Kyoshi Island. A strange place, if you think about it that way. And there is a feeling that problems will await us here. Whatever one may say, they are unlikely to be happy with the Fire Nation. But the main thing is to make a good first impression, I think.
Although for starters, swim. The captain has already said that there is a local, almost chthonic, Unagi. And you have to be very careful so that he doesn't attack an incomprehensible piece of iron floating on the surface. However, Uli promised that there would be no problems with this. And I believe him.
So I myself sat on the bow of the ship and breathed the fresh sea air, which was already making me sick. More precisely, I tried to understand, looking at my poor magicians, I remembered that breathing is very important in fire magic. What about air bending, where you literally breathe in air? I'm sure there is some connection. That's why I sat down, starting to breathe slowly and trying to feel at least something inside me.
Surprisingly, there was some result - the "wind" that was in the body somehow reacted slightly incomprehensibly to my attempts. I can't describe it somehow, but it's extremely interesting. In general, it would be nice to take a deeper look, now it's as if I'm feeling the hood of a car blindfolded and, based on such a meager perception of the world, I'm trying to understand what it is and what it's for. But you should at least see or fully touch this car. Because otherwise, there is no way to become stronger. You have to learn bending, damn it.
- Inspector, there is a Fire Nation ship directly ahead. Moored in the same place where it should be. There are no personal symbols on board other than the main Fire Nation flags. And it seems like according to the map, no military operations should take place here," the captain interrupted my thoughts, approaching me from behind.
Somehow it happened so conveniently that when I sit and think about something of my own, they don't touch me or even speak loudly. Even Captain Uli. I don't know what this is connected with, but there is such a slightly incomprehensible moment. But I am grateful to them - I don't really like being distracted from my semi-meditative thoughts.
And the captain can sometimes disturb me at important moments, although I never said not to be bothered. Now is one of those moments.
A small ship, not designed for a large number of crew, without any identification marks, moored tightly to the shore and stood with the gangway open.
Our ship was much larger, with the necessary identification marks, so without hesitation, I gave the order to cut off that vessel's chance of exit.
The catapults were cocked when the lock of our ship opened and my whole gang of poor fellows began to descend, with me at their head. We didn't have any ground transportation, so we walked, but it still looked quite impressive.
"So, take your guys and detain them until everyone on the ship is clarified," I gave the order to the two poor fellows who were senior in rank. I'll take the remaining ten with me. It's definitely suitable for impressiveness - they've gained a lot of weight from the purchased grub, they're already holding spears confidently, and the extra-standard swords on their belts even give a certain touch of elitism.
In any case, Uli came with us to meet his son, and he also took a dozen of his warriors. They also looked impressive, but mine seemed to stand out slightly. We'll have to figure out later how to change the form so as to make it look menacing and serious.
In any case, it was not long to walk along the paths, because we were walking into the smoke that was already slowly coming. Clearly the firebenders are trying. In my head, the prospects already loomed bleak, firstly, this is a violation of the word of the Lord of Fire, and secondly, I'm already up to my ears in this guano and I won't be able to get out: if I've already gotten in, then I have to pull the strap.
By the way, it was quite cool on the island. I can't say that it was a lot, but the snow lay in such a decent layer in some places, and it was quite unusual. As far as I know, Fire benders don't really mind the cold, only at too low temperatures problems arise, but plus twenty or minus twenty is the norm, and not the slightest discomfort.
In this regard, magicians are all, by and large, unpretentious, but fire benders are the most in terms of temperature. And in theory, I, as an airbender, should also not be very sensitive, and it seems like this is the case - I can walk around in underwear when an ordinary person would already want to put on a sweater, but now there was some kind of strange feeling. More precisely, this is the only time when the temperature goes beyond the "normal" of an airbender, it seems that this is why such an incomprehensible feeling. The feeling of frost on your skin, which doesn't bother you at all, but as if you don't mind dressing warmer if necessary, but at the same time your body keeps its temperature normal.
However, that's just me, I was just thinking along the way. In fact, the entire "army" of us was already running towards the main street, from where the sounds of battle were coming. Weak, of course, but when I was the first to run out onto the main street, I noticed four Komodo rhinoceroses, each of which had two different magicians sitting on them.
A small, but decently powerful squad, because they are all magicians, which is actually not that uncommon, but still. I was unlucky by and large with the poor fellows.
I ran out just at the moment when one of the local warriors was knocked to the ground with her tail, and one of the magicians was about to finish off the girl with a stream of fire.
By and large, I didn't have time to run, so I decided to take a different approach - I'll scare the hell out of everyone, tie everyone up too, and then sit down to figure out who is who and why. And for this I don't need much - just my lighter.
All these thoughts flashed through my head in a split second, while I was already reaching out and taking out my copper friend, with whom we had already experienced a lot. As if in slow motion, I saw a spark strike and a small red flame flare up, which in an instant flared up across the entire street, drawing a straight path with blue fire between the girl and the bender.
For a second the whole fight froze and everyone stared at me. There was even some whispering from the guy like "Shark" or something like that, I couldn't make it out. Well, the official part, I seem to have taught and even understand what all these words mean, let's go:
- In the name of the Inspector of the Fire Nation, you are all detained until the circumstances are clarified... - while I began to speak, my poor fellows and Uli's subordinates quickly surrounded the entire battlefield, pointing their spears forward or getting into a pose for a fire attack, as best they could, - ... fell on floor, hands behind your head, otherwise we will be forced to use force...
