The Ember Island Lighthouse: Beacon of Insanity (Short Stories, PG-13)

[Loopy]

Yes, I'm finally archiving my prose drabbles and short stories. Most of these first appeared in the Shipping thread(s), but I plan to do some new stuff, too. Expect regular updates for a while; I have a good backlog to work through.

Previous Fan Fiction:
Mai's Ramblings- My most famous work, it's a parody of Avatar, Shipping, and Everything.
Style - Zuko & Sokka have a swordfight in this one-shot.
Duel - Sukka swordfight and shipping.

Complete Fan Fiction Archives:
"Loopy777" on Fanfiction.net
"Loopy777" on deviantArt



The Way Toph Sees It

"I don't get why everyone was so mad.

"I mean, they argue all the time. And not mean arguing, either. It's that, 'Pay Attention to Me!' kind of arguing, the kind that sounds more like teasing. You know, what's the word? FLIRTATIOUS!! That's the one. They were always so flirtatious.

"And, it's not like I had the visual clues anyone else would have. I don't know nothing about eye color, or hair color, or skin tone, or facial structure, or any of that junk. Well, I guess I would know about faces, but I wasn't about to be asking to put my hands all over their mugs when we had just met. It's not polite, you know? So all that evidence went out the door.

"And, I mean, I didn't get out much. I didn't know what lovers acted like, or what siblings acted like, because honestly I'd never had friends, never mind boyfriends, and unless my parents were really good at keeping secrets, I didn't have any brothers or sisters. So, cut me a little slack, right?

"Anyway, if things were so innocent, I don't know why everyone freaked out like that. It's not like I said anything dirty, which I could have, if I wanted to. I just asked, all innocent-like, if Sokka and Katara were dating.

"That's no excuse to call me names."

END

[Loopy]

This was the winning entry for the first round of our new Avatar Drabble contest. The prompt was as follows...

Theme: Sunset
1. Beauty- A sunset is one of the most beautiful sights to see. I want to be able to feel the warmness of the sun on my skin, to see the orange and deep red of the sinking orb, and to picture the purple and pink clouds melting into the sky as the sun goes down.
2. Emotion- A sunset is usually a sign of romance, the day ending, calmness and serenity. Pic something like this, and portray that in your drabble.
3. Creativity- Try to think of something out of the box. I want you to really think about what you're writing. Stretch your mind.



SUNSET

The world died every day at sunset.

The light slowly drained away from the sky and land and the sea, leaving behind only darkness. The clouds in the sky, the textures of the leaves on the trees, the scattering of rocks and sands and grasses that made up the Earth, the rhythmically lapping waves and the foam that rode them- all of these things became invisible to even the most piercing eyes. Sight is nothing more than reflected light, and no flame or crystal or tiny fly is bright enough to fight back the night.

The world disappeared every day at sunset.

With the light, went its gentle heat. Light was more than just illumination; it was energy, and everything absorbed that energy like a thirsty sponge in the deepest ocean. Few things in the world, though, kept that energy for themselves. Almost all the objects on the Earth, even the Earth itself, shared the energy in the form of soothing warmth. Living creatures were no exception, and they above all else rejoiced in the exchange of heat. Yet when the Sun went down, the energy was gone from the very air, and what was once given freely became something to hoard… and to steal.

The world froze every day at sunset.

During the day, the sky is beautifully opaque, sometimes a soothing shade of blue, other times a resilient gray. The only thing that flies through the greatest heights during the day is the Sun itself; nothing else can even approach its splendor. Clouds and rains might pass beneath it, but the Sun still sails above all, always glowing through even the thickest obstacle. Whenever humanity needs a sign, a waypoint, a helpful guide, its members need only look up, and the Sun will be there to help. Once it is gone, the sky sheds its colors, and the chaotic stars rampage across the heavens. The stars cannot overcome the clouds, or the rains, or even the pathetically tiny constructions of mankind. Even when the stars can be seen, they are so shifting and scattered that only the most clever and educated can read them.

The world becomes an enemy at sunset.

To Sokka, it is an indisputable fact- the world died every day at sunset.

Yet, he does not fear death or the dead. Sokka could march into the darkest, coldest, most hostile night, and stand boldly with his back straight and his face looking forward. For, even in the land of the dead, there is someone he can trust to love him forever, and keep watch over him. When Yue gave up her life at the North Pole, in the Sacred Oasis, she became the Spirit of the Moon.

