[04.23: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantages over large competitors]
[It was a hot summer's night…]
"….strictly speaking we're trading outfit out of Sigil, the City of Doors, under contract to a group of nations calling themselves the League of Aquitaine…but that means nothing to you I know" the young green-skinned not-spirit Captain, and Mayor, of this strange and terrifying group said to Iroh as he went about putting barbequed meat on his plate. Not just to Iroh of course, with the Avatar, the Avatar's companions, Zuko, and Princess Azula and her followers also hovering nearby amidst the…party…taking place in this almost strangely normal looking Earth Kingdom town square "…but, suffice to say, the universe is very big place, with many layers, such as the Spirit world as your world seems aware of, and more beyond that. We travel between them, seeking out things to trade, such as knowledge, materials, new things, whatever is deemed valuable to trade or acquire really"
Thankfully he was the nearest Iroh noted, having carefully positioned himself as….the Avatar was somewhat flighty and young, and allowing Azula an opening would be dangerous in this time. Not what such wonders and dangers as this were being revealed, and he stood facing stranger beings than ever encountered before in the records of the White Lotus or Library of the Royal Flame. Such casual admittance that there was so much more beyond this world than just the Spirit realms was….hard to accept, but also very concerning from a military standpoint considering the power of these 'humble traders'. Even down to the strange prisoner restraints that held all of them now captive Iroh noted amongst the Enforced Peace all of them as he spoke back in a jovial manner.
"Oh hoh hoh, so humble for one so young and powerful! And these seas must be dangerous to travel to be as a ship making repairs from the storm!"
The unnaturally pale girl with golden hair, Kara apparently, merely let out an amused snort as she stood leaning against a pillar wearing a rather scandalous ensemble of blue, red, and white. It was rather fetching Iroh found, but best not to ogle the courted lover of their captors either…. not that the ridiculous powerful nature of the girl fool him either. It was enough to make Princess Azula wary, and that concerned him as well, the girl was off balance at each new blow of knowledge and exposed weakness, something he'd never seen in Court, and that wasn't guaranteed to be a good thing…
'Captain' Outis sighed, picking up a large mug shaped glass filled with some sort of alcohol "Because it is dangerous, and there's dangerous things out there. I'll be frank. We were hired to scout out the worlds, yes plural, of a rather hostile non-human Empire for our allies. There was an engagement, we won, but took damage and made sure to get far, far, away before we decided to make repairs here"
"And now you abduct us to force our families to serve you in your war?" he heard Princess Azula stated calmly, seemingly back on solid ground "It will not work you understand. The Firelord WILL punish you for your insolence"
Iroh had already guessed the answer to that question having seen more than the dangerous girl who was his niece, as Zuko uncomfortably backed his wicked sister up with a nod. So, he allowed the young green man to shake his head in a firm negative answer "Hey, now, you all barged in here and attacked us remember? Anyway, we wouldn't do that, Kara's morals here aside you don't have anything to offer. The Kromaggs are…you'd lose, simple as that. Wouldn't even be a fight. So we'd a) never try drag you into a slaughter, or b) let them find out about your world. I'm not saying you're not a skilled mage, you and your brother there are very much so, but worlds far more advanced, united, and powerful than yours have already fallen to them. Thankfully, your world is far beyond the Kromaggs reach"
That chilled Iroh's heart, hearing it so casually stated, though he maintained his friendly and jovial as he looked around at the people milling about the square, even a group of four playing slightly strange music "Yes I had suspected such….from the many fair maidens that served as your crew"
Iroh noticed the barely concealed wince at that "A few are rescued from ah…" the young not-human boy looked at the children, shaking his head "…well, I apologise, but what they called breeding camps. People, humans, are mere slaves and cattle to them, up to…unfortunately they eat people"
Gasps were expected from the children, but it was worryingly in line with Iroh had expected if this was a ship's Captain merely blown off course…on a level he couldn't quite imagine, but still in that line. The almost girlish cry of the Water Tribe boy though was unexpected, as he put down the 'burger' he was eating, eyes wide and hands on the table "They Eat PEOPLE?"
"Human eyes are a delicacy apparently" the young Captain-Mayor stated in a monotone, then sighed "Look, I know this isn't all we want to hear, but you'll find out in your time here as our…guests. So I'm offering knowledge and material goods in exchange for your cooperation, power to of course, though of a different sort than your world seems used to. You will be allowed train here too during your stay, under supervision of course, and whatever else you wish…within reason, and the confines of your stay"
'Yes, knowledge, wisdom….such dangerous temptations offered' Iroh could acknowledge as the groups nearby listened awkwardly, whispering amongst themselves while Zuko merely glared "Ah, there is no chance of an early parole I fear?"
The unnatural girl, Kara shrugged as he watched the young Water Tribe boy watching her short dress and long bare legs before blushing and being elbowed by young Lady Beifong "No, sorry, as your niece said. You're all important people, and we don't want to be drawn into your war. Sorry"
"But you could stop the Fire Nation!" the Avatar stated bouncing up and down excitedly as he'd apparently realised something as Iroh merely shook his head while Zuko tried to glare the boy to death along with his crazy sister "End the War. Bring Peace!"
"Uh-huh" the young Captain replied taking a drink of his beer, shaking his head "And we could fly along up the coast, knock out the Earth Kingdom capital, then the Water Tribe, and end the war that way. Peace! Look, we're culturally different to you, hell we're different to each other aboard the ship, if we step in we become the conquerors and have to enforce OUR will on these lands"
Iroh stepped in before this could degenerate further as the Avatar or the Waterbender seemed set to open their mouths, likely along the lines of 'But the Fire Nation are Evil' which would only enflame Zuko and descend questions they needed answers too into chaos "Ah, that I can understand, I have noted great cultural differences even on our world during my travels…" he kept his eyes on the three likely troublemakers, Aang, Azula, and Zuko, glaring them to silence in his General's look "…and I imagine it would be much greater in the realms beyond the Spirit world. Even your Bending is radically different, and your….Dragons"
"Yeah…don't annoy Haeletoth, she's a White Dragon, ice hunters at the poles and not the friendliest of sorts outside doing her job" the young Captain chuckled back awkwardly "But, yeah, your….well, blood-line Elemental Sorcerers is how we'd describe your, ah, bending. You're born with it, while ours is…hmmm..exoic energy bending perhaps?...that might describe it best. The closest we've got on board to your style...wait…"
Iroh watched as those golden eyes glanced around, before a hand gestured at a black clad you man…well, boy, perhaps Zuko's age or a little older "Weryl! Can you come over here a moment!"
"Yes Captain?"
"Sorry to bother you Weryl, but just want to give a bit of a demonstration" the Captain stated to the boy holding a glass of dark liquid in his hand before motioning at Iroh and the children "See, these fine folks here are Mages a bit like you tradition, and that of Recluse and Fairhaven, except they use the Elements of Air, Earth, Fire, and Water"
"Ahh…." Iroh cut into politely "…and what Element do you Bend young man?"
"Oh, um…bend?…oh…." the boy stumbled over the words in confusion before nodding "Oh, sorry I use the Element of Order, Bend it or whatever term you use. Hi, I'm Weryl by the way, from the island of Recluse on another….world I guess?"
"There's other Elements, wow, can you show me how to…"
Iroh tried to politely wave the Avatar to quietness, Lady Beifong and the older Water Tribe boy, Sokka, taking the hint to shush the young Air monk "Curious, we were not aware there were other types of bending"
Young Weryl shrugged in confusion, glancing at his Captain and the ghostly-powerful girl, causing the Captain to nod "Might be here, might not. You're bloodline sorcerers who seem to be focused on the whole racial lines shtick and superiority based on Element. It's very possible that your people in the past….well bred it out or suppressed it. Weryl's world only had Order and Chaos Mages….ugh, Bending as you'd call it, and they'd started down that path as well"
"Captain!" the young black clad boy huffed back, arms folded but clearly more amused than irritated "The White Wizards were evil!"
"Not all of them by your own accounts, just a lot, and the whole lack of Balance issue" the Captain replied with polite amusement of his own before he waved it off "See, cultural differences? Anyway, that's what I mean, I find the Fire Nation's conquests….well, if it wasn't for the past genocide on the Air Mages, and your stupidity in stomping out other types of elemental magic it'd be tolerable…"
Then he gestured at the energetic Airbender "Not that I support you lots vision, Mister Separate But Equal, as that offends me deeply as well. It's just a recipe for Constant War, and only the Avatar's Iron Fisted Rule clearly made it work till you disappeared for a hundred odd years Elemental Mages work best together in my opinion, and separating on racial lines is only going to mean wars are race based, just like what would have happened with…well, your people. Further proving your ancestor was a fucking idiot General, sorry to say"
Iroh blinked "Ah…I would have expected calling him a monster, or other such names, but I have never heard him called an idiot…"
The young not-human Captain let out a snort "Well, yeah, you're all too obsessed with this whole race bending thing of yours. Sure, destroying the monks, damned pacifists, yadda, yadda, but the children? Those that wouldn't fight? That's just plain stupid evil, should have just captured them! Trained them as loyal Fire Nation citizens or whatever, and then you got Air Mages to make your Fire Mages stronger after. That's what I'd have done anyway. So, when he went to conquer the Earth Mages he'd…"
"Callum…" the ghostly pale girl, Kara, muttered in an exasperated tone "…you're doing the supervillain thing again"
The Captain, Callum, sighed "Fine, fine….but I'm a priest of a War God. This kind of Hundred Years War stupidity is getting on my professional nerves…"
'I must keep this boy away from Azula and the Avatar before he gives them ideas' Iroh thought with concern as the young man complained, not about the horror of the historical conquest to the confusion and shock of the children, but on the failings of the Fire Nation as a 'Conquering Power' and 'World-Unifier'…..
--
[04.24: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantages over large competitors]
[With his hammer in his hand strikes his blows so clever…]
It was damned good to be doing something in a smithy that wasn't the ship Weryl found as the crack-thoom of his hammer and order meeting the white-hot metal echoed around him. L33T was giving corrections and statistics in his odd beeping-booping sing-song, but Weryl followed them where necessary as he worked with the 'modern' machinery to make his job easier and more precise, more…orderly. Concentrating he drew out the impurities, reinforcing the metal with order as the part took shape, before moving over to quech it, to a hiss and roar of steam as it met water, as he pushed in the last need flare of Order.
Lifting up the part piece with the tongs he studied it careful, glad it had come out as desired and then then placing it on the preparation area he'd setup nearby. Sure it wasn't all the fancy stuff they had on the ship, but this was his little workshop for the next few weeks, and no Chief Engineer Sanchez wanting things done her way. Or arguing over who had time when on workshop equipment for their own personal projects. Still it was a hot world, and he gladly took the cloth offered by the Mister Handy, Reginald, to wipe off the sweat, followed by a bottle of water to drink.
