The Gaang's biggest concern was how they were going to conceal the Capsule Corp. ship on their journey. Aang and Katara proposed that they could shroud both Appa and the ship within a fake cloud as they journeyed across Fire Nation territory. The second, and more disheartening to Aang, concerned Appa himself: Vegeta and Tarble had finally taught the kids how to fly and sense ki, which was something that was sorely needed for Toph if she were to ever be willingly parted from her precious ground and thrust into the sky, having any ability to sense something as she flew - the point was that since they all could fly, there was little need for a flying bison. Aang naturally protested they needed a way to carry their things along the journey; but Vegeta easily countered that they could stuff whatever they needed in the ship as they carried it. Tarble rationalized that it would simply be safer for Appa to be left with Hakoda. This is mind, Vegeta had to endure a sappy, drawn out goodbye as Aang, Katara, and Toph all gave their obsolete beast of burden a warm fuzzy hug goodbye. Tarble was then himself shocked as the sappiness eventually got to Vegeta himself, who ruffled the hair on Appa's forehead. Even the prince had some warm feelings for the ox/manatee/caterpillar. It was additionally depressing due to the horrifying realization that Momo was still stuck in Cooler's moonbase; Vegeta assured the kids he was still alive, and totally not stuffed over Lu Ten's mantlepiece.
Katara felt very guilty about her father, not because she had been spending half her adventure lusting after a man a mere ten years younger than her father, but because of all of the secrets that she kept from him and their friends along the journey to the Fire Nation: about who Vegeta was, what happened to Sokka, their special training. They could not risk telling them such shocking revelations about ghosts and aliens, let alone the invasion of a particular alien a thousand years ago. In complete honesty, the entire premise for their journey, that they were going to rendezvous at the Black Cliffs to prepare for the Day of Black Sun, was a total ruse. Vegeta planned to invade the capital long before the eclipse, since the presence of firebenders was the least of their worries, and make sure Aang fought the Fire Lord personally, as his questionable destiny foretold. The fighting of the Fire Lord was still a thing, as Katara related that, according to Cooler himself, he was going to let Aang's destiny play out before becoming involved. In the wake of his resurrection and becoming immune to the seal, this win was sorely needed for Aang, Vegeta reckoned.
And oh, the look on Tarble's face when Aang explained the origin of the seal. Of course, Vegeta thought Aang was talking about Kakarot's King Kai; but the more knowledge Tarble was agape at the idea that the Supreme Kai intervened during King Vegeta's invasion, let alone the idea that the Supreme Kai existed in the first place. It rather explained everything: The Supreme Kai was said to be a thousand times as strong as Frieza, which would hypothetically put him at Vegeta's level, which explained how Vegeta could still turn Super Saiyan within the void. They understood more clearly now, that this seal was meant for King Vegeta, and beings around his powerlevel, which was why people like Vegeta, Cell, or even Salza could still manifest their ki, being far stronger than Vegeta the 3rd, as well as the seal having a thresh hold of effect that was precisely Tarble's powerlevel, as 300 was the lowest estimate for any Saiyan.
What had really gotten Vegeta the 4th's attention was the reveal that Sozin's Comet would nullify the seal's effects when it arrived. Just the thought of his full power rushing back to him in front of Aang and his stupid friends on this stupid planet made him want to perform an entire musical number about what he wanted to do when that happened (only then had he realized how golden it would have been for those musical hippies he met all those moons ago to be present for his re-ascension. For Aang, it was a great boon to his hope, realizing that Vegeta would be more than strong enough to defeat Cooler and save the world for real.
In a way, the new plan had become the old plan: Aang masters the elements and defeats the Fire Lord before the comet comes, while Super Vegeta takes care of all the pesky non-Fire Lord details like stopping the f$&ing planet from being blown up. With all this in mind, the Gaang found the courage to resume their adventure anew.
Aang and Katara had created a huge cloud To contain and disguise the trashed ship, as they tentatively descended to the Fire Nation shoreline. Hidden in the cloud, the wrecked ship loosed various metallic creaks and moans.
"Will you keep it down!?" the voice of Prince Vegeta barked.
"You the one who's shifting the weight onto my end!" complained the voice of Prince Tarble."You need to keep it level!"
"I think I see a cave ahead!" the voice of Aang pointed out.
"I really hope this thing fits," the voice of Toph hoped.
When they were beneath anyone's field of vision and landed on the beach, Aang let the cloud dissipate, revealing them all hoisting the huge ship on their backs, though the Saiyan brothers were doing most of the lifting.
"Alright, on three, we all put it down as softly as possible," Vegeta instructed."And one...and two...and three-" Vegeta was stunned by the sound of the ship being abruptly dropped onto the sand with an uncomfortably loud thud and slight quake."Why'd you let go!?"
"You said to let go on three!" Aang replied.
"I believe he meant 'one two three, then let go', rather than ' let go on three," Tarble explained.
"What's the difference?" Vegeta growled.
"The Frieza's in the details, brother," Tarble stretched.
Vegeta felt his sinus."Fine, next time when I say three, add an extra second and then let go."
