Disclaimer: Avatar: The Last Airbender, belongs to their respective owners.
Needless to say - it was many awkward moments of waiting, as well as having a dozen ice shards pointed at oneself. As well as Ty Lee trying and failing to hold in her sniffles - making things even more awkward, whenever those watching them reacted to her usual cold. Luckily for them all an elderly, balding waterbender with a small white moustache and goatee would appear on the scene, the soldiers becoming calm and relaxed with his arrival. All the while - the man in question, merely looked them both over before crossing his arms in displeasure.
"And just what are a pair of Fire Nation spies doing in this city?" He asked.
"We're not spies." Azula answered. "We were told to look for a waterbending master said to be the greatest waterbender in the Northern Water Tribe."
For about half a second, the old man smirked in response to this line. "You're looking at him. I am Master Pakku and I'm flattered that the Fire Nation are sending assassins after me, but they could at least find out my name first."
"We're not assassins, either." Azula replied - sighing in response, before she slowly reached to her pocket and pulled out a Pai Sho tile. "Here...I was told to show this to you." She tilted the White Lotus tile and tossed it to Pakku, who caught and looked at it. His expression changed immediately once he recognized the design on it.
"Where did you get this?" He asked, looking at them with something that looked like curiosity, surprise and a hint of worry as well.
"General Iroh of the Fire Nation gave it to me. And he told me about what it means." Master Pakku for his part would look at the tile for a few more seconds, before he made a decision.
"Take them to the palace."
Azula and Ty Lee would find themselves escorted through the city after Master Pakku to a large, fancy-looking building that stood at the opposite side to the main gate. They were taken inside, but luckily, rather than being thrown in a prison cell they were led into a room with a small table and cushions to sit on. Pakku dismissing the soldiers, and then instructed a servant to bring two cups of hot tea to the room, before turning to look at the two girls.
"I have a waterbending class to get back to teaching. Once it's over, I'll be back, and we'll talk. For your sakes, I'd advise the two of you not to leave this room until then." After saying that, he left without another word being spoken. The servants would arrive soon with the cups of tea afterwards. Ty Lee for her part, immediately went after the warmth - while Azula was more modest and proper. As the girls drank it, they would find that not only did it taste good, but it had a profound warming effect on the body as well, to the point that they would remove their parkas and not feel the cold, now that they were indoors.
"Okay, I'll admit it; this wasn't one of my best plans." Azula said, sitting down on one of the cushions as she drank her tea. As the two chatted between themelves.
"Well. I would have suggested walking in and knocking on the front door," replied Ty Lee, as she soon enough was warmed up - that she wasn't sneezing every few seconds.
"Okay. I have to ask Azula, what did you throw at that Pakku-guy? It seemed like a gaming token, but you said that Iroh told it's significance?" asked Ty Lee. As they had time to talk and wait until the Master Waterbender returned.
"You're right; it is a gaming token. Specifically, a White Lotus tile from a Pai Sho set. Members of the Order of the White Lotus use them to identify themselves to each other."
"Oh? Oh! I thought we were just visiting some gaming buddy out here in the Water Tribe. I didn't think it was that kind of game..." admitted Ty Lee, as when Azula had spoken - she assumed, they were here to meet someone 'average'. Not someone apparently powerful and quite respected. "Do you think he or they can help us out? That or at least listen?"
"I think so. I mean. I think by ourselves we have little chance. With the Avatar perhaps a better option. But it helps to know, that there are other people - who can look beyond what our nation has done and able to come together and try to end this. Plus. My uncle suggested that I start looking at the other cultures a bit more." Azula replied, glad to hear that Ty Lee shared her opinion on the matter."
Their conversation would come to an end once Pakku returned, eventually enough. As he took a seat on a cushion opposite of the duo, before staring at them with some hint of displeasure - yet not as much cold malice as before.
"Iroh must know you very well if he's willing to trust you with knowledge about our order. So what I want to know is, who are you?"
"I am Princess Azula of the Fire Nation or should I say former princess. My father banished me about a year ago. Iroh is my uncle. This here is Ty Lee. I trust her with my life, and you can trust her with your secrets."
Pakku nodded. "And why have the two of you come here?"
"He and I seek to depose my father, replace him as Fire Lord with either myself or my brother Prince Zuko, and bring an end to the war. My uncle believed that you could help us."
Ty Lee soon enough added her piece into the matter. "We believe that the Avatar might be still alive and able to help us. We decided to travel across the world to find him. We figured, that since your kin have survived this long against the Fire Nation that you might have been getting help," she said. "Either the old Avatar was around or perhaps the new Avatar had been born here."