L33T beep-booped at time some complaints, and Weryl rubbed his eyes, letting out a soft groan and pointing at the Modron with the water-bottle "Oh don't give me that, if it's too perfect, like you want it, then it won't sell and you know that too well. What one person things is correct another will see as off"
"Beep-boopity-beep!"
Weryl gave a snort "Yeah, yeah, if it's not at hard angles with squares and triangles you're not happy. Curves are a thing you know?"
"Beep-boopity-boopity!"
"Oh, shut-up, you know you're wrong" Weryl muttered back throwing the towel on his shoulder, then noticing the pillar of…green-black?...energy coming into his temporary smithy. The rather small but powerful bundle of energies too as he reached out with his Order Senses to turn the faint feeling into a stronger one as the blind girl of their prisoner-guests stomped into his smithy. Well, the physically blind girl, but she was clearly like Creslin from the legends, or what Dorrin supposedly did to navigate when veiled, in using her Order…or Earth?...senses to compensate. Very impressive for one so young, Weryl found as he sighed, looking over at her and giving a wave of greeting.
"Hello! Lady…Bei Fong wasn't it? How can I help you this fine hot day"
"I'm Toph Bei Fong, and you call me Toph…" the girl stated firmly as she marched forward, arms folding across her chest as she came to a stop "…saying Lady Bei Fong makes me feel…ugh, you're not going to treat me like a little blind girl are ya?"
"Not unless you want me to, no. I'm Weryl by the way. I'm only, what, a few years older than you so I don't want to feel like an old man. Nor do you act much blind you know? One of the Founders were like that" Weryl answered plainly with a sigh, Founders but this girl was Order trying to pretend to be Chaos "Anyway, what brings you to my smithy, thought you'd all be resting late after movie night?"
'Toph' waved her hand in front of her face "See, moving story?"
Weryl shrugged "There was sound, and you're clearly navigating fine here, plus there was much drinking and dancing…and why I escaped to sleep early as I wanted to work early today on a few things. Anyway, they might be able to give you your sight if you ask.."
There wasn't much official needed, just some Order Infused Black Iron parts for the new railgun, but he did want to get as much time into his own work while he could, along with favours for the crew like Chao's Black Iron knife collection. Along with other things, which the young Earth Mage pointed out as she clearly reached out with her Not-Order, Not-Chaos, senses, gesturing at his work and ignoring his ending statement "Right, your making stuff to sell right?"
Weryl glanced back, waving off L33T who was fluttering about wanting to 'fix' things as usual "Hmm, oh, yeah, caravan the Captain sending. Sorry you and your friends won't be going with it, but he was looking for some trade goods…so, made a few toys…" Dorrin had made toys before he'd made his first Black Iron Ironclad after all "…and other goods from home for them. Why, you looking to buy? Well, Barter anyway…."
"I'm bored. Other's are asleep or crazy. You're a bender. Wanted to talk shop"
'Ohhh…Noooo. She's Mini Chao' Weryl thought with annoyed horror as the girl shrugged "Eh, my parents are also the biggest merchants in Gaoling, soooooo…..maybe I want to look at you're toys. And maybe send them a letter and show I'm not a helpless little girl. That'll show'em I bet…."
--
{Meanwhile, across the town…}
"Careful! Careful! Don't damage the mounting as you lift it!"
I could hear Anna, our Chief Engineer shouting at Kara as the work crews went about uninstalling one of the damaged secondary railguns. It was amusing, but things were going well, if slowly, and we'd recycle the parts later as I descended with a Feather Fall spell down to the ground below. It had been a long night, and then a decent enough rest before being back in thick of it once more. My part at least was done, and Kara's main part, lifting the damaged railgun out, shouldn't take her too long as I did my wander about the town itself and ensure everyone was behaving themselves.
"All finished?" Zee greeted me as I landed, dressed in a….well, I'd call it a combination of her usual wear in an Asian-local format of some sort "Though I can hear the shouting from here still"
"Nah, not yet, but nearly. Chief Sanchez wants to disassemble and strip out the good parts, so extra-careful" I replied with a shake of my head "Now, any change with our guests?"
"The youngest, the Earth mage, went off to Weryl's little shop after a stop over our soon to open Tea Shop owner…" she replied as we started to walk, and I sighed at that; the Fire Mages, especially the old man and the girl were the most dangerous of the lot I'd found "…so, not fully sure there what that's about, but there is the requests for training time"
I waved her off "Which we're going to give, we just need to ensure it's in a controlled manner and we don't have a revolt or other chaos as a result. We've a training field nearly finished, and the pool, so as long as they behave we'll keep to our timelines. Though it's sort of good they aren't targeting each other right now, since their peoples are at war and the…whole spiritual leader vanishing for a hundred years thing"
Zee gave me a look "There was a *lot* of shouting between them last night"
"Angry magically empowered children thrown together…." I replied giving her my own *look* that told her I knew her teenage self, and she actually blushed and gave an awkward laugh "…like some others I was told"
"Yes, I've heard about *some* children having that problem" she muttered as we walked "…and are you going to tell them about the Comet?"
I shrugged "In a bit, not yet, It's a bit off for now, and we're still finalising our plans up on how to safely grab that big ball of magical fire. So, yeah, rather have that done first before we go upsetting their world anymore. We have….well, really hit them with some pretty earth shattering things and they are still coming to grips with all that. All while plotting escape and how to fight each other too I imagine"
"So combat training against each other is your best idea on how to deal with it?"
I groaned "If I have to hear one more I'm the Avatar, or Needs Training, I'll punch them…haaaaaa….but, yeah, trying to hammer down on young, powerful, barely-trained, mages never ends well. So controlled aggression, give them something to do….honestly the same as the crew. Nathan's planning to have combat drills for the security teams nearby for the same reason. Something about different terrain types all conveniently nearby?"
"It's because you want to see about getting samples of all the weird animals they've got here…" she retorted, shaking her head "…oh, and let's not forget the whole wanting to send a trade caravan you want to that's stressing out poor Nathan most likely along with the General, the Princes, the Princesses, etc that we've unintentional kidnapped"
"Yes, yes, he's voiced the concerns to me, and we've done our best to plan for everything. We are traders after all Zee, and there's a lot more we need to know about this world, from the Spirits, to this War, and other such things…"
--
[04.25: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantages over large competitors]
[Red versus Blue! Place your bets! Please place your bets!]
Magical duels were always a dangerous affair, even, in-theory, 'training spars' at the best of times, and especially with young idiots who hated each other…
'But best to get the aggression and murder attempts where we can control them than where we can't' I reminded myself as I came out in my 'trader's outfit' and ready behind a number of defensive wards and other spellwork on the training field we'd setup. Training field that turned into an unofficial spectator sport I noted as I saw the gambling and various other things cropping up as I and the other 'referees' got ready for the job. Some would be friendly spars….and others were very much grudge matches that would normally be to the death, and exactly why me, Zee, the others healers, and most importantly Asa, Nightmare Nurse our Ship's Doctor, was on call.
It was also distracting the dangerous old General who wanted to play harmless tea-maker as he worked on keeping his nephew, and the others, alive it seemed to me. Unfortunately they were very insistent on training, the younger ones anyway, and that meant playing along,….and having an audience, though that hadn't been my original plan. My bad for timing this for the cooler afternoons when we had more shifts off, and it was easier to train and fight than under a blazing hot sun. Still, I could work with this, and it'd give me a fair idea of the skills and fighting style of this world against each other, and against us, short of another short, sharp, engagement like when they'd arrived.
"He's unhappy"
I nodded at Quinn's simple statement, seeing the unhappy old native ex-soldier moving to indicate his calling whatever was being planned as stupid, or madness, or stupid madness. Perhaps also about giving away potential information to foes, who were their captors, as well probably….but teenage pride, and it only took a few insults and simple rewards, and bets, to tip those odds. Keeping them alive of course was now on me, and the others, and even temporary magical contracts only went so far even when both parties forbade killing blows. Not that loopholes weren't a thing, not maiming, but…proving them our healing abilities was a pragmatic way of showing strength despite my distaste for the method.
"Well, I would be too if I were him" I replied stretching out and making ready "…but, in the end, it was there idea and pushing, and he knows it. Enemy children, with grudges and power? This close together? Yeah, unless we locked'em up their entire stay a blow up of some sort would have happened. So, got the recording gear up and running?"
"Uh-huh, yep, got it done man" he replied showing me the pad showing various shots of the training field little more than a large field of cleared earth with rocks, trees, and a few other obstacles surrounded by barrier shields and protective wards. To keep our unprompted audience safe in this regards, with Zee and Amelia the White Sorceress playing at that part along with 'stop murder' interference duty like myself. Or would be for the more magically done 'training sessions' I expected as the first one was martial arts, and while deadly in its own way to the combatants ….
"….less so to the fighters" I muttered to myself as I glanced at the field on the screens, nodding "Aye, good….and there's our first lot getting started without us. Right, time for me to get into position and play ref I guess"
'Oh, Boss above who let Chao get a microphone before her fight' I thought as….
"Aww….crap, there's two of them now!" I growled out as the two would be sparring partners, cheerfully, energetically, and like this was a radio-show started talking into the mike about how awesome a day it was, and thanking each other, and their friends, and something about Weryl and victory celebrations….
"Oi, you going to fight or what?" one of the goblins, the female one, shouted cupping her hands to her mouth as she sat on a rock "Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Yay! Fight!" one of the combatants, the native girl in the pink, red, and orange clothes cheered back as she raised her arms, followed moments later by Chao…
'And now I've multiple idiots shouting Fight! Fight! Fight!' I thought, coming over and using Mage Hand to yoink "Okay, then give me the damned mike and get to the punching and kicking if you're all so bloody eager to get at it!"
"Aye-Aye Captain-dono!" Chao saluted back as I stayed a distance away as she flowed into a hand strike just as the other girl began to move into her own stance, into a kick. Both blocked the other, bodies locking, then flowing into a series of fist and knee strikes and blocks that belied the fact two teenage girls were going it in rather vicious martial arts while cheerfully smiling and giggling. Combined with local girl's outfit, and Chao's chines-style' red and black dress, it was all rather surreal to watch as the small crowded cheered and shouted out various things. Considering Chao was better than most professional soldiers…well, I'd already know the Ty Lee girl was skilled, but this was a good reminder…
--
{Fight! Fight! Fight!...}
Iroh, Eldest Son of Azulon, retired General of the Fire Nation, and Dragon of the West, pinched the bridge of his nose and let out a sigh "Control your anger Zuko, do not let it control you…"
That of course was completely overridden by two things. First by Princess Azula's laughter, an actually genuine sounding, belly deep laughter, and second by the young Toph Bei Fong, the…
"….GREATEST EARTHBENDER IN THE WORLD! YEAH! I CLAIM SPARKY IN THE NAME OF CARRYING MY HEAVY THINGS AND BUYING ME CANDY AFTER THIS BOUT!"