Yes, it's stupid, but my squad and I, roughly speaking, are more like military police than military. That's why we know such chants, and even now it's really about detaining rowdy people, not war. Because we are not engaged in military operations with the island. These are the pies with kittens.
- What the hell are you bothering us with? - that guy who almost burned the girl jumped out of the saddle and stomped towards me, starting to yell, - I'm catching an avatar, I don't give a damn who you are...
He didn't have time to finish, the guy was shouting at me so selflessly that he didn't notice how two of my poor fellows came up and deftly threw me to the ground in one movement. In about the same way, my people detained the rest of the Fire warriors; they didn't approach the local warriors - and it's a no-brainer that they won't surrender, and I'm not categorically sure of the victory of my poor fellows in this battle. They just pointed their weapons and didn't attack first; they weren't in a hurry yet either.
"Take off his helmet," I said, looking at the guy who was trying to get out. One of my subordinates quickly removed the pan, and underneath it was a very familiar face with a scar, "Prince Zuko?" I didn't expect this from you, you should know exactly what kind of agreement your ancestor had with Kyoshi Island. And you violated it so brazenly, for what?
The guy blushed and turned pale, but clearly had no intention of speaking. It's understandable, by and large he did a lot of business, if you think about it that way, he'll be fine. It's good that there hasn't been any blood here yet and, Agni willing, I'll unravel everything. The Fire Nation already has a bad reputation, and here, too, long-standing agreements have been violated by the prince himself, who may have been exiled, but not renounced.
Although it's not that anyone doesn't give a damn about it, the Fire Lord will decide - he will find where they violated the agreement, I'm sure this happened, and often, but nevertheless, honor and dignity are a significant thing in my country, and breaking such an agreement without really There is an important reason for this - it smells like political suicide, at a minimum.
"They attacked us first," the exile finally said, "and then we began to fight back." And who the hell are you, where did you get the blue flame?
"Inspector Aki," I nodded, introducing myself, "maybe you've heard of me under another stupid nickname, "Kira."
God knows where it came from, but it has already become quite attached to me. More than once or twice I heard from pirates who wrote themselves off just by looking at them, and they only called me that and not anything else.
And now it was the middle name that worked, Zuko's eyes widened in surprise, and I even heard a surprised sigh from the local warriors.
Well, there are really scary stories about me. One is more beautiful than the other, ranging from the realistic that I am a well-trained warrior, ending with something from the category of "spirit of the seas and oceans" and so on. Whatever this drunken pirate rabble can come up with. And the eyes glow, and the speed is not human, and in general there is a demon in the flesh. There are not enough horns.
"My captain has a son who lives here, who recently got married, and I sailed to this island solely for the sake of recreation and trade, and in the end I have to clean up this unexpected crap," I said, still looking into the slightly widened eyes of the prince, and then straightened up and went further to one of the painted girls, "so, which of you is in charge here?"
"We won't tell you anything, you're from the Fire Nation," the girl Zuko had fought with stepped forward.
"Hmm?" I'm starting to get a little tired of the circus, there are some very smart people gathered here, I see, "then within a week the Fire Lord will have information that Kyoshi Island has violated the agreement, and within two weeks there will be a small fleet, by the standards of the war, of which enough to demolish everything here, execute the warriors, leave their people, and declare this territory the new Border of the Fire Nation," I didn't raise my voice, but spoke quite clearly and slowly approached this person, "so let's resolve this conflict here and now , let's not break the old agreement based on mutual respect between two strong people, shall we?
Apparently the second part of the message did not reach the warriors' brains, because they didn't bother to answer me with words, but attacked me with screams and yells. My poor fellows know that if I want them to take action, I will point it out directly, otherwise they should not show up, so they just stood there and got ready to enjoy the show.
But, to my deep surprise, after the girl stood in a certain position with fans and attacked me, I felt that my head was spinning. She used almost the same style as me, the base was very similar, albeit with some differences.
Of course, the level of the battle was still slightly above average and they still had to try harder to get to me. But it still turned out well, and again above average, which means it would have been enough for my poor fellows if they didn't throw in a crowd.
But not against me. I still didn't take out my rapier, I used my hands, one might say, I directed their own style against them, gradually cutting them out one by one through simple counterattacks in their own style. And damn they could do anything to oppose - the master and I studied the style much deeper and better, not to mention the fact that I'm simply faster than them.
I had to tinker with the main one the longest, but it didn't take much time either and it went into the hands of my poor fellows. They quickly grabbed all the warriors I had neutralized and detained them.
"So, someone in this village, bring me the headman, the mayor, or whoever you have here," I said loudly, shaking off my hands and muttered more quietly, "we'll figure out what the hell is going on here."
And it was at that moment that a bald guy in monastic robes landed on some flying nonsense on the street right in front of me.
- Let them go! - he shouted in a ringing, almost childish voice.
Looking at him, I even froze, not because it was a fucking avatar, but because I felt something. Something incomprehensible is happening, as if some kind of disgust awoke in me at the sight of the avatar.
But that's not what bothered me, God bless him, maybe the magic is being naughty or I just don't realize it, what bothered me most was the fact that now I have to fight with this kid.
Poor village, it is already burning, and after the battle of two airmen, one of whom is intensively mowed down by a fire fighter, there will be general sadness and misfortune.
Perhaps I can change canon right now. The Avatar is still extremely far from the peak of power, for now he is an ordinary peaceful monk who has had too much happen to him. If you kill him, it will at least give you ten years, during which you can prepare much better.
At the same time, you will lose after-knowledge completely.
Although it's not a fact that I can defeat him even now. The Avatar is a very powerful bender, even at such a young age, and it's quite possible that I'm screwed.