The Moon cannot rise until the Sun has set.

So, every day, he watches the sunset with contentment. As the world disappeared in the dark, froze in the cold, and became an enemy overhead, he simply enjoyed the sight for what it was, and awaited the arrival of his first great love. It wouldn’t be until late into his adult life that he could put the phenomenon, and his feelings, into words.

“The world dies every day at sunset. But death can be beautiful, too.”

END

[flamehead23a]

and it begins!

[NeeNee]

It's good that you're collecting your stories here. I probably haven't read most of them yet, and I know you're a good writer.

The first one is nice to read, and read again after you have reached the conclusion.

The second is... a bit heavy, but well written, and with a powerful ending.

I'll be coming back for more.

[Loopy]

Ah, you like the funny ones, eh? Sadly, most of backlog is actually serious stuff. I'll try to mix it up as best I can.


The Obvious Choice

The sun shown down on the balcony, energizing the red highlights all over the Royal Courtyard. The blue sky and white clouds were the only relief from the dreadful black architecture. Aang sighed and saw none of it.

Mai eyed him. "That's usually my line."

The monk did his best to push a polite smile on to his face. "I'm just a little disappointed. I was so sure Ty Lee may have been descended from the Air Nomads at some point. You know, because she's so jumpy. But all of my testing with her has shown nothing. She doesn't even have the slightest bit of Airbending chi."

Mai's own smile was small but genuine. "I just noted you were sighing like me, I didn't ask for the details of your latest love affair."

"WHA-?!?"

Mai sighed. "Relax, I was joking."

"Oh."

The silence that followed was as awkward as any Mai had perpetrated. She sighed again. "So why were you so sure Ty Lee was a secret Airbender. Just because she's agile?"

The seemed to reaquire the monk's interest. "I've found records, of a traitor to the Air Nomads, who came to live in the Fire Nation. I thought he might have had some descendants, you know, who weren't all killed or in hiding, and Ty Lee's features were so non-Firey..."

Time for another shot. "Ugh, I don't want to hear any more about Ty Lee's features."

"No!" Aang's blushed contrasted strangely with his arrow tattoo. "Not like that! I meant-"

"Me. Joking." This was getting depressing. "You're not very bright, you know that?"

His scowl was becoming fiercer. "Thanks."

"No, really. You have no understanding of Fire Nation humor, and you missed a real live Airbender who's been right under your nose the whole time."

It took a second to catch up. "Um... ?"

"You think Ty Lee jumps like an Airbender, but did you ever wonder how I can throw a little knife with such force that it can yank a grown man off his feet and drag him to be pinned to a wall?"

Maybe more than just a second. "Wait..."

She couldn't stop herself now, even if she wanted to. "No one can throw that hard. But with a little extra wind power..." She waved her hand, and a slight breeze passed over Mai and the Avatar.

His jaw coudln't have dropped any lower without broken bones.

She couldn't resist one last zinger. "So what do Air Nomad 'features' look like anyway?"

He was still beyond a response. Mai smirked. At least he wasn't stealing her sighing-shtick anymore.

END

[flamehead23a]

0__O

...I think my brain just exploded a little.

[Loopy]

I wrote this piece for the local Halloween exchange last October. My secret recipient was arasam22, who listed Irko (non-romantic) as one of her favorite relationships. Since I lack any talent in the visual arts (don't let artists fool you, you have to be born with a certain amount of skill), I settled on a poem as a nice gift, although I have little experience with the genre. (Also, I guess these aren't all prose pieces, eh? Ah well.)


The Haunting of Ba Sing Se

Slowly crept the mute Blue Spirit.
He used the Dark, did not fear it.
His swords were tied to body black,
Defense in case the Light struck back.
Slowly crept the mute Blue Spirit.

Many nights had seen his visage,
Only donned to haunt and pillage.
This time he ghosted Ba Sing Se,
To taint false peace with mischief fey.
Many nights had seen his visage.

Ba Sing Se was brimmed with fear.
Unwary souls could disappear.
Demons controlled this gilded place,
To eyes they were of human race.
Ba Sing Se was brimmed with fear.

