Fight 27: Answered call
Aang, Sokka and Katara looked on, horrified, at the fallen city of Omashu. They couldn't believe the war had spread this far. Omashu was such a great city, it had always seemed...untouchable. Now Ba Sing Se was the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left. Katara said they needed to move on but Aang refused, declaring he was going to find Bumi.
Sokka was against it. They didn't even know if he was still... around... The girl noted there were other people aside from Bumi who could teach earthbending. However, the Avatar didn't want to find a teacher, he wanted to find his friend.
Appa flew down the abyssal moat to a ledge at the base of the city side of the moat. There was a secret passage... or a drain pipe depending on the point of view. Aang forced it open and a huge blob of slimy greenish sewage gushed out, explaining why they hadn't used that passage last time. They walked up the sewer pipe. It was fine for Aang and Katara who could bend the sludge out of their way but not for Sokka who was slowly covered in sewage from the monk's receding wake... much to his disgust.
It was night when the trio (and Momo) came out of a manhole into an empty street. Katara remarked it hadn't been as bad as she had thought. But then, a green blob monster emerged from the manhole! Katara bended the water from a nearby barrel at it, washing the gunk away and revealing her brother. Aang whipped a gale at him to blow him dry. Sokka screamed when he noticed the three uninvited guests that had hitched a ride on either side of his head. He grabbed them pulled as much as he could but the cute little octopus-like creatures wouldn't let go. The airbender pounced on Sokka, pinning him to the nearby wall, then releasing him, and telling him to stop making so much noise. It was just a purple pentapus. The warrior was still terrified as the animals squeaked and palpitated. Aang gripped the nearest pentapus and rubbed its head with his finger. It grinned and raised its tentacles, coming off without further fuss. Sokka rubbed his free cheek, and repeated the process with the other. The suckers on the tentacles had left little round red dots all over Sokka's cheeks. Katara was removing the third one when they were interrupted by a Fire Nation guard on patrol.
The siblings closed ranks to obscure the Avatar for a moment. Aang quickly folded an orange cloth on his head to hide his airbender tattoo. The soldiers asked the kids what they were doing out past curfew. The girl replied they were just on their way home. The children walked away. But then the guard spotted the red welts on the back of Sokka's neck.
"Wait! What's the matter with him?" He questioned with an apprehensive edge. As quick-witted as always, the waterbender told them he had pentapox. She then stopped the man he moved to touch her brother, warning him it was highly contagious with an oh so earnest expression. He hesitated, and pulled his hand back. Sokka realized the ploy and began to act ill, moaning and lurching forwards. The soldiers recoiled to avoid contact. Katara added it was deadly. She was comforted by a Fire Nation man.
"Wait, I think I've heard of pentapox. Didn't your cousin Chang die of it?" He turned to one of his comrades. Sokka advanced, coughing and spitting up at them. "We'd better go wash our hands...and burn our clothes!" And the three guards ran for it. The warrior dropped the act and Aang thanked his tiny purple sewer friend.
Azula's ship was decked at a beach which was filled with tents and populated with people from her royal procession. But the princess herself was sitting within her litter which rested atop the dais on the deck of her ship. She was flanked on either side by her crone teachers. The three of them had come to the same conclusion. When tracking Iroh, Zuko, and Chenlian, traveling with a royal procession was no longer an option if she wanted to keep the element of surprise. The royal procession was dead weight. In order to catch her prey, she must be agile...nimble. She needed a small, elite team. It was time to visit some old friends.
Somewhere in Omashu, the teens hid behind some construction material as a patrol passed. Bumi had to be kept in a place where he couldn't earthbend, a place made of metal.
"There really is no fathoming the depths of my hatred for this place." An expressionless young woman with a large quantity of well coifed black hair light brown eyes complained.
