"Welcome to Jang Hui! The last major village I visited before they put me in that coal hell! Ah, I can't wait to… Oh."
"Indeed. I can see why you left Chit Sang." Shyu looked about with a grimace.
The team (they hadn't decided on a name, having rejected all Papyrus' ideas) had floated down the river for some time. It had been a traumatic trip to say the least. Since they couldn't run or hide from Papyrus.
Chit Sang had at least promised a nice little fishing town they could hide in for a time. Taking one look at it though, they weren't at all sure. Except of course for Papyrus.
"I must say Mr. Sang, you have a great taste for locals! Just look at that bustling little town! And that smell!" He took a deep sniff. "Aww! I feel better already! You Mr. Sang! You would make an excellent tour guide!"
"Mr. Sang" turned to Sans. "Is he being sarcastic? I really can't tell."
Sans shrugged. "me neither mate. and i've had all this time."
"Do you ever not smile by the way? Even when you throw up, it's with a grin!"
"hey, if you've gotta suffer do it with a smile!"
Shyu leaned in to Aang who had been surprisingly quiet the whole time.
"How are you doing? You haven't said a word."
"Hmm? Oh yeah sure. I'm ok."
Shyu gave him a look saying he didn't believe it.
"Really! Why are you giving me that look? Why don't you go ask Frisk? I'm sure she's just eager to run her mouth!"
Frisk herself looked his way with raised eyebrows. Aang quickly realized his mistake.
"Oh right. Can't use her mouth. Uh, sorry. No offense?"
She shrugged her shoulders. It was hard to get a rise out of her. She leaned back and casually dipped her hand in the water. Only to pull it out with disgust.
"Oh! What's this miss. Frisk? You found treasure! Quick, everyone! Let's dive!"
"Oh hell no. You're not really- Yep. There he goes. Diving in the trash." Chit Sang turned to the Avatar. "And here I thought you were weird."
Aang smiled somewhat morbidly.
"Oh, believe me friend. I am weird."
…
"Howdy ho tourists! Fancy seeing you here! We don't get many of you here these days! No sire!"
Wonder why, thought Frisk. She held her nose.
"I honestly can't understand why fine sir! Your town is beautiful! When I, Papyrus, have become captain of the royal guard, I'll make sure to tell everyone the splendor of this glorious little vista!"
"Why thank you Papaya! I don't think this is really a vista. But hey! We're flexible! We can always adapt! Welcome to the vista of Jang Hui!"
"What the heck happened here?" Chit Sang nearly gagged looking at the dead fish on display. "I figured a few things might change over the years, but not this much! This place is a toilet!"
"Hey, watch your mouth there mister! This here is the fine vista of Jang Hui! We tolerate a lot, but we won't tolerate any naughty language!"
"Naughty language? You think that's naughty? I'll show you naughty!"
"Err, I apologize for our friend's behavior." Shyu quickly intervened. "But he does raise a valid point. Where did all this pollution come from?"
"Ah, you'd have to blame the factory up there for that. Since they built it, the whole river's been tainted. Our kids get sick from the fish, but what else are they gonna eat?"
"To think they would do this to our own people." Shyu shook his head. "Has anyone tried to negotiate with them?"
"Sure, my brother Dock brought a few up there about a year ago for a little chat." The man shuddered. "He's still traumatized."
"well, sometimes life sucks." Sans shrugged while examining one of the fishes. "wo how much for some grub?"
Frisk elbowed him. He looked confused.
"what? i don't care if it's rotten. i'm hungry!"
"Hey buddy." The strange man looked toward the avatar himself. "You got something on your mind? You've been looking up at the factory for some time."
"Hmm? Oh, just uh… Anywhere we can uh… sleep?"
"Sure, thing pal! Let me just go get my brother to show you the way!"
The man dived behind the market and popped up again with a different hat.
"Hey there folks! Name's Dock! My brother Xu said you'd like somewhere to spend the night! Well you're in luck!"