The wise stayed home where love could shield.
Towards thieves and spies, the doors were sealed.
Yet Spirit Blue did brave the night,
To enact a plan of pure spite.
The wise stayed home where love could shield.

A modest shop had raised his ire,
He willed revenge of purging fire.
In day they came to sip hot tea,
Unmasked he served on bended knee.
A modest shop had raised his ire.

No walls or locks could keep him out,
He always found a hidden route.
He slipped inside as midnight passed.
The time for flame was coming fast.
No walls or locks could keep him out.

He sensed that he was not alone.
In back he saw a candle shone.
Iroh was working a late shift,
To blend the leaves so sure and swift.
He sensed that he was not alone.

Why would his Uncle be here late?
He should be home, full and sedate.
Did love for tea rob him of sleep,
Or devils in his dreams did creep?
Why would his Uncle be here late?

Blue Spirit did fly, unfulfilled.
He could not risk Iroh be killed.
Alone again the old man smiled,
Pleased to outsmart his wayward child.
Blue Spirit did fly...

...unfulfilled.

END

[Jall]

I liked that one. It was very interesting.

[Loopy]

Yet another idea that came from the shipping thread...


Safe

Azula opened her eyes. Stupid Mommy was still sitting the cell across from her. With a huff of annoyance, the young princess spoke. "You can leave, you know. I don't need two of you."

Stupid Mommy's smile nearly faltered. "I'm the only one here."

That's why Stupid Mommy was Stupid Mommy. "I know that, Dum Dum. Smart'n'Mean Mommy isn't here right now because I broke the mirror again. Once Zu Zu has another one sent, she'll be back. And he will send one. It's the only thing he can do for me now, and he doesn't want me to be sad because he thinks I'm sad too much. But I don't think so. I smile sometimes when I get a new mirror, and sometimes I like sending Smart'n'Mean Mommy away, too."

"Oh," Stupid Mommy cooed, "there's no need to be sad. Here in Ba Sing Se we are safe."

That's why Stupid Mommy was Stupid Mommy. "No, we're not, Dum Dum. We're in the Fire Nation. Well, I am, at least. You left during the war, and sometimes I see you when Zuko and the others say you aren't really there, so maybe you're in Ba Sing Se."

"How could I leave during the war? There is no war. Here in Ba Sing Se, we're safe behind the walls."

"I hate you," Azula declared amiably. "My other Mommy is really mean, but at least she knows there's a war. I don't care if people hate me, so long as they're smart about things. If Zuko and Mai and Ty Lee had been smart, we would have won the war and be happy right now."

"There is no war in Ba Sing Se." Stupid Mommy's perpetual smile became even wider.

Azula just sighed, and crawled over to the shards of the broken mirror to hug them. Now she missed Smart'n'Mean Mommy. She hoped Zuko sent a new mirror soon.

Ursa, sitting her cell across from her daughter, saw the mirrored shards cut Azula's skin as she hugged them. The princess wasn't trying to hurt herself, but it happened away, unnoticed. Ursa would have been more concerned, but her eyes were obviously lying. How could Azula be cut and bleeding if she was safe here in Ba Sing Se?

END

[NeeNee]

Wow, that was creepy. Makes you wonder which one is the most sane of the two.

I'd so cry if that was Ursa's fate.

[Loopy]

And now for something lighter and sillier...


Mai and Sokka's Tall Tale

Sokka had been surprised to discover that not only did the Fire Nation understand and make use of the concept of a vacation, they had a rather long one set by ages of tradition at a rather convenient time of year. When the hottest month of the summer rolled around, the Capital City effectively shut down and all the nobles retreated to their vacation estates to make the best of the weather. Most service business throughout the Fire Nation also closed down, but of course farmers and merchants were simply left to endure.

For the more privileged, especially the personal friends of Fire Lord Zuko, that meant a hot and sweaty vacation opportunity that was simply not to be missed. Everyone was staying at the Fire Lord's private complex on Ember Island, even his little sister Azula who was recovering nicely from her brain surgery and seemed to be completely reformed except for a new tendency to giggle all the time (which everyone decided to take as a good sign since they couldn't figure out what it meant).

Many interesting things happened to the group during this vacation, if one considered romantic and general comedy to be interesting. A particular incident (of several, perhaps- it all depends on the fickle nature of whatever power arranges for these things to happen) involved Sokka of the Water Tribe and Mai of the Fire Nation.