"Mai, your father was appointed governor. We're like royalty here. Be happy, and enjoy it." Her mother replied, carrying a toddler in her arms. They were escorted by four guards, two in front of them and two behind them. They walked, unaware that they were being targeted by earthbenders. Mai was still complaining about just how unbearably bleak this place was, even compared to her already boring life in the Fire Nation. Nothing ever happened. The Earth Kingdom soldier launched rocks that tumbled down into the channel at high speed. Aang looked in horror at what was apparently falling debris, then over at the party of people passing on the level below who would soon be crushed, and pulverized the rocks into pebbles and dust with a blast of air. Alerted, the Fire Nation people looked up and mistook Aang and the other for the resistance. Mai smiled slightly and released a hail of small arrows from her sleeves. The airbender dodged and he and his friends ran away, pursued by soldiers who climbed up the ladders. Katara knocked them back down with a water ship but the young noblewoman had also come after them, and released another hail of arrows that embedded themselves in the waterbender's ice wall.
The chase continued and Aang caused the scaffolds to collapse between them. She threw a twin-bladed knife like a shuriken through the falling debris. It ricocheted and stabbed Aang's twirling staff. Once the dust cleared she attacked again but the teens disappeared through a large stone trap door which closed instantly above them. Mai sighed dejectedly and walked away. She had lost them. The children had fallen into a tunnel. They rubbed their painful heads and looked up. They were surrounded by resistance fighters.
Iroh, Chenlian and Zuko were sitting on a straw mat in the street of a certain village. Their ostrich-horse was lying behind them. The old man was begging for money, holding his conical hat down. He had already received well over a dozen copper pieces. Chenlian still had money left but now they were three and she preferred saving. People were always eager to help the Avatar but things were different with her current group. A cart passed with theatre and festival masks. And then a man who dropped a coin in the hat when Iroh begged him to spare a coin for weary travellers.
"This is humiliating! We're royalty. These people should be giving us whatever we want." Zuko ranted. Clearly, he still hadn't adapted to the change. His uncle replied they would give them whatever they wanted if they asked nicely.
"But is it really alright to believe someone should be worshipped simply by virtue of blood...?" The girl questioned. "For royalty and nobility as long as one was born into the right family, no matter how cruel, tyrannical or stupid, anyone could have a shot at ruling. It's always the lower classes who suffered. Respect, just like trust, is something that should be earned. Only this way could true loyalty be born. You should follow a person because you want to, because you believe he's worth it. Being recognized only for our ancestry and not who we are, what we accomplished... what's the good in that?" She mused, her head down, her voice soft and sad yet firm. The two males kept silent, Iroh because he agreed, and Zuko because as usual she had brough up a matter he would have rather ignored. Although she made sense and he felt drawn by her assurance and convictions, her beliefs still completely overturned a tradition, an heritage, an unwritten law that was deeply ingrained in him, and that was not something he could accept so easily. Next, the retired general sollicited a pretty and well dressed young woman.
"Spare change for a hungry old man ." He pleaded in a weak voice. The appeal worked, and, touched, she gave him money. "The coin is appreciated, but not as much as your smile." He smartly thanked. Well, he was a smooth old (gentle)man who knew how to treat ladies. Chenlian smiled. Zuko slapped his forehead at his uncle's improper behavior... for a former crown prince to curry favors with women... and the difference in age too, it was unsightly. But nonetheless, the young woman appreciated the compliment and giggled as she walked away. Then, from the opposite direction came a man carrying broadswoards.
"How about some entertainment in exchange for... a gold piece?" He addressed them with a cruel smile while showing the gold piece. Zuko petulantly replied they were not performers. "Then... how about three gold pieces... in exchange for your pretty companion..." He caught Chenlian by the arm and pulled her up. The other teen bolted on his feet and snatched her back, making sure to put her behind him.
"She's not for sale or rent!" Zuko menaced the man, blazing, but before it got ugly, Iroh intervened. They were not professional but he nonetheless started singing. However, the mean passerby wasn't happy. He might have had to relinquish the bigger prize but he was still talking about a gold piece, and it deserved some action. Once more, the scarred teen burned with anger. Not only was that disgusting man treating Chenlian like an object but he was also pointing a sword at his uncle! The cruel one ordered Iroh to dance and began to swing his swords at the elder's legs who hopped up and down to avoid the blows while continuing his song. Zuko gritted his teeth and tightly gripped Chenlian's shoulders, to whom he had turned while still looking at his uncle. The girl squeezed his arms, as much to control him as to control herself. To indulge that trash just to get a single coin... The sadistic almsgiver laughed before tossing the coin. Nothing like a fat man dancing for his dinner... huh? The man walked away.
