Avatar fanfic, "Girl Problems 2: Chapter 08" (Rough Draft)
Aaaand another rough draft back-up:
"Girl Problems 2: The Return of Girl Problems"
Title: “Girl Problems 2: Return of Girl Problems”
Author: Moor
Genre: General/Humour/Parody
chapter: 08
Rating: uh… let’s say T-M, just to be safe.
Disclaimer: I make no claim to “Avatar”.
AT CAMP IWANNABEABENDA
"Zuko, Haru, you're back! And you have Katara--whoa, what happened to your hair, Haru?" exclaimed Aang, rushing up to the pair as they arrived at the GAang's warm hut.
Haru was quiet and waited at the doorway while the prince ignored the question and proceeded across the threshold.
"She needs rest, and to keep warm," said Zuko as he carried the water bender inside. Toph bended Katara's cot across the floor, closer to the fire in the middle, and Zuko laid her down carefully on its edge. "Can you get her changed into dry clothes?" he asked the earth bender.
"I can figure it out," replied the youngest one in the group confidently.
Katara moaned a bit in her sleep as Toph shifted her slender frame and the males left the hut as one to give them privacy. The rain beat a constant tattoo on the roof and walls, and night had descended in full. Animal sounds, normally so prevalent at dusk and through the night, were muted or silent with the muffling rainfall in the forest.
"So, did you have an accident while you were out looking for Katara?" asked Sokka curiously as he looked at Haru's near-brush cut. They settled in Zuko and Iroh's hut, and the retired general soon served everyone tea around their own fire. It had been some time since they'd left Toph & Katara, and all other 'casual' topics of conversation (ie: the weather) had been exhausted. The Water Tribe youth didn't pick up on the subtle chill that spread through the hut's interior at his question.
Zuko focused on inhaling the scent of the tea he held, and pretended to ignore the uneasy glance Haru sent him.
"Yeah, an accident... Well, it's kind of late, and I should be heading back to turn in for the night," said the earth bender, starting to stand before he'd even received his cup of tea from Iroh.
"Wait, you aren't going to fill us in on how you met up with Zuko, or who found Katara?" Aang looked between the two soggy young men.
"I think they both need to dry off and get to bed, Aang," Iroh answered for him, giving Haru and Zuko a chance to evade further questions. "Haru, why don't you head back to your home for the night; Aang, Sokka, you're welcome to sleep here while Toph looks after Katara."
"Thanks Uncle Iroh," said Aang, "but we should probably head back. It doesn't take Toph long to straighten people out. Thanks for the tea!"
"It has been a long day," added Haru, inching back a step.
"We'll see you in the morning," smiled the old gentleman as his hut in turn emptied of non-fire benders. He gave a final wave and smile to Aang as he entered the hut where Katara and Toph were settled in for the night.
Turning his attention to his nephew, he eyed the young man thoughtfully and held his council. Whatever had happened seemed to have been between the two teenager males, and hadn't involved Katara directly as far as he could tell. Apart from being a bit pale, she'd seemed fine, wrapped in Zuko's shirt.
The bruise on Zuko's face was light, but he'd noticed it. Meanwhile, everyone had been so shocked at Haru's hair they'd missed the bruises and scratches on the earth bender's arms and face -- or considered them part and parcel of his search.
But if anyone had paid close attention to each of the young men's hands, they would have seen how damaged they were, cut and scratched and swollen.
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Iroh closed his eyes and sat across from Zuko at the edge of the flames' glow, while outside the heavens opened over the forest once more, occasionally decorated with thunder or lightning.
**************************
ABOARD THE D.C.T.
Admiral Bo stood across from Princess Azula on the bridge, looking out over the stormy sea; lightning thunderbolted across the sky intermittently, and the water itself was rough enough to toss even the Debilitating Crimson Tide, the princess's flagship, from side to side as if it were a bath toy.
"Your Highness," he stated, saluting respectfully. Though tired, he'd made it to the meeting within a few minutes of her summons.
The Princess sat lazily in her raised, throne-like seat behind the captain's chair, looking down on her subject. "I really must thank you for joining me on this mission, Admiral Bo -- so many opportunities have simply blossomed in front of me since we all came aboard; Pho's demise, your dismissal, ultimately the disbanding of the once-formidable 'A-Team' -- I'm almost sad to see you all go..." The gold of her eyes shone with a vengeful lustre. "So all that's left to decide is how to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's of your dishonourable discharge. Or, as I like to say, Imminent Tossing."
