Chapter 121: Use of a Traitor (1)
With Aang leaving, Nik's training spot was open. He could practice the airbending moves without making wicked use of his legs but he found this time better spent with Suki and Katara. Their stay had also shifted from their previous residence to the interior of the palace due to their status now raised as esteemed guests of the tribe. With Yoki's return, the orthodox power had been restored but there was something else that must be done now.
"What was wrong with the last one?" Suki mused with a sneaky smirk as she and the other girls sat next to Yue. Nik, Mai, and Tom-Tom weren't present, most likely one of them watched the other two train like usual.
Katara and Suki, on the other hand, accompanied the princess after breakfast in her room. Unlike what others may expect, aside from some expensive rugs and furniture, Yue's room wasn't all that luxurious. Well, luxury was a relative term since furniture itself is quite the expensive commodity in the tribe.
Hearing the mischief hidden in Suki's tone, Yue couldn't help but adopt a pout. She had expected the group to leave quickly but much to her pleasant surprise, it's been quite a while now and every day has been exciting for her in some form or manner.
"Is that why the two of you came back with me? To give me a hard time about the next potential suitor?" She scoffed softly, making the two girls giggle. After all, the topic interested them greatly.
Pakku and Yoki were loyalists and militaristic. To them, it was their duty to be the strength of the tribe and not become its ruler instead. The next chieftain, without a doubt, would be Yue's husband and then their descendants will carry down the line as has been the tradition since the formation of the Tribe. So, after two weeks of Yoki's return marked the beginning of the burly man singling out great leaders or loyal individuals to the tribe who could also match Yue's splendor.
Of course, given the tragedy with Hahn, they wanted someone gentler for Yue who could also hold the tribe with a firm hand. Despite Hama's suggestion of marrying Yue himself due to his experience and love for the tribe, Yoki refused the notion vehemently. The man had seen Yue grow up while being under the wings of the previous Chieftain, although it wasn't unheard of such unions, the prison had changed Yoki in many ways. Being less romantic, unfortunately, was one such change since he had also experienced losses during the war.
Loss of his beloved people. So, even if he did accept the position temporarily until Yue marries or the threat of the fire nation's armada outside the tribe and now barring trade instead is resolved, Yue was still left to decide who to choose for herself.
This led to Suki's and Katara's extraordinary interest in the matter much to Yue's distress. But she even found this experience... pleasant. To get teased was a genuinely happy feeling for Yue as she soon broke her pout into a smile and shrugged, "There was nothing wrong with the last one. But now that I am told there is no hurry to actually marry someone, I wish to use the time afforded to be able to just converse and find out more about others instead of impatiently agreeing to another supposedly lasting bond."
"I thought Varnuq was quite cute," Katara mumbled, "Do you remember how he flustered when you smiled at him?" She teased Yue.
"I thought the same but... when I talked with him... I got the sense that he is neither adept in leadership nor skills in fighting."
Suki blinked and questioned, "I thought... you liked him?"
"My preference of men doesn't exactly run the tribe," Yue smiled and slumped on her bed. Her hairdo instantly turned into a mess due to how delicate it was but she didn't care at the moment and heaved a deep sigh, "I have to marry someone who can properly lead the tribe. My father was a good man... but he was too trusting. If it was up to me, I would like to settle with someone like Uncle Yoki. He's calm and collected. Has good ideas and knows the horrors of wars..."
"You would seriously marry him?" Suki questioned, "Just for the sake of tribe?"
"If he wasn't opposed to it, then yes," Yue nodded, "I have enjoyed a good chunk of my life under my father's protection. My tribe is the same and is indebted to his lasting memory... I want the tribe to survive and grow. This is the least I can do to ensure that."
Katara huffed, "Sorry... if it wasn't for so much stuff you have on your plate... I would have wanted you to join us for traveling around the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation..."
"To find methods for Nik's knee?" Yue briefly looked curious.
"Yeah, that," Katara smiled.
Now that Suki and Katara were aware that Nik could bend other elements and his hope of healing lay in earth and fire bending, something that he could, possibly do himself, they, too, wanted Nik to train in other elements like Aang. While the duo was on equal terms when it came to skills in waterbending, Nik's injury and his beginner's training in airbending currently placed him under the young Avatar when it came to sheer versatility.
Although sensing that Katara was holding back something, Yue knew better than to prod and suddenly smiled, "Hmm, but aren't you worried what will happen if you bring a princess out of her home tribe alongside an injured but somewhat charming and caring warrior? Or... could it be that the two of you quite enjoy these situations?"
