A gentle knock at the door interrupted their conversation once again. Before anyone could respond, the door opened and Princess Yue entered gracefully.
"Good morning." she greeted with a serene smile, her gaze wandering over each person's face. "I hope you all are settling in comfortably."
The group stood to acknowledge her, except Sokka, who offered a broad grin from his seat. "Morning, Princess Yue. The accommodations are wonderful. Thank you for having us."
Yue's eyes softened as she looked at Sokka. "I'm glad to hear that. I see that I don't need to introduce myself."
Her gaze moved onto the Avatar, and she continued "Since you're our honored guests, I'd like to give you a little tour around our city, if you feel like it. Sokka, I've arranged for a small boat to take us through the canals so you can join us on our tour without any discomfort." she added, giving the boy one more look.
Sokka's grin widened. "That's thoughtful of you, thank you."
"Yeah! We'd love to see around the city." Aang said with a smile.
"That's true! I can't wait to see more of it." Katara added with excitement, moving to help her brother up.
Yue smiled, pointing towards the door. "If you're ready, we can start our tour. There's so much I'd like to show you, starting with the Market Square."
They were about to go after her when they hesitated, glancing at Zuko uncertainly. Not seeing point in resuming the discussion now, he braced himself to actually give a try to what they suggested earlier.
"Let's go see the city." he said, receiving three grins and one confused smile in response.
"Alright!" Aang exclaimed with his usual enthusiasm, and they all moved to join Yue.
"A little trip won't hurt, I guess. I still have time to make up my mind."
Yue leading the way, they exited the guest quarters. Four guards immediately fell into formation around them, ensuring their safety as they made their way through the corridors. One of the guards had offered his shoulder to Sokka, but he didn't even need to check with the others to decline the man. They got him.
The boat ride was surprisingly pleasant. The water in the canals was still, so the boat itself was moving thanks the efforts of a skilled waterbender, who ensured a completely smooth pace the entire way. The only downside of this mean of travel was being below the level of most buildings, so they couldn't see everything that Yue was describing to them on the way. It didn't take them long before they reached the first destination, and they were all happy to disembark the boat. Zuko offered a shoulder to Sokka out of habit, and the boy took it without thinking much. The healing he received from Nali worked great and he suspected he would manage to move on his own, but she specifically asked him not to, so he probably shouldn't check it.
The square was a vibrant hub of activity, with stalls lining the wide open space, each one offering an array of goods from fresh fish and seaweed to beautifully crafted jewelry and clothing. The air was filled with the enticing aromas of cooked food and the sea.
As the group stepped onto the square, there was an audible buzz of excitement. People turned and whispered to one another, their eyes widening as they realized who had arrived. A merchant nearby leaned over to his neighbor. "It's the Avatar! He's really here!"
"Welcome to the Market Square." Yue announced, her voice carrying a note of pride. "This is where our people come to trade and socialize. It's the heart of our community."
Sokka, leaning on Zuko for support, looked around with wide eyes. "This place is amazing. So much going on! I think I even saw a weapons stall over there!"
The crowd began to gather around, their curiosity and excitement palpable. A young boy ran up, pointing eagerly. "Mom, look! It's Avatar!"
Aang smiled and waved, his face lighting up at the warm reception. "Hi, everyone! It's great to be here!"
A merchant nearby waved them over, holding up a tray of small, steaming dumplings. "Try some sea prune dumplings! Freshly made this morning!"
Yue smiled and accepted a few, passing them to the group. "These are a local favorite."
Aang felt his stomach curl as soon as he smelt their scent. He still had nightmares from that one time he forced himself to eat the whole bowl of Bato's prune stew.
"Thanks, but I've just eaten… I'm sure they're delicious though!"
"I will wrap them for you for later!" the merchant offered happily, and the boy forced himself to smile as he gave a nod. He could always give them to Sokka, the guy was always up for a snack.
As they moved through the market, people kept coming up to greet them, shaking Aang's hand and welcoming the group warmly. Yue continued to point out various stalls and introduced the group to the local vendors. Each merchant greeted them with enthusiasm, proud to share their goods and stories with the esteemed visitors.
Katara stopped at a stall selling intricate beadwork. "These are beautiful. Did you make them yourself?" she asked the elderly woman behind the counter.
The woman nodded, her eyes twinkling. "I did, dear. Each piece tells a story of our tribe's history and legends."
Katara picked up a bracelet, examining the delicate craftsmanship. "I'd love to hear some of those stories."