Most likely, in any case, the avatar will at least be able to escape from me. I am almost one hundred percent sure: catching a master airman is not an easy task, given that you yourself cannot fire magic of the same type.
"I have the right to detain them on the basis of actions that could violate the long-standing word of the Fire Lord." "I can detain local warriors on the basis of their attack on a person representing the authorities, that is, me," I said slightly awkwardly. Yes, it sounded moderately convincing, but, damn it, I need to somehow give out the official version, saying that I am acting so much according to the law.
"Your laws of the Fire Nation do not apply on Kyoshi Island," the avatar said pathetically, apparently following the example of the local girls, also not really listening to what I was saying.
"Once again," I muttered, "I am acting on the Fire Lord's old word of non-aggression." These actions are intended to prevent the outbreak of conflict between the island and the Fire Nation...
- Aang, don't listen to him! - a boy dressed in a female outfit of a Kyoshi warrior shouted from somewhere, "he wants to fool your brains!" He beat the Kyoshi Warriors!
The Avatar seemed to wake up slightly, threw something out of his thoughts and, standing back up in a confident pose, said:
- I won't let you do anything to them!
My teeth began to grind, even when the meaning of my official explanations did not reach this idiot. When it came to the screams of the decorated idiot, I resigned myself. It looks like it's time to change the canon and whatever happens, to hell with it.
But I wanted the avatar to attack first, and so it happened: he, jumping in my direction, sent a wave of air, which I easily cut with my rapier and then quickly rushed towards the avatar.
Somewhere after a couple of moments, when I had already run halfway, Aang had already completed the movement of his second blow, from which I dodged by jumping up and forward, at the same time as if flying at the avatar, putting my rapier forward.
He dodged, of course. He had no shortage of agility - he knew how to dodge just like me, and this turned out to be a very infuriating tactic, where he actually dodged my blow and sent his own in response.
My speed was very high, Aang didn't have time to respond in any way, but I couldn't hit, as if I was trying to cut clean air - that's what a trained airbender means - I'm just acting on intuition, and I'm no master. far from it. An example of one is before your eyes.
But the master's lessons were not in vain and quite quickly I grasped the basics of his fighting style and began to bring him closer to the trap with each blow. During one of my movements, I was able to unnoticedly take out a lighter, and this was the main idea, so that during the next dodge of the avatar and a step to the side, I could use my "fire" magic, creating a stream of blue flame of such decent strength.
To Aang's credit, it must be admitted that he managed to put up a minimal barrier, but it didn't help much, at most it protected him from burns, but physically he flew several meters away and crashed heavily with his back into one of the buildings.
I already had the thought in my head that the victory was mine and I could celebrate, but it was too premature: the tattoos of the unconscious guy began to glow and I realized that this was already an ass with a capital A. There is no way I can defeat the Avatar in his state now, but he was already opening his eyes and it was clear that he was ready to kick ass.
With a huge leap, he covered the distance to me and began to throw in every possible way air strikes and cutters, which were no longer harmless and three times stronger than they were. And now I was spinning around like I was in a frying pan, sometimes managing to breathe fire, because it didn't require even minimal physical action on my part.
Unfortunately, this did not have any effect as such. He waved it off with the air as if it were a slight nuisance, but he couldn't catch me. Aang himself is simply not ready to fully channel the power of the avatar through himself, and the exhaust was much weaker and in fact my only hope is if Aang cannot remain in this state for a long time.
In the meantime, I'm spinning and spinning like mad, sometimes on bare wild reflexes, without even realizing after the fact what I dodged.
We ran like this for a good five minutes and, to be honest, with all the tricks, I was already starting to run out of steam and I could feel it: a slight delay before moving my hand, a slight quick stupor when taking steps to the side, and from the outside my "dance" began to look more and more clumsy, which very bad sign.
The very first real mistake will destroy me, but it felt like, thank God, the avatar began to lose pace and power of blows - Aang himself was clearly exhausted, and say what you want, but I guarantee: he relaxed, and this was my chance.
During the next blow with air mixed with water, I almost brazenly used my air magic, giving myself unnatural acceleration and in my jump I only managed to hit Aang's face with my rapier, because he managed to defend himself - I planned to pierce his head and kicked him hard in the stomach, so , that my limb withered away, and Aang himself flew off again and seemed to pass out.
The thought that I defeated the avatar didn't even try to arise, there were so many "buts" and "ifs" that rather tactically I was able to defeat the entity that was trying to squeeze at least some percentage of its strength out of the boy's not very trained body.
But there's nothing to do, we need to finish what we started and kill the kid. I didn't feel any remorse, even though this is, in theory, the first person who, in essence, is not shit or trash, just a kid with a slightly naive view of the world, who was given responsibility, but this guy had a nuclear button with him and she needs to be picked up.
As I walked towards the unconscious Aang, it felt like I was typing every step towards the abyss and perhaps this was the turning point that would define my character.2But this did not dampen my determination.
But I had no more strength than Aang himself, I kept my word of honor, so I hobbled around for quite some time, so much so that the bald man's girlfriend appeared out of nowhere, whipped me with water and, grabbing the avatar, hobbled somewhere while I tried to get up.
Unfortunately, my poor fellows ran away in all directions at the beginning and all together watched from afar as their boss was beaten. I simply didn't have the strength to yell for them to grab the girl. I spent everything trying to get to the avatar and finish what I started.