A skeleton crew manned the bridge that night, and all focused quietly on their own responsibilities while the princess warmed up to the subject of a public display of discipline... and punishment. None wanted to intrude and risk enticing the wrath befalling their superior. None wanted their superior on the receiving end of such wrath, either, however.
Unashamed, the handsome admiral looked up at her lovely face and didn't let a single word compromise his composure.
"So, since we're both familiar with the laws of Agni Kai, do you have any requests?" she asked lightly, studying her fingernails.
Admiral Bo felt his heart shudder and ratchet up several notches as he regarded her evenly. Now was the time. "Yes. I request the match to be held in 2 days, on Earth Kingdom soil."
"What?" she snapped, and her hands shot down to grip the arms of her imposing seat. Every movement belied her seething anger; her curled fingers and nails, her taught shoulders, and her thrumming chi all blared like sirens to alert those nearby to her agitated state. "This is a Fire Nation affair; you know Agni Kai cannot be performed outside the Fire Nation. It can be held only on this ship!"
"Your Highness, with all due respect... I can wait until we return to the Fire Nation and we can have the Agni Kai in front of the Court if it pleases you; however the two of us having such a battle on the ship would endanger the crew, and we are already on our way into battle. There is no sense... giving the crew something to divide their attention. They have already shown some hesitation and voiced some concern at having one of their plans change at the loss of one of their leaders."
It was a gamble, and a huge one; but Mei had assured Bo that Azula wouldn't let the matter drag on them all the way back to the Fire Nation, she'd want it settled immediately. Also, there was a chance that a supporter in the Court, perhaps even her Father, the Fire Lord, who'd ordered the A-Team's commission for the mission, would dismiss the charges and thus undermine her authority. The A-Team would become even more popular; but worse, she'd be publically humiliated.
Azula's eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened as she considered her options.
It was true -- the Agni Kai was to be held on firm ground, traditionally tournament ground.
But really, she reasoned, she was undefeatable regardless of her physical position.
"Fine," she said lightly. "If you're so worried the crew will suffer with you on board, we'll wait until you've taken your leave. And then the suffering will begin."
"Thank you, Princess."
"You may go," she waved him away, and Bo made his way to Mo's quarters to talk to his fellow admirals.
***************************
In darkness…
It sat, unmoving, atop a pile of priceless relics. It had been used for rituals, guidance, and even in self-defence long, long ago. But again, as it had for so often in recent months, it headed straight into battle.
The scrying stick, Agni’s will, thrummed as it waited in anticipation of events to come.
Of course, as close as it was to Agni’s spirit, it already knew the outcome of some confrontations.
AT THE REBEL CAMP
Aang and Sokka assisted another man to Katara’s “Heal It or Deal With It” station as Toph and Zuko ‘trained’ the ‘fortunate’ souls lucky enough to study under their tutelage.
“So she didn’t speak to you either, Sokka?” Aand deposited the injured man at the end of the line of patients to be seen by the water healer.
“Which one?”
“The crazy one,” whispered Aang behind his hand, one wary eye on each of the intendeds.
“Which one? They’re both girls, ergo, they’re both crazy-ouch!” Rubbing the back of his head and tripping over his feet, Sokka felt the wetness drip uncomfortably down his collar before stumbling over the spontaneously uneven terrain. “Anyway,” he continued, ignoring the girls’ retaliation, “no, neither has spoken to me. Katara looks better after her 14 hours of sleep and hot cocoa this morning, though, and Toph’s gained at least 5 meters on her usual projectile and sensory range.”
Aang’s breath flew out audibly as he sighed in visible relief behind Sokka’s back. “So I guess that’s the end of that,” he said optimistically. “Well, I’m gonna go see Iroh for a bit to practice firebending. See ya later!”
Waving goodbye to his friends, the young airbender collected his staff from beside Katara’s medical dispensary and with a quick running start took to the air with his glider.