Iroh sighed again as he looked at Zuko currently restrained on the ground, growling out….being on a ship with sailors for three years had not improved his vocabulary as Iroh would had desired. Though the curses were aimed firmly at Azula it seemed rather than the young, blind, but not-blind, Earthbender girl that just lured him in and defeated him as he'd seen her merely as a young blind girl despite warnings to the contrary. After seeing the chi-blocker, Ty Lee, lose a close fight it seemed Zuko had been too focused on watching the other dangers around him rather than the one before him.
Thankfully he did have the, grudging, formality to bow and accept defeat gracef….accept defeat without setting everything on fire…to young Lady Toph. Unsurprising really, she seemed the most cunning, and dangerous, of the Avatar's companions, and already a Master Bender at her young age. Zuko should have been a match for her….if he would JUST THINK FIRST sometimes. Now he would be in a sulk the rest of the day, and, worse, it was leading into reaffirming the coming dangerous situation as the Earthbender girl grabbed Zuko…Iroh shook his head as an Earth 'sled' drew them out of the way while the crowd cheered and something about buying meat buns was mentioned by the cheerful young serving girl who'd defeated Azula's minion Ty Lee.
'This….radio….another wonder and shock to the system that could change the world far too easily' the Grandmaster of the White Lotus worried recalling the 'Movie' mere days ago. Yes the ship was terrifying, but the change, the easy change such things as 'Radio' and 'Movies' offered to swaying minds….changes that were possible soon, mere years or decades apparently, versus the technological wonders that wouldn't be given to them in trade. Without even fighting, for Iroh worried, for he could see no way to defeat vast armies of them should they appear, that such 'simple things' as they called them could upset the world even if the Avatar could restore Balance…
"And now…..in this corner! The Icy Blue Beauty and Princess of the South, Waterbending Teacher of the Avatar! Let's give a warm welcome for the Katara of the Southern Water Tribe!"
…and here came the nightmare Iroh dreaded as his hands clenched into fists as the Water Tribe girl came forward, embarrassed, with absolutely no idea what she faced…
…as Azula strode forward, dressed in casual clothing suited more a vacation than an Agni Kai, but the eyes, and the stance as the outlander described Azula in equally glowing terms that his wicked 'niece' seemed to eat up with a vicious smirk as she still chuckled from Zuko's defeat…
'This Magical Geas better work, for if she slays the Water Tribe girl…' Iroh's eyes went to the Avatar, and the only one looking actually worried in Water Tribe boy Sokka. At least one of them had some common sense it seemed as Iroh watched the waterbender stand ready in a Northern Style fighting stance as she drew upon the offered water barrels as the 'referees' watched on. One could just pray to Agni, and perhaps even Tui and La, that this didn't devolve into an enraged Avatar and destruction and…
To his surprise Katara struck first, the girl flinging water blasts forwards at Azula…
…..that was concerning….
'She is leading you girl' he thought as he watched is 'niece' simply dodge the first blast with an easy sidestep, then the second with a dancing roll, as he watched her flow up with a punch of flame to disrupt the attempt to the blast into a water whip. Followed by another strike of flame, this time a kick with of her flame enshrouded bare foot that erupted outwards and blasted flame and steam away from her. Despite that was an efficient use of ones flame as Iroh watched her moved to flick her hair, stating a goad to the waterbender that…
'Ah, that girl is so much like Zuko…without the training' Iroh thought with a wince as ice daggers flew despite the hot day, aiming to injure and maim rather than kill, but Azula had clearly expected that as she rolled under them, coming out into a simple blast of flame that forced the waterbender to move. Being herded, anger clear on her face as water whips lashed out, being dodged with ease as they if they were nothing. This could only end one way now he realised as….
"If you can't even hit me, I dread to see how much Father would humiliate you by simply turning up…"
He winced again as anger fuelled foolish efforts and overexertion on the Water Tribe girl's part, to the concern of the Avatar at long last, but he could already see where the strike Azula was wielding was now aimed. Not at the girl she was fighting….defeating…as he watched his 'niece' systematically break the waterbender's weakening efforts before drinking the girl on the defensive, knocking her to her knees….
"Hmmm….bit showy for my tastes" he stated softly as Azula went flashy, jumping up into the air, blue flames dancing on her arms as she raised two great whips of blazing blue flame and slamming then down….
To both sides of the now defenceless Water Tribe girl as her water was blasted away to steam and he watched the girl cower from the flames and heat as she…glowed faintly?
"And that's a win for the fair Princess Azula, very impressive my dear, very impressive" the young green-skinned Captain of the Outsiders stated, clapping ,as cheers filled the air as Azula landed, flicking her hair back into position as she gave a smirk at the Avatar and his group. The young Air monk was shaken clearly, and wasn't that going to be fun to work at undoing. Just because murderous violence and killing had been taken out of her hands did not make the girl any less dangerous it seemed….
--
[04.26: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[Just a walk in the park…]
"….not having the *honour* of talking to the Avatar"
I let out a hum, as I was in thought on the subject as I walked with the two ladies of the Fire Nation, the Princess and the Noblewoman, though the small tree-lined 'park' we'd setup in the nicely renovated town that was our temporary home. The truth was…I didn't much like the young Avatar, he was rather preachy for one his age, and Kara was much better with his Heroic nature while…she was ill-suited for dealing with female Lex Luthor here. Aggressive girl, even she was being passive-aggressive, though she was clearly not used to being rebuffed, or not being able to threaten or manipulate what she wanted. Bad parenting in my view having met her brother…
"Ah, well, that's rather simple. Myself, and the young Avatar ,have wide rather ideological differences, even without his rather…energetic…personality, so best that someone of a similar mindset to him…discuss matters like I am with you two noble ladies"
"A thankless task to assign one's lover" the gloomy one, Mai, replied in that continuing semi-bored, emo, tone that she possessed. I shrugged, giving an amused smile as my walking cane tapped off the flagstones the Mister Handy's hand laid out for the path. All the greenery should be region appropriate and last a few years even without people coming back here once we left.
"Hardly, my dear Kara has a very…. positive…view of people and on how things should be done. Runs in her family, and from the power they've got and her training, so I'm sure she's no real major problem with dealing with Avatar Aang. Some folk just get on better with others, along with the joys of delegation. Such as our lovely Chao handling explaining the device to your friend Ty Lee"
"And not having to put up with such excessive cheerfulness?"
I nodded back to the gloomy girl "Yes, an added benefit that. Not that we are showing any favouritism here mind you, but I am probably better, personality wise, for dealing with you and your brother Princess Azula"
"Oh?" the momentarily quiet, but ruthlessly ambitious younger girl replied as I walked with them in my human polymorph "Such a powerful bender needed to deal with two helpless girls such as our selves?"
I gave an amused snort at that as I gestured at a nice stone 'chess table', though the stone chess pieces and board were only a small part in the centre, with stone and wood benches on either side "Now, now, Princess, best not to insult my intelligence. Helpless is certainly not something I'd attribute to any of you, even the blind girl amongst you….and especially one as powerful and skilled as you"
"Hmm, or is it dealing with the monster that is difficult for some?"
"Monster?" I mused as I sat on one side, cane resting against the bench as they took their seat across from me "I doubt that, as I've got a few of those in my employ, let along what we fight. Frankly Princess Azula, considering what've heard and seen of the results of your Father's parenting and the pressures of Court…well, it's very impressive the way both of you have turned out"
She gave me an odd look as gloomy-girl displayed only the faintest hint of interest as her Princess spoke "Zuko, impressive….really?"
"He's an angry young man, and considering your dad burned his face….hmmm…yes, he's still functional, able to take on Mister Air Monk and friends, and exile didn't break him. You seem to be more skilled, but girls often mature faster than boys….and, frankly, you appear to be far above the average in skill levels. A genius and hardworking, a rare combination, so, somewhat unfair to simply compare really as most of your foes seem to be prodigies themselves, but lacking the training"
That got an eyebrow raised at me, arms folding across her chest "Oh, indeed?"
I gave another small shrug, hands out "Perhaps, I'll admit we've only had a few days to get to know each other, but outside of the Monk, in his…Air Bending…the others training has been sparse at best, or self-learned. From what I've seen it's highly unlikely you'll be meeting many of that skill level, that your age, anytime soon. So, I'd suggest making use of your temporary peers to learn and train. Sometimes we learn more from our enemies than our friends, and I doubt you'll ever get the chance again without a small horde of yes-men and women in your ear telling you how awesome you are….even wen you could BE better. But, well, that's just my advice as a humble merchant"
"You say that you are such, but I find it very hard to believe…" she stated glancing to where the ship was landed, but currently wasn't visible behind the illusionary wards "…considering you hold us captive, and casually wield such power over us"
I sighed "The multiverse is a dangerous place Princess Azula, Lady Mai, and, much as I am loathe to admit it, there is always a bigger fish as the saying goes. But, now the secret is out, and you are a person of influence, as is the Avatar, we'll do our best to ensure your world knows the basics of dangers that lurk out there in case other idiots get ideas, or the Spirits get involved"
"And not to find a port to call to?" she waved around the sunny town we'd restored from our shaded spot beneath the nearby planted trees "Or lands to rule?"
"Now, that's a complicated question to answer, now isn't it?" I mused back as I fished into my Trader's Pack and pulling out two tablets from my extra-dimensional space "In part, our voyages mean it can be months, or years, between our visits, but also…what I've heard of your Father, the Firelord, is not encouraging for trading without trouble, nor is the Earth Kingdom a pleasant sounding place having spoken to Lady Bei Fong. Lower level, we shall do in a short while, perhaps….but I do believe it would require a…"
I waved my hand in the air with my free hand while I put the tablets down on the table "…. change in management let's call it? And a less war-like world. Now, unto to business, these are your tablets that'll give you access to our database, albeit on a very restricted basis. So, first things first, they'll be locked to you personally, so thumb print and facial recognition. Holding it like this and…"
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1002]
[Current Dimension]
Avatar: The Last Airbender
[Current Location]
Village of Tu Zin, Earth Kingdm
[Trading Report – Construction Report]
Amazing the progress you can make in a week when building with magic and future-tech. It's a learning experience, with data, we can show to our allies in the League of Aquitaine – even if the development is more 1800 and 1900's than 'modern' Earth standards. We've a mining and production setup just outside the town in the former mines, and the town itself actually feels like a small rural village now even as we make repairs. We are even at planting trees and small gardens, though 'relocating' and healing is a more accurate description of the events.
In regards the Fortune's Chance we've a fairly steady, but not too tiring, repair and renovation going on, using the time so the crew can relax and enjoy themselves. That and do needed training, such as Nathan insisting security teams do training nearby, in the desert for a few drills for instance, along with testing out our customised gear. Kara agrees, as does Quinn, but since we're testing out his and Isabel's gear that's not a shock in of itself. That and it's Special Forces soldiers, and we need to keep running scouting missions nearby to watch for potential threats, or escape attempts.