"Then, why don't we just let go on four?" Toph proposed.
"Because I say so, that's why!" Vegeta clenched his fists at the blind girl."And stop making me talk so loud, or someone will hear us."
Toph snorted."Yeah, we wouldn't want a bird to hear us chatting up there and turn us in..." she crossed her now dangerously strong arms.
"Hey!" the prince barked,"We're in enemy territory," Vegeta shot a thumb at the toucanpuffins behind him with a severe expression,"Those are enemy birds." he emphasized. One of the sea birds hopped onto Vegeta's head and crowed.
The kids would have laughed, but this display of deathly serious buffoonery made them miss Sokka.
They pushed the ship into the cave; Toph bent the sand to rid it of any trails that the ship made.
Vegeta dusted his gloved hands."Well, this is how we'll be living until we invade capital," Vegeta rested his fist on his sides,"hiding in cave, after cave, after cave," he smiled."reminds me of that time Nappa and I infiltrated Planet Shroom - the Shroom King never saw us coming," he said with satisfaction.
Katara sighed."Vegeta, we don't need to become cave people," she said,"what we need is some new clothes."
"Yeah, Aang agreed with a smile,"Blending in is better than hiding out; we would be just as safe as we would be hiding in a cave."
Vegeta crossed his arms,"Well, I have to disagree-wait a minute..." Vegeta's brow lifted,"Why does this feel so familiar...?"
"What do you mean?" Tarble asked.
"Plus, they have real food out there," Toph added."Does anyone want to sit in the dirt and eat cave hoppers?"
Vegeta looked around suspiciously."I feel like this whole conversation is playing out more or less the same as if you and I were never here," Vegeta observed.
"Looks like you're outvoted, Vegeta," Toph pointed out,"Let's get some new clothes," she smiled.
Then it hit the Saiyan like a nuke to the face."Oh god..." he dropped to his knees, flinging his hands up hysterically,"WE'RE RESUMING OUR SILLY, OVERLY COMEDIC ADVENTURES!"
Tarble hopped in fear."Vegeta, calm down!"
"You don't understand, Tarble!" the terrified Vegeta insisted, zipping over to his brother and shaking his shoulders rapidly."This is exactly how it was before you landed here! I walk around and let the kids do their thing, I try my best to mind my own business; then, out of nowhere, something happens that pisses me off so hard that I yell insanely loud, do something brash, and end up half-naked and imprisoned, over and over again, all as penance for my past sins against all life!"
"What are you on about!?" Tarble demanded, worried for his brother.
"I'm not gonna go through this again, damn you!" Vegeta said, yanking the ship's door open,"I'm going to stay in this freaking thing all day, every day, and will not involve myself in any of the Avatar's affairs ever again!" he announced upon slamming the door shut.
Tarble crossed his own arms at this sudden display of insanity,"What in Kai's name is he talking about?"
"Beats me," Toph's blind eyes gained a confused look.
"I don't get what he means either," shrugged Katara, then she swooned,"But isn't Vegeta super-hot?"
"I REST MY GODDAMN CASE!" Vegeta could be heard from inside the ship.
The shorter Saiyan sighed."Let us just move on and steal some innocent civilians' clothes."
The clothes stealing went smoothly. Katara called the first silk robe she saw; Toph found similar light attire that a Fire Nation might wear, kicking out the soles of her new shoes so she could sense the earth. Tarble and Aang found matching outfits, complete with headbands, which Tarble only after realized to his detriment were obviously children's clothes. Katara had to be reminded that her precious Water Tribe necklace would have to be removed to complete their disguise. It was worth nothing that Aang has allowed his head to grow hair during his training, and coupled with the full body outfit and handband, his tattoos were completely hidden. With that, they were ready to take on the town.
"I used to visit my friend Kuzon here a hundred years ago," Aang related," So, everyone just follow my lead and stay cool. Or, as they say in the Fire Nation," he paused, "stay flamin'" he said with a wink.
Tarble's brow twitched."That...means different things on different worlds..."
Aang then began to swag along the street "Greetings, my good hotman," he waved at a random citizen. He continued to greet every male he passed by with the term "hotman."
Tarble had to cover his face as he followed."It's a different culture, it's a different culture..." he assured himself.
"Pretty sure this 'culture' Aang's following is a little dated," Toph whispered.
They proceeded to the nearest meat market, to which gave Aang pause.
"Oh, we're going to a meat place?" Aang said with less enthusiasm.
"Evidently, everyone eats meat here," observed Tarble," even the meat," he pointed to a random hippocow which was scooping up some meat into its huge maw. This made him blink."...are they, um...just going to let a carnivorous horned hippopotamus wander the streets freely?" he watched the blood from the raw meat trickle from its lips.
"You guys go ahead," Aang said," I'll just get some lettuce out of the garbage."
"Then I'll follow just to be safe," Tarble added.
Aang waved Katara and Toph as they entered the butcher shop; Aang and Tarble continued down the street, as Aang continued his aged vernacular.
"So, are all your people vegan?" Tarble asked.