Pakku sighed and shook his head. "I'm sorry, but we in the north haven't seen, heard or had business with the Avatar for over a hundred years. For all we know, the Avatar either failed to reincarnate after Avater Roku died or his successor did, or has otherwise disappeared. If they're still alive, they're not here."
"I see." Azula replied, sounding disappointed.
"If you need any help from me, I will provide it as best as I can." Pakku continued - feeling somewhat, like he owed that much to Iroh. "I have a considerable amount of influence in the government here, and I'm possibly the finest waterbending master in the world..."
It's like I'm looking at an older, male version of myself. Azula thought.
"...but I'm afraid I can't help you find the Avatar, because I have no idea where to look. No-one in the Northern Water Tribe does."
"Well. That is a shame, but at least we still have three other places to search," replied Ty Lee, trying to sound positive. Although it was a bit hard, when their likeliest source turned out to be empty. Although when offered the chance of help. "Hmm. Well...I am not so sure, we can get anything from waterbending. Since I am a non-bender and Azula is a firebender..." she said, although then she remembered something. "Actually. There might be something. Since this is the only chance we might have. Perhaps you could show us around the Northern Water Tribe? Azula' uncle said we should learn from other cultures and their ways. Saying that they might improve upon what we know ourselves. Plus, this might be our only chance to see how you people actually are and live. Not the dry propaganda they teach in our schools."
It seemed, that despite everything Iroh still remained the most optimistic about the Order' future and had already convinced two younger ones to seek out wisdom from others - much to his displeasure. "Sure, why not? It's not like I have anything better to do with my time." Pakku replied sarcastically.
"...is that a yes, or a no?" Azula asked.
Pakku gave a weary sigh, as if he'd just been saddled with a massive burden. "Very well, I'll show you around. Come on."
"Er...thank you." Azula said, as she stood up and put her parka back on.
As the three of them left the palace, Azula whispered something to Ty Lee. "Are you sure you want to do this? You haven't exactly been handling the temperature here well. Then again, I can't really blame you for that, it's freezing here."
"Yes, we happen to live very close to one of the poles of the world. We don't get much sunlight here, hence it's a lot colder than the Fire Nation." Pakku stated from in front of them. Easily hearing them out.
Although, it being the Northern Water Tribe - they got to see anything, but the combat aspects of the Tribe. As while the girls likely wouldn't know, women weren't exactly allowed to be soldiers in the North. Although Ty Lee was for the most part, curious on seeing how waterbending was used in healing. "Hmm? How does that work exactly?" she asked, upon seeing some of the women performing it on a dummy.
"Female waterbenders are taught to use water to redirect the chi inside a human body, in order to allow it to heal and regenerate from damage. Chi forms the root of a number of things, in particular all the bending styles. In essence, bending is really just manipulating your chi to the point that it can interact with things outside your body." Pakku elaborated.
As this was spoken, Ty Lee became a bit interested in how it worked. As it was, water was used to direct chi in a body. She struck at key points to disable those paths - then it got one thought from her. "Mister...or Master Pakku. I assume that water is used as a medium to direct the chi..." she said, stepping forward as she looked over the dummy.
"But...can't someone do the same with their hands?" she offered, an idea that literally was crafted by the dialogue between two cultures. "I mean. I have learned anatomy, which is how I learned to strike key points in a body. Thus knocking them out in an instant, even if I don't hit anywhere...hard."
Namely, she placed a fist on one point of the dummy. "I have assumed my trick works like a rock, blocking the flow of chi. Like water. But...what if I do the same with my fingers?" she asked, rolling her fingers along the body. "Like pushing the rock out of the way...Azula! May I have your help?"
"Er, sure." Azula replied, not sure what exactly Ty Lee was planning. "What do you want me to do?"
"Give me your hand..." replied Ty Lee, as she soon enough took Azula' hand and with barely a touch - her hand would suddenly fall asleep without a question. The usual sign that someone had been chi-blocked, although she hadn't struck her with force. Thus, the feeling should go over in a minute or two. Although, she soon took her hand and started rubbing across the area with her fingers. Making it likely more awkward than cute. "Feeling anything coming back?"
"Now you mention it...yes." Azula said, as she felt life come back into her fingers. "Did you...block my chi or something?"
"Yes. Sorry, that I didn't tell you anything. I wanted to test something," she replied, once her fingers were moving again. "Hmm. Not so sure, if one can heal burns with this. But. I think I might have found a way to perhaps help reduce regular pain and discomfort. Just using my hands..."