The whole group had been playing a game that Sokka didn't entirely understand but consisted of his friend Toph getting to throw a light inflatable ball at everyone else while they ran for cover on the hot shadeless beach. There didn't seem to be much point other than that but everyone was enjoying running around and Toph was enjoying beaning her friends with all her strength and so the game continued throughout the afternoon. At several points there were brief brakes whilst the participants caught their breath, and during one of these Sokka found himself standing next Mai.

Mai had never really been friends with Sokka or any of the others (aside from Zuko, of course, who claimed to have been dating the girl for over a decade despite their young age, and Ty Lee and Azula, who claimed to have been friends with the girl for over a decade despite her lack of conversational skills) prior to their post-war get-togethers, and she had made no real attempt to connect with any one of them since then. Everyone else, in turn, was reluctant to attempt to connect with a girl who always spoke in a monotone, dressed in dark colors specifically chosen for their ability to depress people, and played with knives with a disturbingly intense passion. At this particular moment, though, Sokka suddenly found Mai to be an object of great interest.

Specifically, Sokka found Mai's color to be altogether baffling. She was wearing proper (not counting the depressing color) beachwear, but despite the considerable amount of her skin that was exposed to the sun, her pale unhealthy pigmentation was completely unaffected. She wasn't tanning at all, despite her hours in the sun, nor was she even the least bit red, like poor Toph who was going to discover later why lightly-complexioned people should cover up a bit at this time of year. In fact, despite all the running everyone had been doing, and the unrelenting heat of the sun, she wasn't perspiring, and her hair was completely unmussed. It was as though she had just stepped out of the ridiculously well-appointed house and onto the beach for the first time this instant.

And so in his surprise Sokka found himself staring in a rather intense manner at Mai. Even worse, he was staring at the the bits of her body that were currently uncovered with a degree of concentration that would have had her boyfriend Zuko exhaling fire and not just to amuse everyone like he did the previous night when they were roasting marshmallows.

Then Mai picked up on his attention.

Without otherwise moving, her eyes swung to take in her one-person audience. The act should have only taken an instant and been completely silent, but somehow it seemed to Sokka to be a slow process that hung in time long enough for fear to completely blanket his soul, accompanied by the sound of polished marble sliding easily against smoothed granite. Then she spoke, her voice even and cool, a sound that Sokka always considered an appropriate accompaniment to the sight of two slabs of ice attempting to mate and not enjoying the process at all.

"What?"

Sokka couldn't keep his own voicing from rising in fear, just a little bit. "How are you not baking in all this sun and heat? Even Katara and I are practically hard boiled by now. Hey, even Azula is breathing hard."

Mai eyes locked onto his own. She still hadn't moved. "My body can't be affected by a something as petty as a hot day. Haven't you heard the legend?"

Sokka shook his head.

Mai spoke. "I'm a direct descendant of the Spirit of Death herself. Long ago, Agni the Spirit of the Sun found his heart gripped by loneliness. He wanted love, but no other Spirit could withstand him. He had attempted to love the Spirit of the Earth, but her rock skin had turned to lava in his presence and all the plants burned, so she forced him away. He had tried to love the Spirit of the Seas, but she had boiled at his touch and life everywhere choked, so she shrank from him. He had even presented himself to the whimsical Spirit of the Air, but his shine had filtered through her and blinded all living things on the planet, so she spurned him. Agni could not bear the thought of being alone for all of time, so he stopped rising and left the world in eternal night. The Moon, who was graceful and beautiful but was already pledged to forever dance away from Agni in the sky, saw that the balance was disturbed, so she took action and went to the one spirit she knew could withstand the sun's touch. She found the Spirit of Death, and brought her to where the sun lay. Agni reached out a hand to her, and she took it, impressed by his majesty and his glow of Life, and she did not burn or dry. So cold was the touch of Death, she could even quench the fire of the Sun itself with her body. And so the Sun and Death fell in love, and knew happiness. But it could not last. Although Death herself was only slightly warmed by his scalding touch, none of the dead souls could tolerate the light when they approached Death for collection. Agni would not leave Death, so intense was his love for her, and Death could not bear to send him away. Balance was once again upset, so Death was forced to act. She took her long black hair, made of never-ending night, and cut several locks. She took these, hardened them in the freezing depths of eternity, sharpened them against the sturdiest mountains on the Earth, and used the blades to cut Agni's heart from his chest. No longer burdened by emotion, he left Death and continued his duties in the sky without fail. Death, however, was heartbroken at what had to be, and so she never took another lover, and shunned contact with all other Spirits. She settled in the Fire Nation, the mortals most devoted to her only love, living alone by day and going out at night to collect the dead souls. My family sprung from her, and we are revered as the most holy line second only to the House of the Fire Lord itself."