"Just vegetarians," Aang explained,"We value all forms of life; even the tiniest spidercrab's life is sacred. My people never kill."
"All forms of life, you say?" Tarble repeated skeptically.
"Yep!" Aang beamed.
"Does that include plant life?" Tarble smirked.
Aang paused."What?"
"You didn't know?" Tarble crossed his arms, leering."Plants, fruits, and fungi are all living things as well- every time you rip them from the ground and sever their roots, you are technically killing them."
Aang stared into the distance."I...You're just messing with me, right?"
"I am not," Tarble stopped himself from chuckling."They might not feel pain or make noise, but they have nervous systems and reproduce, just like all those animals you don't kill. Every apple, every orange, every blade of grass is a life you just snuffed out to prolong your own, just like a predator." Tarble said dramatically.
The innocent boy's heartbeat escalated."...s-sstop it, Tarble, stop messing with me...I...I-I'm a good person..."
"And the more life grows, the more life consumes itself," the Saiyan smiled widely,"It's a simple calculation. I know of this one individual who postulated that the only real way to preserve the balance of the world is to wipe out half the entire planet's population so that the other half could thrive..."
"I'M A GOOD PERSON!" Aang shouted, dashing away from Tarble.
"Aang, calm yourself!" Tarble ran after him.
The distraught airbender kept sprinting blindly through the street, until he ran right into a Fire Nation officer.
"Ah-hah!" the cop announced."It's over, we caught you."
"NO!" Aang cried, reeling back in terror."I'm not a murderer! I didn't wanna hurt anyone! I was just hungry!"
This gave the officer pause."...nani?"
Tarble skid to a halt behind Aang."Apologize, sir! I was just explaining to my friend about how plants are technically alive, and he panicked."
The cop blinked."...plants're alive...the hell're they teachin' you kids these days!? No wonder you two're playing hooky!"
Then Tarble blinked."Playing whatnow?"
"The next time you wanna skip school, maybe you boys shouldn't be wearing your uniforms on a school day," the cop crossed his arms condescendingly.
Tarble's jaw hung free."...boys? Wait a second, officer!" Tarble shook his hands."I think there's been a mistake!" he giggled."heh...you see, I'm actually thirty-one years old; I know I'm awfully diminutive for an adult but-"
"Save it, kid," the officer rolled his eyes,"I know a tiny, pathetic little child when I see one."
Tarble blinked...
"...DA F&$# YOU SAY!?" The Saiyan erupted, tackling the officer to the ground. Aang watched nervously as an entire squad of cops swarmed the cursing Tarble, struggling to pull him off the one man.
Two minutes later...
Tarble and Aang found themselves sitting in the back of a classroom among a dozen students roughly Aang's age, all wearing the same uniforms and headbands.
The Saiyan blinked."What the hell just happened?" he asked slowly.
Aang rubbed the back of his head."Sorry Tarble - it looks like you've just been Vegeta'd..."
Later that day...
"Where've you been!?" Katara demanded. "We've been worried sick!"
"I got invited to play with some kids after school," Aang explained in a cheery mood.
Katara and Toph exchanged confused glances (technically, only Katara looked at Toph).
"See, it turns out me and Tarble are wearing Fire Nation school uniforms," Aang pointed to his headband,"So we enrolled in a Fire Nation school, and we're going back tomorrow."
More silence...
...the ship's door slowly opened, and the very smug eyes of Vegeta slowly peaked out from the side...
The tight-lipped Tarble kept his eyes fixed on the ground..."I still have my armor..." he grumbled.
"Are you wearing it?" Vegeta quickly asked.
Tarble remained silent...
"mhm..." hummed the older Saiyan, zipping out of sight and slamming the door shut.
The younger Saiyan sighed and spread his fingers."Look, as ridiculous as this seems, this is giving us a tactical advantage we didn't have before," he explained.
"Every minute we're in that classroom, we're learning new things about the Fire Nation. I already have a picture of Fire Lord Ozai," he produced said painting of his destined foe,"And here's one that I made out of noodles!" he said as he and Tarble produced their macaroni art of the Fire Lord, with Tarble's being unrecognizable.
"...his is better..." Tarble admitted.
Katara looked at Toph yet again...
"...This is the part where Sokka would have said this was a bad idea..." Toph noted
"...And then Aang makes up a weak excuse to trick Sokka into thinking it's a good idea..." Katara added. She sighed."I suppose we could stay a few more days..."
"Flamey-O, Hotman!" Cheered Aang, running off to bathe or whatever.
Katara looked at Tarble...
"You know you don't have to go along with this, right?" Katara asked.
"Oh yes he does!" sang Vegeta from the ship.
Tarble sighed even harder."It's once in a blue moon; but all the same, I hate it when my brother is right..."
The airbender and Saiyan resumed their attendance of the Fire Nation middleschool. Aang had adopted the name "Kuzon" for reasons Tarble had yet to be revealed to, while Tarble had struggled to come up with a Fire Nation on the fly, before he had settled on "Lu Ten".
"Good morning, class," greeted the super-strict female teacher." Recite the Fire Nation oath," she commanded mechanically.