Everyone stared at each other.
…
Ty lee stared worried at the princess as she looked over the bow of the ship. She had been even grouchier than usual lately and being assigned to check up on some factory in the middle of nowhere was probably not helping her ego. As her friend, she felt it was her duty to turn that frown upside down!
"Oh, come on cheer up! I miss the old you! With your adorable smile!"
"You did not seriously call your princess adorable."
"But I did! You were adorable! The cutest little thing ever! Always trying to get your brother mad or get your mom's atten-"
Ty lee stopped herself. She knew what a sore point Azula's mother was. And the princess' subtle eye twitch showed it.
"Well I'm not a child anymore. I am next in line to the throne. So please, for your own sake. Do not address me as adorable or any similar phrases in front of my subjects. Or anytime for that matter."
Ty lee sighed. Her friend had such poor aura! Granted it had pretty much always been this way since her mom disappeared. But it was worse even than usual.
"Is this about Mai? You've spent a lot of alone time since she left."
"Why would I care about Mai? You think I care one iota about that stoic bitch? Get real!"
"Hey, don't call her that! She's a good friend! I know you don't always see eye to eye, but she's stuck with you all this time! That says something!"
"Oh please! I have more important things to be concerned with! Like-"
"The avatar?"
The princess' face flushed red. "Will you quit bringing that up?"
"Why? Because it's been bothering you all this this time?"
"I've had enough on my time, in case you haven't noticed! I don't have time to concern myself with some cowardly nomad!"
"Except it has concerned you. Because you feel you let your dad down. And you can't stand that."
"Oh, listen to circus freak, here! You're a mind reader all of a sudden!"
Ty lee muttered to herself as her grumpy friend walked away.
"Circus freak is a compliment. Remember that."
…
"These are beds? Sheesh I almost felt more comfortable in prison! Ow! What gives mutie!"
"Calm yourself Chit-Sang. These people did the best they could with what they had. That being said, Frisk. I believe you could find some other way to let him know his mistake."
She opened her mouth and pointed. No tongue.
"Oh. Well, yes. Of course. But still."
"Cat got your tongue old man? Not a problem for her. Ow! Hey! Stop that!"
"That one I feel was deserved."
"Well listen to you. Mr. perfect here! Bet you think yourself above the rest of our rabble, dontcha?"
"No. Only a convict like you."
"Pfft. I'm nothing unique. Maybe you should be examining yourself sage. You guys aren't exactly clean yourself."
"All too true. We have lost our way, I fear. Our whole nation has. To think the fire lord would allow this town to fall so completely."
"Yeah, it sucks. But what are you gonna do? Right? Life sucks."
"Well I won't allow it to suck anymore. I must act. I must help this nation find its way. Now is the time to act!"
"Ha! The time to act was a century ago, I'd reckon. Why the sudden energy? You've had all this time. Why get active now?"
"Because I now have hope."
"And pray tell. Why do you now have hope?"
The sage paused. He didn't trust this man enough to reveal Aang's identity. He had backed himself into a corner.
Not that Frisk cared that much. She simply excused herself from the room to find the source of said hope.
In the streets, she found Papyrus regaling children with some overexaggerated story. She left around the time, he began bringing up spaghetti.
Moving further along, she found Sans selling out… what did he call them? Hot dogs?
Yeah, they're fresh food. But where does he even keep those things? She shrugged and moved further along until she found her quarry sitting on the dock looking upriver at the source of the pollution. Even at night, the smoke could be seen billowing from the factory.
What are you thinking about, she said with her fingers?
"You know a lot of the kids around here talk about someone called the painted lady. They say she's a spirit who protects this village."
Do you believe them?
"I don't know. But I know the avatar does exist. And he does have the power to help."
She raised her eyebrows. What are you planning to do?
He stayed silent for a minute. Eventually he turned to her.
"Frisk, can you do me a favor? It might be dangerous."
She smirked. What haven't we done that's dangerous?