Sokka was dumbstruck. That was the most words he had ever heard Mai string together at one time. It probably put her over quota for the whole week. Finally, he found the strength to respond. "If Death never took another lover, how can you be descended from her?"

Mai's eyes softened as she looked at him. She moved slightly, for the first time since they spoke. "You're smarter than you look." Her mouth moved into a skewed line that might have been a smile.

Sokka found himself grinning. He believed he had just made a new friend.

Later that night, Toph was quite sunburned and cursed loudly about it, but still ate almost as many marshmallows as Sokka.

END

[aanggirl]

i like it

[NeeNee]

Made me smile.

Hey, I did pick up the flaw in the story as well. Am I smart now?

[Ambiguity7]

Love the thread title.

How can say you lack talent in the visual arts when the description and life here allows the reader to have a clear visual of what's going on?

[Loopy]

Love the thread title.

Shout out to Zak Crimsonleaf for the original inspiration! I learned to walk right next to a lighthouse.




Made for Each Other

Jet brandished his swords and offered a grin of pure malice. "There's no way I can make you suffer as much as all the Fire Nation's victims, but I'm going to give it my best try."

Zhao snorted. "Indeed. The arrogance of your people never ceases to amaze me. You're just a boy, living like a filthy animal in a tree, the son of two worthless peasants who added nothing to the world, fighting for a bankrupt nation held back by its own chaotic nature. And you think you can scare me?"

Jet's reply was a feral snarl and his opening attack. Despite his greater age, Zhao reacted swiftly, dodging around the hooked blades and blasting a fiery explosion at Jet's feet, knocking the boy back into a stumble. The Freedom Fighter opened his mouth for a taunt as he caught his balance. "Go ahead and keep talking, Firebender. It isn't going to stop me." He began circling the Admiral, his arms bending in front of him to position the swords defensively at ready.

Zhao smirked, and took a stance. "Come on, then. I've been feeling the need to smack around a loud-mouthed teenage brat for a while now."

Sharp flames whistled through the air, and smoking swords seared the grass.

END

[Jall]

Wow. I'll have to think about this. 10/10.

[Loopy]

The Other Talk

The talk had been good. Zuko now had friends he could go to, people who liked him and had shared in his experiences, but there was still a great comfort in going over it all for Uncle. The new Fire Lord took a sip of tea to refresh his throat.

Uncle took the opportunity to shift the subject. "So, I hear you've taken a lady friend..."

Zuko felt a warmth grow inside that had nothing to do with the tea. "Yeeeeaaaaah."

"Do I know her?"

"I think so. It's Mai."

Uncle's face scrunched as he tried to connect the name to a face. "The acrobat?"

"No! The gloomy one with the knives!"

"Ah yes. Her. I hope you don't call her that to her face." He thought about it a little more. "I would have thought you'd go for the acrobat. You had such a cute little crush on her when you were-"

"That was so long ago I can barely remember it," Zuko informed him. "There's no one but Mai now, and there's never been anyone but Mai."

"Ah. If you say so, nephew." Iroh paused only to a long draw from his cup. "Are you sure you've considered all the possibilities, though? Will she make you a good wife?"

Zuko was proud of how calmly he was taking this. His visit to the Sun Warriors had changed him profoundly, besides giving him a renewed belief in the concept of pants. "Uncle. When you were in prison and I was playing at being Father's prince, I was angry and lost. I was mean, mean to Mai. Eventually, I was able to admit that I was angry at myself. We talked shortly after that, and I told her part of the problem was that I missed having you in my life. She didn't say much; she never does in those situations. But after that, every time I was upset, she'd make tea. Jasmine tea. Just like you brew it. I never, you know, thanked her or anything, but it helped. And she didn't need my thanks." He looked Uncle in the eyes. "Do you understand, now?"