The indoctrinated children around the two rose from their seats and saluted the Fire Nation while reciting the oath in perfect unison. Aang and Tarble struggled to keep up with the other kids, trying to copy what they said and failing miserably. While Tarble was content to simply wait for what the children around him said and mimicked it to the best of his ability, Aang nervously tried to stay in sync without knowing the words, causing him to blurt out things like "Firebenders ... Fire Lord ... wah, bah, blah, blah" and the like. The teacher was not pleased by this, as she watched the kids snicker and them for their respective errors.
"Since it's obviously hilarious to mock our national oath," Miss Kwan opened sharply," we'll begin with a pop quiz on our great March of Civilization."
The class groaned and picked up their pens. Tarble followed suit, despite knowing he was doomed to fail.
"Question one: What year did Fire Lord Sozin battle the Air Nation army?" Miss Kwan inquired.
Aang immediately raised his hand.
"Kuzon?" the teacher popped.
"Will you stop drawing attention to yourself!?" Tarble hissed.
Miss Kwan ahem'd loudly."Lu Ten, I was not asking you, be silent while Kuzon answers."
Tarble coughed."erm, sorry, Miss Kwan..." he apologized like the child he was thought to be, earning extra giggles from the kids.
"Kuzon, proceed with your question," Miss kwan ordered.
"As I was gonna say," Aang could now say,"Is that a trick question? The Air Nomads didn't have a formal military. Sozin defeated them by ambush."
The entire class stared at him, dumbfounded, including the dumbfounded Tarble.
The short Saiyan let his head fall to his desk. He wasn't even listening to his new teacher's ridicule as he was beside himself, simply taken away by how utterly obnoxious the Avatar could actually be when left to his own devices.
"Do you think that just because that you're a new student, that gives you a reason not to know such simple answers?" Miss Kwan scowled. She turned to another student."Han! Please answer the same question."
The literal student in question rose to his feet, he was a boy about Aang's age, with oddly long but kept hair, and a rather strong build for his height."The invasion began 99 years ago, on the eighth month of what is now known as year 0 of The Fall of The Air Nation."
"Good, Han," Kwan nodded in satisfaction, then turned back at "Kuzon" spitefully."Han has only been here a day earlier than you, yet he has more than made up for it by learning nearly everything there is to know about our glorious history between classes. That will be all, Han..."
The boy called Han lowered back to his seat like a robot. Tarble looked at the boy in more bewilderment: just how exactly did this kid gain favor with this drill sergeant of a teacher in one day?
"Wow, go, Han..." Quietly congratulated Tarble. This caused the boy to whip his head around in surprise, looking right at Tarble with a bit of worry, which in turn worried Tarble, before Han returned to his previous position with his head slightly lowered as if to make himself discreet. Tarble eyed the boy in confusion.
Next was Music Class, which would have been a breeze for Tarble, had he been given a space-clarinet; but he was stuck with a bizarre instrument called a "tsungi horn" as with Aang. Nevertheless, Tarble once again did his best to make a scene as his fingers and mouth became accustomed to it (which sounded so effing wrong in his adult mind). Of course, his chipper classmate had to show off my shredding his own tsungi horn, rattling Tarble's ears, and throwing the entire school band off-tempo. Thankfully, the teacher of this class was not nearly as enraged by it as Tarble's old childhood drum teacher would have been - those Viltrumites truly have perfect rhythm - but was more confused than upset.
"Kuzon?" he asked.
Aang stopped." I know, I'm a terrible tsungi hornist."
"No, child," said the short and chubby teacher, which prompted Tarble to wonder how that grown man wasn't confused for a runaway middleschool student," That hullabaloo going on with your feet," he waved his wand oddly (dammit, Tarble, get your Saiyan head out of the gutter today!)," Is that a nervous disorder?"
"I was just dancing," Aang explained." You do dances here in the homeland, right?" he asked the student his left.
"Not really, no..." that student shook his head meekly.
The teacher that Tarble was 67% certain was also an alien walked to the side as he spoke." Dancing is not conducive to a proper learning environment. Young people must have rigid discipline and order."
"But what about expressing yourself?" the Avatar asked innocently.
"Will you stop digging our graves!?" Tarble blurted, gaining the stares of everyone in the room..."Excuse me..."
"I know sometimes we're so ruled by our love for our nation that we can't control our own bodies," the teacher described as he passionately put his hand to his face at what he was saying, lowering and continuing on," If you must, you may march in place quietly next time the urge hits you." he looks at Tarble."As for you, Lu Ten, answer me this: were you rushing, or were you dragging?"
"DRAGGING!" the traumatized Saiyan shrieked reflexively.
Then came recess, where the children went out to "relax" until the afternoon. There was nothing interesting about the barren plain clad with white tiles aside from the giangtic monument to Fire Lord Ozai, some wooden bar that the kids could do pull-ups on, or the planks where they could sit and chat. Aang and Tarble were straightway getting stares from the other kids; Tarble was pretty sure most of the stares were for "Kuzon"; if he actually were a middle-school student, this was the part where he would have ditched his friend.
"Uh, hi, Kuzon."