"Such a kind man!" Iroh smiled, sitting back down. The young woman looked at her childhood friend's face, seeped with rage and humiliation. It couldn't go on like this. She had to do something. She sighed and told them to wait here. She was going to change their situation.
"Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?" Azula asked the pretty, bright eyed girl with a long brown braid, dressed in pink and red who was performing a head stand on her index fingers.
"Azula!" Ty Lee smiled widely, broke her head stand with a couple graceful moves, prostrated herself on the ground, then ran to give the princess a bear hug. Azula returned it with a smile. "It is so good to see you!"
"Please, don't let me interrupt your..." Azula raised an eyebrow, searching for the right word and failing. "...whatever it is you were doing." And taking her word for it, Ty Lee, with her incredible grace and flexibility, flipped over backwards to lie on her chest, her feet arched over in front of her head. "Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Certainly our parents didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in..." The Fire Nation princess looked over at the straining platypus bear and the men trying to force it to walk. "...places like this." She finished with a notable edge of contempt as the platypus bears laid an egg and got up, groaning. "I have a proposition for you. I'm hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy duddy uncle, don't you?"
"Oh yeah. He was so funny."
"I would be honored if you would join me on my mission."
"Oh...I...uh...would love to..." She sprang back to her feet in a single, fluid motion. "But the truth is, I'm really happy here. I mean, my aura has never been pinker!"
"I...'ll take your word for it. Well, I wouldn't want you to give up the life you love just to please me." The princess said, apparently accepting her friend's decision with just a hint of reluctance and sarcasm. The acrobat thanked her, bowing slightly and clasping her right fist in her left hand. Azula walked away as Ty Lee turned and started stretching her legs impressively. "Of course, before I leave, I'm going to catch your show."
"Uh...yeah...sure...uh...of course..." The circus girl stammered after an initial moment of panic. And she was still very worried. She knew Azula's way of doing things, the complete lack of scruples she displayed when she wanted something, her cruelty and oppressive manners even when dealing with people she considered 'close', how she controlled people through fear... The only one Azula had never been able to control was Chenlian, because Chenlian had never showed her fear or weaknesses, and even when Azula thought she had grasped something, it was instantly discarded like a lizard's tail. And Chenlian also possessed the strength and shrewdness to get out of most dangerous situations. She would always look forward, never behind. No, if there was only one person Chenlian would turn to, then it would be...
In an underground cavern under Omashu filled with Earth Kingdom resistance fighters and civilians, Aang asked the commander if King Bumi was with them and leading the resistance. But with contained resentment and anger, the leader replied that the day of the invasion, even though they had readied themselves for battle, prepared to defend their city...to fight for their lives and for their freedom, King Bumi had decided to do... nothing! He had surrendered! Fighting the Fire Nation was the only path to freedom. And freedom was worth dying for. However, the Avatar disagreed. There was another path. They could leave Omashu. They were directing all their energy to fight the Fire Nation but outnumbered as they were, they couldn't win. Now was the time to retreat, so they'd live to fight another day. The chief insisted. In order to reclaim their home, they had to fight at ANY cost! Yet, in spite of all his zeal and militancy, the majority sided with the Avatar, and he was forced to fold. There was still one problem though: how to evacuate thousands of citizens? Sokka smiled smugly. He had a brilliant idea. Everyone was going to come down with a nasty case of pentapox!
The next day, everyone applied pentapi on their exposed skin and removed them. Now, thanks to those marks, they all looked sick but they had to ACT sick too, or nobody would buy it. A bent old man walked between Sokka and the crowd, groaning pathetically and holding a hand to his allegedly aching back.
"Now that's what I'm talkin' about." The Water tribesman put an arm around a citizen next to him.