The remaining young man decided to go see his sister and perhaps offer something akin to an apology. Or perhaps more cocoa, since she seemed to be so intent to consume their entire chocolate stronghold. He paused on his trek to consider; chocolate or apology? Should he come with something in his hands? It would definitely put him at a defensive disadvantage…
The sun shone brightly from his leeward side, casting his shadow long upon the hard ground. Hands on his hips, Sokka glanced down away from the rays a moment-and couldn’t help but notice that there were still two shadows beside him, despite Aang having departed. He stared at the smooth outline that started trying to blend into his own shadow-like someone was about to hug him from behind or use him for cover-
“Haru! What are you doing hiding behind me?” he yelped, and jumped away awkwardly. It was hard for Sokka not to notice how wild and desperate the earth bender appeared before him. Behind him. Wherever he’d popped up from - Oh right, the fox holes, he remembered in the next second…
With his arms still outstretched to try and blend in to his surroundings, Haru’s eyes went wide and his head whirled towards Zuko in the ‘training ring’, panic-stricken.
From across the ring a torrential pillar of flame erupted and shot forth into the sky, Zuko its epicenter, lord and source.
Pandemonium ensued.
(Later)
Iroh felt the light weight of the claws kneading his shoulder as he appraised the scene.
The trainees had scattered.
“So… that noise I heard earlier?” he asked Toph, as they surveyed the wreckage inflicted on the ring.
Each sipped at the tea held in their hands.
“The screaming?” she said.
“Yes.”
“That was just their puny souls expressing their perdition.”
“Eternal punishment,” nodded the old man wisely. Of course, it all made sense now.
“You can still feel them shaking in their foxholes,” she smirked, and tapped the ground very gently. A wail of muffled terror seeped from the soil beneath them.
“Ah, but the cautious seldom err,” said Iroh.
Their feet detected a slight timbre in the packed earth they stood upon. One (subterranean) man could be heard asking when they’d next be allowed to surface for more oxygen. He was quickly discouraged by his fearful fellow soldiers.
“Heh, they’ll be all out of ‘err’ soon enough,” snorted the blind girl, and she laughed all the way to the cook station. “Katara!” she yelled and waved her teacup in the air as she marched with big, magnificent steps, “I’m hungry. What’s for lunch?”
ABOARD THE D.C.T.
Beside an occupied bed in the medical ward, Admiral Bo
******************
Writing notes:
118-20: The scars of others should teach us caution. (Saint Jerome)
287-14: In refusing benefits caution must be used lest we seem to despise or to refuse them for fear of having to repay them in kind. (Benedict Spinoza)
62-23: The cautious seldom err. (Confucius)
"Girl Problems 2: The Return of Girl Problems"
Title: “Girl Problems 2: Return of Girl Problems”
Author: Moor
Genre: General/Humour/Parody
chapter: 08
Rating: uh… let’s say T-M, just to be safe.
Disclaimer: I make no claim to “Avatar”.
AT CAMP IWANNABEABENDA
"Zuko, Haru, you're back! And you have Katara--whoa, what happened to your hair, Haru?" exclaimed Aang, rushing up to the pair as they arrived at the GAang's warm hut.
Haru was quiet and waited at the doorway while the prince ignored the question and proceeded across the threshold.
"She needs rest, and to keep warm," said Zuko as he carried the water bender inside. Toph bended Katara's cot across the floor, closer to the fire in the middle, and Zuko laid her down carefully on its edge. "Can you get her changed into dry clothes?" he asked the earth bender.
"I can figure it out," replied the youngest one in the group confidently.
Katara moaned a bit in her sleep as Toph shifted her slender frame and the males left the hut as one to give them privacy. The rain beat a constant tattoo on the roof and walls, and night had descended in full. Animal sounds, normally so prevalent at dusk and through the night, were muted or silent with the muffling rainfall in the forest.
"So, did you have an accident while you were out looking for Katara?" asked Sokka curiously as he looked at Haru's near-brush cut. They settled in Zuko and Iroh's hut, and the retired general soon served everyone tea around their own fire. It had been some time since they'd left Toph & Katara, and all other 'casual' topics of conversation (ie: the weather) had been exhausted. The Water Tribe youth didn't pick up on the subtle chill that spread through the hut's interior at his question.
Zuko focused on inhaling the scent of the tea he held, and pretended to ignore the uneasy glance Haru sent him.
"Yeah, an accident... Well, it's kind of late, and I should be heading back to turn in for the night," said the earth bender, starting to stand before he'd even received his cup of tea from Iroh.
"Wait, you aren't going to fill us in on how you met up with Zuko, or who found Katara?" Aang looked between the two soggy young men.
"I think they both need to dry off and get to bed, Aang," Iroh answered for him, giving Haru and Zuko a chance to evade further questions. "Haru, why don't you head back to your home for the night; Aang, Sokka, you're welcome to sleep here while Toph looks after Katara."
