This is my first Avatar The Last Airbender fanfiction thank you to LunaStar07 for helping out with my writing and beta reading my work hope you enjoy the next chapter
Disclaimer I don't own anything related to ATLA
When Suki and Zuko rode back to camp, the Kyoshi Warriors were almost done having things packed and ready to leave. Suki greeted her warriors with a smile as she approached them, loading her kill into the cart and helping them finish packing.
While Zuko helped where he could, he mainly secured his own stuff on his Ostrich horse, but as he did the bird whined and he could see the weight of the goods starting to really weigh down on his mount. Zuko knew he had no choice, next stop he would need to get rid of his stolen goods. He didn't like seeing the animal in pain, especially if it was his doing.
When everything was ready, they started to ride off traveling down the dirt road. As Suki lead the way she told everyone that their next stop would be a town called Chong Sheng. She stated it was a bit far off, but at least if just tonight they would be sleeping at an inn instead of camping out. The girls were glad to hear this. Most of them were glad to get some relief from sleeping on the floor, and a nice warm bed sounded like heaven to them. Zuko just simply nodded showing his approval as they continued their journey. By the time the town was in sight, it was midday.
They entered Chong Sheng village. It was simple and appeared untouched by the war, a small peaceful little place The townspeople roamed around doing their shopping and daily tasks as kids played around in the streets. But when the Kyoshi Warriors and the Blue Spirit rode further into town most of the people stopped and gazed at the warriors as they whispered and gossiped to each other about the strange travelers. Zuko didn't like the stares and the soft words the people spoke to each other, even though he was wearing a mask he hated when people talked about him, especially behind his back.
Suki had led them to the Inn in town she was able to get a few rooms for them and room in the stables for their mounts. Suki decided to give the girls a bit of a day off and they eagerly got themselves settled in. Kikki quickly going to take a nap while Tam took Ami and Aikio to go do a little shopping and exploring and Suki simply followed along. Seeing this as his chance, Zuko unpacked all this plunder and headed to one of the stores to pawn off most of the stuff he had stolen.
Zuko entered the general store a few people doing their regular shopping, but when they spotted the Blue Spirit they seemed to quickly retreat from the establishment. The store owner was a middle-aged man and seemed rather nervous as Zuko approach him as he gave an uneasy smile. "How can I... I help you today?" he asked and Zuko gave a quick glance to make sure the Kyoshi Warriors weren't in sight before he spoke. "I wanted to sell a few things," He said softly but in a deep tone for the mask distorted his voice. He hefted up the large sack onto the counter. The man raised his brow curiously as he watched the Blue Spirit open up the sack to reveal what he had. "You got quite an a...interesting collection," he said examining each piece that was in the bag pulling out a gold tea set, some ornate jeweled statutes, a few boxes with necklaces and rings, a gold-encrusted Tsungi horn and several more things he knew he could never afford. "Look I'm sorry, I cant buy any of these things," he said plainly.
"Why not?" Zuko said a little surprised that he wouldn't buy anything he had to offer. "Well simply put, I can't afford any of these things," he said trying to explain. "These things are probably worth more than anything I own, I couldn't afford to buy one let alone the whole collection. Besides even if I could buy this stuff, no one would be able to buy it from me. No one around here needs these kinds of things. I would lose money." He said apologetically and Zuko simply nodded. "I understand, sorry for wasting your time," Zuko let out a sigh as he grabbed his bag and stuffed everything back in before leaving the store.
This is not going how Zuko wanted, he needed to get rid of this stuff and the few stores he went to they wouldn't buy from him. As he roamed around town needed to figure a way to get rid of this stuff he definitely wasn't going to continue to carry it around till they find another town that may or may not buy from him. Zuko then walked over and dropped himself to sit against the wall of one of the shops he just left. He sat there trying to think of what to do as he watched the townsfolk as they glanced at him. Zuko then finished through his bag pulling out one of the statutes. He looked it over running his fingers over the golden figurine of a dragon, but then he raised his gaze up as two young boys approached him.
"Are you...are you the ... the... blue-," One of the young boys stuttered but was cut off by his older brother. "The Blue Spirit?!" The older boy asked finishing what his brother was trying to say. Zuko raised his brow wondering what they want as he gave a subtle nod. The boys smiled wide "I told you it was him!" the older boy said triumphantly as he nudged his brother which earned him a shove from the younger boy.
"You see mister Blue Spirit we heard about you," The older boy started to speak. "And we heard that you give riches to the poor and we are very poor. Cough, cough, cough." He said as he started to fake cough and his younger brother joined in. "Yea...Yeah, we are so...so poor. Cough, cough, cough," the young boy mimicking his brother which just made Zuko roll his eyes at their obvious acting."So you see mister Blue Spirit since we are poor maybe you could give us something... You know since we are poor and unfortunate children."