The duo rolled their eyes in sync but Katara couldn't help but ooze a bit of cold sweat as she realized that this may just happen.
However, Yue suddenly rolled around, making the duo glance at her perky butt while she pushed her hand into the mattress and took out a flattened scroll.
"How about we read what happens if a Princess is pulled out of her tribe by a warrior?" She rolled open the scroll slightly while covering her lower face with its surface and revealing a coy glint in her ocean blue eyes.
Katara's and Suki's eyes widened but their expressions answered for them, making Yue giggle.
---
"And?"
Contrary to the Water Tribe that basked in the rare glow of freedom after years, a gloomy tension pervaded Zhao's cabin within his battleship. He seated with his head focusing on a map that covered his entire desk. Multiple tiny figures of varying colors could be seen set on the map with a few tiny boats next to a wide expanse of white indicating the armada that was stationed outside the water tribe.
In front of Zhao was a stoic-looking youth but the cold sweat seeping from his forehead betrayed his nervousness as he answered, "The Avatar's group descended in Makapu Village to rest. As ordered, they were surrounded by the Fire benders and soldiers stationed in the region while Warden Hara did not provide any resistance and committed to your commands wholeheartedly.
Contrary to everyone's expectations, it was the Earthbender, more specifically, the Lavabender named Sun under Warden Hara's team suppressed the entirety of the fire bender troops and led the Avatar to safety. Their destination seems to be Omashu."
"Hmm..." Zhao's gaze flickered. Although he had some bad blood with Hara, even the warden knew better than to not follow orders that benefitted the nation. Soldiers like Hara may bend some rules due to emotions but they have seen enough bloodshed to stone their hearts in face of inevitable commands. This was one such situation and despite the gratitude the fire benders of Makapu Village strangely felt towards Nik and others due to freeing the waterbenders kept away without anyone's knowledge, Hara proceeded to surround Aang and his group who were under the impression that Makapu Village would be a friendlier location to them.
As usual, there is nothing absolute in this world and there is simply no good or bad.
What surprised Zhao, however, was...
"To think the Lavabender he nurtured would betray so suddenly... it cannot be due to some internal friction. According to the reports, that youth has no favor for the denizens of the village. Who could have pushed him to betray us?"
"It is unclear, Admiral," the soldier in front of him answered dutifully.
"Omashu cannot be touched easily for now... with so much of our force stationed here, we need to make a definite move towards the Water Tribe soon enough. It would be relatively simpler for this tribe is isolated. We can even interpret why the Avatar returned to Omashu...
Deploy the Yuyan Archers. Make sure that even if the Avatar isn't dead, the imprisoned member of the Dai Li that can reform brainwashed prisoners is dead for sure. Project the possible paths they can take from the sky and where they might land to take rest. Consult the domestic keepers of the other Sky Bisons in the Fire Nation."
"Yes, Admiral," the youth nodded before hesitating for a moment and then speaking up.
"Sir, there is something else."
"Hmm?" Zhao looked at the youth and gestured him to speak.
"Last time, Pakku made a fool out of us... but that would have given away the fact that our informant is amidst them... shouldn't we try to ensure his loyalty and keep him valuable by making some moves?"
"An asset which needs the assistance of the employer tends to become obsolete one way or the other," Zhao hummed, "Besides, similar to Hahn, the fool who betrayed his own home is not worth our assistance. It's a cold world for this cold tribe... that man should have known better."
---
*Krt*
Sun followed the Lemur tilting its head sideways with his gaze. His body was curled while he hugged his knee. If it wasn't sure before then his loud, exaggerated groans certainly made sure for others to know he felt disheartened despite the whipping sound of the wind as Appa flew casually with the flap of his flat but wide tail.
"Come on, you can't keep regretting your own choices, right?" Sokka smiled, "Although, I wouldn't have ever thought you'd end up betraying your team..."
"It's not a betrayal!" Sun snapped before his shoulders slumped yet again, "Granny Wu... convinced Hara... she said that if the three of you were caught this instance then he would get away."
"Who?" Aang looked back curiously, "Is it Zhao?"
"I don't know. Even Meng doesn't know what Granny Wu is talking about... these days, she seemed to have lost her focus. I mean, it is already quite freaky that she can predict the future but Warden Hara thinks that it is taking a load on her in some form or manner... but lately... I and Meng have heard Granny Wu whispering constantly..."