Okay, my poor fellows began to collect all the temporary prisoners and take them somewhere to the place of detention, and they did not resist much, because most of them looked with some incomprehensible emotions on their faces. Only perhaps Prince Zuko looked and apparently thought something like: "I could do that too." He has a lot of arrogance.
"Hey, poor fellows, fire warriors to the ship, warriors to the local prison," I gathered the strength to shout to my subordinates, "if I find out that at least someone has touched the warriors in the wrong way, I'll put a weapon in her hands and put her face to face." Fulfill!
I really hope that the girls won't let the guys do something stupid in relation to not even prisoners, but detainees. Because for many people their hormones play like this, because, whatever one may say, there are fewer girls on the ship than boys, and no one was going to be a whore and a slut, and, naturally, they were left deprived on the ship. And they could very well do something stupid to themselves.
But then Agni is with him. We need to think about the essentials, for example, my level is still not that low. Well, I understood this before, but he was a master of the air, albeit a young one, but they obviously don't fill arrows for beautiful eyes. This means that I can easily jump with ordinary elemental magicians and the victory will be mine. But this is up to the avatar state. And then consider it a draw. Only by miracle did I myself have a ghostly hope of cutting him to death. And this miracle is called - they did not take it seriously. God, this is how self-esteem is killed.
The Avatar, having a very small percentage of his power, using the body of a monk and not all the elements, did not even take me completely seriously, and this was a strong problem for me. Oh, God, I'm breaking out in a cold sweat thinking about what I need to become to defeat the avatar at the peak of his power.
And damn, why do I feel like a villain in this battle, huh?
***
Katara barely made it in time. Some terrible Fire Warrior fought with Aang on equal terms and even when he entered the avatar state, he was able to continue fighting and even won!
It almost didn't fit in the girl's head, and every time the thought that an ordinary warrior of the fire nation was able to defeat the avatar gave off a cold sweat and a tugging feeling in her stomach.
What chances could they possibly have if the avatar couldn't handle it one-on-one? What if there are ten of them?
Sokka, sitting next to him and also thoughtfully poking at the prone Aang, had similar thoughts. He was still recovering from the blow, and there would likely be a small scar on his face from the cut. But they clearly weren't thinking about that, they didn't even need to discuss anything, they were thinking about exactly one thing.
What to do?
However, to the surprise of Aang himself, he was able to calm them down when he woke up and began to talk about his feelings.
That guy made the airbender feel wrong. Something incomprehensible, primitive and even aggressive woke up in the guy when he looked at... what's his name? Inspector?
"And also... I couldn't fully use all the power of the Avatar," the guy admitted, for some reason he was ashamed to tell this, "only a small part that... my body could withstand?" — a thought suddenly came into the guy's bald head, "so don't lose heart so much, look what I'll show you!" - and sticking out his tongue, Aang began to twist small stones in his hand with the help of air, - did you see? I learned to spin them not only in a circle, but also in a figure eight!
From these words, and the generally calm behavior of their new friend, both Katara and Sokka felt better, because everything seemed to be in order. True, they did not know that Aang himself was dreary and restless. After all, despite all the reservations, he, the master of air, having entered the avatar state, jumped another three heads higher, even if it was only part of his strength, but he was defeated without even using the elements much.
Who was that?
And what a strange feeling this is.
***
I managed to save my face and, despite my condition, I stood straight and didn't look like I was going to fall soon. Most likely, I was betrayed by my slightly pale face and trembling hands, which I held in a strong lock behind my back, while I watched how my poor fellows were removing belts and stripes from the soldiers, as expected, and dragging them to some semblance of the main street, where the showdown would take place. starring me.
"Inspector," a breathless soldier called out to me, "Prince Iroh wants to talk to you from the ship we took into custody."
Oh, you fucking sparrows, this is no longer the hot young Zuko, this is the whole Dragon, his mother, of the West. This, even taking into account his entire position, must be treated with respect. Therefore, hands on feet and, despite the tremors, we must go.
"Free," I nodded and, catching my poor fellow running, said, "if I come back and someone messes up, I'll deprive myself of alcohol for a month, and I'll double my training." Everyone has
To be honest, I had difficulty even hobbling to the ship. Well, from the outside I tried to walk proudly and slowly, but I know that in reality I was barely walking. For example, I walked along the ship's ladder at a snail's pace, and at one point I even thought I was going to fall.
Bruises and injuries are only half the battle; I seem to have already learned to endure pain, but fatigue is another matter. She is simply wild, something I have never felt before, despite all the training from Piandao. And I have a feeling that it's still not entirely physical, just very similar.
General Iroh was sitting at a small table, drinking tea with an absolutely good-natured look, although roughly speaking, nothing terrible had happened: this was not imprisonment or even captivity, but I expected a slightly more menacing look.
I chose a standard greeting; after all, I didn't want to fawn and somehow bow down straight away. Not in front of anyone. Even if I have heard a lot about this person and respect him very much.
- General Iroh.
"Inspector," the prince nodded, "and I'm no longer a general," he added a smile to catch up.
- You wanted to see me? — somehow I didn't want to talk about the weather, I had to solve the issues right away, otherwise I'd just fall asleep.
"Yes, take a seat," the prince waved his hand in front of him, where there was already an empty tea cup. By the way, he carefully held one with his hands, and steam was coming from it, and there was a teapot on the table.
"Thank you, and I can talk to you," I nodded, falling opposite him, almost literally. It became more and more difficult to keep a face, "Are you playing Pai Sho?"
"I'm playing, how can I not play, such a wonderful game?" The general burst into a smile, somehow mystically taking out the board and chips for the game.