The older man put his cup down. "Yes, nephew, I do. You have made a good start. Pursue it, and see where it leads."

Zuko smiled in thanks.

Iroh picked his tea back up and finished it off. "You and the Waterbender would have made some handsome babies, though."

Zuko's cup didn't survive the fall.

END

[Loopy]

This was the 2nd place entry for the latest round of the Avatar Drabble contest. The prompt was as follows...

Silent Partner: OC + Canon Character Challenge
The exercise is called "Silent Partner", from The 3 AM Epiphany, modified to meet your Avatar fan fiction needs:

Contemplate for a while, and then slowly write down, a conversation between several people in which one person says very little - or nothing at all. Make this silent partner a crucial part of the situation, and don't ignore the character just because s/he's not speaking.

My twist on this challenge is that the conversation should include at least one original character that you invent, and at least one character from canon, preferably, but not necessarily, one of the bigger characters (Aang, Zuko, etc.). All other characters participating in the conversation are Author's choice. They can be OC characters, cannon characters, mystical magical talking air bison...

Judging Criteria:

1) Well Developed OC - whether your OC is doing the talking or playing the silent partner, I want to have a basic sense of who this character is. It doesn't take long to make an impression. Think, for example, of Katara and Sokka finding Aang in the iceberg. That scene tells us just about everything we need to know about Sokka and Katara in 30 seconds. Or Toph's introduction... all she has to do it call the Boulder "The Pebble" and we know what she's about - and we haven't even seen her fight yet! I don't need to know your OC's lifestory by the end of the drabble, but I should have a good impression of their personality and what they're all about.

2) Show, don't Tell - what makes for better writing, "Katara felt afraid" or "Katara could feel her heart beating wildly inside her chest as she struggled to keep from jerking back like a spooked wolf-horse..." Describing what a character does to show us how they feel is always more effective than telling us that they feel.

3) Pacing - it can be hard to weave dialogue and description. Try to make sure you have a good balance of both, without having a section become bogged down by description piled on top of description covered in more description, or another section that breezes by because its all dialogue with barely any room for, "said Sokka." Which isn't to say that there won't be some sections that have more dialogue than other. Balance is the key.

The OC I used is one I made up a while ago. If you're interested in the full backstory, I recommend you read this piece first, and then the Bio.



Silent Conversations

The Hall of the Fire Lord had been rebuilt several decades ago, after an accident of mysterious nature. Those few palace servants who couldn't keep their mouths shut about the circumstances were generously given free assistance with their commanded silence. Once stately in decor and brightly lit in the manner of a warm summer day, such an atmosphere was left in the dead past. Now, the Throne Room was built from glistening sealed wood, as dark in color as polished obsidian. The dimensions were massive enough to foster echoes of the slightest sound, but the pillars that towered over any visitors broken the rebounding sound into pathetic whispers. The Fire Lord's throne, covered in a gold canopy, was itself quite large, but the laughing flames separating it from the rest of the room dominated the scene. The Fire Lord appeared as a sinister shadow in the midst of blood-rust light.

Fire Lord Sozin had an audience.

"I commanded the three of you to find and destroy the greatest threat to the Fire Nation," he declared softly but harshly to the bowing figures. His aged, gravely voice was harshly discernable from the crackling fire around him. "I would hear of your failure. Li. Lo. You may rise."

The twin teenagers gracefully lifted their heads from the floor, settling into respectful crouches. Their eyes briefly met, and glanced down at the figure between them, still in a full bow. They spoke in their usual, eerie manner.

"Per the instructions of our Lord..."

"We set out from the Temple in the South."

"We consulted the captured lore of the Nomads..."

"And followed the winds in search of our target."

The twins delivered their closing report simultaneously, slowly, and with great fear. "Yet we could not find the last Airbender."

They could not see the details of the Fire Lord's expression, but the flaring fires were clue enough. His voice remained frighteningly even. "You two have served loyally, and I am pleased with your work. No one else in the whole of the Fire Nation could have read the Wind Lore of the Airbenders, but your wisdom and skills are just as great as I have heard. You will have further opportunity to serve me."