…
"Hey, guys! Guys, wake up! Something has just happened!"
"Oh, hello Xu! Good morning to you!"
"Actually, it's Dock, papaya. But something weird is going on! I think… the factory is on fire!"
"Well I wouldn't put too much stock into that. There's always something burning from factories, right?"
"Yes, usually. But this seems a bit larger than normal. In fact, we've got some boats coming down the river right now!"
"Oh, that's a bummer." Sans yawned while stretching his arms. "Welp, time to go gang."
"Wait, go?" Aang looked at him with surprise. "But what about the Firebenders coming?"
"Yeah, that's kind of their problem. Not ours. Gotta be moving on."
"Hey, hang on!" Xu, or Dock, grabbed him by the shoulders. "You can't leave us on thin ice! You've got to help us!"
"He's right." Shyu looked around the crew. "I'm sure one of you is responsible for this. And while I'm not against your motives, I do think we should defend these people from an undeserved fate."
How do you recommend it, said Frisk?
"Well. I suppose we could talk."
"No! No talking with the enemy! We are children of the air! Let us be a leaf on the wind! Leaf on the wind!"
As he ran off, Dock (or was it Xu?) looked their way in confusion. "Children of air? Leaf on the wind?"
The airbenders just smiled.
…
"So, care to explain about the damage here?"
"It happened last night, princess. Under the cover of darkness. We didn't even see who it was. Just before we knew it, the main production machines, were smashed to bits!"
"Wow! That's kind of impressive! Anyone who could do that so quickly!"
Azula looked at her circus friend annoyed.
"Impressive, or the guards here are incompetent. Did you not seek immediate retribution against the peasants?"
"We did your highness. But someone brought them all our men down. We have no idea how they did it. It's amazing."
"Did they? A couple of villagers? I find that hard to believe."
"They must have set some kind of trap, princess. They never even saw who attacked. They just got hit by fire and gusts of air."
Azula's eyes widened. Her smile returned.
"Show me."
…
"They're coming back!"
Chit Sang's warning got everyone to rise from their seats and take a look outside. Sans spoke everyone's mind.
"that hardly seems like them. it's just two boats. and one has only two people on it. hey wait. hey airhead! it's your old girlfriend!"
Aang prayed with all his might the bald weirdo didn't mean what he thought. Looking out though, his fears were confirmed.
"Oh god no. No. No. No."
"The daughter of evil has returned! We shall repel her again!"
"nah not really a good idea brother. i say we wait."
"And give her a chance to hurt the fine people of the vista of Jang Hui? Sans, you're no help at all!"
"I actually agree," Shyu spoke up. "We caught a group of amateur benders off guard. Azula won't fall for the same trick."
"What are you guys talking about? How do you know anything about princess Azula?"
The team looked at each other.
"Oh god. You guys. You got on the bad side of royalty?"
"Chit-Sang…"
"No seriously. Is that why they put you in there? You upset the princess? Oh gezuz, I know you were folks were crazy! But seriously!"
"hey bud. bud." Sans placed his arm around the prisoner's shoulders. "your nerves getting you down? may i recommend you get a dog? they're really great for the soul and stress release."
Momo barked. Everyone else just stared.
"Look, let's just stay in here for the moment. Maybe she'll give up and leave."
This time everyone turned to Aang while he harbored a nervous grin.
"Good day fine citizens. How are you all today?"
"Why hello there, little lady! That's some fancy armor you're wearing there! What's a pretty thing like you doing with these big burly soldiers?"
Azula's grin turned malicious. She had had enough of the disrespect. If she couldn't get it from father, she would get it from these roaches!
"Thank you for your observation old man. This happens to be the mark of royalty upon my head. Something a True citizen of the Fire Nation would know. As for these soldiers… They are simply doing their duty and obeying their princess."
Her smirk only widened as the realization dawned on the people's faces. The man who had insulted her poked his head behind someone and popped out with another hat.
