Chapter 21: Luck Be A Lady Tonight

"But of course it was a foolish notion to think that a mere boy could keep out of our reach when we have so many forces at our disposal"

The sneering face of Admiral Zhao Shi smirked as he held out a hand with a large empty cup.

He was sitting at the head of a large table with the Colonel Shinu sitting to his left on his own and his brother Ruishi to his right along with Jade and Shen, both of whom were doing their best not to cringe as their uncle made to call out loudly and brusquely.

"Another refill Lin! In fact why don't you top off everyone! We must have enough to toast to my-uh…to the Fire Nation's greatest victory"

"Yes sir" a small mousy black haired servant girl rushed forwards, her round face pale as she timidly made to pour more rice wine into the Admiral's cup before making to serve the others.

The poor girl was so shaky that even as she made to pour Jade's her hands slipped and the ceramic bottle in his grip smashed to the floor at her feet with a loud crash, rice wine splashing all over the hem of her beautiful kimono.

"Oh my word! My lady I am so sorry-I-I-I-" Lin squeaked her eyes filled with terror as she stooped down into a low bow before her.

But before she could even touch one of the broken fragments Zhao's loud voice boomed:

"You clumsy girl! Now look what have you done? That is the second time today you have screwed up! And don't you start that bowing nonsense with me" Zhao growled as the man made to turn to bow to him muttering sorry repeatedly under his breath "Clean up this mess at once that's an-"

"Uncle please" a cool voice cut across him, so firmly it could have been carved from ice.

There was silence as all eyes turned to Jade who had risen from her seat. Her face was calm and composed as she made to quietly step towards the poor servant girl who was almost on the verge of tears.

However when she spoke to her, Jades' voice was gentle and soft.

"Are you alright?"

Lin looked up at her, brown eyes wide.

"My…my lady?"

"You weren't hurt when it fell?"

"No my lady" Lin gulped her eyes darting around in absolute confusion as Jade gently took her hands in hers and inspected them carefully.

Like most servants hands they were tough with small scars and hardened skin from handling of rough materials. Due to the recent accident they were wet and soaked in sticky rice wine, but otherwise they were clean and unscathed.

"No cuts" Jade mused to herself before looking back up to the girl "that is lucky. It was quite a big crash"

The servant girl before her blushed with deep embarrassment.

"Forgive me my lady-"

But Jade was quick to wave her off with a smile "You needn't be sorry, accidents happen sometimes"

"But your robes are ruined-" Lin spluttered looking down to the now stained white, red and black robes on the girl before her who only smiled.

"It's fine don't worry about it. besides…"

Jade's eyes narrowed as she made to spare Zhao a glance over her shoulder.

"I was never too fond of these old rags anyway"

HA! Take that you slimeball!

If ever there was a time Jade wanted to laugh it would have been then, for the furious look on her uncle's face was almost priceless.

Little did she know that she was not the only one who thought so too.

Quickly after excusing herself from the table Jade had Lin lead her to a small ladies powder room close to the dining hall.

"Are you sure I can't get anything more for you my lady?" the young mousy girl asked as Jade stepped in.

"I am sure, thank you Lin"

"Actually my lady it is I who should be thanking you" Lin smiled bowing low before shutting the door behind her.

Poor thing…

Jade sighed as she turned to the dimly lit room she had been ushered into.

It was quite small only about a few meters wide, with a large mirror over the wall opposite the door, over the top of a moderately sized polished wooden counter.

It was to this she walked towards eying her reflection with a mixture of revulsion and irritation.

"Agh! Look at me! I look like one of those stupid creepy dolls" she muttered to herself as she made to stroke her fingers through the ends of her loose locks before making to tug on the collar of her kimono which was still quite stiff.

Spirits how do women survive this torture?

She rolled her eyes only to quickly look into the mirror as she heard something creak behind her.

"Oh Lin do you need…any…thing?" her voice fell away as her eyes found not the face of the mousy servant girl…but a grotesque blue and white mask staring at her from behind her shoulder in the mirror.

"Yo-mph!" Her yell was muffled by a black gloved hand as it made to clamp itself hard over her mouth.

