-Inside the Jasmine Dragon-
"But Kip was gonna be okay,..Right? asked Tai
In a very grandfatherly way, Iroh patted the head of the young sky nomad.
"Funny thing about polar bear dogs, even the little ones are extremely tough" said Iroh "It also didn't hurt that Xi'an was a better healer than he thought."
"Are you sure you're not changing the story just to make Tai feel better?" asked Hahn
"Hahn! Stop it!" said Kanna
"Yeah, Hahn you do this every time" said Hui
"All I'm saying that this story is just a little farfetched. I mean there's no proof that this Xi'an ever existed" stated Hahn
Iroh closed his eyes as he took a long sip of his tea. Taking a deep breath, he gently sat down his cup.
"Legends have their value Hahn. Whether they exist or not doesn't matter, it's what they represent and what we could and should learn from them." explained Iroh "Let me ask you this, would the legend of the Avatar sound farfetched to you?"
"Well no, of course not" said Hahn
"Well why not?" asked Iroh
"Because he saved the world and defeated the Phoenix King Ozai by taking away his bending, everyone knows that!" said Hahn defiantly crossing his arms
"And you were there to see it?" asked Iroh
"Well..uh... no..." stammered Hahn
"So let me make sure I have this clear" said Iroh "So you believe that a full grown man who not only had the advantage of age and experience but added strength of a comet, was defeated by a 12 year old boy . But... you find the legend of Xi'an just a bit farfetched?"
Hahn turned bright red as the crowded tea house erupted in laughter. Iroh smiled mischievously as the young water tribe boy slowly sat back down next to his sister who was laughing uncontrollably as was his other three friends. Quite embarrassed, Han pouted but wisely shut up.
"So what happened next?" asked Lan
"Well..."
Chapter 7
-Slave town-
Night fell as the skiff drifted into the docks of the port town of Totodan.
The town had a long reputation of being a wild town of corruption and lawlessness. Not surprisingly, it was a haven for mercenaries, pirates, smugglers and low life dregs. Zuko and Aang dragged the skiff ashore unloading the still unconscious Azula. Katara then kicked the skiff back into the water, using an ice blade to sink it.
"Okay" Zuko said softly "First we need to get some new clothing to disguise ourselves, get some supplies, and then we get any information on those soldiers chasing us.
"Gotcha" said Katara pointing to Azula "What are we gonna do about her?"
"Don't worry, I'll look after her and keep her in check" said Zuko "Meet me by the tavern as soon as you can "
Splitting up, Aang and Katara headed toward the west side of the docks. Zuko slung his unconscious sister over his shoulder and headed to the east side.
Ducking and dodging through the bushes and trees, Aang and Katara came across an a clothesline full of random clothing behind an old hostel. Grabbing what they could, they rushed back to meeting point, finding Zuko and Azula hidden behind a pile of crates, barrels and ship ropes.
"You got the clothes? Good.." said Zuko trying a set of clothes "Ugh, none of these fit!"
While Aang and Katara changed clothes, Zuko peered over the edge of the barrels. A wicked smile grew over his face as he saw his target, a passed out drunk pirate about his size. Dragging the sloshed buccaneer back to their hiding spot, and leaning him over a barrel, Zuko undressed then started to remove the drunk's pants.
"Oh, Zuzu!" Azula said, now fully awake "-Tsk Tsk Tsk- What ever would Mai say of your -Ahem- urges"
"It's...It's not what it looks like" stammered Zuko
"Oh, of course not!" Azula smiled evilly "I'm sure there are lots of other reasons you'd be half naked trying to take off another guys pants"
"I SAID IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE!" Zuko yelled standing up
Aang and Katara quickly cupped Zuko's mouth and dragged him back into the hiding place. Luckily the loud ruckus from the nearby tavern drowned out his yelling.
"Zuko are you crazy?!" Aang whispered "Don't let her get to you!"
"And as for you Azula..." Katara said acidly "Allow me to remind you where we are, we're in one of the worst towns in the earth kingdom. Do you know how it would be very easy to sell you as fun little slave to these outlaws. If you try anything funny I will make sure that's just what will happen"
She saw the hatred in Katara's eyes. Gulping slightly as she realized that the water tribe peasant wasn't bluffing in the least. For the time being, she decided it would be in her best interest to try being compliant
"Okay enough guys! "whispered Aang "We got our clothes, we need to get information"
Zuko finished getting dressed, putting on a waistcoat and an eye patch to cover his scarred eye. Aang wore a basic shirt, trousers and a pirate style bandanna to cover up his arrow tattoo. Katara wore her hair in a simple ponytail, a flowing shirt with a well fitting vest and a set of very form fitting trousers. Aang blushed slightly as he looked at his girlfriend.
"Hahahahaha. That's cute! The pirates of the pathetic!" Azula laughed
"Okay that's it!" Katara said diving on Azula using a strip of cloth to gag her mouth
Snatching up the fire princess, she checked to make sure the cuffs that Aang put on her earlier were tight and sturdy. Motioning to the boys, she led Azula into the swinging doors to the tavern.