"My apologies, your highness! My brother Dock didn't know what he meant! He can be awfully thick in the head, if you catch my meaning!" He made a cuckoo motion with his hand.
"He's not the only one." Azula and Ty lee looked at each other with confused faces.
"It appears someone decided to have some fun with our pristine factory last night. Apparently, someone, or perhaps everyone, in this town doesn't fully appreciate the sacrifice and hard work of our workers here, hmm?" She looked around at all of them, drinking in their fear.
"I suppose it makes sense. You've been stuck out here on your little river for so long, that perhaps you've forgotten we have a war to win? For the future glory of the fire nation? Has that slipped your little heads?"
"No princess. Not at all! We fully support and respect the work of all Fire Nation citizens…"
"Then why, in all your supposed respect, did you choose to tarnish the factory? How does that show respect for our cause?"
"We didn't princess! We swear on our lives!"
"Be careful what you wager…"
"No seriously, princess! We didn't do nothing! I swear it! And so, does my brother Dock!" The man ducked and again came out with his former hat.
"I testify! I swear! We were all here! The kids were fishing as usual. The parents were putting the babes to sleep. And my brother Xu was showing those newcomers to their beds!"
"Newcomers? How new?"
"Why just yesterday, maam! Err, I mean princess!"
"And where pray tell are they now?"
"Oh crap. Oh crap! Oh crap!" Chit-Sang gripped his head with his hands in terror. "Those ungrateful morons! They're going to turn us in! To the frigging princess! Oh man, oh god, oh man!"
"hey bud. remember what i said about getting a dog?" Momo barked in agreement.
"Gah! Forget the dog! You don't get it! The stories I've heard about this girl. Oh man, you wouldn't believe them!"
"I think I might." Aang looked out worried again. He sure didn't feel like an all mighty avatar right now. Cowering and waiting for a crazy girl and her horde to tear him apart.
Any way out of this? Frisk looked about for some kind of escape.
"Run! We run! That's what! Get the hell out of here! If we move fast, we can take them by surprise!"
"No. That's too risky. We can't put the fate of the entire world at risk like that."
"What are you talking about? Is this sage off his rocker?"
"Quiet for a second." Shyu looked about. "Can you gents help me look for another exit besides the window or door?"
"Gladly! Come on Sans!"
"eh, it's my me time."
"Typical! How are we related?"
How are you not, Frisk mused?
Pulling up crates and boxes, they found a lower door to the water.
"Why would someone have a door that leads underwater," Papyrus mused.
"Perhaps for a situation like this." Shyu pursed his lips. "Aang, do you still intend to head to the capital?"
"Yes. If that's where Appa is, then that's where I'm headed. I can't leave him to die!"
"You do realize that is also where the Fire Lord waits, yes? Have you considered that you may have to face him to free your friend?"
The avatar paused. In truth the idea had occurred to him and given him many restless nights. But after all this time, he still didn't have an answer to how to address it.
"I do know that. And truth be told I rather wouldn't. But I guess I have to do it sooner or later. Why not now? Heck, in fact it might work to our advantage. Attacking him on his own turf? He probably wouldn't see it coming."
"wow. that's some fine planning there kid. and it means less work for us! welp, guess i'm in." Sans clapped his hands together in praise.
"Finally! My brother and I agree! We'll take the fight to the Fire Lord's door!"
Everyone looked to Frisk. Except Chit-Sang who looked all around with astonishment.
What, she said with her fingers? Like I've got anything better to do.
"What are you talking about? What's going on?" Chit-Sang looked about somewhat reeling. "Oh spirits. What have I gotten myself into?"
"If that is your decision young avatar, then allow me to help you once more escape."
"Avatar? This is the Avatar? Oh geez! I knew you were crazy!"
"Why are you talking like that," Aang pressed.
"I have a plan. You probably won't like it, but when has life ever been about doing what we like?"
Outside the soldiers moved from house to house, closing in on the one housing the Avatar and his friends. Or rather had been housing them.
"He he! How do you put on a new hat so quickly? You must be an acrobat!"