She struggled hard against the mysterious blue masked fiend who was quick to grab both her wrists in his (she was certain that the chest behind her body was definitely male). Deftly he twisted them behind her back carefully making sure that his grip was just hard enough to keep her locked in place but gentle enough so that he wouldn't hurt her.

But even so she did not stop writhing in his hold.

"Mph-hmmm!" she hissed into his hand trying and failing to stomp on his feet only for her heel to hit the floor hard.

She was just about to jerk her hips back to loosen his grip on her hands when a voice hissed quietly into her ear.

"Jade stop! Just stop!"

Jade stilled in her tracks.

The voice…that voice…so familiar…

No…but it couldn't be…

But she was so shocked she barely noticed that the hand holding her wrists had let go as she watched in the mirror, her captor reach up to his blue and white mask and pull it off.

"Zuko?"

Her eyes bulged in her sockets as the pale half scarred face of the banished prince glowered over her shoulder in the mirror's reflection.

"Keep quiet" he snapped dropping his hand from her mouth and stepping back from her as she rounded on him.

"What the hell are you doing here? And what the hell is with all this?" she whispered fiercely gesturing to his strange dark body suit and the holstered twin broad swords on his back.

"I'm going to crash Zhao's dinner in fancy dress" Zuko rolled his eyes "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm going to snatch the Avatar under his nose"

"by pretending to be a thief?" Jade hissed into his face "Are you insane? What if you're caught? Zhao will have your head-"

"No he won't. Not if you help me" Zuko insisted but Jade only pinched her nose.

"And How? How will I be able to do that?"

"By finding out which cell the Avatar is being held in and leading me to him."

"Couldn't you just figure it out yourself? You already got in on your own just fine and no one saw you" Jade whispered but Zuko shook his head.

"No. You saw me. And if you saw me there's a chance someone else might too. And if that's the case I can't just go exploring the upper levels of this place whenever I feel like it. Now that they've got the Avatar in custody security going to be tighter than ever before and you're the only person here who can find him without looking suspicious. The only person I can trust…"

Zuko trailed off, his cheeks flushing a deep pink as Jade stared at him in astonishment.

"What did you just say?" She breathed.

"I-I-you heard me!" Zuko coughed doing his best to avoid her eye as he mumbled "I…I need you to find him… If you don't I won't be able to …to…"

He shut his eyes and turned away, his face now so red with embarrassment that it almost burned him.

Great! How stupid he must have sounded. The prince of the fire nation almost begging for help from a kitchen ma-

He felt something come close towards him and turned just as Jade's smaller hand reached up to his scar. But instead of touching it she ghosted her finger over his scarred ear.

"Wait" she mumbled, blushing to the roots of her brown locks as she settled the scarred stump of tissue beneath the almost cap like black hood of his suit "It was sticking out. If someone saw it…" she coughed to herself as she smoothed out the material only to still in her spot, eyes widening as she suddenly realised what she was doing.

"S-Sorry" she retracted her hand quickly only for it to be caught quickly, in Zuko's deft grip.

She looked into his face, expecting to see a pair of amber eyes glaring down reproachfully at her.

However the sight that met her was far from anything she was expecting.

Zuko was staring at her, surprise the only thing on his face which looked oddly paler even in the shadows. When he spoke his voice was quiet almost breathless.

"It really doesn't affect you does it?"

"what doesn't?" Jade frowned.

"My scar. It doesn't disgust you?"

Jade blinked.

"Uh…No…should it?"

"Yes!" Zuko blurted out, blushing a little as he averted his gaze to the ground. "I-I mean…it's just…it disgusts everyone else so I thought-"

"That I would hate it?" Jade muttered and Zuko was surprised to see her roll her eyes a little with irritation.

"Zuko. Seriously it's not really that bad besides," She sighed softly "whether you are scarred or not, looks don't determine character. What matters the most is that the person beneath the skin is good…"

"And you think I'm good?" Zuko snorted before he could stop himself, his heart twinging with the familiar twinge of painful guilt and shame even as the girl before him shook her head.

"No…I don't think you are good. I know you are good. You are just really bad at showing it."

There was a small pause where Zuko just stared and stared at Jade, his mind buzzing as her words bounced around the caverns of his mind.

I know you are good…

But how…how could she know…my own father doesn't even-

His thoughts were interrupted by her soft murmurs.

