As Zuko's ship pulled into the Fire Nation Harbor, Zuko turned to Iroh and Cadence. "We need to get these repairs done as soon as possible, and as quietly as possible," Zuko stated firmly. "I don't want to lose his trail, or let word of his existence spread."
"You mean the A-"
"You mean Aang?" Cadence interrupted her father. "Why do we need his trail?"
Zuko and Iroh both turned to Cadence. "We need to catch him before anyone else is aware of his existence," Zuko explained.
"But we know where he's going," Cadence pointed out. "That girl he's with is the only Southern Water Bender, and she knows less about Water Bending than he does. And by the cycle, he has to learn Water Bending next, and there's only one place in the world where he can find a Water Bender...the North Pole. Why not just patrol the Northern Waters and shoot his bison down when he's spotted? After all, he's going to be avoiding drawing attention to himself - even if he knows nothing about tactics, that boy he's with is bound to advise caution - so word of his return is unlikely to spread."
Iroh and Zuko both stared at her for a time. "That's...not a bad point," Zuko murmured. He rounded on Iroh. "Why hadn't you come up with it yet?"
"Nobody asked me," Iroh pointed out logically.
"Daddy taught me well!" Cadence proclaimed proudly as the ship docked.
As they stepped out onto the dock, they were greeted by a middle aged man dressed in the Fire Nation's uniform. "Greetings, Prince Zuko," he stated calmly through a pleased smirk.
"Captain Zhao," Zuko greeted.
"It's Commander now," Zhao corrected. He gave a minor bow of respect to Iroh. "And General Iroh, great hero of our nation."
Iroh smiled softly as he returned the bow. While he didn't have the same duties of the other Generals, the rank had never actually been removed, as he'd never been officially retired. He privately felt he had Cadence to thank for that...both for helping his relationship with his brother stay strong, and for leading Ozai to believe the Spirits had plans for him.
"The Fire Lord's brother and son are welcome guests any time," Zhao stated firmly.
"What about me?" Cadence demanded, pouting as she stepped forward.
A strained smile graced Zhao's features. "And of course, the Fire Lord's niece," he replied. "What brings you all to my harbor?"
"Our ship is in need of repairs," Zuko replied mildly, doing his best to keep his face neutral.
"That's quite a bit of damage," Zhao muttered as he gazed on the ship. "What happened?"
Before either Iroh or Zuko could speak up, Cadence responded, "It's our helmsman's fault. He accidentally ran over an Antarctic sea serpent, and the serpent took exception to it, collapsing part of an iceberg on the ship. We also need a new helmsman."
"You do?" Zhao asked, shocked.
"Yes. Our previous helmsman is currently in the brig for being drunk on duty." Feeling a tickle at the back of her throat, she let out a cough.
"Are you well?" Zhao asked courteously.
"Just a little chilled," Cadence replied.
"It seems you've had quite an adventure since you left the shores of the Fire Nation," Zhao indicated. "I'd love to hear all the thrilling details. Join me for a drink?"
"It would be an honor," Zuko replied, "but I need to tend to my cousin. As you can see, she is ill, and tends to not know her own limits."
"Look who's talking," Cadence grumbled, coughing again.
Zhao nodded. "Very well. Iroh?"
"I would be delighted," Iroh replied, walking away with him.
Once they were gone, Zuko leaned down to Cadence's level. "So what was with the fake coughing?" he asked quietly.
"I need to make sure the crew knows the cover story," Cadence whispered back. "And someone with actual authority needs to be on board to refute any soldier trying to interrogate them. I don't trust Zhao."
"Me neither," Zuko agreed as the pair went back aboard the ship.
As Cadence had predicted, Zhao's men did attempt to board the ship under the Commander's orders to interrogate the men. However, one of the books Cadence had brought was a book of Fire Nation law, and between that and two writs that Ozai had left in Iroh's care - the first allowing Zuko to demand assistance from any Fire Nation Soldiers he encountered should he find evidence of the Avatar, and the second putting Ozai's authority behind Zuko's mission - Cadence was able to prove to Zhao that, short of an Agni Kai, Commander Zhao was not in his authority to demand anything from Zuko or his ship unless he was an Admiral or had written approval from the Fire Lord.
Much to Cadence's amusement, this led to Zhao challenging Zuko to an Agni Kai for authority over his ship and crew, as he felt he had reason to dispute their account of events.