Finally, we're preparing a trade expedition down south through a number of villages, then onto the port city on the coast. There's very different flora and fauna on this world, in addition to the elemental monk-mage hybrids, has raised its interest in my and Zee's eyes at least. Quinn's too, though that's in part due to the fact this world at early stage industrialisation without discovering gunpowder. It'd be a decent place to trade with if not for the whole Hundreds Year World War going on and ruining everything and everyone, though experienced soldiers and mage soldiers are feasible from here I guess.
[Diary Entry]
Fun times, with magical prisoners in our fake little town. We are leaning a lot though, about their 'bending' and about the local culture and politics owing to their statuses in that culture. It's interesting, and it's only been a few days, and they have calmed now we've let them train and offer them knowledge to study. Me? I've been handed the dangerous ones, the two Fire Nation groups. Joy to that, as they are dangerous, albeit in differing ways.
Heirs to the Throne, madly competing with each other, and with a psycho Father egging them on. He's got an Heir and a Spare, and he's clearly trying to kill off one, the exile Zuko, and his treatment of Azula is, to be frank, somewhat odd. But that could just be from my cultural viewpoint at work as he's throwing her into field and taking what seem like unnecessary risks with her safety. Honestly considering I've only part of the story, but that story seems bad, he seems a genuine 'A GOD AM I!' sort of ruler, and he's given his children a very twisted, and inefficient, view of how the world is. So, not an ideal trading partner.
Least it looks we'll be doing a good thing in taking away the magical doom comet {another reason trading is likely a no-no} from the Firebenders since he seems a burn everything strategist from talking from the royal heir to the throne. Boss above but I struggle to grasp the idiocy behind the 'Fire is the Superior Element' that seems to have infected them all when they are all clearly intelligent and educated. But, that's human nature at work, so the 'Bad Guys', as the other kids put it, are a Meritocratic, Gender-Equal, Industrial society – while the 'Good Guys' are a feudal, patriarchal, that's obsessed with tradition. I'm going with they are terrible nations and leaving it at that without taking sides.
Still, we are giving over information in exchange for information, and that's partially taking sides as the Fire Nation might actually use it, while the 'Allies' of the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes are unlikely to adopt such things. Or less likely to be more honest, but that's based on talking to an old General and a bunch of teenagers mind you. But when one side has tanks, and the other's strategy for decades has been 'WE HAVE RESERVES!' my mind goes towards the industrialised nation being the more likely adopter. Unfortunate, but I do need some incentives to get them cooperate and….
Got to go. Seems time overran and I've a history lesson on the Roman, then British Empires to give to a very gloomy girl, her more dangerous boss, a water tribe boy, and blind girl in a little while. Slán.
--
[04.27: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[Lakeside retreats…where we built our own lake!]
"Like, this is the life…" Courtney Whitmore, Stargirl, stated happily as she moved to sit on the sort-of beach with her friends "…just sun, sand, and sea with friends"
"Art thou not tired after training?" White Sorceress, Amelia, asked curiously from where she lay on her stomach in her white bikini, chin resting on her arms and looking out over the small artificial lake "That, and one notes we are not anywhere near the sea"
"You're like, just super fussy Amelia, it totally like the beach even it's not, like, actually the sea. Isn't that right Weryl?"
"Don't drag me into it. It's nice here…" the boy replied huffed back from where he sat to her right "…and I am…"
"Surrounded by beautiful girls you should totally listen too and agree with!" Courtney offered back as she started to rub the sun cream into her skin. Amelia may call herself White Sorceress, and wear the colour, but she was really dark skinned and also protected by her magic…probably….but Courtney wasn't a super-wizard, or a Kryptonian, so safety first in addition to looking good. That, and it was fun to tease certain friends as she lay forward on the towel, holding up and waving the bottle of lotion "Such as helping out a damsel in distress here and now"
Weryl was a boy she could trust at least, and after a moment's grumbling, and teasing from Amelia, came over as Courtney closed her eyes and rested on her arms "And where's Chao, wasn't she supposed to come with you?"
Blacksmith's fingers were like iron bands she found, but it was nice, and gentle, and he was a perfect gentleman surprisingly as she heard him snort in amusement "She's bringing her new friend Ty Lee, they were talking about abducting that Sokka boy as well…"
"One saw them training him earlier, one feels sorry for him" Amelia murmured beside Courtney…
Weryl groaned softly as Courtney hummed happily as he rubbed her back "And not for me? I've got a crash course every morning!"
"Same here…" Courtney murmured "…Tirdelk's a slave-driver, but I'm like super-awesome at martial arts now! But, yahh….Chao pushes you hard. That's how she shows she cares! Along with the bestest meat buns!"
"Ohhhhh!" the voice of said girl came to Courtney's ears along with the sound of paper moving with the smell of cooking reaching her nose "Chao is lucky to bring many tasty snacks then when hearing such high praise!"
Then the sound of footsteps beside her, and bags touching the sand "…and Weryl-senpai, such a good boy! Little Chao will need such help too! Yay!"
"Heh, heh, yeah, Weryl, help her out" Courtney told the boy as his hands left her back, and she pushed herself up to kneel, looking at the recent arrivals. Somebody clearly hadn't seen girls in bikinis it seemed to her as she saw the darker skinned boy looking around with a flustered look as one of the other local girls, the ninja, hung off his arm despite efforts to shake him. One hand raising up and waving energetically, along with a cheerful mile, as the girl spoke.
"Hellooooo! I'm Ty Lee! You've a beach! That's awesome!"
Courtney nodded happily, giving a quick wave of greeting as the boy's eyes darted to her, then at Amelia, but mostly everywhere but as he let an awkward , nervous, chuckle as she replied "Yeah, we've met…or we saw the fight and you working with Chao. Anyway I'm Stargirl, but can, like, call me Courtney out of uniform. This is Amelia, and that's Weryl"
"I'm uhh….I'm….uhhh…you all look…..ummm….very pretty?...Suki Suki Suki…."
"He's Sokka! Isn't he a cutie!" Ty Lee answered for the stammering boy who was gesticulating wildly and babbling nonsense "Azula says he's a Barb-ian, but I think he's nice!"
"Come on then…" Courtney told them gesturing at the spare beach towels and rugs hanging nearby "…join us, before our lunch gets cold. I'm sure you want to hear all about our awesome adventures…"
Weryl snorted "Dangerous world!"
"…and awesome sights…"
"Did you forget the cannibal ape-men?"
"…we've seen so far!"
--
{The moonlit skies shine down on the summer beaches….}
Mai was…she was surprised to find she was…quite happy right now as she leaned into Zuko's shoulder. The day hat been hot, and now the full moon was rising in the sky as Agni's light faded to end another day, but it was still warm as if this was the Fire Nation rather than the Earth Kingdom. Even if things were frightening….utterly terrifying…it was a moment's respite after what had happened in Omashu, and the horrors that lurked behind offered knowledge.
Worse….Azula wasn't handling it very well. Oh, she was an expert at hiding it, but even Zuko had picked up on and Zuko was ill-suited at times for Court as Mai saw Azula sitting near the bonfire near them, staring into the night. The casualness of those 'tablets', filled with knowledge that many nobles would kill for….that shocked Mai, even more the hidden logic that what they had been gifted was merely 'safe' information as deemed by their hosts. If had been just that…
'Has she ever lost before this? No. It was less pleasant to see that I'd hoped' Mai mused as Zuko placed his arm around her shoulder and they watched the, frankly scandalously dressed in a few cases, Outsiders dance about to strange music. Fire Nation swimwear wasn't exactly prudish, especially compared to the other Kingdoms nonsense, but even Ty Lee would hesitate…
'Or not' she thought as Ty Lee cartwheeled into view wearing one of those strings and barely anything cloth as Mai elbowed Zuko with a 'No!" at their friend bounced about far too happily and distractingly. Thankfully she flounced her way over to Azula, seeking to drag their bully of a boss off to talk to the Captain, or the Barbarian, or one the Outsiders. Considering Azula had challenged, and lost too, the 'magician' woman Zatanna Mai hoped Ty Lee had the sense to avoid that particular problem, or reminding them all an invasion of impossibly powerful multi-element benders, or Man-Eating Not-People, could come at any moment….
"We should be trying to escape, not…this"
Mai sighed at Zuko's word, tapping at the easily forgettable collar on her neck "Oh? Didn't we already try that? We just have to be patient, and we are learning much…."
'And you might be able to come home if we can find a way to deal with the General and Avatar' she didn't say, not the fact they were currently on the most important mission of their lives. Oh, there was no saying such things out loud, but….realms before the Spirits? Powerful benders with armies greater than anything they had out there in the Not-Spirit Realms?
….there was no more important mission than ensuring they were not hostile, followed up by learning all they could of, and from, these Outsiders. Fear may walk with her, but even in mere days they had seen and read of things beyond their understanding. Not only that but the Avatar was here, with his Companions, and Agni wasn't that a bizarre situation. Training with the enemy? Having a beach party with the enemy?
'Attempting to seduce the enemy?' she finished in her mind watching as Ty Lee attempted to cheer up Azula, while also making a motion to drag her over to the Water Tribe barbarian. Not a bad sort, and not bad looking either, but he was….the trouble with a savage society in just not being educated despite being clearly very bright. That was the problem; he was getting training and education here and now, one that Mai knew her own parents would kill to get, and that was bad as he was an enemy. So...
'In a way then Ty Lee is thinking ahead to deal with the trouble, who knows?' Mai mused idly, letting out a sigh "I do believe we should make use of our time here Zuko, as we will soon, too soon, be back to war. Just…. let us enjoy this time together while we can"
--
{Eyes in the dark, watching….}
I sat and enjoyed the warm night air, the chance to relax after another long, hard, day's work. Zee strolled over to me beside Kara, and I glanced up at her as she gave me a serious look "You felt that?"
"Aye" I agreed with a nod, looking up at the bright, moonlit, night sky "Someone's been probing our wards I know. Nathan's on alert, and we're just about finished this little party so…the Spirits I expect. Nothing hostile in the probe, so Nathan's on alert, and we've got the walls on the perimeter now"
Zee nodded slowly moving to sit down my left as Kara slide down to be right "I'd agree with that, considering the Avatar of a Great Spirit is here…"
I shrugged "What can you do. We've put up every security precaution and it's clear such things are more divine than arcane in relation to this world. Or it's just unusually active magic fields. One of our training teams found old ruins off in the desert, something off about them, so similar to the first two days here"
Kara smiled "He's not too bad you know, Aang, just…young and a bit too idealistic"
"Oh…" Zee murmured, gesturing with a thumb at me "…has he corrupted you already?"