"Wait for five minutes after I leave. I will head back to the dining room. You can follow me from there"

Zuko nodded dumbly, his voice strangely lost in his throat as he watched her walk away back to the door of the powder room.

"Be careful" he murmured softly as he pulled away and was faintly pleased to see the flicker of a tiny blush and a smile as she glanced back at him.

"you too…good luck…"

And before he could even utter a single syllable, Jade darted through the door and shut it behind her, leaving the prince behind her to stand alone in the dark.

"Ah Jade there you are! We were beginning to get worried about you" the voice of Zhao was loud and grating as Jade re-entered the dining room that she almost jumped out of her thoughts. "We were just about to come looking for you. I will have to give my speech soon and it would be a shame if you were to miss seeing the soldiers march. I hear Colonel Shinu's men are quite the model soldiers"

Indeed, even as she caught his cold calculating gaze, it took all her willpower not to just lash out and punch him in the face.

But seeing as the Colonel and her family were present she instead forced a polite sweet smile on her face.

"I'm sorry uncle. I was just admiring one of the tapestry's in the hall. If I had known I was keeping you all waiting I would've hurried back as quickly as possible"

"Oh no my dear it's quite alright. Besides it was only one speech and I'm sure my men can wait a little longer" Colonel Shinu smirked sidelong at Zhao whose eyes narrowed. Ruishi however was silent, his eyes watchful as he took in his daughter's slightly flushed face.

She was nervous…but not of Zhao, he couldn't help but note as he noticed her moist red mouth. Last he'd checked she hadn't carried any extra makeup with her on the way here...and why was she glancing over her shoulder?

His thoughts were interrupted by Zhao's loud cough.

"Yes you are right Colonel. Besides the Avatar has just been brought in and as per procedure I should inspect his cell before-"

"Are you sure it's him?" Jade blurted out before she could stop herself.

"What?!" Zhao scowled but when his eyes fell on his niece he relaxed at once. In fact he actually looked rather smug. "oh yes I forgot…you've seen the boy before"

"Yes…" Jade gulped down the shudder in her throat as all eyes in the room turned on her. it didn't help that in the corridor behind Zhao's seated back, she could see the faintest shadow disappear behind a corner.

"but it was only once I'm afraid…" she added before Zhao could turn to see what she was looking at. He smirked as he caught sight of her very nervous face.

"Once is more than enough Jade I assure you" he purred standing to his feet. "Besides you are right. I'd rather be safe than sorry when it comes to such important matters as capturing the Avatar. Colonel, Ruishi, Shen" he turned to his brother and the Colonel who along with Shen had all stood up quickly, the lattermost looking very anxious. "Why don't you all make your way to the balcony, while I take Jade to the Avatar. We won't be long"

If one look could've killed Jade was willing to bet that the glare her father gave her uncle could cause a mass massacre.

It was a good thing that she chose to pipe in when she did.

"Father I shall be fine. It will probably only take a few minutes."

"I assure you brother I will not take long and she is in perfectly safe hands" Zhao declared with a small smirk as he rested his hands carefully on Jade's silk covered shoulders.

Ruishi's jaw clenched and his hands tensed, but otherwise he made no indication whatsoever that he was angry, save for the slight clip as he made to say:

"Of course she will…I guess then we'll see you later"

And with that he turned on his heel not noticing the shadow that was following them at a safe distance.

Oh Zuko I hope you aren't too far behind!

Jade couldn't help but gulp as she glanced over her shoulder only to see an empty corridor behind her.

She knew that he couldn't afford to be spotted by Zhao or his men, but still the Pohuai stronghold was an elaborate maze of corridors I its own right. Even Jade with her seismic sense found it difficult to remember the pathway back to the dining hall from the corridor she now walked in, which ended in a set of heavy large metal doors.

It's almost like the Winter Solstice all over again

Jade gulped as she caught sight of the fully armed guards that stood to attention as their commanding officer approached, all but dragging her behind him as he pushed open the door.

Behind it was a large room, with a high vaulted ceiling and two metal pillars standing in the middle.

It was in-between these that a small figure was struggling against chains bound over his wrists and ankles. A small figure in yellow and orange…and a bald head with a blue arrow tattooed on the skin.