During the actual fight, Zuko kept his calm and remembered all that he had discussed about bending in general with Cadence. Knowing just how much Bending - aside from Air Bending - required a firm stance, he allowed Zhao to make the assault, and focused all his attacks at Zhao's feet, breaking his stance. Since Zhao hadn't expected such a skilled assault - no one had ever actually seen Zuko duel - he found himself unable to counter it accurately.
After the fight ended, however, with Zuko the victor, a bright light from the top of a relatively nearby mountain drew all attention. Cadence's mind quickly raced through her memory of the maps they'd been sailing by. "Isn't that the Southern Air Tem-AAH!" She clutched her forehead as her horn flared, pulsing with the blue of air.
As Iroh and Zuko carried her back to their ship, Iroh chuckled. "So much for his trail being hard to follow."
As Aang and the others left the Southern Air Temple, Katara noticed that Aang was deep in thought. "What's wrong, Aang?" she asked worriedly, still remembering what had happened at the Temple.
"...I can't be the only Air Bender left," he replied softly. "Some of the monks have to have escaped somehow."
Katara sighed. "Aang, I know you want to have hope, but-"
"Because I've met another Air Bender since I woke up," Aang explained.
"What?" Sokka demanded in shock. Momo the flying lemur, having taken a seat on Sokka's head so he could swipe food, mirrored his shock.
"On the Fire Nation ship," Aang explained. "There was this little creature I mistook for a goat bird, but she said she was a pony-"
"Wait, you can talk to animals?" Sokka interrupted. "Is that another Avatar power?"
"Not as far as I know," Aang replied. "But she was the one who was talking, though I'd never heard of a pony before. But she had a horn and wings."
"Sounds more like a kirin," Katara added. "One of those mythical dragon/unicorn hybrids."
"Feathers, not membrane," Aang pointed out. "But she smacked me with a wall of air as I was escaping, and I saw her bending movements. She's an Air Bender. Someone has to have taught her, which means that somewhere in the world is another Air Bender!"
"Unless she learned from scrolls," Sokka pointed out, only to receive an elbow from Katara. "Ow!"
"Well, you'll just have to talk to her about where she learned next time you see her," Katara pointed out. "Preferably without fighting again."
"Yeah," Aang agreed. "It'd be great if we could be friends..."
Must.... not... freaking.... squee....
EEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! OH MY FAUST I JSUT GOT THE MOST HUGGABLE MENTAL IMAGE EVER!!!
cool chapter bruh.
6546334 year and me both.
6546393 I can just imagine them glomping each other, and the hugging until one of them made a squeaky toy noise!
Zuko
had
It'll be awhile until Zuko turns over to the other side, methinks.
Another enjoyable chapter. Well done.
6546334 Someone make it into a piece of artwork, now!
6546420 YAAAAAAAAASSS!!!!
Then we can all come together and squee like fangirls.
6546420 We need more art!!
Aang, friends with the pink pony princess... Yeah, I can see it. The only problem I foresee is the fire nation its self falling over trying to catch him while protecting Cadance. Poor stick in the mud fire nation.
Ah, Zhao. One of the few people to actually die in the series, and of the few people I enjoyed seeing it happen to. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Cadance is very quick on the Wit. I know she did trick Wan Shi Tong pretty neatly. But this one was awesome. Seems like all alicorns have a bit of trickster spirit in them.
If it weren't for the way I love how you do these stories, I'd have a headache right about now.
I mean, this destroys my head canon so much.
And yet, it's a good pain.
Keep it up Tats.
Um, you are actually making Cadence more cunning and ruthless than Azula. I'm not sure how well I like that...
Well after a very lucky google search my I found my perfect thing for this chapter ending:
Still can't believe I so easily found the exact video I needed for this.
6546400 Probably Cadence, by the way, Aang's reaction when he learns that she can bend the lot, I think any semblance of composure will go bye bye.
6546400 I can see that so clearly in my head right now. And you know, ever since I started watching FIM I've noticed I do a double take every time I hear certain dog toys squeak.
6546546
Aang: Cadence!
Cadence: Aang!
*they hug each other hard*
Cadence: Aang... too hard.... SQUEAK!!!
Aang: What the... *squeezes her again*
Cadence: *squeaks* AANG!!!