"Thanks Uncle Iroh," said Aang, "but we should probably head back. It doesn't take Toph long to straighten people out. Thanks for the tea!"
"It has been a long day," added Haru, inching back a step.
"We'll see you in the morning," smiled the old gentleman as his hut in turn emptied of non-fire benders. He gave a final wave and smile to Aang as he entered the hut where Katara and Toph were settled in for the night.
Turning his attention to his nephew, he eyed the young man thoughtfully and held his council. Whatever had happened seemed to have been between the two teenager males, and hadn't involved Katara directly as far as he could tell. Apart from being a bit pale, she'd seemed fine, wrapped in Zuko's shirt.
The bruise on Zuko's face was light, but he'd noticed it. Meanwhile, everyone had been so shocked at Haru's hair they'd missed the bruises and scratches on the earth bender's arms and face -- or considered them part and parcel of his search.
But if anyone had paid close attention to each of the young men's hands, they would have seen how damaged they were, cut and scratched and swollen.
Pouring himself another cup of tea, Iroh closed his eyes and sat across from Zuko at the edge of the flames' glow, while outside the heavens opened over the forest once more, occasionally decorated with thunder or lightning.
**************************
ABOARD THE D.C.T.
Admiral Bo stood across from Princess Azula on the bridge, looking out over the stormy sea; lightning thunderbolted across the sky intermittently, and the water itself was rough enough to toss even the Debilitating Crimson Tide, the princess's flagship, from side to side as if it were a bath toy.
"Your Highness," he stated, saluting respectfully. Though tired, he'd made it to the meeting within a few minutes of her summons.
The Princess sat lazily in her raised, throne-like seat behind the captain's chair, looking down on her subject. "I really must thank you for joining me on this mission, Admiral Bo -- so many opportunities have simply blossomed in front of me since we all came aboard; Pho's demise, your dismissal, ultimately the disbanding of the once-formidable 'A-Team' -- I'm almost sad to see you all go..." The gold of her eyes shone with a vengeful lustre. "So all that's left to decide is how to dot the 'i's and cross the 't's of your dishonourable discharge. Or, as I like to say, Imminent Tossing."
A skeleton crew manned the bridge that night, and all focused quietly on their own responsibilities while the princess warmed up to the subject of a public display of discipline... and punishment. None wanted to intrude and risk enticing the wrath befalling their superior. None wanted their superior on the receiving end of such wrath, either, however.
Unashamed, the handsome admiral looked up at her lovely face and didn't let a single word compromise his composure.
"So, since we're both familiar with the laws of Agni Kai, do you have any requests?" she asked lightly, studying her fingernails.
Admiral Bo felt his heart shudder and ratchet up several notches as he regarded her evenly. Now was the time. "Yes. I request the match to be held in 2 days, on Earth Kingdom soil."
"What?" she snapped, and her hands shot down to grip the arms of her imposing seat. Every movement belied her seething anger; her curled fingers and nails, her taught shoulders, and her thrumming chi all blared like sirens to alert those nearby to her agitated state. "This is a Fire Nation affair; you know Agni Kai cannot be performed outside the Fire Nation. It can be held only on this ship!"
"Your Highness, with all due respect... I can wait until we return to the Fire Nation and we can have the Agni Kai in front of the Court if it pleases you; however the two of us having such a battle on the ship would endanger the crew, and we are already on our way into battle. There is no sense... giving the crew something to divide their attention. They have already shown some hesitation and voiced some concern at having one of their plans change at the loss of one of their leaders."
It was a gamble, and a huge one; but Mei had assured Bo that Azula wouldn't let the matter drag on them all the way back to the Fire Nation, she'd want it settled immediately. Also, there was a chance that a supporter in the Court, perhaps even her Father, the Fire Lord, who'd ordered the A-Team's commission for the mission, would dismiss the charges and thus undermine her authority. The A-Team would become even more popular; but worse, she'd be publically humiliated.
Azula's eyes narrowed and her mouth tightened as she considered her options.
It was true -- the Agni Kai was to be held on firm ground, traditionally tournament ground.
But really, she reasoned, she was undefeatable regardless of her physical position.
"Fine," she said lightly. "If you're so worried the crew will suffer with you on board, we'll wait until you've taken your leave. And then the suffering will begin."
"Thank you, Princess."