Aang, and Tarble by unwilling extension, turn to see a familiar girl.
On Ji waved and smiled."I really liked that crazy dance you were doing."
"Thanks, On Ji." Aang nodded." I could show it to you again if you like." He offered. However, this offer was answered with a small blast of fire hitting the ground at his feet, making Aang scream and Tarble curse.
"What'd you say, colony trash!?" demanded the perpetrator, Hide, as he stomped up to Aang angrily." You're gonna show her something?"
Tarble's eyes shifted among the students."Shouldn't firebending in school be prohibited or something?"
"Shut up, nerd!" yelled the school bully.
"Just some dance movements," said Aang casually.
Hide scowled." Nobody shows my On Ji anything, especially movements!" he said before he thrust both palms at Aang, who twirled to the side, Hide stumbling from his own momentum. Tarble and the other student watched on as the larger kid angrily swung his fist at Aang, who dodged effortlessly. At some point, Aang started to show off by staying out of Hide's field of vision even as he kept turning to find him. Before the brawl got a little out of hand, Hide's next punch was almost instantly intercepted by someone's hand. With Tarble's interest regained, he saw that it was the very same know-it-all kid from before. Hide glared at him in confusion, and immediately regretted it, as Han's scowl was so intense that it was downright Saiyan-worthy.
"Hide, did you just firebend on school grounds?" Han slowly inquired.
The frozen bully's eyes were like dinner plates. When Han finally decided to graciously give the bully his hand back, Hide quickly spun around and walked away with a casual whistle.
Aang welcomed the new guy with raised hands."Wow, Han, you really showed him."
Han's terrifying scowl had quickly disappeared, replaced with the bright eyes that only a human child could have."It's no problem. You said your name was Kuzon, right?"
"Yeah!" said Aang, gesturing to Tarble,"and this is my...uhhhh..."
"Brother!" Tarble quickly finished, shaking Han's hand (and marveling at the boy's grip)."I'm Lu Ten, Kuzon's brother."
"It's nice to meet some other students who aren't from around here," Han greeted.
"Yep, just us colony kids, hehe..." Kuzon scratched his head.
Han also scratched his head in a similar fashion."Uh, yeah, the colonies, heh... you might say...that this experience is pretty, uh, alien for us, huh?"
Now at this, Aang's awkward expression dropped completely; as did Tarble, as they stared at Han with no emotion...
Now was Han's turn to catch himself."...duh-Because we're from the Earth Kingdom! The Fire Nation is totally alien to us!" he struggled, looking away."Yep, good old Earth..." he paused."...Kingdom..." he added, as if to correct himself.
Aang brightened up again."er-Yeah, that's what I meant!"
"Me too!" Han beamed.
...
...
...
Tarble coughed."Welp, better get back to class, right?"
"Most definitely," Han agreed."It was nice meeting you, Kuzon."
"You too, Han!" Aang said, giving Han a friendly thump on the shoulder.
Unknown to them, this was the chance the school bully was waiting for...
"FIGHT!" Hide suddenly called out, throwing his finger at the new kids."The guys from the colony are fighting!"
Out of nowhere walked into view the school headmaster, his arms professionally folded behind his back.
"They were arguing over whose colony is the best!" Hide fibbed," and then Kuzon punched Han! I saw it! You guys saw it too, right!?" he called to the other students.
The other kids murmured between each other, having technically seen someone punch someone but not knowing why. Hide hid a smirk behind his hand, watching the headmaster scan the stunned three.
"Picking fights on your second day?" the headmaster assumed. Looked at Han."And to think your third day was going so well, Han..." he shook his head in disappointment.
"But sir!," Tarble tired,"He's obviously lying-!"
"Enough!" the headmaster raised his palm to silence him. "We need to have a conference to discuss your punishment," his accusatory finger swiveled between Aang and Han."Bring both your parents to my office after school."
Immediately, Aang and Tarble exchanged very anxious glances."Parents?" they both repeated.
"And don't be late!" added the headmaster before walking off. With the headmaster's back turned, Hide grinned and whirled a pair of middle fingers at the kids before slinking away into the crowd.
Aang held his head and skipped on each foot."But, but Tarble...!" he whispered.
Tarble leaned into Aang's ear."Relax, I know exactly what to do," he smirked,"unlike you, this is not the first time I've been to the principle's office..."
"No way in HFIL," was Vegeta's immediate answer,"am I coming out. Was I not clear on that?"
"But Vegeta!" Aang pleaded into the sealed door,"you're the only one who could pass as our dad!"
"Too bad, not coming out!" persisted the stubborn prince.
"Will you cut this out, this is an actual problem!" Tarble complained."Besides, you used to pose as Father all the time when I was in middle school! What could possibly go wrong!?"
"Just asking that question ALONE invites unknowable, semi-nude disaster!"
Katara's tongue clicked."I'm with Tarble, what could go wrong?"
"I'M THIRTY GODDAMN YEARS OLD!"
Toph blinked."Wait, wasn't King Vegeta dead by the time you were twelve?"