The young twins straightened their backs even further, prevented by protocol from expressing their pride and elation in any other way. Their eyes once again met, and reluctantly sunk to the woman still bowing between them. Her arms had to be tired, still positioned formally in a fan-like shape, but both remained strong and still.

Even the one missing its hand.

The Fire Lord spoke again. "No, my displeasure is for your companion. Tell me, Li, of the aid Mikkoku provided to you during the hunt."

"She... She was assigned as our warrior. My Lord... she was said to be a specialist in dealing with the Avatar."

"You remember well. I did indeed inform of you her special capacity. Lo, how did she make use of those skills, the skills that won her haven in my growing Empire, during your mission?"

"The Lady Mikkoku had no opportunity to use them. We did not find the Avatar. She had no knowledge of the winds, and so Li and I led."

"Well said. This is not the first time her supposed special knowledge has failed to be of use to me. I am as displeased as her former master must have been."

It was hard to tell, as Li and Lo could only see Mikkoku in their peripheral vision, but she seemed to twitch slightly at the pronouncement.

The Fire Lord's shadow leaned forward. "One last question for my loyal servants. Li, Lo... if you were to find the Avatar, how would you kill him?"

The twins spoke without hesitation, their voices trading off in easy cadence.

"The Avatar may be a great power with the ability to fly..."

"Yet he reports say he would be a child to the experienced eye..."

Their final pronouncement was confident. "And with proper planning, even a Spirit can be made to die."

Sozin gave one, echoing laugh. "Were but my advisors as wise as you two young ladies. You have summarized the situation perfectly. I think you would agree that we no longer have any need of our vaunted 'Avatar Slayer', eh?"

Mikkoku tensed, even as she remained bowing to the Fire Lord, ready for a fight. Li and Lo did likewise, in case the order came.

Apparantly, the Fire Lord was feeling generous. "The failure Mikkoku is hereby banished from the Fire Nation. The maimed and broken wretch is no longer welcome in my lands. Let her go to the Earth Kingdom, or back to her hidden home."

The woman rose silently. Li and Lo had to stifle smirks at how she couldn't even straighten in defiance with her twisted back, and her slight limp ruined any attempt at a proud retreat. How the failure could claim to kill an Avatar, neither could fathom. Members of the Crimson Guard fell into step behind the assassin, to ensure she left the capital without incident.

The Fire Lord's attention had already fallen from the silent outcast. "And now, my loyal subjects, let us discuss how you may avoid the same fate, in the future..."

The eyes of Li and Lo met once again, and many unspoken words passed between them.

END

[Loopy]

Zuko's Perfect Wedding

Zuko had to admit, things went pretty well. There hadn't been any fighting between the nobles and the foreign visitors, and as they night went on, the wine loosened their moods enough that there was even some friendly conversation between them. Aang had been the life of the party with his dancing, and Katara had been completely polite with Mai. Sokka had been planned for, and had been quite content to stuff his face and nod amiably at everyone near him. Toph had gotten bored quickly, but Zuko had anticipated that as well, and the drug in her tea had knocked her out an hour into things. Suki, of course, was such a perfect a guest, she was hardly worth mentioning. Even Ty Lee wasn't too loud.

If only the bouquet hadn't been caught by one of the Royal Crimson Guard. Granted, with thirty members present to keep Azula in line, the odds were in their favor. And Mai didn't seem to care. But Zuko couldn't help but consider a tiny failure.

It bothered him.

The guard was elated.

END

[Jall]

Hooray! Zuko and  Mai. What on earth am I doing? 10/10

[Zuko-Fan-Girl]

I loved the Maiko talk with Zuko and Iroh!

10/10

[Loopy]

Higher Calling

"How was it, the first time?"

Ty Lee didn't answer at first, lowing her gaze and staying silent.

"Please? I need to know."

She flipped into a handstand, but didn't turn around, so that he couldn't see her face. "The backlash hurt. I cried for a whole day, afterward. Azula didn't like that, so she made me do it every day after that until it didn't matter anymore. She had me use Zuko, but when their mother found out I had to stop and only use other kids at school."

Aang considered that. "At first it wasn't bad for me. I was proud that I came up with a way to stop Ozai without hurting him. But as time passed, it started to bother me. The feel of it didn't go away. The adrenaline high faded, my elation at our victory faded, even my love for Katara faded, but the sense of his chi didn't. It's all I can taste, now."