"What are you talking about pretty lady? I wear this hat all the time! You must be talking about my brother Xu!"
"He he! You're so awesome! I love it! Hey, Azula! Can you believe how fast he does that?"
"Ty lee, we are here on business. Please do not fraternize with our subjects."
"But they're so funny! I mean look at this kid, right here! Look!"
The kid in question did a handstand and Ty lee followed suit. Both of them giggled while the children cheered and laughed in excitement.
Azula groaned. Please someone do something stupid. Step out of line. Anything. Just give me a n excuse to ignite someone.
"Hey, Azula! Who's the guy with the beard?"
The princess turned around to see 2 men in labor outfits aboard one of their boats and revving it up to speed away. One was someone she didn't recognize. But the other…
"Shyu! How did you-"
"It's a new day, princess! For the world, and for the Fire Nation! And especially for you!"
"Just go old man! Forget it! Let me!"
Without another word, Azula blasted flames from her hands at the escaping boat. But found her shots countered by the sage while the other man steered off.
"They're getting away! And they sabotaged the other boat form underneath!" Ty lee looked at her friend with concern.
"No. They're. Not."
She made the motion. No emotion. Only peace. Only calm. Release the energy and…
She shot a bolt. Clear and precise. It went straight at them. Her aim was clear. Her will would not be denied.
Only it was. They were too far and the spark flittered out.
Silence, as she watched her prey escape. Again. She had failed. Again.
"Wow! That was amazing princess! Truly amazing! Don't you think Xu?"
"Right you are Dock! Such a show of prestige! Let's hear it for princess Azula!"
The whole crowd cheered. Deep down afraid of the consequences if they did not.
Ty lee looked to her friend, hoping this display would cheer her up.
But Azula could only hear the voices of failure in her skull. Her fathers. Her mothers. Her brothers. And that airbending boy whose face remained shrouded in darkness.
…
"Come on slowpokes! Faster!"
"Err, yes princess! On our way!"
If she had been in a less foul mood, she might have realized she didn't recognize the voice of the soldier who had spoken. Or another soldier elbowing that soldier to shut up.
"Wait, Azula! Wait up!"
"Just keep up. You can do that at least, can't you!?"
"Woah, woah. Azula! Calm down! Remember your aura!"
"Screw your aura, and screw you! Screw all of you! Bunch of peasants couldn't catch an old man and a boat!? Why do we keep you around? Why don't we just banish you all!?"
The guards looked amongst each other. Knowing her, banishment would be the least bad punishment she could come up with.
"whew. she's something ain't she? the right kind of girl for a troubled, messed-up little stud like yourself, eh baldie?"
"Please, don't make this worse than it already is." The avatar looked through his helmet at the source of his misery. He couldn't believe he was really doing this. How could he have listened to Shyu? Oh, and Sans?
"Leave? You're going to leave?"
"As a distraction. I will take one of the boats. The princess will immediately believe me to be the saboteur, giving you the chance to leave."
"But you can't leave!"
"Oh, darn it! You're right! I can't operate one of those boats. Hmm…. Chit-Sang. You wish to escape right? I presume you know how to pilot those machines?"
"Woah. Woah. You want me to help a convict? One in league with the Avatar? Forget it, you old coot!"
"You're a convict yourself, don't forget. They will show you no mercy either. You're in the same boat as us, brother. Your only way out is with me. So, I suggest you make the right choice out of practicality if not selflessness."
"But…" The convict looked to Aang. "I don't understand. The Avatar is right here! The enemy of the Fire Nation! If we bring him in-"
"you won't."
Everyone turned to Sans who eyed Chit-Sang. His grin remained, but his eyes were serious.
"Oh yeah? And why not?"
"you'll die where you stand."
The room went silent. Somehow hearing it from the supposed laziest in the group really made it sink in.
"You see? Your only way out is with me. You either make this dash for freedom or die begging for mercy."