"You may go," she waved him away, and Bo made his way to Mo's quarters to talk to his fellow admirals.
***************************
In darkness…
It sat, unmoving, atop a pile of priceless relics. It had been used for rituals, guidance, and even in self-defence long, long ago. But again, as it had for so often in recent months, it headed straight into battle.
The scrying stick, Agni’s will, thrummed as it waited in anticipation of events to come.
Of course, as close as it was to Agni’s spirit, it already knew the outcome of some confrontations.
AT THE REBEL CAMP
Aang and Sokka assisted another man to Katara’s “Heal It or Deal With It” station as Toph and Zuko ‘trained’ the ‘fortunate’ souls lucky enough to study under their tutelage.
“So she didn’t speak to you either, Sokka?” Aand deposited the injured man at the end of the line of patients to be seen by the water healer.
“Which one?”
“The crazy one,” whispered Aang behind his hand, one wary eye on each of the intendeds.
“Which one? They’re both girls, ergo, they’re both crazy-ouch!” Rubbing the back of his head and tripping over his feet, Sokka felt the wetness drip uncomfortably down his collar before stumbling over the spontaneously uneven terrain. “Anyway,” he continued, ignoring the girls’ retaliation, “no, neither has spoken to me. Katara looks better after her 14 hours of sleep and hot cocoa this morning, though, and Toph’s gained at least 5 meters on her usual projectile and sensory range.”
Aang’s breath flew out audibly as he sighed in visible relief behind Sokka’s back. “So I guess that’s the end of that,” he said optimistically. “Well, I’m gonna go see Iroh for a bit to practice firebending. See ya later!”
Waving goodbye to his friends, the young airbender collected his staff from beside Katara’s medical dispensary and with a quick running start took to the air with his glider.
The remaining young man decided to go see his sister and perhaps offer something akin to an apology. Or perhaps more cocoa, since she seemed to be so intent to consume their entire chocolate stronghold. He paused on his trek to consider; chocolate or apology? Should he come with something in his hands? It would definitely put him at a defensive disadvantage…
The sun shone brightly from his leeward side, casting his shadow long upon the hard ground. Hands on his hips, Sokka glanced down away from the rays a moment-and couldn’t help but notice that there were still two shadows beside him, despite Aang having departed. He stared at the smooth outline that started trying to blend into his own shadow-like someone was about to hug him from behind or use him for cover-
“Haru! What are you doing hiding behind me?” he yelped, and jumped away awkwardly. It was hard for Sokka not to notice how wild and desperate the earth bender appeared before him. Behind him. Wherever he’d popped up from - Oh right, the fox holes, he remembered in the next second…
With his arms still outstretched to try and blend in to his surroundings, Haru’s eyes went wide and his head whirled towards Zuko in the ‘training ring’, panic-stricken.
From across the ring a torrential pillar of flame erupted and shot forth into the sky, Zuko its epicenter, lord and source.
Pandemonium ensued.
(Later)
Iroh felt the light weight of the claws kneading his shoulder as he appraised the scene.
The trainees had scattered.
“So… that noise I heard earlier?” he asked Toph, as they surveyed the wreckage inflicted on the ring.
Each sipped at the tea held in their hands.
“The screaming?” she said.
“Yes.”
“That was just their puny souls expressing their perdition.”
“Eternal punishment,” nodded the old man wisely. Of course, it all made sense now.
“You can still feel them shaking in their foxholes,” she smirked, and tapped the ground very gently. A wail of muffled terror seeped from the soil beneath them.
“Ah, but the cautious seldom err,” said Iroh.
Their feet detected a slight timbre in the packed earth they stood upon. One (subterranean) man could be heard asking when they’d next be allowed to surface for more oxygen. He was quickly discouraged by his fearful fellow soldiers.
“Heh, they’ll be all out of ‘err’ soon enough,” snorted the blind girl, and she laughed all the way to the cook station. “Katara!” she yelled and waved her teacup in the air as she marched with big, magnificent steps, “I’m hungry. What’s for lunch?”
ABOARD THE D.C.T.
Beside an occupied bed in the medical ward, Admiral Bo
******************
Writing notes:
118-20: The scars of others should teach us caution. (Saint Jerome)
287-14: In refusing benefits caution must be used lest we seem to despise or to refuse them for fear of having to repay them in kind. (Benedict Spinoza)
62-23: The cautious seldom err. (Confucius)