Zuko and Aang followed, taking care to gauge their surroundings. Calling it a building would be an undeserved compliment. It was a large rickety, thin walled shack that looked as if it could collapse at any minute. A mix of booze and overbearing egotism among the pirates and thugs made for an extremely violent environment. In just the short time they were inside, 3 bar fights started and quickly finished resulting with the offending parties ejected out of the place. Still someone was bound to know something...
"OOH Fresh meat!" yelled a loud raspy voice "How would you handsome young men like to spend some quality time with an experienced woman?"
From a nearby a very obese, eye patch wearing, toothless and horrendous looking woman, called out to the boys, blowing kisses in their direction. They both covered their mouths as they fought to keep the bile down, feeling extremely sick to core. Azula snickered through her gag, thoroughly enjoying any chance to see Zuko humiliated while Katara stifled her laughter
"You two! Get over here, Your still on duty, got it!" Katara ordered though trying hard not to laugh
"Coming captain!" Zuko said breathing a sigh of relief
"Uh, sorry! Duty calls! "said Aang racing away "
From a dark corner of the bar, a mysterious cloaked figure eyed the small group with great interest. While their disguises may have fooled everyone else, he knew who exactly these kids were. Prince Zuko, Avatar Aang, His water tribe girlfriend, Katara, and Princess Azula. Taking a drink of his rock gut whiskey, he decided not to reveal what he knows just yet. They just might prove useful to his mission.
"Hey!" the bartender yelled at Katara "Slave trading is tomorrow. No slaves are allowed in the bar!"
"Hey you two take Azula outside" whispered Zuko "I'll see if I can get any information."
Katara and Aang nodded as they took Azula outside. As they left the hideous eye patch woman made one last attempt at Aang
"Hey cutie, anytime you're ready for a real woman, look me up, the name's Pearl!"
Once outside Azula completely lost it, laughing hysterically into her gag. Katara herself was unable to keep herself from giggling.
"Who knew you are such a ladies' man?" said Katara breaking out in laughter
Unable to come up with a witty comeback, Aang just glared at the two girls.
Walking up to the bar, Zuko slid 3 gold pieces to bartender. Nodding slightly the bartender carefully palmed the gold pieces and slid closer to Zuko
"What do you want to know?" the bartender asked softly
"I was attacked by soldiers wearing black armor... Who are they? Where do they come from" said Zuko
"Dangerous questions to be asking boy" warned the bartender
"I'm used to danger" said Zuko "Now do you know something or don't you?"
"Perhaps, but information like that is worth more than a mere 3 gold pieces" the bartender bargained
"Depending on the information, you'll get more, do we have a deal?" said Zuko
"Maybe, Meet me in the back in 5 minutes and I'll tell you what I know" said the Bartender "It's not safe to talk about it here..."
Outside Aang and Katara watched as cages of slaves were offloaded from a nearby ship onto various wagons. The sight sickened their hearts Women and children, mostly. Probably easy to catch and force into such a despicable trade. Katara seethed with anger as did Aang.
"This isn't right Aang!" Katara whispered "We have to do something"
"I know but what?" said Aang "We can't do anything now"
Azula laughed inwardly at the two. Humph always trying to help the weak, so pathetic and silly. They even had Zuko doing good deeds. Never again would she ever dare to try to help anyone ever again...
"Let us go! You cant do this to us!" yelled two small voices
"Shut up you little brats" yelled a fat little man hitting the bars with a stick
Azula's cold expression changed to one of shock. "Those voices...No it couldn't be...What they would be doing here?! " she thought
Inside a small cage, her worst fears were realized. It was Ye and Te. Azula's cold heart melted as she saw them, frantically struggling against their chains that prevented them from earth bending. Tears of frustration flowed from her eyes as realized she was helpless to help them. She shouldn't care one bit about those girls or their plight...But she did. And she vowed one way or another to get them free.
Katara looked at Azula crying and to be honest, she didn't know what to think. Did the cruel princess Azula have a heart? Aang saw the tears as well. While he didn't exactly trust her, Aang's pacifistic nature always hoped that anyone could change for the better. Zuko was a prime example of that. Though they both knew Azula was nothing like Zuko.
The fat little man strolled toward the three with a huge smile on his face. Katara and Aang hid their disgust of the man while Azula did not. Had her arms not encased she would have burned this man where he stood. Her mind raced over every cruel torture she could possibly think of, all were too good for him.
The arrogant little man paid no mind, why should he? He was a noble of high standing, what did he care what a slave thought of him. Though the delicious fire in her eyes was very alluring and cleaned up, she might be quite lovely. "Oh yes" he thought "I must have her."
"Ah the little ones, so hard to break, but eventfully they'll fall into line" he said to Katara and Aang
'Who are you?" asked Aang
"Ah yes, how rude of me I'm Fung the second, son of elder Fung" said the man tracing Azula's face "Do I care to know your names? No, however i am quite interested in this lovely slave of yours. I'm willing offer 300 gold?"