Oh no Aang!

Jade clapped a hand over her mouth as the young avatar stopped struggling and looked up at the both her and Zhao.

His eyes were wide with surprise, an expression Zhao was pleased to notice.

"So my dear niece…is this the very same avatar you met back at the South Pole?"

"He-he…" Jade gulped her heart twinging horribly with painful sympathy as Aang gulped imploringly at her for help.

"He does look familiar…but I'm not sure. May I take a closer look?"

It was a feeble request, she knew, one which made Zhao roll his eyes and snort loudly.

"Alright but be quick about it" he snapped "I still have to give my speech in five minutes"

Jade nodded and before he could even blink she was striding up to Aang faster than an Ostrich horse running away from a predator.

"You ok?" She whispered, so quietly that Aang almost had to lean forwards to hear it.

He gave a tiny almost indiscernible nod in response and she gave a small sigh in relief.

She slowly leaned in pretending to inspect the arrow tattoo on top of his head and murmured softly.

"Don't worry. I have a friend who can help you get out."

"What? Who is he?" Aang looked up hopefully but Jade shook her head ever so slightly.

"I can't tell you his name. but you can trust him. He's a bit of a jerk at first but deep down he's good and kind…and he's saved my life more times than I can count."

"What about you? Won't you get in trouble?" Aang looked up, his grey eyes wide with worry.

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine and so will you."

I hope…

She added in her head only to wince once more as her uncle's voice penetrated her thoughts once more.

"So? Is it really the Avatar?"

"…Yes Uncle" Jade clipped as she straightened up, Aang in turn quickly dropping his head down so that Zhao couldn't see his mumble of thanks as he approached them.

"Thank you Jade you have been of great help. Now if you wouldn't mind waiting outside with the guards I believe I have some questions for our other young guest."

"Of course uncle" Jade bowed her head quietly as she stepped away and back towards the door.

As soon as she was outside of it she sighed heavily with relief.

Well…that could've gone worse.

She quickly looked to the guards that stood beside her and cleared her throat softly.

"Um…" she mumbled as she timidly looked down at her fingers. "excuse me, but I was wondering…where is the bathroom. I would like to freshen up before my uncle gives his speech"

"down the hall first corridor to the right and third door on your left you cannot miss it" one of the guards replied gruffly only to gulp as he caught sight of the girl addressing him. "S-sorry my lady would you like me to escort-"

"No thanks." Jade shook her head "its close enough and I daresay noise travels fairly fast in an empty corridor such as this."

And without even so much as a backwards glance at the men she stalked off down the corridor.

She smirked as she turned a corner and saw standing in the shadows of the deserted path, a black figure in a blue and white mask.

"Is he in there?" Zuko hissed as she approached close enough, but Jade quickly shook her head and tugged him towards the third door to the left, in which, like the guard had said, was a small lavatory with a wash basin.

"So?" Zuko's voice hissed into the dimly lit silence and Jade sighed.

"The Avatar is in there. Zhao's got him locked with steel chains. But there are nearly ten guards outside his door and Zhao could be coming out in any second. You'll have to wait until he begins his speech to get him out"

Thanks to the smallness of the bathroom Jade was standing close enough to the prince that she could just see his eyes behind the shadows of the mask, narrow ever so slightly.

"You should get out of here before that. Leave straight after with your father and your brother."

"How?" Jade hissed "I can't pretend to be tired. This stronghold has plenty of room for guests and I can't be sick because Zhao probably has good doctors at his beck and call."

"Listen I don't care if Zhao's got an entire army waiting on his hand and foot. You find a way to get out of here as soon as that speech is over" Zuko snapped gripping hard at Jades' shoulders as she opened her mouth to protest:

"But Zuko-"

"No buts Jade! You're getting out of here as soon as Zhao is finished that's an-"

There were two knocks on the door.

"Jade! Is everything alright?" Zhao's voice was almost a growl.

"Yes uncle…just a moment" Jade squeaked as she cautiously peered out to look at her uncle's face. As she did so Zuko stepped into the shadows behind the door breathing as quietly as he could as Zhao narrowed his eyes.

"I thought I heard voices"

"Voices? But I was alone" Jade blinked oh-so-innocently, though inside she was squirming as she felt Zuko's feet shuffle ever so slightly on the ground.