After the first few trial moves, we already understood each other and in fact there was no game as such, we began to simply set up the White Lotus combination and completed it quite quickly. Each with their own Lotus chip. Then they looked at each other with different eyes.
"It's nice to meet a member of the White Lotus on your journey," General Iroh smiled good-naturedly again, "wasn't Piandao talking about you?"
"About me," I tried to smile in response, I didn't even have the strength to pick up the tea, "I'm a student of Master Piandao."
"So we laid the results of our senile decisions and mistakes on you," the Dragon of the West stated the fact, taking a sip of tea.
And he fell silent for about five minutes. As I. I would love to somehow support the dialogue and, moreover, ask him questions, but damn, how tired I am.
True, tea had a definitely new property for me: the more I drank, the easier I felt. It was not some kind of charge of vivacity, like, say, from coffee, but rather the body relaxed and began to intensively seem to ventilate. At least that's what it felt like—can be compared to a cool shower when you're very sleepy. Or rather, the cool wind that blows over you - yes. This will make a better comparison. Even though the tea is hot, the feeling is just cool. Maybe it's because I'm an airbender?
"I was simply asked to prevent a tragedy," I finally decided to say, "what I was going to do anyway."
"It's a commendable aspiration," Iroh nodded, "but you're talking about it too simply, are you sure you understand what we're talking about?" Sooner or later you will be faced with the choice of carrying out the order or saving the lives of innocent people. What will you choose?
"Someone can order me to the extent that they want, so the second is obvious," I frowned slightly.
- That's it for now. Now, you will bring this event to its logical conclusion, and the information will reach my brother; this is not a threat, it's just that the earth is full of rumors, and then he will be interested in you," General Iroh continued to tell softly and without pressure, not forgetting to pour tea for himself and me, "and in this case it will not be possible to continue to be in the army, but it seems not. Again, you will have a choice. And something tells me that you will still remain in the army. And then, sooner or later, expect orders from which you cannot escape.
"So I'll carry it out in such a way as to save as many lives as possible," I tried to give my voice the appearance that "everything has already been decided a long time ago and I'm just stating a fact." Although, of course, who knows what I would actually do. I decided a long time ago that after the war, the Fire Nation was my choice. Industrialization, free education and so on, there are many advantages, almost no disadvantages. But I don't want to be a watchdog who solves dirty problems. No, I understand that these very tasks exist, but being someone who does not solve them at all is not for me.
And taking into account the specific nature of my work, it looks like they might put me there. Agni, God or the Fire Lord forbid, which one is preferable.
"Okay, if so," Prince Iroh pretended to believe in the determination of my words, although most likely he understood that I was thinking about it only now, "but the elections are not easy for you, and the first of them is literally the other day." You will need to decide who will be right and who will be wrong in this whole epic, and, apparently, you still want to maintain peace between Kyoshi Island and the Fire Nation.
- Want. "And I will," I nodded. "It's not such a big problem - no blood was shed." We only gave each other a few bruises, so we will resolve this issue one way or another. I'm more interested in what to do with you and Prince Zuko?
"As far as I know, it was the Kyoshi warriors who attacked first," said Iroh, hiding his smile behind a cup of tea.
- Of course, your nephew and his soldiers entered the city in full combat uniform and started shouting something.
"But the Kyoshi warriors were the first to attack," Iroh smiled again, "the choice is still not an easy one."
"I'll figure it out," I shrugged, "not the most difficult moral choice, to be honest."
"I wish you good luck in this difficult matter," the general nodded his head sympathetically, "and now, you better go and rest." Defeating an avatar at such a young age as yours and still standing is no easy feat. I'm sure it was difficult for you to come here, but I am very grateful to you for the dialogue.
"Thank you for the tea," I just answered with a slight bow and, as it seemed to me, with a confident step, I left the cabin and went to the ship to my cabin.
Finally you can sleep, thank Agni.
* * *
I woke up with difficulty, although I had slept a good fourteen hours, maybe even more. He barely forced himself to stand up, looking at his watch, pulling one leg after the other. I fell on the bed without even undressing, so there was one plus - I didn't have to get dressed. Except that I now looked a little rumpled, but what can I do?
After drinking some freshly heated tea, I left the cabin and went to look for the nearest poor guy, praying that they wouldn't screw it all up while I was sleeping. But, to my surprise, my closest subordinate was near the door of the cabin and, according to him, was guarding me, and they even posted a guard near the sleeping authorities.
The deflection is counted, it will be necessary to increase the amount of alcohol reserve. If they don't mess up otherwise.
- Run to the others, give the command to prepare our negotiating table or scaffold, depending on how it goes. "And I'll be there within half an hour," he just nodded and ran to inform everyone about the new will of the holy me. I hope they won't literally prepare what I said, but will act according to the old plan.
After defeating the avatar, I am sure that their respect for me is at an unprecedented level, if lower than for the Fire Lord, then not much. Okay, then God bless me, I first need to warm up properly in order to wake up, and what is the best method of warming up? That's right, a fight with someone.
But, unfortunately, now it will be out of place to start some kind of sparring or something like that, so you'll just have to do some shadow boxing. Wave a sword and air with fire in the forest for five whole minutes and, in principle, you are ready for action, it invigorates better than coffee.
According to my plan, before the main action, I have to communicate with the main ones on both sides and find out what the hell is happening and what outcome of this situation they see. Because figuring it out in front of a crowd is not the best option. It's even more likely to be very bad, let's put on a little show rather than a real showdown.
***
"Prince Zuko," I greeted first, simply folding my hands in a traditional gesture, "I think we need to talk."