"Years of practice." The elderly looked back at him, tapped his wooden leg with his cane and smiled. Sokka ordered everyone into sick formation. The citizens and Sokka moved out and Katara was going to join when she saw Aang heading in a different direction. He told her he wasn't going to leave until he found Bumi. Momo, hungry, grabbed Aang's mouth but the boy picked him and dropped him. The lemur would have to wait.
Chenlian arrived at the music instruments shop. There, a familiar scene took place. She took a pipa and admired it. The manager praised her connoisseurship and let her try it. She sat on a bench between willow trees at the river shore before the shop and started playing the lively White Snow in the Spring Sunlight. Soon, people stopped to listen and a crowd gathered. When she was finished, there was much applause. The shop owner was astonished. And to honor her skills, he decided to give her a special discount. Only five pieces of silver the pipa! And again, the girl stood up and flatly refused. She didn't have that much money that she could spend it on something nonessential. But still... she'd accept it for one piece of silver! She was looking as sweet as honey but nonetheless, the merchant gasped. How cruel of her! They were interrupted by a light chuckle. They turned to see a young man against a tree. Chenlian had rarely seen such a handsome man. He had long and glossy light golden brown hair down to his chest, deep green eyes full of light and mischief and was well dressed in golden green tones. Without being overly decorated or such, each piece was of perfect finish and quality. While clearly wealthy, he seemed to be a man of taste and lover of beauty and finesse... in all senses of the term. He approached.
"Sorry for interrupting your conversation. You want that pipa, right? If you play for me five pieces that I request, then I'll buy it for you." He offered. Not only was his appearance and aura so alluring and magnetic but his voice was deep and seductive too. And from what Chenlian could judge, it was completely natural. She inquired about his selection. There were only difficult pieces. "So you can't play them?"
"Normally I'd request more for those pieces but fine. Just don't forget your promise." The girl smirked at the challenge... And so, after a time, the two were walking together down a street, Chenlian holding her pipa in her arms with a satisfied grin. The man praised her outstanding performance. She thanked him.
"The songs were wonderful too of course, but in the end, you haggled to buy the pipa for two coins and put the remaining three in your purse."
"You promised me five pieces of silver, so I won't give the rest back...uhm..."
"Senya Qi. Call me Senya. And you?"
"Meiling... And those two are my travelling companions." She ran to join Iroh and Zuko who appeared to be argueing. Zuko instantly and vehemently reproached her for having been away for too long. He had been about to go look for her. She apologised. He asked who was with her and she introduced Senya.
"What a reprimand. He must have been really worried about you for him to be so angry and overprotective..."
"Well, we're like family."
"Eeh?" Senya stared at the other boy with a strange smile playing on his lips, earning himself a glare. Then he turned to Meiling and took one of her hands. "If you need money, I'll be glad to offer you work." He smiled invitingly. The girl's face lit up at this unexpected opportunity but before she could ask what kind of job it was, she was silenced by Zuko who harshly turned down the proposition, saying they didn't need help from him and they'd manage on their own. But although he didn't mention any of it, it was clear (to the men) that he feared the work was something bad. Not only that but that Senya was very suspicious and dangerous in a lot of ways and just plain annoying and it would be best not to get involved with him any further than that! And watching that scene, Iroh was doing his best to contain his snicker. Angry, yet his voice no louder than a mutter, Zuko asked his uncle what was so funny.
"It's just... even though you would be like her brother... you have the eyes of a jealous lover..." The old man sniggered again. The young one looked stunned for a moment before he turned completely red, retorting it was just his imagination. The senior apologised, blaming his senility, although he didn't look the least bit sorry and was all too clearly humoring his nephew who glowered at him. Senya sighed, apparently giving up.
"That's too bad, you could earn a lot. You're the only one who can produce a sound so pleasing to my ears." He lamented, completely ignoring the other young man before placing his hands on Chenlian's shoulders and slightly but firmly pulling her to him while leaning in. "If you still decide to come, ask for me at the Merchants' Guild. You will always be warmly welcomed." He whispered to her ear, their cheeks brushing. He let her go. "Well, I'll take my leave. Cherish that pipa and think of me when you play." He waved, and left, wishing them the best of luck.