Zhao however heard and felt nothing, and so it was with a shake of the head that he straightened up and picked up his niece's arm in his and all but dragged her from the room a sneer plastered over his face.

Jade meanwhile was wincing as the grip on her arm tightened up so much that it actually began to hurt.

But Zhao didn't pay her much heed as he began to say softly.

"My dear niece, you look lovely tonight. It's a shame your robes were ruined by that clumsy girl"

"It wasn't her fault uncle" Jade clipped wishing she could lean away from his side. "Accidents happen when you're new to the job and have to serve new people. It's not her fault she was so nervous"

"Oh really?" Zhao's eyebrows rose coldly. "Then whose fault was it?"

Obviously yours

Was what Jade really wanted to say, but then she saw a couple of guards patrolling the corridor ahead.

"It was no one's fault. Like I said, unfortunate accidents happen sometimes."

"and you of course would know all about unfortunate accidents, being a scullery maid"

"Last I checked uncle there was no dishonour in working in an honest job," Jade sniffed

Jade couldn't help but feel a hot fire burn in her gut as Zhao's sneering face locked onto her with malicious glee. It was so hot that she could not stop herself from glaring heatedly back, a look that made her uncle genuinely surprised, though it was quickly masked by derisive amusement.

"Che! You sound just like your father. But speaking of dishonour my dear niece" he pressed on as they turned a corner. "Have you ever heard of the story of the outlaw known as the Lucky Jade?"

Jade blinked.

"Uh…no…I haven't… I mean I heard the name…but no I don't know…the …story…"

She trailed off as Zhao considered her for a moment, eyes narrowing as he looked over her confused face.

"I assume you've heard of the legends of the twin mountains, Shān-yùnqì and Shān-Huò."

"Uh yeah who hasn't?" Jade blurted out before she could stop herself.

Oh crap! Way to go Jade!

Zhao quirked a brow as she shut her mouth tight.

However if there was any other sign of his catching on he did not show it as he pressed on with his story.

"Twenty or so years ago, a great Fire Nation General led a three hundred day siege upon Mount Shān-yùnqì. It was a hard slog for the earth benders of the Shan mountains are tough and the steep mountainous terrain is treacherous. But the General was fortunate to have the aid of his two sons. Now these two sons were the most talented fire benders in his army and with every victory at their hands they made their father proud…especially the eldest brother… he was the perfect soldier and son. Dutiful, brave, resourceful and clever, respected by all, even his superiors…"

Jade shuddered a little as a very dark scowl flashed over her uncle's face.

"Oh yes the eldest brother was truly the apple of his father's eye. So much so that by six months into the siege he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. Yes…everything was going swimmingly for the fire nation…that was until the first winter came. One cold freezing night a thief in disguise as a begger woman stole herself into camp and stole the battle plans from the great General's tent, leaving behind only a small Jade stone on his desk. A jade stone with the symbol for luck on it"

The furious flames in Zhao's brown eyes flickered horribly as he eyed the small glimmer of green peek out from the neckline of Jade's robes where her pendant sat over her chest.

"The General's two sons and their men searched high and low from the thief, but could not find a trace of them. And by and by, weeks passed, the thief stealing more important items from the camp, each time leaving a lucky jade stone where her loot had once been. Weapons, battle plans, equipment and supplies and eventually the heart and loyalty of the General's eldest son. You can of course imagine the disappointment and betrayal the General felt when he awoke on the day after a horrific loss in battle, and discovered that his favourite son had run off to follow his heart and betray his country all because of the manipulations of one conniving thieving mud-wench. But contrary to what the legend says, the story does not stop there my dear niece… You see the General's youngest son, a talented fire bender in his own right, was also hurt by his brothers betrayal and swore he would bring him to his senses. For years he searched painstakingly for the brother he had lost and eventually he found him along with the Lucky Jade and their two half-breed children. One of them was a fire bender, strong like his father and grandfather…but the girl…oh the girl…"

Zhao's lips curled into a leer as he towered over the shivering, wide eyed girl before him.