My girlfriend chuckled "No, but the Avatar is a bit…. opinionated let's say"
I gave an amused and sarcastic snort "I'd never have guessed. Anyway, the Princess is, disturbingly, similar in that she's just as much a genius….just I strongly suspect he dear old Dad's a massive sociopath who gets off on torturing others, the Fire Prince being a direct example, but Azula's had her own issues that could cause her, like Aang, to snap here. So, need to watch that"
Zee nodded "I'll help him with his meditation and dealing with spirits and demons…this world seems more active than home was. Or, at least the normal parts of it. There were many, many, places that had a much greater level of activity"
I smiled softly "True, and we are learning. What we'll do tomorrow is…"
--
[04.28: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[The wagons get on the move…]
"I think they look pretty solid…" I remarked as the 'gate' to the town was a beehive of activity even as I looked over the small caravan we were sending out "…even if the animals are bit different to the norm"
I glanced at Zee "You sure you're comfortable with them?"
"Yes Callum, I am.." she huffed back standing in her Earth Kingdom 'merchant' clothing, just like guards assigned to protect the caravan "…and yes, I know what I'm doing"
I chuckled "I know you do, I'm just curious as I don't want to ride those ostrich-horse things to tell the truth"
"Ah, they are lovely creatures…" she smiled back "…but I'll stick to the wagons I think"
"Probably for the best, more comfortable too I imagine" I remarked as I watched the heavy wagon's goods being covered over in a tarp and then roped down securely. There were four wagons in total, and everything was in the local style and with copies of local passes for merchants, for both the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom…though the Earth Kingdom was more a loose coalition of powerful local rulers than a truly centralised state. It was actually why we were doing this trading effort here rather than in an organised state like the Fire Nation, or a 'everyone knows everyone' isolationist place like the Northern Water Tribe.
I waved off to the south "Especially with the journey on very primitive roads. Not thinking of changing your mind at the last minute?"
"Hmph, I can do without creature comforts for a week or two Callum" she huffed back in irritation, arms folded across her chest "AND. We've got the tents, which are?"
"Yeah, yeah, magical and modern amenities" I muttered back with a smile, reaching out and putting my hand on her shoulder "Just be careful Zee, this is a war-torn, and bandit filled, land. Just make sure you use the drones and err on the side of caution. Curiosity can get the best of us all after all"
"We will Callum, don't worry…" she assured me, nodding "…and pay bribes if they are demanded rather than causing a fuss or fighting….unless they try to rob us anyway"
I shrugged "Well, yeah, stomp'em if they do that. Your, and the caravan's, safety is the priority"
We'd chosen a, theoretically, safe route after talking to our 'guests' as well as running drone runs over several days to scan and map out the route. Of course we could rapidly do a reinforcement, or a rescue, should the need arise, and we'd be in constant contact…but that didn't mean that the risks suddenly vanished. I'd also admit some of it was the fact I wasn't going and running the caravan by delegating it to Zatanna, with Nathan my Security Chief as second in command. She'd be the merchant of course, show-woman that she was.
"I know, and pretend to be an Earthbender only should the need arise" she answered firmly, glancing up at where our prisoners lay cluster in their little groups, watching the caravan being organised "Though I'll be nowhere near as skilled as young Toph is"
"Well, yeah" I agreed with amusement, then sighed "Now, try and gather more information while your out there, verify what we've been told, and buy books if possible, bending scrolls if you can. Though I'll be reckon they'll be expensive as everything is handwritten here"
"Well, they do have printing presses…" she argued, then shrugged "…but, yeah, the Earth Kingdom seems very feudal, maybe Russia in the seventeen hundreds even…but I'll watch out for anything useful. We've certainly minted enough coins to trade, and, yes, I'll make full use of the bags of holding"
I held my hands "I wasn't going to say anything at all!"
She gave me a pouting smile "Sure you weren't, Mister Wants to Micro-manage everything. You are like Team Dad on a school day – did you pack your lunch? Have your homework done?"
"I'm not that bad!"
She smirked at me "Yes you can be Boss-man, you're just lucky I like a man who takes charge and puts me in me pl…"
Then blinked and gave an awkward chuckle "…ugh, that sounded better in my head"
I blinked, shaking my head, then gave a snort of amusement "Uh-huh, okay, but back to business. Watch out for spirits as well"
"Will do Captain Callum Sir!" she mocked saluted me back to a smirk "And you better do the same here, with the late-night probing of our wards"
That was something I nodded in agreement with. While it wasn't problematic…there was a constant flow of energy in this region, and there were other oddities in magic nearby that seemed to persist across this world as a whole. So while it wasn't making me happy….it was actually rather paranoia inducing…all we could was strengthen our defences and watch for any serious attempts to pierce our defences. The Avatar was the likely problem, but there was no guarantee of that, though it was potentially something to do with his nature as the physical Avatar of a local God.
So I merely nodded "Yeah that is the plan, along with education and learning time with our VIPs…."
--
{Night-time parties are the way to learn…}
"…seems very scary, but it's just that some places are a bit ahead, and a few a little slower" Weryl said sitting out under the bright full moon in the summer heat as he got stuck with his awkward company "My home is about the same level as here, your ships are a lot like ours…."
He paused, rubbing his neck and letting out an awkward chuckle "…well, Princess Azula's nations ships anyway….we still used some wooden hulls, but that were just for trading with places with Chaos Wizards that we weren't supposed to trade with proper"
Sokka was an engineer in the making, even if he was a bit Chaotic at times he had a solid core of Order that wanted the world to make sense, and he'd plenty of questions and ideas, and very down to earth for a Chieftain's son. The Fire Princess was different, unnervingly bossy and piecing in her eyes, but also a hardened shell of Black Order over Blazing Red flame to his Order-senses. It seemed everyone was watching everyone to make sure they didn't learn something dangerous for an enemy…and that led to him getting stuck with uncomfortable evening like this…
"Say whaaaa…." Sokka asked sitting back "...aren't they like the bad guys who want to destroy you?"
Weryl shrugged as the Princess gave Sokka an irritated look "Well…yeah, and we fight them, but trade has to go on as well I suppose. But they…don't rule directly, not like here, they…"
He did the air-qoutes sign he'd learned from Chao and Courtney "…Advise…"
"…their allied nations and they pretend its okay from them to trade with us, and we pretend it's okay to trade with the….Allies…of them because we've got a Navy and Storm Mages they can't beat, and they've a large army we can't beat from Recluse. So we clash all the time….and then other times everyone pretends"
Then he shrugged "Of course I got sent on my Wandernought because of such opinions…sooo…yeah, the truth hurts some I guess"
Princess Azula nodded, glaring Sokka into silence as she spoke to Weryl "Yes you were an Exile….yet you make it sound almost…common"
Weryl sighed, unhappy memories threatening to rise, but Chao sudden appeared with their meal and a flagon of ale that relieved that as he smiled in thanks "We…well, it's hard to explain to outsiders, but Recluse did send us out into the world if we disagreed too much with the Council's view, or certain Order Master Mages. We had classes and everything for it. Most don't come back, but…a significant number do….so…"
He waved his hand side to side "We're supposed to learn and then return after coming to accept our mistakes and things like that. Some of it is just…Recluse is Orderly and must be kept that way, though one of my classmates thought it was also a way to disrupt Fairhaven when you look back to Dorrin's time. He was Exiled too, with two of his friends, and they, VERY CONVENIENTLY, helped cripple the White Mage's conquest of Spidlar before Dorrin returned home and established Nylan after building the first ironclad"
"Hmmm…yes, a means to remove troublemakers from the home island or if the population grows too large…" the Princess mused hand under her chin as her meal was put before her on the table "…while also putting benders in the way of enemy benders. Not a Good strategy, but without colonies…"
She clicked her painted nails off the stone table "And there were no other lands for you to go too?"
"Well there was Nordla and Austra, but they were are war when I got shipwrecked and aren't overly fond of mages, White or Black, and Hamor…" he made a confused gesture "…and well, Hamor's Hamor, and I didn't fancy being conscripted into the army there, or risk getting enslaved over some custom I didn't understand and therefore offend someone important. Southwind…well, I'm a man, and they are not nice places to be a man let's say, so, strange as it sounds, Western Candar, run by our enemies, is a popular spot to survive the whole being exiled situation…till I ended on this ship anyway, lost and far from home"
"Certainly, an improvement I'd imagine having seen the wonders you now possess" the girl mused back "…but I am curious of this black powder of yours"
"Heh…well, that's sorta a trade secret, and if you don't have Black Iron the stuff I know how to make is somewhat dangerous to risk with Chaos mages…" he answered truthfully, but omitting the fact the better version used in the weapons of the security teams didn't have that easy detonation weakness, though a skilled White Wizard would likely be able to protected themselves somewhat from them "…and the metalwork and ships were more my interest anyway"
"So…you don't need Firebenders to power the ships?" Sokka interjected quickly, hands on the table "Even non-benders could do it?"
Weryl nodded "Uh, yeah…well, trade ships anyway, but all the Warships had Black Mages, experienced ones, assigned to them to make them invisible and strengthen then armour or whatever. But, yes, Order doesn't work like Fire, so we had to fuel the engines ourselves. You just need to…"
"EHHHMM" the stage cough of the Captain alerted Weryl to something being wrong, as he turned his head, as did the others as the white suited man stood there in his human form, gesturing at a….
…very pretty white haired girl who was just…
…silently staring at them all…
"Why is there a Spirit here? Hello Spirit….can we help you?"
Weryl blinked as Sokka got a slack jawed expression as the Spirit-Girl ignored the Captain while Princess Azula darted up into a combat stand "Yue?"
"Wait…" the Princess hissed out "…the girl who died?"
"She's the Moon…"
Weryl just…. stared as Sokka seemed to babble, the strangely glowing girl smiling "Sokka"
The Captain was surrounded in his own nimbus of power now, eyes a glowing molten gold "Well…this is still not the strangest visit ever from a deity…"
--
[04.29: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[Fly me to the moon, let me play among the stars…]
'Oh, this is not where I want to be' flashed through Iroh's mind as he came out of his tea house to…
Apparently the Moon Spirit in the form of the poor, brave, Water Tribe Princess facing down the shadow enshrouded form of the young non-human ruler of this little village, and his pale lover who hover in the air just behind the darkness shrouded boy. And, of course, there was his beloved nephew, and less so beloved niece, along with the assembled crowd….because of course they would be there to worsen things. Perhaps he should just thank Agni that neither were flinging fireballs at the Spirit of the Moon that was shimmering in silvery light right this moment…
"Did you just breach our defensive wards….to see your ex-boyfriend?"