Moaning and groaning, mobs of sick-looking Omashu citizens, lead by the Water Tribe siblings, approached the terrified Fire Soldiers. One screamed 'Plague! Plague!', and another banged the alarm. Overlooking the city from one of the balconies of his mansion, the governor asked going on down there. A guard inferred that the pentapox must have spread from the kids he had seen the previous day. The governor was sure he had heard of this sickness. His wife lamented. This was terrible. She was still holding her baby. The admistrator ordered that those people were driven out of the city. But they must not be touched! Mai uncaringly offered her father fire flakes she was snacking on from the bowl she was carrying. The wife put the toddler down and hugged her husband. But while she was looking fearfully at those sick people, she missed her baby toddling away...
Aang found Flopsie chained to a millstone and pushing the turnstile that drove the mill, performing this backbreaking work alone. The boy joined the large pet and outstretched his hands to receive a hug. Flopsie bounced to tackle him in a hug but was restrained by the chain. Aang froze the chain and broke it with his staff, freeing the animal that lunged forward, scooped him up in a hug and licked him. The climbed on top of Flopsie saying it gotta help him find Bumi. He tried 'yip yip' but it didn't work after all. When he said 'Let's go!' they darted into the streets of Omashu.
Momo flew through a window into the Governor's baby son's room. It was filled with toys but what interested the lemur was a platter of berries on a nearby table. He started binging on the berries and spitting the seeds over the art panels. The baby stopped playing with the teddy bear when he noticed the seeds. He crawled until he was underneath the table Momo was sitting on... and grabbed the lemur's tail, which was hanging over the side of the table. Dragging the child behind him, Momo tried to escape. The toddler let go and Momo ran out onto the railing of the balcony but was followed by the little one who lunged and missed. The baby slid down the tiles of the roof beneath them and landed in a box of berries traveling down one of Omashu's many chutes. Momo landed on the box of berries and started eating again, only to have the child emerge from the berries behind him. The animal looked over in horror at the little human who grabbed his tail again before he could react. The lemur flew off with the baby but the weight was too much and they're both dragged on the floor of a nearby plaza, the toddler landing on top of Momo, squishing him. A host of moaning Omashu citizens passed them by. Momo managed to get up and run after them but again the baby followed the animal... out of the city.
It was night when the circus started its show. Azula (and her two guards) were the only spectators and of course she got the VIP seat. The master conveyed the deep honor this humble circus felt at having been graced with the presence of the Fire Lord's daughter and asked her to tell him if there was anything they could do to make the show more enjoyable.
"I will." The princess replied assuredly. Far above the safety net, Ty Lee wearing colorful clothing and a golden tiara-like head piece was doing a head stand using one hand holding a short stick. This stick in turn was balanced on top of what looked like the frame of a small tent. Incredibly, this tent frame was balanced on the two extremities of an hourglass shaped object. That 'hourglass' was balanced on the high wire by its narrow middle. Ty Lee changed her hand. "Incredible. Do you think she'll fall?" Azula praised. Then since as the Master said, there was no way Ty Lee would fall, she thought of removing the net to make things more interesting. The man stammered. He was concerned about the performers. She didn't let him finish, more like she wasn't listening at all. "You're right, you're right. That's been done." She said, although it was more like she was talking to herself. "I know. Set the net on fire." She ordered. The circus leader reluctantly obeyed. Ty Lee worriedly stared at the flames, sweat beading on her face. The chief had no choice but to ball his fists in frustration. "Brilliant, just brilliant!" Then she asked what kind of dangerous animals they had and ordered the master to release them all. The noises of wild rampaging animals echoed into the night. The circus chief could not defy Azula, and neither could Ty Lee. If she did not immediately obtain what she wanted, that person, barely bothering to keep up appearances, would use her power to gradually make people's situation unbearable until they agreed to her demands.