"You… Oh all right! I can't believe I'm doing this! And if we escape, what then genius?"
"We show the Fire Nation how wrong we were. About the war. About everything. We show them a better way. We start a revolution."
"Uh, woah. Hang on. I'm all for getting out of here but that. That's treason!"
"Do whatever you wish then." Shyu scoffed at him. "Run off and cower after we escape. I know my role."
"But what about us?" Papyrus looked confused and for once Frisk felt she could understand him. "You're just gonna leave us here?"
"Your destiny lies on a different path than mine my friends. You have your road to follow and so do I. Take care of one another, won't you?"
"eh, it was already kind of my job so yeah."
"Sans, I believe you might have a straight shot to the Capitol from this. Do you-"
"oh yeah. way ahead of you beardslie. go do your thing." Sans winked
"But I…" Shyu placed a hand on Aang's shoulder before he could finish.
"Aang, I know you've got a lot on your plate. I can tell you're someone who's already suffered much. And to suddenly have all this thrown on you… I can't pretend to know how that feels. But I can tell you have the strength to do it."
"How? How do you know that? I'm not a hero! I'm twelve years old!"
"And I believe this twelve-year-old boy can save the world. I hope that someday you have that same faith."
He sure didn't have that same faith right now, as he followed the soldiers to their stations and the ship prepared to disembark.
Ok listen you two. Frisk gestured specifically to the brothers. Try not to do anything that might attract attention. Like say, being yourselves.
"Be ourselves? Splendid! We shall take that to heart!"
She shook her head quickly no. No, I mean don't be yourselves! Not until we're off this scrap heap.
"oh fine. i guess i can work a shift longer than 30 minutes now and then."
30 minutes?
Aang found himself admiring the architecture of the ship. This was his first time inside one. He truly was behind enemy lines now.
"Well at least there's no… no dad."
"What are you doing?"
It took every ounce of self-control not to leap out of his armor and instead slowly pivot around.
The face that had haunted his dreams for the last month stood before him again. And while she might not have been attacking, the look on her face told him she would love nothing more than to hurt him here and now.
Scared as he was, this was the first time he really had a chance to get a proper look at her without the immediate risk of incineration. And well… He had to admit-
"Hello? What are you doing? Having a nice pleasant stroll when you should be at work?"
He stood at attention. Thinking quickly, he put on the deepest voice he could. He'd actually had some practice with Sans in case something like this came up.
"No princess. I was simply remembering how fortunate I am to be in my shoes."
She raised an eyebrow but didn't respond. So, he continued to pull nonsense out of his ass.
"I mean after all, we, the Fire Nation, have been granted a monumental task. To bring the world back to balance. To lift the remaining nations out of their slump. It is a burdensome task. An unappreciated task. But as I stare upon this technological achievement, I realize that we always were destined to take on this role. That we alone were capable of saving this world. Because of what we have that no other nation, no other bending art has."
"Really?" She leaned in closer, slightly intrigued. "And what is that?"
She was right before him. Her face dominated his entire field of vision through the helmet slits. Her breath almost scalded him. A reminder of the power she possessed. He clenched his fists, trying to hide his fear.
"Determination. We have determination. And that is why we are going to win."
She looked at him for a little longer. He did his best to maintain eye contact. Don't lose it. Keep it together…
Eventually she nodded and backed off satisfied.
"A true patriot we have here. Well said. I don't usually ask this but what is your name soldier?"
"Kuzon."
"Well, Kuzon… Show your love for this nation…. And get back to work!"
"Yes maam!"
She turned about again. The feeling of dominance surged back into her. She could see his shaking, however hard he tried to hide it. It made her feel good again.
"We'll have to chat again Kuzon," she muttered to herself. "It'll be fun to watch you dance."
As his enemy rounded the corner and disappeared, the Avatar let out his breath and stared in the direction she had gone while himself muttering.
"Determination. We have determination. And that is why we are going to win, you bitch. On behalf of Gyatso, and my people. I will defeat you."