Zuko had every reason to just get up and leave them and ignore their requests, but as he thought about it this could be a way he could get rid of this stuff he had. He stole all this stuff anyways he wasn't really losing anything, and all the actual money he stole he had stored in his pouch which should last him quite awhile. He stroked his chin thinking it over as he glanced up at the boys still pleading with him.
Zuko then got to his feet picking up his sack of plunder, and he tossed the golden dragon figurine in his hand to the younger boy. He fumbled to catch it in his hands, dropping it before quickly picking it up. The older boy stared at the gold dragon with wide eyes and was about to grab it from his younger brother, but stopped when a gloved hand offered him a similar sculpture but of a golden badger mole. The two boys stared down at the gold figurines before looking up at the blue spirit in disbelief. "Thank you... mister... mister Blue Spirit," they both stuttered as they thanked him. Zuko just nodded and walked passed them as he proceeded to empty his sack.
While Suki followed her girls around town and did a bit of shopping for supplies. She was rather disappointed that none of the stores had any charts or maps. She wished she could find some place that would sell them, though it would be rather expensive nonetheless and she didn't have many gold pieces to spare. As she was lost in her train of thought she felt someone shoving passed her and saw two little boys chasing each other.
"My badger mole is gonna crush your dragon with its earth bending!" One of the boys cried out chasing the other one.
"Nah uh, my dragon will melt your earth with its fire!" the smaller boy whined as he ran away.
"Fire can't melt earth!"
"Yes, it can!"
Suki chuckled watching the two boys argue until she spotted the golden idols the boys were holding. She looked at them curiously as they played with what should be fairly expensive gold statutes as toys. As the boys continued to run off, she spotted several other people walking around town with similarly spectacular looking trinkets. "Ummm did we miss something?" Tam asked as she gawked at a woman who was walking by with a ruby ring the size of a cherry. "Not sure, but I definitely remember this place being a lot less sparkly," Aikio said pointing to an elderly couple sharing tea with a glistening golden tea set.
Suki became even more interested to know what is going on as she and the girls walked around town. "what did he give you?" Suki turned her head as she overheard a few women talking. "Nothing much just this necklace, what about you?" The young woman said showing off the ornate gold necklace around her neck."Spirits it's beautiful, he gave me this bracelet," her friend replied showing off the coiled bracelet around her forearm with dazzling emerald stones. "Ummm excuse me, you said someone gave you those? Who?" Tam spoke up drawing the two women's attention. The two women let out a soft giggle. "You should know," "You are traveling with him after all," The women answered. The Kyoshi Warriors looked at each other and then back to the women, eyes wide in surprise and disbelief. "Wait, you are saying the Blue Spirit gave those to you," Aikio asked not truly believing it. "Yes he did, in fact there he is," One of the women pointed down the road where the Blue Spirit could be seen, handing a large horn-like instrument to an elderly man sitting on a bench.
Suki and her sisters briskly walked over to the Blue Spirit, as he was adjusting the nearly empty bag he had flinging it over his shoulder. When Zuko turned around he was a bit taken back when the Kyoshi Warriors came over to him. "What's going on Blue?" Suki asked with a soft smile with her hands on her hips. Zuko didn't really know how to respond just giving a slight shrug as he looked over to them. She chuckled a bit knowing she wouldn't get much of a response. "Seems like you are just full of surprises, Blue," she says deciding not to press further already having some idea where he got much of the stuff he was giving away.
"Hey, since you are in such a giving mood, got anything for us!" Tam squeaked as she stepped forward hands out. Aikio rolled her eyes as Suki nearly had to hold back facepalming at Tam's comment while Ami remained quiet behind the other girls. Zuko felt a bit awkward rubbing the back of his neck not even sure if he had anything left to give now that he was put on the spot. He mentally cursed himself as he pulled out the bag and began to look for something. Suki shook her head and reached out to put a hand on Zuko's stopping his searching.
Zuko froze feeling Suki's grip on his hand as he slowly lifted his gaze to look up at the painted warrior. "Don't mind her, we don't need anything from you. You being here and helping us is good enough," Her smile and soft voice sent a shiver up his spine as their eyes locked once again, just like in the woods earlier that morning. But it didn't last as he pulled away already feeling Aikio's glare on him, her eyes burning holes through his mask.
When Suki felt the Blue Spirit pull away from her, a small frown graced her lips, but she shook it off and pulled back as well, giving an awkward cough to clear her throat. "So... how about we all head back to the Inn and get something to eat before turning in?" She asked and everyone nodded in agreement as they turned to walk back to the Inn Aikio making sure to put herself between the Blue Spirit and Suki. Aikio didn't like the way the two looked at each other as she still did not trust him or his intentions. Especially after seeing them earlier on their so-called scouting. Aikio knew that whatever this mask man's plans were, she would be the one to squash them and protect her sisters at all cost.