
"Thanks Momo! I owe you a bushel of apples" Katara yelled as the flying lemur flew off to dodge more flying projectiles.
"Come on! You gotta get out of here!" Jade hissed shoving Katara towards the tree-line which was free of all smoke.
"Wait! I need to-Sokka and Aang!" Katara spluttered but Jade was quick to shush her again.
"Don't worry I'll find them. You just get to the ship! Go!"
And with that Jade shoved her foot into the sandy ground pushing a mound of it forwards sharply so that Katara's feet were instantly sped off, spurring her into a run.
As soon as she was at a safe distance Jade turned back to the still very large smokescreen in front of her.
She stomped her foot on the ground, and an image in her mind's eye showed her that all the fully grown fire bender's and pirates were intermingling in several bouts as two smaller figures did their best to crawl out from under their feet.
Quickly pulling out her other sai, Jade rushed in, using her earthbending to "see" a clear way to get to the closest figure, which turned out to be Sokka.
He yelped in surprise as she approached him but was too slow to stop her from grabbing his bound hands.
Like his sister before him he blinked in surprise as the ropes fell off his hands.
"Uh…thanks? Hey wait hang on" he frowned as he squinted at her "…you're the girl from the temple? The one Zuko-"
"Shh! Keep your voice down" Jade put a finger to her lips to silence him.
"Your sister's safe." She whispered softly pulling the boy to his feet. "She's waiting at the pirate ship.
"Why are you doing this?" Sokka frowned suspiciously as Jade began to drag him away from an approaching pair of fighter's.
"Why are you helping us? Your fire nation and we're-"
There was a whirring sound as a spear hurtled towards Jade's direction.
Not even pausing to think she swung her free hand up in front of her face and a large pillar of earth came up in front of her. The spear bounced off, the wooden pole splintering pathetically into several large shards at her feet.
She turned back to Sokka who was staring at her in absolute shock.
"Listen it doesn't matter who or what I am, all that matters now is that you and the Avatar get out now before anyone spots you! Kapeesh?!" Jade hissed.
Sokka nodded with a gulp.
Jade sighed with relief only to look around with worry.
The smoke was beginning to thin ever so slightly. She could see the outlines of the people who fought around her.
If anyone saw her helping Sokka…
"Come on! You don't have much time" she grabbed onto Sokka's arm and began to drag him quickly away.
But Sokka was trying to drag her back.
"No hang on wait. Aang! Aang! Where are you?" he cried out.
"I'm over here!" Aang's voice rose distantly over the top of all the hubbub around them. "Follow my voice"
"Where? I can't find you?" Sokka yelled.
"I'm right here!" Aang yelled only to gulp and squeak out two seconds later "Uh…never mind I'll find you!"
"OK! Woah!" Sokka yelped as a blade came dangerously close to both his and Jade's heads as a pirate lunged at them.
Jade was quick to slice her Sais to block the blow, yelling out to Sokka.
"Go! I'll hold them off!"
"Thanks!" Sokka bleated as he began to crawl under the feet of several people.
But Jade didn't have time to watch him leave. She was too busy trying to hold off the pirate's friend that had snuck into the fight on her other side.
Just stay calm and follow your instincts…
She almost blinked in surprise as Zuko's voice faded out of her head.
But why would I think-
A dagger made to stab at her abdomen and she dodged quickly. But not quickly enough. She winced as the blade sliced through the side of her robes, finely and digging into her waist.
It wasn't deep but it stung enough to snap her out of it.
She growled, an oddly feral sound considering her small appearance. It made both pirate's stumble away in surprise as she swiped at them.
"Spirit's this chick is crazy!" one of them yelped as Jade made to launch a kick into his friend's chest.
Jade began to advance just as someone grabbed onto her hair.
"Uh-uh-uh! You may be a pretty little-doll but don't think I won't kill you if you move" a voice sneered into her ear and Jade recognised it to be the same tall rat faced pirate she'd first seen back at the harbour.
She struggled fiercely against him as he tried to twist her arm behind her back.
As he did this, her fingers found a pouch full of small but hard round objects on his belt.
Almost…almost…gotcha!
"HYA!"
Jade yelled as she stomped down hard on her captor's foot, before elbowing him hard with her free hand in the guts. As he doubled over she slid her arm out of his grip, and taking the pouch in her fist she smashed it over his face.
She was pleased to feel the crunch of bone against her knuckles as she watched the pirate actually fly backwards into two of his fellows who had been rushing up to his aid.
"Now who was that you were calling a pretty little doll?"
All three men gulped at the terrifying glinting green slits that glared down at them from where Jade towered over them. Both the sais in her hands gleamed brightly in the sun above, their points glinting oh so sharply.
Quickly the three men all scrambled away, murmuring curses and one of them even apologising as they ran back to the waters.
Jade smirked, but her victory was shadowed by a voice yelling out loudly.
"Enough! Are you so busy fighting each other, you cannot see your own ship has set sail?!"
It was Lord Iroh and he was barking at a still very rowdy Zuko and the Pirate Captain who were standing toe to toe ready for another bout.
It was Zuko who made to respond to his uncle with a glower.
"We have no time for your proverbs uncle"
"It's no proverb, look!" Iroh pointed off into the distance.
Jade turned and snorted with laughter.
There floating down the river away from them the pirate's ship was sailing away, three small figures standing at the helm.
"Bleeding hogmonkey's!" the pirate captain swore loudly as he dashed off after his commandeered vessel.
"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" Zuko cackled only for Jade to roll her eyes, amusement lacing her voice.
"Uh Zuko…I don't think you should be laughing"
"Huh? Why?" Zuko frowned.
Jade sighed and taking his chin in her hands, turned his face to look at the river again, just in time to see his own smaller metal steamboat sail away after the larger ship, the pirates steering it.
"HEY THAT'S MY BOAT!" he roared and like the captain before him, began to run after it's path.
"Maybe it should be a proverb" Lord Iroh frowned to himself as his nephew called back to him.
"Come on Uncle!"
"I'm coming prince Zuko!" Iroh called as he did his best to puff along in the younger nephew's wake.
Jade sighed heavily. This really was turning out to be a disaster…or at least a disaster for prince Zuko.
Well…serves him right for making a deal with selfish pirates.
Jade snorted shaking her head with amusement as she watched the familiar ponytail disappear around a bend in the river.
but when she caught sight of the orange sails of the commandeered pirate ship also vanishing it took everything in her power not to squeal out in victory.
She could not believe it. She had actually helped the Avatar escaped. She had actually helped-
Then suddenly as the joy had come it was replaced by absolute panic.
Oh no…oh no-no-no-no-no! what am I doing?! I helped him escape? I helped him escape from the very people I've been sworn to serve! From my nation! My people! Oh crap I've just betrayed my entire NATION!
She swayed as all of a sudden her vision began to shift uneasily.
"Jade…" a familiar voice called but it seemed distant, faraway, as if she were hearing it from under water.
"Father i…i…"
But already her head had hit the ground. For a split second the world swirled horribly around her colours swirling, shapes contorting until it all became too much to bear.
And then…suddenly her vision had turned black.
Dun-dun-DUUUNN!
(ok i really need a new sfx :p). but yeah. Jade helped the Gaang :o
let's hope she doesn't get into trouble with a certain somebody for that.
anyways hope you guys enjoyed and keep R&Ring for more