"It's okay." Azula said when Ty Lee apologized. "And don't worry about not being able to heal my arm. I've got my mother's herbs for that, and they've been working quite well." It was true; Azula's arm felt the same as it had before it got burned, although the burn scars had yet to start fading.
"Now that the two of you have finished your little experiment, perhaps you'd like to resume the tour?" Pakku asked, looking slightly irritated. The two girls quickly resumed following him.
"So...how was the Northern Water Tribe formed, exactly?" Azula asked as they walked through the streets.
"Ages ago, back when Chin the Conqueror was present in the world, we used to be several dozen independent tribes living on the North Pole - similar to the South Pole. After a while, many of the tribes started to come together and form a single, unified collective and the waterbenders among them used their bending to create this city. Over the years, some of the people felt disconnected from the 'old ways' and left for the South Pole."
"Do the two Tribes still keep in contact with each other?"
"Not anymore. We used to...we convinced the south to accept our authority in exchange for autonomy and their own ruling council, and our rulers married southerners to help strengthen relations between us and them. But with both our tribes situated on opposite ends of the planet, keeping regular contact was troublesome at the best of times. And now that the war's happened..." He let the rest go unsaid.
Ty Lee looked saddened at that part, since many in the Fire Nation knew about the so-called: Counter-Attacks against Southern Bandits. As she wondered honestly, how many waterbenders were even left to call them a Southern Water Tribe - since the Southern Raiders of the Fire Navy had been hunting down waterbenders there for years. Although in recent years they had completely stopped - either the Fire Lord had resources needed elsewhere...or.
"...I think you should at least send them a hawk or message. Cause I doubt, they are doing as well as you are..." replied Ty Lee, confirming Pakku' likely fears, that the South might have been in more troubles than they were.
"I doubt there are any messenger birds that can fly between the poles. And we've tried to get messengers across, but it became a lot harder because of the war. Fire Nation ships were now watching over the oceans, and since the Air Nomads were gone, we can hardly travel by air..." said Pakku.
Azula nodded in understanding. "Yes. We tried to invade fifteen years after the war began, but besides having to deal with the North's soldiers, we were unable to establish any significant footholds due to the treacherous terrain there. After that invasion, Fire Lord Sozin decided to leave the North alone and focus on the Southern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom, where we were having success. When Fire Lord Azulon inherited the throne, he did the same."
Pakku nodded. "The last time we recovered Fire Nation uniforms was eighty-five years ago. But there are many here who fear that another invasion will happen eventually, now that Ozai has succeeded Azulon. No leader completely mimics their predecessor. Besides, the Fire Nation likes to think they're the greatest civilization in the world; they won't like that someone was able to prove them wrong a long time ago."
Ty Lee nodded in reply and wondered something that she shared with Azula via whisper. Namely Pakku was proving to be a rather gracious, if patriarchal guide for them. As she namely offered Azula the idea, of perhaps sharing what she knew of the Fire Nation with the Chief, Pakku or his people. So in the case, that the Fire Nation attacked yet again - they would have a better defense ready. Plus, if they planned on taking down Ozai later on - the more allies they had the better. "So what do you think, Azula?"
Azula nodded in agreement with the idea, and voiced it to Pakku, earning a curious glance from the old master.
"How would you like information on the Fire Nation straight from the highest source?" offered Azula.
"I know many people here who'll be happy to have that kind of information." He said. "I'll arrange a meeting with the chief and the rest of the council for tonight, and I'll vouch for you at it, so that they listen to you. In the meantime, I'll see about getting both of you a room at the palace. Assuming you want to stay the night, of course."
"I guess we can. What is the least coldest place in there? I think, cold and me don't mix well together," replied Ty Lee, as she soon sneezed at that. Looking like some bull-deer, as her nose was already red as one at that. "I think, we might be talking the entire night - once we get going too."
Once that had been finished, they soon finished their tour and got to return to the Palace. "So, what did you think Azula about everything?"
"Well, we didn't find anything about the Avatar at all, but I think our time here will nevertheless be productive." Azula said, lying on the room's double bed. She'd removed her parka again, as the walls here were thick enough to keep the heat in and make the room warmer than usual for the north. The bedsheets would have a similar effect. "Plus, I'll be very pleased if the Fire Nation lose here because of the information we provide. Give my dad a nice and bloody nose in return for his actions..."
The fact that they had been given a double bed came as a surprise to Azula, because she'd never told anyone here that she and Ty Lee were a couple. "Did you think I didn't notice the way you two were looking at each other?" Pakku had said with a smirk when Azula had bought up the subject. Not that she was going to complain.