"She was just like her wicked mother in almost every single way. So much so that the General's youngest son needed to take action to save his family of the scum that disgraced his bloodline. But such was the luck of the younger brother, that soon after his discovery, the wicked Lucky Jade perished in a freak landslide, leaving her poor devoted slave of a husband to raise his half breed daughter and son all alone on the high seas."

Jade gulped as her uncle's eyes fixed solely on her own, almost as if they were piercing straight through her as he stalked over her. She backed away quickly only to wince as her back hit a hard wall behind her.

"s-stop- stop-p-please-" she tried to push against the impending armoured figure only to cry out softly as suddenly she was shoved roughly into a bare strip of wall, her hands both caught in one of his own.

"Now tell me Jade" he spat into her face "what exactly does that little story teach us here? Hmm?"

The furious flames in Zhao's brown eyes flickered horribly as his grip on her wrists tightened so much it was painful as he leaned in to whisper into her ear.

"You may have your father and the prince eating out of the palms of your little hands, but I have ships of men who will fight at my beck and call. I even have the Fire Lord on my side, and I can confidently tell you that he will not tolerate having subjects of his nation with the mud that runs through your veins, no matter which noble family they come from. So unless you wish to find yourself and your entire ship, accidently vanishing at sea without a trace, you shall keep your mouth shut and do whatever I ask of you. Are we clear?"

"I-I-I" Jade spluttered her heart racing frantically in her chest.

She could barely think straight. Zhao knew her secret, he'd known all along!

And he was wreaking all the benefits of it.

It took all she had in her not to bend whatever earthen wear vase was close by and smash it into his face as he sneered:

"Well Jade…what is it going to be? Your secret or your precious prince and his crew?"

"Does it look like I have a choice?" she muttered through gritted teeth, willing herself to stop the burning feeling from welling up in her eyes and failing miserably.

"Oh but you do have a choice" Zhao smirked. "One just happens to have a terrible consequence if you choose it"

Jade took a deep shuddering breath to steady herself.

"If I say yes…will you swear on the sacred fire that you will not hurt anyone of my crew or my family"

"Of course" Zhao snorted his eyes narrowing. "But only if you behave yourself and keep your pretty little mouth shut. Rest assured if I get wind that you have let out one peep of our deal, then who knows…my tongue might just slip when I have drinks with the other admirals one night."

Jade gulped in silence, biting her lip and all but praying that Zhao did not notice the way she trembled in his grasp. Unfortunately he did.

And boy did he love it.

Serves the little brat right!

He thought as he all but dragged the child towards the great fortresses balcony that overlooked the entire barracks and walls from on high.

As soon as he was standing in the spotlight above his men he let the girl go, relishing in the way she all but scuttled into the protective shadow of her fuming father and worried brother.

"Hey…What happened Lucky?" Shen hissed but Jade just tremulously shook her head as she clung onto her father's arm tight.

"We will get going to the ship after this" Ruishi clipped squeezing her shoulder tight. "Just be brave for a few more moments"

Jade nodded silently as she let Zhao's proud declarations wash over her.

"We are the sons and daughters of fire, the superior element! Until today only one thing stood our path to victory, the Avatar. I am here to tell you that he is now my prisoner!"

There was a loud cheer from the crowds below and Jade looked down to her toes, unable to bear to watch as Zhao's lips curled upwards victoriously.

"This is the year Sozin's Comet returns to grant us its power!" Another cheer and the smile turned to a sneer. "This is the year the Fire Nation breaks through the walls of Ba Sing Se and burns the city to the ground! And now nothing and no one-"

Jade's eyes opened and she stiffened as she caught sight of her uncle's sidelong glance in her direction.

"will stand in our way to VICTORY!"

The cheers that rose from the ground below were so deafening that even as she shut her eyes tight, Jade could feel the vibrations almost run through the earth and up the fortress walls.

Oh Zuko I really hope you know what you're doing…

She bit her lip hard as she gripped onto her father's hand tight.

…because I certainly don't!

TADAAA! Chapter 21 is up and a go!

Wow i can't believe it! more than 100 reviews and i'm still in Book 1!

so yeah Jade and Zuko working together to get Aang out! yeah this was a bit slow in development but don't worry the next chapter's got a lot more Zuko and Aang from "The Blue Spirit" (which i really look forwards to writing).

hope you guys enjoyed and keep R&Ring for more :)