….and that's not what Iroh expected to hear as he rushed forward and the voice of Captain Outis came out….strange, almost melodious as he saw glowing golden eyes shine from within the shadows of the night around the boy. Ah, but there was the young Water Tribe boy kneeling awkwardly on the ground, staring at the girl as if he'd seen a ghost…
'Which he is seeing you old fool!' he reminded himself immediately after the foolish thought reared its ugly head as he…hesitated, watching the madness unfolding. The Great Spirits did NOT intervene in such a manner as this….beyond Zhao induced madness to slay Tui in the Spirit Pond, and here and now…
"Nay, Bearer of a Spirit from Beyond" Yue, no, the Moon Spirit replied….then paused, giving an almost human awkward chuckle "Or…perhaps one does indulge that opportunity as well. Now, Spirit Bearer, I am the Moon, that was once Yue, that was and is Tui, who art thou? And why hast thou imprisoned the Avatar of the World Spirit?"
'Ohhh…dear' was all the flashed through the mind of the Grandmaster of the White Lotus as he managed to reach Zuko, and Azula, grabbing both by their stunned shoulders and shielding them behind his greater bulk with a shove. That statement indicated so many bad things, and the Great Spirits attention was upon them? No, that was not going to help things as he ignored Zuko's squawks of protest. Oh, and the Moon Spirit WAS ACTIVELY WATCHING the Water Tribe boy Sokka? What?
"This one is Callum, humble servant of the Shrouded Lord of Nishrek. God of Knowledge, Pragmatism, War…"
The bored voice of the DRAGON IN GIRL FORM cut through the night "Enslaving Elves"
"We…" the shadowy, shrouded figure paused, glowing eyes glaring at the albino girl "…are not, we are a deity of…"
"Hentai"
"Letting our servant show you anime was a mistake we find" the Spirit inhabiting the boy growled as the albino girl pointed at the Moon Spirit…
"We fight now?"
"No. Now Behave. Do not embarrass us further" and Iroh felt a flash of power in those words, the bored looking girl blinking, and then giving a shrug and going to one knee, head bowed as the Not-Captain turned back to Moon Spirit "We apologise, our servants are…amusing themselves. But, yes, we speak through our servant, and are our servant….as to the Avatar. He attacked Us, and will be released when he has taken his punishment, which is merely being held here a short time. We have offer you no harm, nor to this world, merely traders of goods and knowledge who seek no conflict…"
"YUE!"
'Don't be foolish. Don't be foolish. Don't be foolish…' his mind started working through as the Avatar arrived and threatened to upend things judging from the look on his face. Aang was…a nice boy…but…
"Hey! Why is everyone glowing?"
…not the brightest Avatar either it seemed as 'Yue' smiled gently at him as he pushed forward and the crowd parted into those gather for battle, and those seeking to avoid it clearly, but still standing near for support. Iroh took a breath, ordering his nephew and niece to stay calm in the voice of the Dragon of the West and took a step forward.
"Avatar Aang, the Moon Spirit has come to inquire of your safety"
The Not-Captain nodded in his shadowy light, as did 'Yue' in her silvery one "Indeed, she has breached our defences to see you…and Sokka too apparently. We *all glowing* as put it, for we have summoned an aspect of our Lord to answer. We are assuring her you have come to no harm, beyond what it is needed to punish thee for thine misdeeds"
"My…what?"
Iroh sighed as the Not-Captain glared at Avatar Aang "You attacked us dumbass, and now you've brought the Spirits here, so you're quite the problematic guest"
"That's not my fault…"
Not-Captain Outis ignored the young Avatar's wild gesticulations and denials, darkness covered hand gesturing at the boy "Look, he's perfect safe see? We are honest traders, undertaking repairs, and do not wish any trouble with the Deities of this world. We feel, perhaps, that some education is needed of the Avatar of the World Spirit in his role, as some learning is sorely needed We find"
"Hey! That's not fair, I…"
'Yue' shimmer, smiling softly Iroh noted as she looked upon the Avatar with sad fondness "Perhaps, he his but young yet in this incarnation"
"Uh-huh, one finds it curious that only one deity of this world gives forth an Avatar to its people, or even endow with our blessing its servants as we must. The boy is, yet a boy, it is much to place upon young shoulders to impose the Will of the Divine upon them. Now, you have confirmed he is safe, are we all happy now?"
'This is surreal…and terrifying'
"Yes, Uncle it is….did you put something in our tea?" Azula hissed at him as the SPIRIT OF THE MOON bantered, BANTERED, back to the flying pale girl Kara and the Captain who was POSESSESED "Please, tell me you put something in the tea?"
"Oh, Niece, you have no idea how much I wish that was the case for all of us" Iroh mouth back as he watched the madness unfold. Life was supposed to be less strange and terrifying upon retirement, but recently each day had grown into a Spirit Tale and this was just the topping on the strangeness cake. For one it wasn't every night that the MOON HERSELF walked into your tea-shop and had a 'pleasant' conversation Dimensional Barriers, and a host of other things Iroh did not want to know about…but also knew he would have responsibility to learn and watch over…
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1015]
[Current Dimension]
Avatar: The Last Airbender
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance, landed Village of Tu Zin, Earth Kingdom
[Trading Report]
Sent off Zatanna's Caravan, there fine, haven't sold anything yet. Not the current concern to be honest.
[Diary Entry]
That's the thing with magically active worlds – Gods, Active Ones. And that one has them too, and I'm writing because, Boss above, one of them turned up to 'politely' ask questions of us. Oh, and to make a booty call to her human worshipper/boy-toy, because of course our problem children would be that as well. Yes, Mister I'm Not a Mage has Divine Fucking Favour, just great?
Kara's asleep, and we're in security lockdown till we can reinforce our wards after a Goddess stomping her dainty feet through them to interrogate me and force me to draw heavily on my own Deity. Even worse all our guests are utterly freaked out, which is a problem when one of them is an Avatar of a Deity that can, apparently, summon up their past lives. I like Kiyoshi, she's a sensible woman, if a bit weirdly dressed, as she has a properly orcish attitude to life and enemies, unlike that asshole Roku. Yes, because talking to Dead Incarnations of a God's Avatar is now my lot in life now isn't it!
So, after several good stiff drinks, I'm able to sit down not stress out about the situation. In immediate terms not so much has changed – beyond the fact the local Gods are watching us and sealing barriers. To everyone but us ideally, but that's in the negotiation stage as we have to treat Monk Jesus all nice and friendly-like, and, sort-of, train him. The whole taking the Magic Doom Comet is a positive apparently, though it's freaking out our mortal guests. Or as much as they aren't freaked out by the Moon Goddess deciding to pop over for tea and giving everyone heart attacks. Oh, and that goddamn dragon-girl looking for a fight, need to bear that little fact in mind too of course!
Honestly this world is weird. The Gods are passive, but not completely passive, and their all racial sorcerers, and I'm rather frustrated with the idiocy and insanity that seems to surround it. It's maddening, and I've no skin in this game, yet they all want us to get involved. So, what, send me and Kara to Fire Nation-land, stomp Firebob the First or whatever his name is, and then make one of his crazy children Boss?
Things were much simpler a few days ago.
So, yeah, our guests had a religious experience that I'll have to handle tomorrow, after a VERY LONG rest, as well as a sure sign keeping Avatar Dumbass around is a magnet to Spirits. Okay that's unfair. He's not an idiot, just young in a culture I find grating. Though, honestly, he's got past lives – they really should be helping out a bit more than 'You should go there, maybe?' as laid out to me. What's the point of gifting your Avatar with all that backup knowledge and support and THEN NOT USING IT!
Let alone the fact he, and friends, are enemies of the other chunk of our unwanted guests. Dunno how I'm gonna deal with that, beyond drink another whiskey and somehow hope it goes away. Also, increased security just to note and warned Zee's group to be on guard. Oh, yeah, and maybe get Doctor Chen, and myself, to talk to Sokka because he's either having a religious experience, or he'll have a breakdown as his dead girlfriend is now a Goddess and stopped in for tea to remind him she's dead and a Goddess. I'd advised him to become her priest, though Prince Zuko's 'that's rough buddy' seems the best description and surprising sympathy between enemies.
Now I'm going to go to bed, and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow.
--
[04.30: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[Sensei Callum says life is like a box of chocolates…]
If I was going to deal with the little twerp I'd do it within a Temple, even if it was one I was just now establishing…and it had also given me an extra day and night away from bald tattoo boy, and Azula the teenage princess-witch. That and I didn't want any issues on the ship, not after Moon Goddess action time, so time to Consecrate some ground and conquer lands in the name of the Shrouded Lord, Praise be His Cause. Anchors to the defensive wards to handle what happened the previous night were another part as I prayed in robes of black, crimson, and silver.
I sighed as I rose back up to stand, knees aching as the air hummed softly with magic around the small shrine I'd established as the foci. Nothing wildly expensive, not since we would be gone in mere weeks, but it was stone, and metal, and quartz bound in runes the reflected the two 'aspects' of the Boss. The shrouded, staff holding, robed figure holding a lantern, and the other the armoured warrior with blade and blood that I'd formed with my spell-crafting. While in the four corners I'd had the robots etch symbols of the local symbols for Air, Earth, Fire, and Water, to draw bare minimum energies from the lands to flow into the Shrine.
Kara was mad at me for dumping everything on her so I could do this, but she did understand I had to do the groundwork as well thankfully. Well, Quinn was minding the ship, but the people-dealing part was all her I knew as I stretched a moment, before returning to my chanting as I drew forth my spell-book, cleansing the place of evil spirits and other such things. Then it was moving into a meditation pose, or sleeping by another name as Kara would mockingly call it, as I submerged myself into the environment, inside my wards, and…just focused on resting, on drawing in power as I prepared for the morning.
Knowledge trade for Knowledge, and Wisdom bartered for a Blessing, not an unusual settlement or trade between beings, even if I was the one getting the Blessing. Sadly it was needed for this body to continue its….recovery was the wrong word, more rebuilding in truth. So I plunged into the Ether, reinforcing Wards and 'Seeing' the life of the Town, the life within as well as the pulse of my ship nearby in its invisible glory as energy flowed outwards into the protections. While I wasn't hostile to the local deities…well, one would rather they be invited in that burst through the door uninvited….
--
{The morning after brings training and jogging…}
"Run! What did I say! Exercise!" I growled at my temporary apprentice, who'd clearly never run an extended period of time in his life apparently as we jogged along in the pre-dawn hours. Not that I was spectacularly fit myself, but Air Monk just wanted to jump straight to the 'flying' when some degree of physical exercise was good for body. It wasn't like we'd even jogged more than a short distance, and he'd slept in past the arranged meeting time….requiring me to drag him out of his bed to get him moving. I
If it was traditional magecraft it'd be less of a problem, and you could cheat with physical enhancement magic, but this lot used physical movements and martial arts to manipulate their elements so he needed to be better than everyone as the Avatar of a multi-element user. That and I needed to do some, badly it seemed, as I was feeling tired and lazy as I hadn't done nearly enough since arriving here and having the opportunity to do more than use the ship's gym. So I drove on the lazybones, preventing him from drawing his powers and urge to use his Air magic to make things easier as we did the obstacle course.