"I thought so too. Plus, I learned something new entirely. I had always learned about anatomy and chi back in the Royal Academy. But my mind always thought of ways, how they flowed. Then when I started learning about acrobatics and having to defend myself alongside you - I started doing what I now do. Chi-blocking. But I never imagined, I could do the opposite..." she replied, as she cracked her fingers and looked at Azula. "Hmm. You want a massage?"
"Oh, you want to try out your new technique on me, do you?" Azula asked teasingly, before her tone became more flirtatious. "You want me to take my shirt off?"
"I think perhaps not. Otherwise, we will be the hottest thing here on the North Pole. We might start melting the ice. Just...lie down and let me do my work..." she asked from Azula, as she wanted to see - if she could really use her hands to perhaps help reduce stress and muscle pain.
"I don't mind melting the ice that way at all, if I get to enjoy your form...but okay, we'll do it your way." Azula said, rolling onto her belly and resting her head on both her forearms, waiting for Ty Lee to begin. Ty Lee soon enough swung next to Azula and soon enough started using her knowledge and hands to do her thing. Instead of trying to paralyze her chi paths, Ty Lee tried instead to 'fix' them, loosen them and help relieve the likely stress that she had accumulated over the years. In essence, giving her a nice massage with the hands and skills of a worldly expert.
...it would be quite the morning the day after, as Ty Lee had awoken with a smile - and Azula with an even bigger dreaming look onto her face. Seeing how she had slept like a rock wrapped in silk. Right until they would get invited to meet the Chief of the Northern Tribes and his daughter, Princess Yue. Needless to say, despite living at the North - the main hall itself, looked rather well developed and highly decorated with various sculptures and reliefs. Showing that even from nothing but ice and snow, could form a very unique civilization.
Although, the biggest talk was on the two Fire Nation 'visitors' - namely Azula and Ty Lee.
"Ordinarily, I would have the two of you imprisoned. But Master Pakku has assured me that I can trust you, Princess Azula and your friend Ty Lee genuinely intend to bring an end to the war the Fire Nation wages upon the world. He also tells me that you have information related to the Fire Nation that will help us in the struggle against them." Chief Arnook said to Azula as she and Ty Lee stood before him. Alongside several other members of their likely government - some of whom neither girls recognized, from their tour or talks.
"Yes, that's true, Chief Arnook," Azula replied - her years of Royal pampering and discipline paying off here.
"Perhaps you can begin by telling us the current state of the Earth Kingdom, and the progress of the war there."
Azula would proceed and tell him of all that and more. About topics she had learned and gathered over the last few years, as well as the pieces of information she had from before her banishment that weren't yet out of date. After that, she told him what she knew of the Fire Nation's typical and preferred tactics in battle, followed by the locations of the Fire Nation's fortresses, colonies and naval bases on the northern coast of the Earth Kingdom. Anything she thought would help, she revealed up. Ty Lee had her own part to add to the fray. Mostly about their appearances - as eighty years ago, the standard firebender or non-bender uniform had become more compact and more resilient. Thus any attempts to infiltrate required that they remove the spikes from the uniforms they had. Although, the biggest point as coming from someone who lived around firebenders and knew the human body - was that many firebenders lacked a good defense. As they both kept on talking for an hour - moving from watched to drawing circles on a map towards...
"...ships. They likely look big and menacing, but they are almost completely unable to move, if you eliminate the twirly-thing...here..." she spoke, using a crude drawing as an example. As their little meeting, had likely turned into the biggest source of information they had on the war and in-general AGAINST the tactics and strategy of the Fire Nation. As Azula and Ty Lee had already two archivists writing up things, whom had a filled up a parchment reaching to their feet.
"Many of us in the Northern Water Tribe fear that the Fire Nation plans to invade us once again in the future. Would you care to tell us your thoughts on when such an invasion is likely to occur?"
"I have two theories on that. The first is that it will take place during either this summer, or the one afterwards. The nights are shorter, and the days are longer during the summer. You waterbenders are strongest during the night, when the moon rises. We firebenders are strongest during the day, when the sun shines. Attacking during the summer would give the Fire Nation longer periods of time in which they could fight at full strength per day, while also reducing the amount of time you would be at your strongest."
"Is there any reason they wouldn't wait until the third summer?" Arnook asked.
"Yes, there is," spoke Azula - looking worried and genuinely afraid to speak about the next point. "Sozin's Comet will return before the third summer. As it passes by the planet, firebenders will have the power of their bending increased many times over. It's only for a few minutes, but the last time the comet came by, the Fire Nation was able to wipe out the Air Nomads with a series of simultaneous attacks on the Air Temples. They could very easily do the same with the remaining nations the next time the comet passes, and either completely destroy them, or leave them in no state to continue fighting. As they can use the Comet to remove the Earth Kingdom from the war completely. That or you both. Once that happens, they win."