Yue's face lit up with excitement. "Our artisans are some of the best storytellers. Perhaps we can arrange for a storytelling session later."
"It's a wonderful idea, Princess." the woman's eyes lit up with pride "We'd love to share them with Avatar and our brothers and sisters from the south."
Meanwhile, Sokka's eyes were drawn to a stall selling products made from tusks and he made his way to see them up close, dragging Zuko along.
"Hey, look! They make daggers out of whale's teeth too! They even have boomerangs!" he yelled, his excitement rising even more as he browsed through the stall.
Zuko took a look at the boomerang the boy was holding "Its shape is a little different from yours though."
"Is it?" the young warrior wondered as he took a closer look. The said weapon looked similar, but the angle between the boomerang's arms was actually greater than in his own "Huh, that's true. Maybe they make them different here in the north."
"You're from the Southern Water Tribe, boys, right?" the man behind the counter asked with an eager smile.
"Well, I am. He's from the Fire Nation." Sokka explained. "But, you know, not one of the bad guys."
The smile seemed to fade from the merchant's face, as he looked at Zuko with suspicion. The prince kicked the boy's shin and ignoring his yelp of pain, said: "We should go. The others are waiting for us."
He started going, forcing Sokka to go with him, as he was still leaning on him.
"What was that for?" Sokka complained as they left the stall.
"You really had to bring that up?"
"What, that you're from the Fire Nation? I don't think you'd be able to hide it here. The chief-"
"I know. It's too late to lie. But you throwing it in people's faces don't help for sure. The guy wouldn't sell you anything after you admitted it. At least not for the good price."
Sokka frowned as he recalled the look on merchant's face "You think...?"
"Didn't you see his reaction? I warned you guys, seeing you with me would lower their trust. If you want that boomerang you should go there another day, without me." Zuko advised, but Sokka just shrugged it off.
"Nah, I'm good. I don't need their weird boomerang. I'm sure it's not even half as good as ours."
The town was quiet, almost too quiet to Wu's liking. But that was probably a reason why she had picked this place.
She made sure to keep her steps calm, occasionally throwing glances at local shops. It wasn't the first time she visited Garbin Harbour, but surprisingly little had changed here in the past 25 years. After a while she made it to the outskirts, and she took in the house that she was going to.
A small house with an outbuilding and a field, from which a young man was looking at her at that moment. Could it be...?
"May I help you?" he asked loudly, yet cautiously. It seemed that she had drawn him away from weeding, which added a ting of annoyance to his question.
She cleared her throat, dismissing the thought of similarity for now. "I'm looking for Mrs Lha- uh, Nora. Is Nora home?"
He looked at her more carefully. "What do you need from my mother?"
The question carried visible unease, but Wu smiled knowingly. So she was right about the man.
"I'm her sister. And you're Mi Chong, am I right?"
Judging from his face, she took him off guard. He walked over to her, putting his hoe next to the fence.
"How come I have an aunt I've never heard of?"
She couldn't suppress a sigh. "That's typical of her... You may not remember this, but I was here once, a long time ago. You were just a little boy then, but I remember you lisped so adorably 'auntie Wu'. I could tell Nora was so jealous of it."
"Alright, fine, come in. She's inside." he muttered quickly, leading her to the door.
Whether the man started to actually recall something, or her story sounded valid enough to him, she couldn't tell. But she followed him gladly.
The inside has changed a little, but time does it. Some furniture were different, and yet in the main room was the same old armchair. It was Lhanora's favorite spot for keeping an eye on her lively boy, while feeding her daughter at the same time.
That's how Wu had remembered it from the last time, and she wasn't surprised when she spotted her sister sitting in it again. Time was not very kind to her, unfortunately. She sat a little hunched over, apparently telling a story to the little boy who sat on the cushion in front of her. She raised her head when she noticed them entering the room, with a questioning look in her eyes.
"Who's this?"
"Oh come on, I haven't aged half as much as you did!" Wu huffed half-heartedly, however she couldn't hold a smile.
"Wu...? Is that you?" the old woman asked slowly, rising in her seat.
The small boy looked at the newcomer, pointing a curious finger at her "Who's this, granny?
"That's my little sister, Wu." she said fondly, finally getting up. The said sister went in for the hug immediately. It's been too long. Far too long.
Seeing this, Mi Chong called the boy over, wanting to give them some privacy. The kid followed reluctantly, turning around curiously "New granny Wu?"
Lhawu chuckled, still in the embrace "When did Aunt Wu turn into Granny?"