"I…hahaha….don't….haaaa…..Spiritual….hahahaaaa….Enlightenment!" he whined back as he struggled along, gasping for breath despite being near the end of the course "….Med….haaa….ition!"
"You can already do that, and you'll do more soon…..now RUN RECUIT! RUN HARDER!" I instructed summoning energy my hand and sending jolts of low-powered energy at his heels "Good you're Dodging! Keep up the effort!"
'See he did have energy to spare….just fucking lazy" I muttered to myself as I sent jolts of arcane at the Time Constrained Apprentice of mine as he danced about and ran forward suddenly full of energy as he dodged the 'attacks'. Not that they were serious attacks, but the boy needed motivation and I didn't have time to faff about and take a nice, steady, education as Other-Me had done with Gemma and Maria. Fine, then Illuskan Legion Mage training time….
"MOVE THOSE SCRAWNY LEGS RECUIT! WE STILL HAVE A MILE TO GO!"
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
Boss above he was loud even when exhausted….
--
{Sometime later, in a still being blessed Temple…}
"See, now we're meditating…" I told Aang with a friendly smile as the boy, now we were both showered and the summer sun beamed in through the hardened glass on the roof to illuminate the ritual circle below "…all will be well"
"Miss Zatanna wasn't as harsh as yoouuuuuu!"
I sighed as he whined, energy restored to whine apparently as we sat in meditative poses across from each other in the circle, any onlookers banished "Ah, well, Zee is not here right now, and the Moon Goddess has deemed you needing help. Which giving whether you like it or not…"
Then sighed again, more deeply as I rested a moment, hands on my knees "And, to be honest with you, I do accept it is unfair, especially all that is being thrust upon your shoulders when your still only a child…"
"I'm not a child! I'm the Avatar!"
I paused, then shook my head "And there's the problem, you are complaining like a child, acting like one, because you still are one. Placing all their hopes and dreams upon you, NOW, to fight their battles…is deeply disturbing and idiotic. I'm doing this to keep you alive, and I've…oh, about a month, to do drill some basics into you….because you can't seem to SAYING you're the Avatar, when you are not fully able to use all the powers"
"But I AM! I'm a Master Airbender! And I learned…"
For a minute I let him babble on, then reached over and gently thwacked him on the head "Ow! What was that for?"
I took a breath, shaking my head "Okay, I can't judge the Air part, because I don't have a reference other than you….and you are an exception to the rule being the Avatar of a Deity. But your Earth teacher doesn't think your anywhere close to it, and I don't trust Water Tribe girl to be fair and not Mother you like you're her precious little baby. And as to fire…"
Now I gave a very firm stare at him "Princess Azula, and Prince Zuko if he was willing to kill you, would crush you, let alone general Iroh…because you don't seem to know Fire, AT ALL!"
"I…I don't NEED to learn Fire…" he sulked back at me "…it's…bad…and I'll defeat the Firelord and bring peace…"
"That's the other thing…" I interrupted him calmly "…as Avatar of the World Spirit appears to be to deal with Spirits, and maintain a rather nebulous idea of a Balance between Elements. But I'm unsure how you seem to think Defeat the Firelord will suddenly end the war between Nations, one the Fire Nation is winning you'll note. It's also telling that you've been here some time now, and yet have made little effort to interact with the Fire Nation people WHO ARE HEIRS TO THE THRONE"
"But…but, I'll beat the Firelord and stop their invasion…"
'Oh Boss above, this is a mess' I thought as I listened to half-directed idiocy likely given by the Elders of the Water Tribe, who likely saw Aang here as a Magic Nuke, Earth Kingdom Generals who were incompetent losers, and two siblings whose mother had been murdered by the Fire Nation. All vague 'Yuz is the Savours of us allz, yes!' rolled into simplistic goals of punch the bad guy…
"Who you won't kill him either! Of course you won't, just defeat him…haaaaa…" I stated simply as I pinched at the bridge of my nose, how had they missed this part about a pacifist monk child. What the fuck was wrong with these people putting this idiotic super-powered child through this "Right. Okay that's not going to work, because the Fire Nation is a structured, centralised, state with objective goals in this war, a vindictive enemy, and…oh, they are winning without the Firelord doing more than sit on his ass on the throne drinking beer and enjoying his concubines. Fine you beat him…what next?"
The boy….looked around, then gave an awkward laugh "The war….ends?"
I just….stared at him in silence a minute, hands on knees, resisting the urge to find a way to travel back in time and strangle his long dead teachers "No. No, it doesn't. Not unless you've got a friendly successor, which is going to be really hard considering the current Firelord, that everyone is loyal too, is STILL ALIVE. At best you've a civil war amongst them, at worst it becomes a holy crusade to deal with you"
'Okay…try explain to him' I forced myself to maintain my calm, 'teaching', mode as I gestured behind me to beyond the boundary ward "See, this the thing. You've three Heirs out there. All with very different ideas of what happens next, all of which are more hardworking than you. Better educated than you. And, even in the case of the Exile, have a support base should Daddy, or Brother, get taken prisoner or killed off by the Avatar, whom they assumed was an elderly Super-Bender that can wipe out whole armies before they met you"
I leaned forward, looking him in the eyes "You can't take Azula or Zuko right now…"
"Hey, I can...I've beaten him lots…"
"No…" I cut him off again "…that boy has been focused on TAKING YOU ALIVE. If he was trying to kill you, YOU WOULD DIE. I'm not saying this to scare you, but you can't let people convince you to rush off to die bravely because they want to be saved NOW"
I sat back up "What's worse you have a whole series of previous incarnations, on call, to ask for advice and no-one has been encouraging you to ASK THEM FOR ADVICE. That should have been the starting point, not summoning Sprits to posses you. See, that's you first lesson – they might be your friends, and your allies, but they have their own interests as well. You let an ANGRY OCEAN GOD possess you for heavens sake. That isn't mediating with Spirits, that's using them as Weapons to Fight in a War. What if Agni had responded to that?"
Silence at that, and continued on "So, we are going to start talking to your past lives, one, by, one, and see what they did, and what their advice is. Then you're going to spend time training with Lady Toph, followed by Princess Katara, and then possibly an angry Firebender who hates you once I find a way to bribe them to train with you. If I have to train you, then Gods above I am going to make sure your trained…"
--
[04.31: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[The Spice must flow…]
Zatanna Zatara enjoyed the sea breeze on her face, and the view from the walled city of Gi Zu's so-called middle tier. Walled port city, though the port itself, with its docks and fishing ships, was a little separate from the city itself as she looked down at it, and the various means of moving up and down to that area. It was certainly interesting to see the actual city up close, and see the effects of so many elemental sorcerers, of the same element, on a society's development. The results were interesting to say the least as she watched the Earth wizard powered lift ascend from below, laden with goods from the docked ships below.
"Not a very good sign for a so-called free city" Nathan murmured, and Zatanna gave a faint nod of agreement as her gaze turned to the two large ironclads resting in harbour. The Fire Nation, and God were these people obsessed with what sorcerous bloodline they possessed from village to state level, with their own trade garrison in a nation they were officially at war with. Unsurprising in other ways as it was clear that if you wanted to trade by sea….then you needed the protection of said Fire Nation…
'Somewhat ironic that the Fire Nation rules they waves' she thought drumming her fingers off her elbow as high up above the drones recorded everything to study later. Doubtful the young charges they held back in the village would be all too pleased to hear their 'allies' saw their Father, the White Tribe Fleet Admiral, as little more than a glorified pirate in the merchant circles in the port. Certainly different than what the children, the 'allied side' ones at least, had said and thought was the case….but the Earth Kingdom was enormous after all. And while there were many more mages than home on Earth, they were but a small fraction of the actual population.
"Do you think they'll be trouble?"
She'd asked softly, just enough for Nathan to hear, and the soldier shook his head a little "If we stay clear? I don't think so, not from that lot down there. I'm more concerned about bandits on the road, or more….tax collection as they called it. It was hard dodge them on the way here, and the countryside is troubled"
"Poverty and anger to not a stable kingdom make" she murmured in reply as she turned back towards the wagons, hands siding under the sleeves of her robe, hat down to watch the ground. The trip here had been….less than pleasant…as they passed through desperate, angry, villages and extortionists in the shape of soldiers that answered to the local Lord and Lady. Ironically declaring the taxes and draft as a necessary evil for the war-effort…while they themselves wined and dined with the Fire Nation military. Zatanna would shake her head in disgust, but that'd only draw attention to them, and right now their status as merchants made them something of a protected class at the moment.
"So, let's get to shopping and get out of here as soon as we can"
Thankfully though there was a number of things she knew Callum and the others would want, as well as her own interest being met, in the Earth Bending Scrolls that they could get, along with spices and some very strange animals. Books and scrolls had priority, and her 'Scholar of Ba Sing Se' was a useful cover along with Nathan being her 'husband, the trader' as it seemed they didn't like listening to women here. Only the fact she was an 'Earthbender' got her any respect at all, and that just pissed Zatanna off, but she held her tongue and smiled through the insults.
--
{….and rest must be had}
Callum was stressed Kara could tell as she slid under the covers of their bed, wrapping an arm around him and propping herself up on her elbow "Oh, someone's looking thoughtful?"
"Someone's had a long day"
Kara smirked at that "I know he's a handful, but he's not that bad…"
Callum smiled, reaching over and kissing her before laying back down on the pillow "Heh heh, he is, at times, that's why you're helping with the physical training. But, no, it's actually not Aang for once"
He sighed, smiling off his face "Azula had a breakdown, full on hysteria and blasting flames at me. I'm telling you NOW because only me, her, Doctor Chen, Asa, and her two friends slash servants, so keep it silent"
Kara narrowed her eyes, then rolled over to straddle her half-orc boyfriend, pinning him so he didn't try dodge questions, or come up with an excuse to try leave "Explain"
"Well, this is an unusual interrogation…." He muttered at her and she smile a little, but repeated "Explain, Callum, what happened?"
"Moon Goddess girl turning up for booty call has rather broken her worldview, along with other things, and it took a few days…but she's clearly very good at hiding a Whole Lot of emotional issues under that calm, collected, face. I've had her training with Aang, in exchange for…"
She nodded, while she didn't like the girl that just mirrored Callum's dislike of Aang for similar reasons, and both of their issues with General Iroh "Private lessons, yeah. That where she blew up?"