Aang: Hahahahahahaha! Come with me, squeaky toy! We shall awaken Sokka together!
6546563 Find my comment. You will love it.
Good luck until approximately 9 months, three months just before the comet, to make friends.
6546577
Somehow I see that ending with Sokka trying to take a bite out of squeaky prey when he's suddenly woken up.
6546800
Cadence and Aang: SQEAAAAAAAAK!
Sokka: Ah! We're under attack! Everyone, we- what's this? (in a flat voice)
Aang: This is Cadence! She squeaks!
Sokka gives him a blank look, to which Aang squeaks Cadence.
Sokka: Is it edible?
Aang and Cadence: No I/She am/is not!
6546486
Ruthless? She doesn't come off as ruthless to me. Efficient and effective, yes, but not ruthless (willing to sacrifice her honor/morals/her people to achieve her goals).
Oh Cadence, you make this story so good. I hope that Aang really does make her his friend.
Ahh I see Cadance has the formidable power of knowing the plot of the show. It's going to make things much harder for The Gaang
Hmm... How Zhao we proceed with this? Agni Kai?
The general got burned right there.
Scrolls? Really? You must be a real Sokka to think that.
Well, look on the bright side folks. The Avatar told them he existed so there's no need to try and keep anyone in the dark.
6546334 No, the most huggable mental image is Cadance glomping Momo while sitting above Appa's nose.
6547498 GLOMP!
Momo: Skree!
Cadence: No! Come back, adorable little lemur!
Momo:Skree!
6547498
Better.
Cadence over Appa's nose.
Momo on Cadence's back, grooming her mane.
Awesome chapter well done dude, extremely awesome sauce!
I'm sorry but where would Katara have heard the word unicorn? Wouldn't rhinohorse be more canon?
6547821
Going by the assumption that she's heard a few old myths from Gran-Gran, learned from her time travelling to the South Pole from the North.
This is awesome!!
Clever move.
Oi...
I get the feeling he doesn't care much for Cadence.
Nice lying.
Clever girl, and yeah, good ideal
Oh dear.
What? It's not impossible.
Perhaps you will...
6547162
Eh, you've done better.
Aww...
I don't see how Zuko would turncoat in this story.
6549816 Cadance. Do I Have to say anything else?
Maybe someday, Aang. If she realises the true evil of the Fire Nation.
6546452 actualy... He was imprisoned in a prison in the sprit world and went insane looking for the avatar in it. He makes a short Camio In legand of Korra when tenzin goes to the prison for some reason.
6551390 No wonder I was mistaken. LoK isn't able to keep my attention the way LAB was.
I want to see this happen so badly!!!
It's nice to see Zuko being calm and rational, he's much less annoying and I can see his men following him into Hell.
6546334 Same here.
6546546 Meaning Aang's mind will go into a Blue Screen of Death???
6547526 Yes indeed!!! That is adorable!!!
6549816 I find it more likely Azula will go crazy and it will be everyone versus her to keep her from burning the whole world to ashes. Even better if Aang's group ends up as guests to discuss a peace treaty or something and Azula i so psycho she'll do anything to keep peace from happening.
6553223 More like chin, meet floor.
Hopefully Zuko joins team Avatar at Ba Sing Se instead of after the failed eclipse invasion like in the show.
I'm sensing a pattern here.
But why would that happen; Sokka didn't do that in th-... You know, normally I'd go "Tatsurou, you JEEERRK!" and launch you into the atmosphere with a hammer I'd fashioned out of ki. But now... It actually ties into his character, AND it makes logical sense. I mean, could you imagine this happening in real life?
{Aang: OK, guys, before we go to the North Pole, let's go on these detours!
Katara: Why would we do that?
Aang: Well, because I've been trapped in an iceberg for a hundred years, so it'd be nice if I could regain some semblance of my sanity by doing the things I used to do as a kid.
Sokka: Hmm, we could ignore the stress on your otherwise-sunny disposition and realize that a madman is going to use the power of a comet to enslave the Earth to his will by the next summer, but this this seems legit... let's do it.}
Taking the good with the bad, I think it's called... I'm not sure, rea-
... Oh, thank GOODNESS, you had me worried there!
and everyone has been improved, except 4 soka's lack of wit but that can always change
They don't know about the Eclipse yet.
7177109 It doesn't become an arc until they reach the library.