Azula seethed in anger as she glared at the noble. She wasn't sure what angered her more the fact that he had the twins caged or that he thought he could buy her, a princess for just a paltry 300 coins. Her stomach turned as the he looked at her with lecherous lustful eyes. Had he done that in the fire nation, he would have has his executed on the spot such disrespect. Oh how she wished she didn't have the cuffs on.
"She's not for sale" Katara said "And certainly not at that price"
"Humph, I don't think you know who you are dealing with, girl!" Pan said "What I want, I get. It's just that simple; my father will make sure of that. It's not a good idea to deny your betters when you are offered a fair price"
"And it's not good idea to threaten a group of pirates!" Aang said raising his staff at Fung's throat"She's not for sale, now get lost!"
Fung the second, like his father was a coward at heart, and saw that the young pirate would probably mop the street with him. Huffing in anger, he left quickly taking his wagon of slaves away. Ye and Te cried and yelled as it disappeared into the darkness.
"Don't worry you two" thought Azula "I'll get you out somehow, I promise "
Zuko walked toward the back to meet the bartender. A nagging feeling in his gut told him something was wrong. He pushed it aside, hoping the information would be well worth the headache
"So what was so important that you had to bring me back here?" asked Zuko
"You said you wanted information, very dangerous information" said the bartender
"Yeah, and I'm willing to pay up to 500 gold pieces" lied Zuko
"Really? Hmmm ,why give you information when we could just slit your throat and take the gold?"
Snapping his fingers, a group of armed and very ill tempered men surrounded Zuko.
"It's nothing personal, kid" said the bartender
"I'd say tell the boy what he wants to know "said a cloaked figure walking into view from shadows
"Mind your own affairs, stranger" sneered the bartender
"I'm afraid I can't do that" said the stranger unstrapping two large hammers"20 to 1, cant say I like those odds"
With mighty yell and hard smash of his hammers two columns of earth smashed 10 of the bartender's thugs off the back of the dock and into the water. Taking advantage Zuko blasted huge waves of fire sending 5 running away and the other 5 flying into the water.
Grabbing the bartender, Zuko held him over the side of the pier. He gulped as he saw the look of murderous anger in the boy's eye. He knew any pleas for mercy would probably fall on deaf ears.
"The price was 500 gold pieces ... Now its your life. Who are they?" Zuko said darkly "what do they want
"All I know is that those soldiers are part of the Black Phoenix Empire. Lately they've been buying slaves all over the place, nobody knows why. I swear that's all I know!"
"That's it?!" asked Zuko loosening his grip
"They are coming tomorrow morning to pick up the new shipment!" begged the bartender "Please let me go!"
"Fine!" said Zuko kicking the bartender off the pier and into the ocean
Looking around he noticed the cloaked man had disappeared. Not taking the time to worry about that now, Zuko ran around the bar and quickly meet up with the others.
"We got to get out of here now!" said Zuko
"I take it the meeting didn't go so well?" said Katara
"I'll explain later" said Zuko looking over his shoulder "Let's get out of here!"
They ran as far and fast as they could away eventuality making camp near a lagoon on a hill overlooking the town but far out reach of anyone that might be following them.
"In the morning, we head north" Zuko said "Hopefully there's a town that might know what's going on"
"No" said Katara "Tomorrow we go back"
"What?! Why?" asked Zuko
"Didn't you say tomorrow they come to pick up slaves?" said Aang "We have to stop them"
"I understand that guys but were in no position to take on a whole town of cutthroats" said Zuko
"I have to agree with the lovebirds, Zuzu" said Azula struggling with her cuffs "We have to go back!"
"You're a prisoner Azula, you don't have a say" snapped Katara " Besides why do you care?"
"My reasons are my own, but I want in on this." said Azula "Call it a temporary truce"
"Like your word means anything! If you try anything... " Katara threatened
"Yeah whatever" sighed Azula
"Ugh, okay already" said Zuko "Say we go back, any of you have a plan to free all of them and get out alive?"
"I thought you'd never ask!" said a new voice "As a matter of fact I do"
All four looked up to see the cloaked man standing before them. The three of them priming heir bending for a fight with Azula looking as fierce as she could with her cuffs on.
"Easy, you little snots. I'm not here to fight." the cloaked man said "In fact I think I may be able to help you."
"Who are you?" asked Zuko
The cloaked man pulled back his hood revealing the features of a kindly but very cranky and grumpy old man. His head was topped with full mane of white hair, with fierce emerald green eyes and short white beard. He was a stocky barrel chested man that was probably a very powerful earth bender in his youth. Judging by the heavy twin hammers he had on his belt, quite possibly still one now.
"They call me Kang" the old man said "And as I said before, I think I can help you. And at the same time you can help me. Avatar Aang, Katara of the water tribe, Prince Zuko and Princess Azula"
"How..." Zuko started
"I've been around here and there, kid" Kang said
"Do I know you?" asked Azula narrowing her eyes
"No, but we share a mutual friend, Princess Azula or should I say "Mei Li"
Azula's jaw dropped in realization as she knew who he was talking about...