"We're not getting any younger for sure." Lhanora responded, amused.
They finally pulled apart, and for a moment they stood in front of each other. The silence began to feel awkward, and finally Wu cleared her throat.
"So, um... The boy? He's Mi Chong's offspring?" she asked, pointing at the door.
Lhanora gave a sigh, before answering "No, he's Mona's. She went out for groceries, but she'll be back soon."
"Right, she's grown too. So you raised the two of your children. I guess you had it your way after all?" the younger sister asked silently, but the only answer that came was a pained wince. It seemed they were back at the argument they had all those years ago, and Wu huffed with annoyance "Of course you did. You never told your own husband, through all those years? Not even once did it cross your mind?"
"Joram passed away 15 years ago. You think I never wanted to tell him?! There hasn't been a day that I would think about it. But, the children were not born benders. I thought... It was for their own good."
"So they don't know either...? Their own heritage, it-"
"I know. And it seems the spirits are punishing me for it now."
Wu's eyes grew colder. She didn't expect a particularly warm welcome, but to be called a punishment? She opened her mouth to say the piece of her mind, but Nora finished:
"The boy. Gar is an airbender. They didn't notice it yet, but... It's clear to me." she finished regretfully. Wu finally connected the dots and initial confusion gave way to compassion.
"So you're gonna have to tell them after all?"
Lhanora gave a bitter laugh "Ironic, isn't it?"
Wu watched her walk over to the kitchen cabinet in silence. She didn't want to make her feel even worse, but she was tempted to say 'I told you.'
Nora poured herself a glass of water, and took a calming breath.
"Why are you here, Lhawu?"
The woman sighed heavily. It wasn't really a good start, but she braced herself to an answer "I need... We need your help."
Nora's eyes widened at the implication.
"We? What do you- is Lhamo here too?" she asked, turning her gaze to the door in panic.
"No! I mean... Not yet. A few things happened, and as a result we were forced to leave the abbey. We need a place to hide some of us."
"And you expect me to help with that? Was it her idea or-"
"No, Lhamo doesn't know yet. I know she'd be against it if she knew."
Nora stiffened, hearing this "Well, if that's the case, then we've got nothing to talk about."
Wu approached her, exasperated "Nora! How long are you going to keep this up? At least talk to each other! How long it's been? 30 years? You'd rather live the rest of your days without making amends? You owe it to yourself, both of you do."
The old woman winced, as she dared to finally look her sister in the eye "You're really stubborn, aren't you?"
"It runs in the family, I suppose."
It didn't take Sokka and Zuko a long time to find the rest - they were in the very middle of the curious crowd. Yue smiled with relief as she noticed them, and informed them that the next stop of the tour will be training grounds. It elevated Sokka's mood immediately. Who would like to watch weapons when he might get to watch some action?
They got themselves back into the boat and Yue took her place at the bow. She started to describe the building they were passing by, when suddenly the warrior's eye picked an interesting one she didn't mention. It was made of thick, translucent ice, its entrance adorned with various carved symbols.
"What's that building over there?" Sokka asked immediately, pointing at the structure.
Yue paused, following Sokka's gaze. "That is our Research Institute." she explained. "It's where our scholars and engineers work on developing new techniques and technologies, blending our traditional waterbending practices with innovative ideas. Their work helps to improve our daily lives, as you could have already noticed."
Sokka's face lit up with excitement, and he looked at the building with more attention. "A research institute? That sounds incredible! I'd love to see what they're working on."
Yue smiled at his enthusiasm but she already had instructions for that trip, so she tried to gently bring his attention back to the original plan. "It's indeed a fascinating place, but the institute wasn't included in today's tour. Perhaps another time, when you're feeling better, we can arrange a special visit."
He looked at her, suddenly at the loss of words "Special? As in... Uh, yeah! Sure, it'd be great."
Her gentle smile gained a tint of amusement. She turned her head back to the view ahead and noticed they had almost reached their destination.
"We've finally arrived. There it is, our great pride - the Training Grounds. A place where our warriors can practice their skills."
As she was talking, she led the group into the big complex. As they entered,they were immediately greeted by the sounds of splashing water, the rhythmic movements of waterbenders, and the occasional clang of weapons. The lower section was filled with non-bending warriors, who were sparring with wooden weapons and practicing combat techniques, while in the upper part they could see young waterbenders practicing under the watchful eye of an old master.
Sokka's eyes immediately locked onto the non-bending warriors, his interest piqued. He watched as they execute complex maneuvers in a small group, instructed by an older warrior. They moved with a fluidity that mirrored the waterbenders, their strikes were precise and measured, but they also carried a force that benders probably could never achieve.