"You can understand, why we want and hope to find the Avatar. We need to end this, before there isn't any world to safe," replied Ty Lee, feeling bad in-general for her nation having fallen down this path. As it would mean the completely burning of everything. "I do think that might be everything that we can dig up, at the current moment in-general. So, that will mean we plan on travelling the entire Air Temple route. North, East and eventually South. Including the Southern Water Tribe. Is...there anything we could perhaps deliver or bring to them? I know it will likely be months, before we are that far. But we might perhaps be able to do, what your kin can't. Slip past the Fire Nation undetected..."
"Hmm...perhaps food supplies? From what I understand, the south is self-sufficient, but I imagine that most of their hunters will be out involved in the war." Arnook suggested.
"We should be able to procure those sorts of supplies ourselves, when the time comes for us to travel to the south." Azula said.
"I see...well aside from that, I think the best thing you could do for our sister tribe is find their warriors, and aid them in their battle with the Fire Nation."
"Sure. No biggie, if we can find them," replied Ty Lee. "One doesn't hear much about your kin, likely cause they are on such a small scale that the Fire Nation barely notice them. Or they are that good at hiding themselves."
Once, that had been finished, and a few other things handled - the duo were ready to depart. As while the information would take months to look through and be made useful for their tactics and plans - it was something; hope.
"Good luck, you two." Pakku said to the pair as they slowly were escorted out - as well as earning some measure of the old man's respect with them. "Before you leave, I'll pass on the details of three other members of the White Lotus whom I believe will be able to help you, should you seek them out. The first of these is King Bumi. He's the ruler of the city of Omashu, in the Earth Kingdom. He's quite...odd, but he's also very capable. The second is Piandao of the Fire Nation. He's a master swordsman and he has a magnificent estate in the Fire Nation. If you need to return to your homeland, he'll give you a safe place to stay, among other things. The third is Jeong Jeong, also of the Fire Nation..."
"Jeong Jeong? As in, the first person to desert the Fire Nation and live to tell about it?" Azula asked. "I thought he was dead?"
"Yes, I was just about to confirm that." Pakku replied, not happy with being interrupted. "Yes, that Jeong Jeong. He has just as little love for the Fire Nation as any of us, and is a highly skilled firebender to boot. If you can find him, and convince him to help you, he'll prove to be a very good ally. He was last seen somewhere in the Earth Kingdom."
"Right." Azula replied. "Goodbye, Master Pakku."
"Goodbye, Azula and Ty Lee." The waterbending master replied - with that the two girls would return to their ship, and tell Iroh of everything that had transpired in the Northern Water Tribe.
"Haha. Typical Pakku, that man was always a hard-ass. I figure, that he likely posted guards on that route - cause he didn't want anyone to bother him with Pai Sho games anymore," chuckled Iroh - as they had settled down in the ship, with some actual Fire cuisine and warmth at that. "But I am glad you managed to handle it in such a great fashion. I am also glad, that you managed to do what you did. Not many can give up the secrets of their homeland without feeling some remorse."
"But you were right in doing so. If the Fire Nation attacks now or during Sozin' Comet - they will need all the help they can get," he added - knowing enough, that the military aspect was as important as the political one.
"So. We have about four people, plus Iroh and now us. That is much more than when we started out. Plus judging from what was spoken, these people also seem skilled in their arts," said Ty Lee. As their entire adventure was turning from hopeless to mildly possible now.
"Let us hope, our luck then holds out..." agreed Iroh.
"So then Azula. What next? Eastern Air Temple?" she asked.
"We've still got the Northern Air Temple to visit, remember?" Azula reminded her from her place at the table the three of them were currently sat around.
"Oh right. Forgot about that. My mistake, sorry," replied Ty Lee, as she checked their map. Soon drawing an X onto the Northern Water Tribe. "Well he wasn't there. But we still learned something new anyway. Plus, Azula. I did promise you something. Remember?"
"Yes..." Azula said, wondering if they should really be discussing it around Iroh.
"Come on. I wanna show a technique that Pakku taught me. About movement, it could help your fighting stance," replied Ty Lee, lying through her teeth at that, as she managed to pry Azula away.
"See you later, uncle." Azula said with an awkward grin as she was practically dragged out of the room by Ty Lee. Ty Lee giggled along the way to her room, before the door was even shut, she went and kissed Azula.
Author's Notes: I have escaped from the clutches of the Oogla-oogla.
Review and all, if you want.