"The real hard sell was having Raditz be Mrs. Vegeta," Tarble rested his knuckles on his sides.
"Try your luck without either of us!"
Tarble groaned."Brother, we might actually get exposed if you don't-!"
"This is YOUR rodeo now, little brother! So piss off and finish what you started!"
The younger Saiyan slapped his face with both hands...he calmed himself down."...okay...we can do this...we can, we can..." Tarble looked at Katara."YOU! You can disguise as our mother!"
At this, Katara scoffed."Are you serious?" she crossed her arms."I'm only two years ahead of Aang, who is actually a child. I can't be your mom, that will never, ever...!"
"Thank you for coming, Mrs. Soon," the headmaster greeted Han's mother,"And thank you as well for coming, Mrs...er..."
"Fire!" Katara answered, donning a slightly more impressive hairdo, as well as more conservative clothing. She had stuffed her dress to appear as though she were pregnant,"My name is June Fire!" She gestured to Aang and Tarble."And these are my lovely children, Aa-ahem-Kuzon Fire and Lu Ten Fire! I apologize that my husband, Mr. Fire, could make it, but he's busy trimming the...umm..."
"The fire?" Han asked.
"Yes! Trimming the fire!" Katara raised her finger."He's trimming the fire! You know how the fire can get so unkept if you don't trim it often?"
"All too well..." the headmaster slowly nodded in relation."Mrs. Soon and Mrs. Fire, your sons have been enrolled here for only a few days, and they're already causing problems. Kuzon argued with his history teacher, Lu Ten disrupted music class with his erratic burst of inexplicable fear, and Kuzon has even struck Han, my star pupil, who has also made routine petty threats toward Hide, my former star pupil."
Katara gasped motherly (at least more than usual)," My goodness! That doesn't sound like my Kuzon."
"And that most certainly does not sound like my darling Han, either!" Mrs. Soon agreed.
"That's what any mother would say, Ma'am," dismissed the headmaster. Nonetheless, you're forewarned; if either of them acts up one more time, I'll have them all sent to REFORM SCHOOL," he bellowed ominously, rising from his seat," by which I mean the coal mines...are we clear?"
Katara gulped." Don't you worry, Mr. Headmaster. When I bring my boys home, Mr. Fire will straighten them out somethin' fierce!"
"That's what I like to hear..." The headmaster seemed pleased for a guy who never smiled."Now, as for your son, Mrs. Soon-"
"LIES!" Han's mom suddenly leaped from her seat in outrage."My child would NEVER threaten someone else's life! He is the purest and innocent lifeform to ever grace your presence, and I will rain HELLFIRE upon anyone who claims otherwise!" she lurched right into the surprised headmaster's face."...And as for you..." she ominously turned her bloodlusted gaze toward the highly uncomfortable Katara and her supposed children."If one of your disgusting spawn ever lay a finger on my baby's head ahead, then you and I will settle our feud in Mortal Combat and I will END YOU, DO YOU HEAR ME!?" she echoed, her shadow cast over the waterbender.
Katara's unblinking eyes were on the verge of falling out of their sockets..."...yep..." Katara squeaked.
The headmaster licked his dry lips."...well...I suppose we may conclude this meeting...?" he said, almost asking Mrs. Soon for permission.
The woman immediately spun around and met the headmaster with the sweetest of faces."Thank you so much for calling us over to discuss this matter like civilized women, headmaster; we'll be headed home now..." with that, she took Han by the hand and hummed out of the office.
Then all eyes were on Mrs. Fire...
"What she said," Katara bleated, taking her legitimately mortified boys by the hand and departing, but not so fast as to run into Mrs. Soon in the hall...
"Mom, I wanna transfer..." Tarble said to Katara as they sat by the campfire.
"But I'm not ready to leave yet.," Aang said, walking away from the fire with a depressed look,"I'm having fun for once, just being a normal kid. You don't know what it's like, Tarble."
"Actually, I do," Tarble's brow furrowed."I know exactly what it's like to be a normal, completely unremarkable child; it's how I grew up."
"Honestly, that's a pretty generous summary at that..." Vegeta could be heard.
Aang turned."Listen guys, those kids at school are the future of the Fire Nation. If we want to change this place for the better, we need to show them a little taste of freedom."
Tarble rested his chin in his hand."And what could you possibly do for an entire country of depraved, brainwashed firebending monsters?
Aang was so happy he asked...
"I'm gonna throw them..." The Avatar bust a move "... a secret dance party!"
Everybody stares at Aang...even Vegeta, from the ship's window...
"...Vegeeeeettaaaaaaaaaaa...!" Tarble's head hung back, now in actual pain.
"Welcome to Planet Avatar, dickface!"
Toph created a wall of stone to cover the ship (not that its occupant desired to leave anytime soon), then created a stage."Yeah, this is definitely the part where Sokka would tell us how silly this plan is..."
"And then he would comply with it because he remembers he is actually still a child that wants to have fun..." Katara said, setting up the candles.