"I didn't realize the warriors train here too." Sokka remarked, his tone tinged with admiration.
Yue nodded, noticing his interest. "Yes, the Training Grounds are shared by both waterbenders and non-benders. Our warriors take great pride in their skills, and they train just as rigorously as the benders. They often practice alongside each other to develop strategies that combine bending and non-bending techniques."
Zuko watched the men too, however odd he felt about it. Still, they brought him there themselves, so he wasn't doing anything bad observing the enemy soldiers during their training.
"Right, non-enemy soldiers." he reminded himself.
The fighting style was clearly different from that of his country, partially because of the weapons used. In the Fire Nation, the most common weapon used by non-benders was the sword. Here, they resorted to using axes and spears, though interestingly he noticed a few warriors training with bows and arrows. Apparently boomerangs weren't the only ranged weapon here. It might have consumed his attention more than he realized, because when he turned his gaze back to the group, he noticed Yue turning her eyes away from him. Was she watching him?
"She was totally looking this way, wasn't she?" Sokka whisper-asked him.
"I think so." the prince confirmed "She might-"
"I think she's into me. She's been throwing glances most of this trip."
Zuko was flabberstagged. He didn't notice all the glances she was throwing in their direction, but he wasn't so sure of the intention behind them.
"Is she really looking at him? Or is she watching me...?"
Meanwhile Katara and Aang had their eyes already locked on the upper part of the Training Grounds. The young benders there currently were in the middle of a drill, moving in unison as they manipulated streams of water.
"Let's go meet Master Pakku." Yue said, noticing their interest. She was supposed to make sure that Pakku received the news in case he didn't get them yet. He had a habit of driving away messengers when he was in the middle of the class.
Master Pakku, the stern but wise waterbending master, was currently instructing a group of students. His sharp eyes had already noticed the party, and as he saw them approach closer, he called the session to a temporary halt.
"Princess Yue." Pakku greeted with a slight bow of his head. "And... The Avatar." he added, his tone shifting as he acknowledged Aang's presence. "Welcome to the Training Grounds. I wasn't expecting such distinguished visitors."
"Thank you, Master Pakku." Yue replied with respect. "I see you received the word, but let me introduce you to our guests. This is Avatar Aang, Sokka and Katara from the Southern Water Tribe and Prince Zuko from the Fire Nation." she said as she motioned to each person she introduced " I hope we're not interrupting your session. I wanted to show our guests the Training Grounds and perhaps to observe the training for a bit, if you don't mind."
Pakku's gaze swept over the group, lingering momentarily on Katara before returning to Yue "It's no interruption, Princess." he said "The Training Grounds are always open to those who wish to observe."
Aang smiled brightly, his enthusiasm evident. "It's amazing to see so many skilled waterbenders in one place!"
"Carry on, please." Yue said, her voice warm but cautious. "It will be an honor to see your students in action, Master Pakku."
The old man hummed with amusement as he turned towards his students. It wasn't the advanced class, so he really doubted that honor part, but perhaps he'll manage to think of something showy for the guests.
The young waterbenders who had been training earlier returned to their drills under Pakku's watchful eye. The students demonstrated a few techniques, from well known basic forms to more advanced maneuvers. It showed they were a bit nervous while being watched, but even a few slip-ups didn't really bother the Gaang. Aang and Katara were observing them closely, their expressions a mix of admiration and excitement. They couldn't wait to learn it all themselves.
Yue leaned toward Aang, her voice soft. "Master Pakku is one of the best waterbending masters in the world. His methods may be strict, but they have shaped some of the finest benders our tribe has ever known."
"I can't wait to learn it all too." he replied with excitement "We've come a really long way to get here."
Sokka watched the session too, however his interest wasn't that high. He would rather watch warriors than benders if he had a choice, but he had to admit they looked impressive. What his sister and Aang were doing so far looked fine and was really useful in fights, but that was already a different level.
Zuko had the same thought. He never really saw waterbenders in action before, other than during his fights with Gaang, and he found himself watching with unfeigned interest. His mind was already starting to imagine ways to counter some of the moves he was observing. At some point the students presented the water whip technique, and he blinked in surprise as he noticed similarity to the fire whip he knew. The corner of his mouth lifted. This had been an interesting trip, indeed.
Sorry for the delay but don't worry, we're still going. ;) Can't stop now that we've finally reached the North Pole, right?