"Whispering what?" Sokka inquired. He had only heard of this 'Wu' from Katara, Suki, Nik, Sun, and Yoki's accounts. The world wasn't as simple as Sokka made out to be earlier and there existed many weird abilities. His face had been stolen by a spirit, too, so he wasn't as oblivious to these threats as he was before.
If anything, this ability of Wu seemed connected to the spirit world. At least, that's what Sokka instinctively felt now that he had taken a trip into the spirit world.
"She... she keeps whispering— he got away... it mustn't get away... preparations... preparations..." Sun reiterated with a worried expression. Noticing that Sun was still holding something back, Rena smiled comfortingly and inquired, "You can tell us what is troubling you. We would try to help you if not for Aang willing to help any need then just to repay your favor of saving us."
Sun took a few minutes to finally utter with a hesitant tone, "I respect and love Granny Wu... but seeing her now, I don't want Meng to learn the same thing..."
"Meng is that girl? The one with twintails?" Sokka smiled while wagging his brows, "Hmm? Looks like someone doesn't need to rely on fortune-telling to get girls after all."
"I'm serious!" Sun growled.
"I'm, too. And I'm talking about me," Sokka flexed his bicep... whatever he managed to cultivate, at least and Rena rolled her eyes, "You mean Nik, right? Or did you forget how you had an even more worried look than Sun the night later?"
Sokka flinched and floundered before shrugging, "Hey, I like to take my time. Beware of my charm girl. If you keep bringing me to various festivals, you might just lose me from your clutches."
"Yeah," Rena smirked and scoffed, "Like any girl could do what I can..." she narrowed her eyes while Sokka gulped and looked down at her fingers before turning silent.
Sun and Aang took notice of this but knowing fully well that it wasn't something they wanted their minds to get corrupted with, Aang changed the subject, "Still, Sun... I feel that I can learn a lot from you. Quite literally. Until we find an earthbending master... would you teach me the basics and maybe... Lavabending?"
"Why not?" Sun brooded, "I'm already going to be considered a traitor now that if you don't win this struggle... so might teach you Lavabending to favor the odds to your side."
---
"You're really going to train me?" Nik looked at Mai. Despite the cold temperature outside, there was a sheen of unwiped sweat over Mai's physique that caused her dark bangs to mat across her forehead and her slightly thicker training garb to stick through some corners, prominently under her armpits, between her thighs, and the area slightly beneath her breasts, i.e. the beginning of her abdomen. Though annoyed by his appraising stare, Mai's next words poured cold water all over Nik's excitement.
"I teach Tom-Tom out of the grace in my heart," as she said this, Tom-Tom, laying on the matted floor— exhausted and huffing for breath— groaned loudly. He did not deserve such a grace, the boy felt.
"But you are an outsider. A particularly annoying one who tricked his way into my family," Mai narrowed her eyes, "But I meant what I said that night during the feast... if you really want to learn how to use hidden weapons... to the extent that your body allows at the moment...
I need to determine your commitment. These techniques are to take lives... and any mistake would prove my words correct. So..."
She trailed her words but Nik pursed his lips and restrained the urge to scoff.
Although he had started to practice firebending after Aang's departure in his personal space, the progress was slow. Aside from simple tricks like controlling a wick of flame, Nik really didn't have much accomplishment. Of course, this did not include the regulation of temperature... which, to Nik's surprise, was almost the same for water, air, and Firebending— the application, that is.
"So you want to make the price of your tutoring a human life?" Nik sighed, "Maybe I should just return to Omashu and tell your mother how—"
She quickly placed a finger on her lips and indicated toward Tom-Tom. The boy had yet to know that his mother had become quite the sugar mommy for Nik and Mai would like to keep it that way.
Shrugging, Nik just kept his silence on the matter.
He could understand Mai's concern but he would be a fool to think that this was all it was...
Mai may have given up on direct payback against Nik but she could still craft situations that may serve to inhibit Nik greatly and would find great joy in his struggle.
He wasn't speculating... the almost sadistic glint in Mai's gaze long betrayed such emotions.
"If that is all, I'm going to clean myself up... of course, if you still want to curry favor in hopes of persuading me otherwise, you have the necessary skills in achieving my objective."
Though she stated in a long-winded manner, Nik finally scoffed, "Oh, screw you. I'm not gonna bend your sweat if you're not gonna teach me. Ask Katara or someone else."
He grumbled but just when they were about to leave in cold silence, a young warrior barged in and called the duo to the main hall of the palace— another spy had been discovered!
---
Meanwhile, far into the entourage of the Fire Lord that continued to tour the Earth Kingdom—
"Ah! The Fire Lord disappeared! Find him!"
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