As Aang and Tarble put on their headbands (which Tarble hoped would be the final time), Toph signaled that she could sense the students heading straight for the cave. A few minutes later, and Tarble found himself wondering where exactly Aang had found the entire band consisting of Fire Nation students, not to mention the fast-paced, catchy jig they were playing with their primitive instruments.
"Ladies and gentlemen, The Flamey-Yo's!" Aang flung his hands out to present the band.
Unfortunately, children were behaving as though they didn't even hear the music, just standing there in their own awkward position, looking in various directions. For a moment, Aang looked at them as bewildered as Vegeta would look at him.
"I don't think my parents would want me dancing in a cave..." one student stated.
"Yeah! What if somebody finds out!?" another concerned student brought up.
In Sokka's noble stead, Tarble slapped his face."Oh, sweet Kais above, are we actually doing this? We're going to teach a bunch of children how to have fun!?" he complained. At least now, his brother could not be hearing what was going on to add his input.
"HEY, GUYS!"
All the kids turned to see that it was Han standing at the mouth of the cave.
Aang was filled with glee."Han, you made it!"
"What're you doing here!?" Tarble demanded."What if your mother finds you here!?"
"Don't worry, she's okay with it!" Han assured.
"Well, what if our parents find out and they're not okay with it!?" demanded the previous student.
At this, Han chuckled."Guys, trust me: nobody is gonna find out! Oh, also, I brought my own instrument," he said before running out of the cave. After a second, Han rushed back in, carrying a bunch of different objects Aang was not familiar with. Han, interrupting the Flame-yo band for a moment, quickly set up his battery-powered amp, some speakers here and there, some mics in front of the other players, and tuned his own electric guitar.
Aang blinked in utter bafflement."uh, Han, what is all this stuff...?" but he himself was cut off by the sudden high pitch ring of Han's mic.
Han turned to the puzzled kids behind him. "Don't worry, just gimme a fast beat, and I'll do the rest."
The players shrugged.
Han turned to face crowd; the kids were surprised by the sudden amplification of Han's voice through the speakers."Hey, everybody, this is a song that I've only played in front of my friends and family, just to help me get over stage fright, so I hope you enjoy it! And a-one, a-two, a-one-two-three-four..!" Then Han began to jam on his guitar, playing the opening notes of Chōzetsu Dynamic! The flame-yo's quickly kept pace with Han, the drummer giving the corresponding beat while the kids with the strings mimicked the melody.
"Who the hell is this kid!?" Tarble's arms dangled as his whole upper half hung forward.
"I have no idea!" Toph yelled."But this song ROCKS!"
"Don't you wanna dream again?" Han sang,"Now it's calling for me, go back to the start
Wishing on the starlights
In the sky, let's paint a door for tomorrow"
Aang seized this opportunity to show the Fire Nation kids some forgotten Fire Nation dances, like the "phoenix flight" and the "camelephant strut". Pretty soon, the kids were doing their own dances to this strange new song, Toph and Katara included.
"Just step on the new stage, don't be shy
Gonna take the challenge of god
Kyo-Let's Mo-Let's Dynamic！
Let's！ Go！ Go！ Big panic！
I don't care bout limit, no regret
Make me tougher even though I lose
Nothing gonna stop me no mo', try me..."
Eventually, Aang was bold enough to ask Katara to dance with him; though the graceful waterbender suddenly acted as though she didn't know how to dance, Aang took her by the hand and led her with the music.
"Aang, everyone's watching!" Katara realized.
"Don't worry about them!" Aang dismissed,"It's just you and me!"
"So-Zets Cho-Zets Dynamic！
Let's Go！ Yes！ Give a kick！
Within the dark and quiet confined of the hidden, space ship, Vegeta was on the couch napping. His ears detected the familiar song and unconsciously sang along lazily in his sleep"...Keep on going, power pumpin' up
Something greater waiting not so far away..."
Some distance outside, several figures marched toward the cave. It was none other than the school headmaster, followed by his squad of fun-hating military police, as well as his informant, Hide.
"What is that unholy racket!?" the headmaster exclaimed.
"That sounds like Han singing!" Hide told the truth for once.
"You did the right thing by telling me, Hide - I hereby dub thee to be my star pupil once more!"
The class-S douchebag bowed in respect."Anytime, Headmaster sir."
Just then, their ears were battered by more than just music; Hide and the headmaster, spun around to see that the entire anti-fun squad was on the ground, having been simultaneously knocked out.
"What the deuce!?" exclaimed the headmaster, before a green hand stuck the back of his neck, knocking him out as well. Hide looked up in terror at the tall, inhuman being.
"Well, well..." Piccolo greeted."...You must be the school bully."
The school bully screamed like a bitch.
"Tears are falling from my eyes
They are telling me don't ever give it up
Something's burning in my heart
I don't know why but it keeps me going now
You know it's the reason of my life
Wanna live with passion to shine
Hey, gonna bang a gong and I bring it, c'mon！
The danger game, I don't mind, enjoy fighting！"
At this point, the entire band was able to sing along with "Han".