"Hmm, Kira, then," the disgraced prince said arrogantly, sitting on a small sofa, one might say, but more like a bench in the house, crossing one leg over the other and crossing his arms. Oh, and a look from under the forehead - a check.
With his entire appearance, he showed dissatisfaction and readiness to challenge everyone to Agni Kai right now to death and prove that he is a proud prince here, and everyone around him is a servant.
He was simply sitting in one of the houses, around which guards were posted to prevent various excesses. Well, I'm sure it was even superfluous - he wouldn't have run away from us anywhere, it wasn't the same situation, and there was nowhere to run, it was an island after all. But again, this is not the right situation for playing partisans. In the end, what the hell am I really going to do to him personally, at most I can hang a soldier and then questions will arise about who I am. This would be if he were really to blame, but here he might even end up being a victim. And here, God forbid, I decide wrongly.
If I find myself in a similar situation, I don't care what anyone will do to me - thanks to the master, I have political weight, although not strong, but it won't blow away with the wind, but my poor fellows can be brought to the scaffold.
So we need to look for ways to unravel all this, not to leave anyone in debt, but also to restore justice. Or maybe even slightly for my own benefit, who knows which desire motivates me. Although the cockroaches in my head, I think, know.
"You can just Aki," I smiled slightly, grabbing one of the chairs and putting it back forward right in front of Zuko, I collapsed onto it, leaning my arms on that very back, "so, prince, you definitely should have known about the agreement with this island." The question is, what the hell?
"Should I be worried about some old rattling between old people?!" - Zuko exclaimed, even jumping on the spot, so hot-tempered, although a fire mage with his history should probably be like that - I almost caught the avatar! If it weren't for you and your gang, he would already be in my hands! What do you think my father will say when he finds out what you prevented?!
"Hmm," before that I somehow thought that they kicked him out because of some intrigues, but maybe he's a fool himself, huh? "The agreement between the previous avatars and the lord of fire is not rattling, it is a very important document," I leaned towards him, "If you didn't study enough in childhood, then let me tell you one very interesting fact: past avatars, through the shell of a new one, can not return for very long, while retaining all its strength. And do you really have a desire that at one moment two hundred, let me remind you, the summer avatar of Kyoshi, appear on our islands and quickly level the capital in their righteous fury?
Heh, of course, fuck this will happen in life, all the records say one thing: past incarnations of the avatar in reality can appear for literally tens of seconds, sometimes minutes, but no more, but you don't have to tell Zuko about this, right? Let him read, look, think. It's useful for him.
"Not to mention our honor," I stepped right on a toe with this word, Zuko's face twitched, as if I had slapped him in the face, and he grimaced, it was so expensive to look at. Well, let it be, maybe at least a little will appear in the skull of the brain, of which there will be nothing left if the blame is entirely on you. I won't be able to pass some kind of fair sentence on you, of course, but I think the understanding that you have greatly disgraced the honor of the entire Fire Nation will be sufficient punishment for you.
- In front of whom? In front of a bunch of islanders? - Zuko chuckled.
- First of all, before yourself.
With these words, I actually stood up and left without saying goodbye. Yes, until the moment he started talking nonsense, I was thinking about discussing the issue and coming to an agreement, but then I decided that it would be more expensive for me to try to solve something like this.
After my words, Zuko himself stuck very tightly to one point, lost in his thoughts. Still, we must remember that he is not very old. And I very successfully sprinkled salt on his wound with honor. Let him think, ponder, maybe his pumpkin will reveal something useful.
I really hope that at least the Kyoshi warriors will show themselves better. Because yesterday's exclamations of their leader were still fresh in the memory, and the campaign there would first have to prove that I was not going to kill them and rape them, and then decide something.
Although, on the other hand, the local elder went to talk to them, who is quite aware that a good tenth of the inhabitants of Kyoshi Island are quite citizens of the fire nation, and there are even former military men.
But the headman here is a fool. It needs to be changed. He was lucky that I was so kind, but if in my place there had been some captain from the front who was thinking of sailing to a neutral island to rest, swim, and socialize, he would have hanged all these girls. True, not right away, before that they would have been used efficiently.
Unfortunately, the harsh truth of life. Although it depends on the degree of the cuckoo's turn: in some sections of the front there is a real meat grinder, and in some, at most, sometimes small local skirmishes. Here I described above from the first section of a person. The second one would probably have approached much more loyally, adjusted for age, ignorance, and so on.
So here's a question for the headman, why the hell is their "army" not aware of the ins and outs of politics. I'll probably discuss this with the headman later. Okay, I'll discuss it this way, because it's impossible. Ah ah ah.
Although from a legal point of view, it makes no difference in theory: this is their state, let them do what they want, but in fact, it's very bad to do this, otherwise we'll think that the army is being collected for attack, and not for defense, and we cried then all agreements burned in the blue flame of the treaty. Literally in blue.
"Warriors, politeness is everything, so bow and greeting."
"Have you come to force us to say what you want?" - the main one among them said contemptuously. Well, what can I say? Brains are boiled. I just don't plan to force them to negotiate.
"Let me try to explain one more time," I exhaled, sitting down on the chair opposite, "girls, in fact, you were the first to attack a representative of the Fire Nation, and not just anyone, but the prince." If in half an hour I declare you criminals and execute you, even your village chief will not say anything against it. Because damn it, I'll be in my own right. I don't know what kind of literacy you have been trained in, but in our common history, the moment of the agreement between Avatar Kyoshi and the Lord of Fire was very clearly described. You don't come to us, we came to you. Did you know about him?