"Yep. History lesson actually, Imperial Japan…and it grew into an issue…basically I'd fully pick up on it till she was hitting on me, and then screaming about Agni and a host of other things before blasting randomly with flames. This was an hour ago"
Kara took a breath, staring down at him "Then why are you here….and not…"
"Asa" he stated coldly "That's the answer, girl is out for the night, and she'd gone to paranoid weeping and shouting at the mirror before we sedated her. Psychotic break apparently, but I was told to get some rest and stop stressing as it'll be tomorrow before she's awake again"
"Okay….now, are you okay?" she asked seriously resting her arms on his chest and feeling his heartbeat and muscles…and getting stress and other signs, but nothing worrying either "And what about tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow I've got Debbie showing the little pacifist meditation techniques, and I'll….go deal with Angry Flamethrower girl after the good Doctor and Nightmare Nurse give me the go ahead. Glowing Magical Princess, and her little visits to Sokka, and technically Aang, is at fault here…and I wonder if it's intentional in trying to crack the Fire Nation children"
'That'd make a worrying amount of sense' Kara knew as they just rested in silence a few minutes, as she till she swatted him to roll over onto his stomach "Okay, stop that, let me get the stress out of your back at least. And the other one, Zuko?"
"He has anger management issues, but he's…" Callum murmured back as she went to work and he let out a relieved sigh "…well, he has his coping mechanism, and his Uncle, along with a massive inferiority complex that's weirdly letting him handle the whole Gods and Goddesses thing better. I think. Azula's just…I blame the parents, her Da's Fire Hitler, and her Ma called her a monster apparently or at least she believes it. Taking away the fact her Da's better an' more powerful than everyone else's Da, and that her Uncle was right, and stronger than he let on…"
Kara sighed as she pressed in a knot of muscle like Barbara, and, annoyingly, Zatanna, had shown her "Yes, her family's parenting is how supervillains are made from what I can discover of it. Makes sense considering how she reacted to me, and you, when she realised, well, she couldn't beat most of us here"
"Hnnnn….and I've no idea how to handle this. It's not like we'll be here for long…I don't like being manipulated like this. If we even are"
She nodded, though he couldn't see it "If we are being manipulated, yeah…but don't assume either Callum, just do what you can to help her, and I'll be there with you. Now, let us see can we get you to de-stress and get a good night's rest…"
--
{….while others dream of nightmares past and future}
Perfect. She was supposed to be Perfect…
…and yet she was falling….
Failing. Falling…
….A Failure…
Agni? Bless her?
No. Monsters didn't get Blessings silly turtleduck!
They Burn and Burn and Burn forever and ever and ever….
…falling and screaming in silent darkness…
The Moon herself favours a savage…
The Avatar had returned…
Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak. Weak….
Father expected Perfection. She was Perfect…
'I AM! I WILL! I WON'T FAIL!'
His voice echoed back "You already have. Worthless. You are Worthless, just like your Brother!"
…screaming and falling and burning…
The White Spirit gazed at her "What do you offer? Nothing of value. Not your Nation. Not your Power. Not your Body…"
….worthlessworthlessworthlesswothlessworthless….
The Avatar grinned back his goofy smile "Hi I'm Aang, and I'm going to defeat the Firelord…"
…what came next? The boy burned because he was weak…
….the world burned beneath the heel of nightmares from beyond….
……….she burned and screamed and fell in silent, cold, darkness….
The 'Supergirl' hovered in the air, smirking at her "You? I'm am powered by Agni himself! And you? A twisted girl, on a twisted path, and the Spirits will never forgive you…"
…makeitstopmakeitstopmakeitstop….
Then there was darkness. And silence as the flame guttered and began to die in the storm.
--
[04.32: Move Fast. Speed is one of your main advantage over large competitors]
[And everything was just perfectly fine…]
--
[Trader's Journal: Day 1029]
[Current Dimension]
Avatar: The Last Airbender
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance, landed Village of Tu Zin, Earth Kingdom
[Trading Report – Mining Efforts/Construction/Repairs]
Zatanna is still out, so that trading hasn't been processed yet, but we've been mining with the robots and machinery, so we've gotten a good supply of silver from the 'worn out' silver mines, though I suspects it's more they didn't have enough Earthbenders of skill. We can use machinery, and that's made the difference, and between and recycling everything we've found in the village we've got a nice little setup here. It's very practical for future missions actually – land somewhere and then use portal 'walks' from the ship as a main base-camp perhaps?
For another day really as repairs are now complete, ahead of schedule mind you, and, to laugh, we've started a small brewery here in town using the 'wild' berries and other leftover fields from the previous inhabitants. It's nothing fancy, but it's a fruit-beer, maybe, that's not too sweet and has a nice light red-golden colour. In the end it's something new for the menu, and it's passing the safety test. Because, yes, when you've got highly skilled engineers, a future-tech 3D printer the first thing they do in their spare time is a build a machine to make illegal hooch. Test run for future operations, and we'll leave it here as it's a very basic, if durable, design.
Finally, we've being designing, and building, some satellite tools to help with the magic comet, and we've the Monitor-drones watching it at a distance while Jonathan and Brewster run simulations on capture. Storage will be in the rear dimensional storage bay, and we're still testing to ensure we've enough protective wards in place to ensure no damage to the bay, or the comet, when we capture it. Once we've got it stored we'll head back home, with a quick scout run at range through a few Kromagg systems, and once we've restocked I've got plans to find a Spelljammer port, or in Sigil, to off-load the goods.
[Diary Entry]
Right. Been dodging it, but here we are. Long meeting with Doctor Chen today, and Princess Azula and her two minions, with the overall thrust being all the revelations broke open already existing problems. Fucking joy.
Now, we're keeping it quite, even from her family, as this a Royal Family and I happen to agree with her 'paranoia' that such things are best not made family matters. How did we have a 'sensible' conversation you ask, with madness?
Magic. Or, well, a Calming Spell and then drugs, but that's only a band-aid on underlying problems – ones that are very hard to detect because Azula is High Intelligence, High Charisma, and strong Wisdom as well, so she can fake being perfectly calm. Even the fact she can use her 'Lightning bending' is apparently a sign of Willpower and Combat Focus. And who-boy is that an issue in that she can have a psychotic break, and only a hop, skip, and a jump from full-blown, long-term, delusions according to Lucy and Asa. Considering the relationship between the Water Tribe's Patron deity, and the Fire Nation Royal Family, I very much think certain 'Spirits' decided to mess with both children, or maybe all the family judging from 'prophesy' to the Uncle.
Great, just great, and we've their Spiritual Avatar here, and we've made a deal with both sides, and we're part of the cause. In the short term 'managing' the situation is trivial between our Superhero Demoness Doctor, and my own magic, but I've made clear that's only papering over the problem, and it's not actually addressing the fundamentals. See, this isn't a memetic danger, or an info-hazard, but the actual emotional baggage of a teenage girl from an abusive family. Unless she wants a magical lobotomy there's nothing we can do 'easy fix' wise without fundamentally changing her – and, speaking from lost/corrupted memory clone boy here, that ain't on my list.
Can she be fixed? Oh, yeah, through the usual method of working through your issues, just like her brother needs to, and her Uncle clearly did after losing his son. Unfortunately, she is the Heir to the Evil Conquering Nation Hitler that she calls Dad and, He, is, well, the Problem, along with her own sociopathic nature. Which, honestly, is the saddest part – her Mother clearly thought of her, or at least Azula is sure of it, as a psychopath in the making with no conscience…
But she does have one, and emotions, just buried, deep, deep, down, and a fixation thanks to Ma and Da that 'emotions bad' and 'no remorse!' along with a terrifying focus on being perfect. Boss above she's Maria Constantine, except somehow worse. Honestly, when your parenting is worse than John Constantine and the Succubus daughter of Nergal then you have failed at parenting, forever. Shrouded Lord but I'd have thought that the angry boy the lunatic Firelord scarred for life, literally and mentally, would be the worst off, but fuck no, nearly all the children here are basket cases.
Which, of fucking course, brings me to Mister Pacifist Monk, Aang. Now, he's not having a breakdown, but he DOES NOT WANT TO TRAIN. I'd be less annoyed but for the fact I'm juggling Princess Crazy, Moon Goddess potential visits, and hiding various things from others. I'm also very angry at everyone around these children, because they are being used, and I, worse, I can't blame him and them for their attitudes considering what they've gone through. Such as 'Happy Smiles Waterbender' who has a very, very, deep, hateboner for the Fire Nation and has the biggest influence on Aang because he fancies her. Because of course he does, and, again, that's a breakdown waiting to happen if its just a fling. Or, worse, he has to make 'efforts' in later years to 'bring back the Airbenders' as he'll probably want to, or have a duty to, in the future.
So, that's been today and writing has helped, but now I'm going to bed. Late nights, early mornings, looks like for the next few weeks as I have to drag Avatar Lazy Free Spirit from his bed again. It's not surprising really judging from that Water Tribe's 'Shaggy the Avatar' today. There all over the place, and even when we got another Air Monk, or Nun in this case, he won't listen because she's a nice, sensible, 'Do what must be done!' from her. It's unfortunate he's so young, but if he can be kept away from battle for few years, and not manipulated too badly, he'll be a great magician someday. First though he has a hell month with lil'ol me, and I'm cranky and stressed I'll admit.
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[Trader's Journal: Day 1031]
[Current Dimension]
Avatar: The Last Airbender
[Current Location]
Fortune's Chance, landed Village of Tu Zin, etc, etc
[Trading Report]
For Later, unless you count people as a trade.
[Diary Entry]
Well, my day just keeps getting better and better, now doesn't it?
Not only am I having to work through mental problems with a Royal Princess Fire Mage, Train another God's Avatar, and deal with Comet plan, but now I've heroics to add to the list. Zee just contacted us that they've saved a village from bandits. Who weren't bandits, but Earth Kingdom soldiers 'recuiting' for the war, along with 'enjoying village life' apparently?
Or, or be less polite, grabbing the boys and men to fight, while drinking their booze and stealing their meagre belongings, all while assaulting their womenfolk. So, yeah, I do agree the defence was necessary – but it don't make it any more friggin' easy on me when she turns up in a week with a bunch of refugees. But, yeah, they still wiped out a squad of Earth Kingdom soldiers, or local Lord soldiers, No guns, just crossbows and Zatanna 'Earth-bending', though she didn't go fatal, but our guards are bored and angry special forces, and the mercenaries….weren't. I've seen the after actions, so yeah, but damn if it's just another thing to add to pile.
Great, but what next Zee?
Because we are leaving, and while we can literally just give them a town, what if the local Lord Whatever his name comes after them?
Or 'trust in the Avatar' when he's been chased and most peasants don't have a hope of surviving things that he and his friends can?
Or the bring them with us solution, meaning scaring the hells out of them and preaching insanity?
I've already got that potential problem with Azula, Mai and Ty Lee, maybe even the other two members of the Princess's family!
Right, need to get some sleep. Decide on it after Zee and Nathan get back and we can have a proper meeting to decide.
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