"No matter what I keep on movin' faster
Sparking！ Kamehameha
Kyo-Let's Mo-Let's Dynamic！
Let's！ Go！ Go！ Big panic！
I don't care bout limit, no regret
Make me tougher even though I lose
Nothing' gonna stop me no mo', try me
So-Zets Cho-Zets Dynamic！
Let's Go！ Yes！ Give a kick！
Keep on going, power pumpin' up
Something greater waiting not so far away!
Waku-Waku more supa dupa say
Something wonderful, not so far away
Everything gon' be supa dupa yeah!"
The kids cheered like they were at a concert.
The secret dance party went on without any interference. All the kids said their goodbyes and snuck back into the night, which thankfully was not too late to make their parents want to send them to the coal mines (as long as nobody said nuthin').
Aang couldn't shake "Han"'s hand hard enough."Thank you so much, Han! You made the party ten times better than I thought it could be!"
"You're welcome, Kuzon," said "Han" rather politely,"The truth is, though, I only came here to sing because, well, I'm gonna be leaving town tomorrow, and I wanted to make the most of your party."
"Tomorrow!?" Tarble exclaimed."You weren't even at school for a work week!"
"To be fair," Toph shrugged," We were skippin' town tomorrow too."
"By the way, Han," Katara had to ask,"How exactly did you make sure nobody would find out?"
At this, "Han" became very shy, scratching his head and looking at the ground."...heh...You're not going to believe me, but..." he looked at Aang,"...My family made sure."
The Gaang looked at each other...
"You know what? We've been through way weirder," Toph admitted."Nice meeting you, Han."
"See ya guys!" the boy said his farewell as he again carried all the oddly advanced musical equipment, and ran out of the cave. It was then that Aang noticed something on the ground: it was Han's headband. Aang grabbed it and ran out of the cave."Hey, Han, you forgot your-!" but he stopped, as said boy was nowhere to be found.
Katara, Toph, and Tarble stood behind Aang.
"Like I said," Toph walked away,"We been through weirder; I'm goin' to bed."
"Seconded," Tarble said, ripping his entire uniform to shreds, uniform and all, intentionally leaving himself in his Saiyan underwear. Then he walked away."Next time, I am also staying in the damn ship..."
And, finally, with nobody, especially, Vegeta, looking, Katara gave Aang a little peck on the cheek."That was some dance, party, Aang." she then walked off too.
The flushed airbender could barely contain himself, finally achieving the status he had been working for all this time. He clenched his fist in victory."Flamey-freakin-yo..."
Gohan ran as fast as his depowered feet could carry him, which was still fast enough to make it back to the ship with the locals none the wiser.
Chi Chi sat at the stairs to the ship's ramp."So, how'd your first school party go, honey?"
"It was better than I could have imagined, Mom," Gohan said."It was so fun; I wasn't afraid of singing at all."
"I'm so happy for you, Gohan!" Chi Chi hugged her son fiercely."You finally were able to live like a normal boy!"
Yamcha stepped down the stairs."You know, Chi Chi, I totally could have stood in for Goku at that conference yesterday."
Chi Chi didn't even give him the honor of eye contact."That, my friend, is something that an unfaithful dog like you need to earn..."
"Alright, alright, I know when I'm not wanted..." pouted Yamcha as he when back up the stairs with his hands in his pockets.
Chi Chi looked at her son seriously."That terrible mother wasn't there, was she?"
Gohan scratched his ear."Actually, now that you mention it, that lady we thought was a lady was actually just another girl barely older than me."
Chi Chi gasped."Are you serious? That was such a convincing disguise!"
Piccolo landed behind Gohan."You look like a million Zeni."
The boy giggled. But was then a little concerned."Hey, uh, Mr. Piccolo, you didn't rough up those soldiers too bad, did you?"
The Namek scoffed."Really? Not even worth my time..." he crossed his arms, flying into the ship."Now hurry up, we can't stay here too long!"
"Yes, Mr. Piccolo!" Gohan said. But before he joined his mom up the ramp, he looked out into the night sky. That particular bunch of kids were complete oddballs, especially that one grumpy that looked like Vegeta. He hoped he could meet them again someday...
In the deep night, the cloaked Zuko carefully walked down the alley. There, he was met with a couple Fire Nation guards, that were holding a certain someone in chains. It was no huge three eye'd cyborg, but a very upset Suki, fresh out of the Boiling Rock.
"Were you followed?" Zuko asked.
"Are you asking me, or your goons?" Suki shot back at the Prince.
"Listen," Zuko said, daring to inch closer."I know these aren't the most ideal of circumstances, but right now, you're the only person on earth who I can trust with this mission."
"Why me of all people?" Suki asked."And what makes you think I'll do anything you say?"
Zuko gave the gesture. One guard unlocked her restraints.
"Because I'm about to tell you that the Avatar's alive," Zuko admitted.
The Kyoshi Warrior was naturally shocked.
"I know you can't really trust me or these two," he pointed to the guards,"But what you can trust is that neither I nor these two trust Cooler."
Suki raised a brow."Who's Cooler?"
"Knowing that now will only endanger you, Suki,: Zuko explained."I need you to find the Avatar and his friend, Vegeta; he's the one who has what I need to save the Fire Nation, and the world."