Silence was a very good answer to my question. How would they know? It's the first time they've heard it, I'm sure. But they looked at me with such faces as if, of course, they knew, and in general, what kind of baby talk are you talking about here?
God, what kind of children they are.
- Of course, they didn't know. "Now calm down your fantasies and let's sit down together and think about what to do," I suggested, also slightly toning down my arrogance in tone, "I don't want to execute anyone today, just as I don't want to punish anyone, so we can part ways, by and large, simply by apologizing to each other." each other, roughly speaking, shook hands, promised not to do this again, and in different directions.
- We are not to blame for anything, we were just defending our island! — the main one among them said, also slightly reducing her pomposity.
At this statement, I just sighed heavily and, taking a chair, sat down again. The girls stood and I, sitting down, visually reduced the threat. It works against anyone, because whether it is a person or an animal, most of the information comes visually and even though we understand with our minds that the size will not change from squatting, the subcortex of the brain whispers that the smaller what we see, the less danger. This is very difficult to get out of yourself.
Therefore, the girls relaxed a little, looking at this matter, even their poses became less tense.
"You know, if you really were just defending your island, I wouldn't have said a word," I began to convey my thought, "but you also protected the avatar." The Avatar is the number one enemy of the Fire Nation, and he has only an indirect relation to that very treaty. And we can say that by defending him, you showed aggression, do you understand the idea?
"The Avatar is the keeper of peace and balance..." one of the girls was indignant, seemingly burning with a righteous flame.
"He's only human, in case you haven't noticed." An Avatar is simply a person who has much greater potential in magic than others, and has good contact with spirits," I interrupted, "His actions do not guarantee justice. His actions are still dictated by his views on the world, but what views could a young monk and two children have, who for the first time went beyond their home at the North Pole? A vision that cannot be close to reality.
Here I made a short pause, allowing my speech to be comprehended, but not allowing me to concentrate and start arguing.
- But that's okay, in fact, you dealt the first blow. You attacked Prince Zuko's subordinates...
"What were we supposed to do, tolerate the way they behaved?!" - the main one among them was indignant, - wait for them to kill someone?
"But this is the main problem of the situation, which I have to solve," I clicked my tongue, "both sides messed up." Therefore, in the square I will make an ethical speech, tell you what idiots everyone around is, you will shake hands and go about your business, understand?
"Suki," the main one suddenly said, "my name is Suki."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Aki," I answered immediately, "and what are you doing now?"
"You... are not the same as Kira was described to us," Suki hesitated somewhat, "you command at least some respect." "Unlike the rest of the Fire Nation warriors," the girl finished more quietly.
—Have you met many? - I chuckled, - you will be surprised, but the number of maniacs and psychos in the army does not depend on the nation, but on how many people there are in this very army.
"We talked to so many different people and they said...
"So rumors are just rumors," I shrugged, "and you can never believe them," I began to draw the line of the dialogue, "okay, I hope everything goes according to plan." I'll be waiting for you at the appointed time, so to speak. Hah.
***
Phew, what can I say? It's good that it's all over. The meeting on the main square passed, I said abstrusely: "Let's live together, this is just a misunderstanding," the prince nodded with a confused look, the Kyoshi warriors did the same, and everyone went home.
No, of course, everything was decent and according to the rules. Some of the regalia was removed from the prince, but in such a way as to show that he was not a prisoner or accused, but simply a detainee. The girls also only had all the dangerous parts removed, but were left with their clothes and so on.
In general, the conventions were followed and no one was offended. They held the event with dignity in the middle of the village, I acted as the judge, I didn't listen to anyone, I simply told how it all happened and passed a verdict.
Because everyone understood everything. There are two options for events here - either it's fucked up, or everyone just goes their own way. There is no third.
Well, I'm actually glad about this end, and therefore I decided to stay on this island for a couple more days, unlike Zuko. Either out of shame or anger, whoever understands it, he gathered his soldiers and left as soon as the main trial was over. I didn't even have time to say goodbye to Iroh. It's a pity, he brews very tasty tea.
And I wanted to talk to the smart person with whom General Lee compared me. And then I was so tired that I answered almost automatically, what was there to remember, something to discuss.
Only damn they strained me even more, they reminded me of "don't think twice, you are our hope." Here it is, bitches, if you think about it, they found an extreme fly plaque. Well, it's okay, I won't let them, so much so that they will still remember.
And Iroh, a smart man, a bitch, saw my condition, despite all my tricks, and only made shit up from above, let's say. It's good that I at least gave him a little tea, otherwise I definitely wouldn't have gotten there.
But I didn't even find out what kind of tea it was or with what additives. I can't believe for the life of me that this ordinary tea pumped me up with energy in a way that not any coffee could do. Maybe something narcotic? Yes, I'm also unlikely to have been completely sane... almost. But this is not considered due to fatigue and some shock. I made an avatar.
I'm not such a weakling as I thought. Although, okay, I'm just saying this for the sake of words. I didn't think of myself as a weakling, honestly, I saw different people, so I know the level of my strength. Sort of.
In any case, while our great captain Uli is visiting his son or whatever, I just dressed more casually and decided to wander around the village. What can I say? The houses, streets, shops and even shops do not evoke any delight. Village and village. Yes, and in the ass of the world.
But they had plenty of supplies, so we were able to purchase provisions for a very decent period of time. Just enough to get where you need to go, and there will still be some left over. And that's without any trickery. And our cunning is so hidden that who the hell can find it, they hid a bunch of different things on one island.