After the meeting with Senya, Chenlian and Zuko had a fight. She wanted to work and earn money and believed she should take on that offer. It would save them time. But he accused her of having fallen for the looks and smooth tongue of that shallow playboy and forbid her to see him again. He even wanted to throw that pipa! And he didn't want her to perform in eateries either and make a show of herself. First being nearly kidnapped and then being tricked... What was she thinking? She had too little awareness of danger! Of course, that implied that she was being frivolous too and she strongly voiced her dislike for such assumptions. But that wasn't what truly enraged her... She had spent over a year on the run, without anyone to rely on, how did he think she had fared then?! She didn't need a sheltered brat who had never known hunger or danger until then to rattle on and on like this and tell her what to do! She could handle and protect herself just fine without him! And he said he wouldn't ler her work for particulars or shops but that didn't solve their problem at all! Before being picky he should take a look at reality and be more practical! And of course, he was just being too proud to apologise and admit that he simply cared about her too much to allow men to even look at her in a bad way, and that he wanted to do something for her. He was just being protective (and overly possessive) because she was so important to him. He didn't want her to bear the whole burden. Anyway, he had refused to cave in and declared he would do something, and she had accepted the 'challenge'.
That was why he was here, in this moonlit night, dressed in his Blue Spirit attire, hunting his prey: the man with the twin swords who had gripped Chenlian and threatened his uncle. Alone in a deserted street, the man felt his presence and unsheathed his swords, asking who was there. But before he could do anything, someone caught his arm, twisted it, and sent him crashing against boxes. Before passing out, he saw the person picking his dual dao swords. He was wearing the mask of the Blue Spirit.
Aang and Flopsie arrived at the camp recently formed by the Omashu refugees. They hadn't been able to find Bumi. Katara hugged Aang, and Flopsie, just as dejected and in need of comfort, was hugged by Sokka. The Resistance leader arrived and told them they had a problem with the head. They had an extra. They stared as once more the toddler had captured poor Momo and was laughing and firmly attached around his neck. The lemur was dragging him around as he tried to escape the grip.
In the governor's mansion, Mai (who didn't look unduly worried about her lost brother) handed her sobbing mother a handkerchief. Her father was assuming that the resistance had kidnapped his son and was finding everything so clever, so tricky... Just like their King Bumi. The guard asked what he wanted to do.
Azula dumped a bouquet of black flowers on Ty Lee's dressing table and complimented her for her exquisite performance. She couldn't wait to see how she'd top herself the next day. The acrobat apologized for there would be no show the next day. The universe had given her strong hints that it was time for a career change. She wanted to join Azula on her mission. The princess smiled satisfyingly.
As Momo was again 'babysitting' the toddler, the latter stumbled upon Sokka's club and picked it up to suck on it. Sokka snatched it away. That thing was dangerous, it was a weapon. And he scolded the "bad Fire Nation baby" who began to cry. Katara looked at her brother crossly, whacked him across the face and placed her hands on her hips. He gave in and handed the club back to the child who stopped crying and played with it. Since he looked so cute, the girl hugged him and doted on him much to the resistance leader's displeasure. He might be cute now but when he's older he'll join the Fire Nation army and be a killer. Katara picked the little one and showed him to the old man. Was that the face of a killer? But before they could further argue, a messenger hawk landed next to them. It came from the governor. He wanted to trade his son for King Bumi.
Carrying the baby in his arms, Aang was going down the mountain, accompanied by Momo and the Water Tribe sibling. They had decided to go along with this trade. Sokka was still wary of the possibility of a trap but not the airbender who had a good feeling about this. Surely, the governor wanted his son back as much as they wanted Bumi back.
In the city, Mai greeted Azula and Ty Lee. They greeted each other with warm hugs, although Mai was surprised by Ty Lee's presence. She thought she had joined a circus since it seemed to have been her calling. The gymnast replied with a smile that Azula had called a little louder. The princess said she needed them both for her mission and Mai absolutely wanted to be in. Anything to get out of this place.