A kind of common fund, little by little, they even chipped away from their salaries in order to equip such a normal cache. By and large, you can get there from the continent by boat, but there's really nothing to do on a sail, not to mention the ships of the Fire Nation. And there will be enough reserve for all of us to sit there. And for one person for six months for sure.
It's true that you only eat rations, but there's nothing you can do about it.
- What is this for? — Some of my poor fellows asked me.
"It will come in handy," I answered, "who knows what direction life will take him, but here there is a place to rest or replenish supplies."
Well, of course, on the same island in the distance, he made his personal little hole. Just a fireman. Again, if it rots, I won't regret it, but if it comes in handy, then it's not a waste of time. The approach is simple, but working.
So I went for a walk around the city in simple clothes and came to the dojo, that's what they call it, for female warriors, where they were conducting their next training session, under the leadership of Suki.
And then, when I was watching their movements and listening to how much more work my poor fellows had to do, an absolutely crazy and stupid thought popped into my head, which I immediately wanted to implement.
I think there weren't enough good fighters there?
Why not use ready-made warriors? And somehow everything will be easier on the continent of earth when there are Kyoshi girls in the squad. They will help to look less scary for many ordinary people from the villages of the earth. After all, we will not deprive them of their form. Let's leave it just like that.
Well, at the same time, if we're lucky, we'll spread word of mouth that we're not that bad, because the girls will see the reality and will definitely tell their friends.
True, I'm discussing all this very well, the simplest thing left is to persuade the warriors themselves. Although contact with their main one seems to have already been established, it remains normal to throw in an offer. So that it sounds rude according to their concepts and so as not to offend.
The truth is, Agni knows how to do this, so I'll go straight ahead and take it with impudence, usually this approach works like a charm. It's true that it's Chinese, but it's a watch.
"Suki, right?" - I asked loudly, leaning on the frame of the entrance arch to the dojo, - as far as I remember, you are the main one here?
At the sound of my voice, everyone suddenly turned their attention to me and pointed their weapons. Yes, I can be very invisible when I want. Although in theory I can be completely invisible. Sound travels through the air, but am I a magician? That's right - air. This idea will need to be thoroughly tested, because it may be possible to amplify sound waves and cause something deafening. If only I could remember the basic physics course, then I'll definitely come up with something.
So the girls pointed their weapons in my direction, and in general, from a small club, as if by interests, divided into small flocks, some of which chatted more than trained, they turned into something corresponding to their name - into warriors.
"Whoa-whoa, I'm in peace ladies, put down your weapon," I raised my hands. Purely politically, by the way, even with this weapon pointed at me, you can inflate a scandal sufficient to demand some kind of compensation. But for some reason my conscience does not allow me to do this, they say there is so much money, don't take food away from the villages. Although I know for sure that he is far from the last. Kyoshi Island is a very rich village, one might say. It is not yet a city, only because there are few inhabitants and they simply have no need to build even more houses.
"Kira," Suki seemed to nod after a slight hesitation, but in reality you can tell the dick behind the makeup, but in her voice it still seems like she, "what are you doing here?"
"I was just walking around looking around and came across your dojo," I fell like a fool.
— Did you walk and look around on a hillock away from the main street? — Suki clarified skeptically.
"Yes," I nodded with a serious look. And what? Could this be the case? Quite. That's what happened. I don't know anything, I haven't seen anything.
"Okay," the warrior answered patiently, "did you find out what it is?" Then go away, our art is not for prying eyes. Or are you trying to find out the secrets of our state? — tried to say something in political Suki. She's lucky that I myself don't speak this language and therefore don't scoop out her brain with a teaspoon.
— The fact of the matter is that even during your training I noticed one very interesting detail. The similarity between my style and yours. The same stances, poses, strikes, the only difference is that my master and I sharpened my style like a rapier, and yours is sharpened like fans. But basically, this is actually the same martial art," and looking at the skeptical faces of the girls, I decided to show a little, "Look, I'll show you now."
With these words, I went to the center of the hall and simply began to demonstrate the simplest kata, which were too similar to what some girls were doing here a few minutes ago, until I unceremoniously interrupted them.
"It's true..." Suki stuck, continuing to examine my movements and apparently replaying pictures from her memory in her head.
I finished by beautifully returning the blade to its sheath and moving to the side in one step.
"But this is just a side effect, as a fact," I hushed up the topic, "let's now move on to the essence of the matter." How about working as mercenaries for my squad? Salary, bonuses, labor benefits, social insurance, everything is included - public service, after all.
- … What? — Suki literally spat out while exhaling, "are you asking us, the warriors of Kyoshi Island, who was an avatar, by the way, to join the group to capture the avatar?" As warriors of the Fire Nation?!
"No, no, no," I shook my head, "you misunderstood everything." Firstly, I'm not looking for an avatar, like my group, don't confuse Zuko and me, I have a mission in general in the Earth Kingdom, I have to go through all the villages with a fine comb and clean out the war criminals who were too crazy, feeling like kings in their workplaces. And the second point, as mercenaries, not soldiers of the Fire Nation. Feel different things. Oh, and at the same time, look at what kind of people live in the Army of the Fire Nation and whether the devil is as terrible as they paint him.
- We... need to think.
Surprisingly, they showed me out the door and actually started discussing the topic specifically. Well, as they say, why not if yes?
They did agree. Literally a few girls who are the first to try it out will go with us.
Well, good. And I don't need more. It looks like I know, by the way, what exactly I will be doing on the continent. And the girls will help me a lot in this matter.