And soon, Azula was in the governor's chair while Mai's parents were kneeling on pillows before her. They apologized. She had come at a difficult time. At noon they'd be making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back. The Fire Lord's daughter pretended to be sorry about their but really, what did they expect by just letting all the citizens leave? Her father had trusted them with this city and they were making a mess of things! The Governor prostrated himself and begged her forgiveness. The young woman walked up to him and commanded him to stay here. Mai would handle the hostage trade so he wouldn't have a chance to mess it up. Also, 'Omashu' was no more. She was renaming it in honor of her father. This was the city of New Ozai.
Chenlian was picking herbs when she glimpsed movement from the corner of her eye. She almost gasped when she saw the Blue Spirit carrying huge baskets of food. Zuko took off his mask he hid at the bottom of a tree. What more... swords he didn't have yesterday were now strapped across his back. He didn't have the money to pay for this much food and the swords... He hadn't spotted her. He threw the baskets before his uncle. They had found refuge in a cave they had arranged as best as they could to make it more comfortable and suitable for living.
"Where did you get these?" The old man asked with a suspicious look.
"It doesn't matter where they come from." Zuko replied crossly. Chenlian joined Iroh and they watched the teen walk away with a disapproving expression. They weren't stupid. After putting her harvest away she excused herself with a smile and left. Without their knowing she went to town, and indeed, before long, she heard a rumor about a couple having been robbed. Their food had been taken. And a noble had had his gold stolen. The thief wielded dual dao sword and his face was covered by a blue and white spirit mask. The girl clenched his fist. So that was his answer...
On a platform, at the bottom of a huge statue under construction (and surrounded by scaffolds), Aang's group was waiting firmly for the governor's emissaries. Azula, Mai and Ty Lee arrived from the opposite end with Mai leading. A crane lowered a metal coffin suspended by a chain. It had an opening for the face. Inside, King Bumi was laughing and snorting. He cheerfully greeted everyone. The coffin landed behind the Fire Nation girls. Since Aang had also brought the baby who was in Sokka's arms, they were ready for the trade. However, Azula had of course another idea. They were trading a two year old for a king... A powerful, earthbending king? She turned to Bumi for confirmation, Bumi who nodded eagerly with a grin on his face. This just didn't seem like a fair trade...
Mai looked for a moment at her brother before agreeing with the princess. She walked forward and called the deal off. Bumi was lifted back up. Aang cried his named and rushed forwards. Azula bent a plume of blue fire at knee level towards the boy, who jumped high into the air to avoid it. Azula looked on, shocked. This was not a jump anybody could do, especially not a jump as light as this... He landed on the scaffolds and jumped off again. He opened his glider in mid air, but lost his hat, exposing his tattoo. He grabbed the cloth with his mouth before it flew away, but it was too late, the Fire Lord's daughter had recognized him and was rejoicing. What a stroke of luck. She released the break of the winch with a blast of blue fire, grabbed one of the chains that rapidly carried her to the top. Aang landed on the coffing and blew on the chain to freeze it. Mai and Ty Lee charged Katara and Sokka who ran away. They had to get baby out of here since those girls didn't seem to mind involving him in a battle and risking him being injured... or even killed... The young man, and then the toddler blew on the bison whistle. But suddenly, a fist punched Sokka's foot as he passed from a hole in the floor. He fell on his back and slid to the edge. He had protected his fragile and precious load. Ty Lee vaulted out of the hole and went after him. With her water whip, Katara raised up wood planks she had had broken from the floor to block the blades that Mai had just thrown at her. She threw the wood at the knives user then turned and caught Ty Lee's ankle with it, tripping her and making her fall into a hole while her brother climbed down a ladder and ran off with the baby.
Azula broke through the top of the scaffolds, jumping high into the air thanks to the momentum of the rise. She blasted fire at Aang who managed to deflect it but the chain broke and the coffin dropped down onto one of the chutes and started rocketing down with Aang surfing on top. Azula jumped onto a transport bin and slid down after them. The boy laughed saying it was just like the old times but certainly back then they didn't have the child of the Fire Lord after them. Bumi tried to talk to him as he had attempted several times but he didn't hear anything. The princess shot at them from the chute about them on their left but the airbender dissipated the fire. They were separated before the chutes merged and the firebender was behind them. Aang launched a gale to no avail. They entered a portion that had arches over it. Aang destroyed them hoping to block the enemy and when the bin emerged on the other side without Azula he was reassured. However, she had been crouching inside and he screamed as she stood up and attacked him again.
Mai leant back to avoid the water whip, launchind in the same time a blade from her a device around her ankle, but it was blocked by ice. Mai charged but as she approached, Katara encased her right arm in ice and that ice couldn't be broken by her hand chop. Ty Lee jumped up onto the platform and sneaked up behind Katara whose pressure points she systematically jabbed, inhibiting her bending and causing the ice to melt. Mai taunted her about being unable to fight without her bending while she pulled out another knife that unfolded into a sai. But just as she was going to throw it, Sokka's boomerang knocked it out of her hand. Atop Appa, the young man caught his boomerang. He too seemed to manage despite being a non-bender like Mai. Appa landed in the middle and flapped his tail, blasting the two enemy girls away. Katara joined her brother and they took off. They saw Aang and Azula battling on a chute and went to help. They flew next to the coffin at the same speed. The airbender launched the coffin but the sibling failed to catch it as it passed over them and fall down on the other side. Aang was still riding it. It fell on a chute, then another, and kept sliding, the princess still behind them. She created a circular saw blade of blue fire and launched it. As it approached, Bumi moved his head, causing a small pillar of earth to rise up and block the attack. Azula leaped out of her bin just as it collided with the rock. She skidded to a halt in the chute with a dark expression. Not only had she failed to catch them but Bumi's ability to earthbend despite encased in metal was something she had not expected and could prove problematic.
Aang couldn't believe his old friend had been able to earthbend all along. Well, they hadn't covered his face. The coffin landed standing on another newly bended rock at the end of the chute. That discovery angered the Avatar who didn't understand what could be the matter with Bumi. Why did he surrender when Omashu was invaded? Why didn't he free himself? The old king explained that there were options in fighting, called 'jin'. It was a choice of how one directed one's energy. Aang knew there was positive jin when you were attacking, and negative jin when you were retreating, but he was startled to learn of another one, the neutral jin, when you did nothing. The neutral jin was the key to earthbending. It involved listening and waiting for the right moment to strike. The boy understood at last why his friend had surrendered. It had not been the right time. And it still wasn't which was why Bumi couldn't leave now. The child turned away, clearly sad and disappointed, but still accepted his decision. He needed to find someone else to teach him earthbending, someone who had mastered neutral jin. They said their goodbyes and Bumi used his earthbending powers to drive his coffin back up the chute. Appa, Sokka and Katara arrived.
Azula was sitting in her litter, leaving the city with her two comrades walking at her side.
"So, we're tracking down your brother and Uncle, huh?"
"It'll be interesting seeing Zuko again, won't it, Mai?" Ty Lee teased Mai who turned and smiled briefly before recovering her straight face and looking ahead.
"Yes, and also our old friend Chenlian who left the Avatar to join them and look after Zuko and humor him. She might have hoped to pull the wool over my eyes with that disguise but she can't deceive me. I recognized her fighting style." The princess smirked.
"What?! You didn't tell me!" Ty Lee chided.
"I wanted to keep the surprise for when we were together again. Also, we have another target."
"Please wait here. The young master will arrive shortly." The attendant said. Chenlian was made to wait in a room. She was also served tea. But she didn't wait long. Very soon, the young master arrived.
"So you've come. Welcome to the Merchants' Guild." Senya said with a smile.
"Please let me work." Chenlian pressed firmly with determined eyes.
At night, Aang snuck into the Governor's mansion. From the roof, he glanced down at the balcony where the husband was holding his wife. He silently came down, released the baby who toddled over to his parents, and departed as soundlessly as he came, just like a breeze. The toddler was greeted with great joy and relief. The avatar watched the reunion with a smile and flew away.
Author's note: for those who don't know yet, you can vote for the story you look forward to the most on the poll at the top of my profile page (whether you read only one or several of my stories).