Ty Lee swung back down into a crouch and looked at him. "But do you feel bad about it?"

"I didn't at first. But..."

She waited.

"...I realized a while ago that it felt like this for him, only worse, and while I have my own Bending to sustain me, he had nothing."

She nodded. "Have you cried yet?"

"No."

"I think you need to."

He closed his eyes and nodded in agreement, and with that action, all the feeling manifested in the physical world as tears and sobs. It got more intense as he continued, until it was almost painful, and Ty Lee felt compelled to hold him until he stopped.

They were never seen by mortal eyes again.

END

[Loopy]

Yet another 2nd place win in the Pai Sho Board's Drabble contest. Zombie's criteria was...

Theme - Democracy

"We all know that there are a lot of powerful people in the Avatar world who were not appointed by the people, including many of the good guys. So I want you to explore what happens when people don't fall in line with the desires of their king/chief/fire lord/avatar etc."

Judging Criteria
1 - Conflict - I want at least two opposing intellectual/moral positions (multiple contradictory positions being held by one character is fine).
2 - Show, don't tell. - Just like Grey Fable's challenge. Although this is an ideological theme, try and avoid having characters just giving each other lectures.
3 - Moral turmoil. - I want to see characters struggling with figuring out what path to take. Extra points for subtlety and complexity.

The Democracy of Omashu

When Bumi felt he was ready, he challenged the King Of Omashu to an Earthbending duel.

It was his legal right, of course. Omashu may have been a peaceful city, but in the time before time, the ancestors of its people had been warriors, fierce and merciless. Although a love for Earthbending had replaced the love for taking life, there was still a hereditary toughness that had persisted, and a fondness for the city's peacekeeping warriors as strong as for its Benders. Being the ruler of the original home of Earthbending, Omashu's monarch was expected to be a formidable Bending fighter. Not the greatest, necessarily, as the Challenge Law was only invoked at the greatest need.

That's why everyone was surprised when Bumi made his bid for Kingship.

He didn't bother proclaiming his reasons, or even saying anything about the King at all. When asked why he was making the challenge, he just replied, "Don't you think it's a good idea?" No one ever answered him back.

He won, naturally. There was, and never would be, an Earthbender quite like Bumi.

Upon taking the throne, he supposed that something placating to the people, like a holiday or citywide feast, should be declared, just to keep everyone happy. Really, though, he had a lot of things we wanted done, and there was a war on. Revelry like that needed a good reason, something other than a lunatic stealing control of one of the Earth Kingdom's greatest City States. A hanging might be more appropriate, but Bumi couldn't think of anyone he wanted dead at that time, at least amongst the city's prisoners.

The palace staff did whatever he told them. That was lots of fun. They learned to stay on their toes, and be ready to do anything while keeping a respectful straight face. Some may have even learned to enjoy themselves (it was hard to say). The Peacekeepers were also very reliable, but a lot less fun. Bumi couldn't risk ruining the people's (or the enemy's) respect for the Omashu soldiers.

The people themselves were a different matter. They felt, if anything, a little trapped. There was a war outside, a nasty one. People were dying. Even Ba Sing Se was drawing into itself. (Bumi considered going over there and challenger their King to a duel, but he didn't know if they had the same Law, and going all that way just to be disappointed didn't sound like a good use of time.) Yet here the people of Omashu were, stuck in a realm with a lunatic ruler who was too good a fighter to be deposed any time soon. His regular rides on the Mail Slides probably didn't inspire any confidence, either. That's why he made his little trips. As much as he might want to spend all day riding the world's greatest super slide, he would often emerge from his latest crash, dust himself off, and start walking and talking with whoever was around.

"So, what do you think of the current tax rate? I think it's a little low, especially if we want to fix those bridges. Good Earthbenders with that kind of fine skill don't come cheap, and I think we really need to look at them."

"I'm doing some urban renewal, and I was wondering what neighborhoods you thought I should look at. You're a merchant, you get around a lot, right?"

"Hey, you want to stay at the palace for the night? In the morning, I'd love it if you could do me a favor and tell me about how the rooms were. I think they're getting a little run down, and we want to make sure any guests of the city are good and comfortable, but I really don't want to tear the place apart unless I need to. I'll even give you dinner. We have fresh cabbage tonight."

"Hey, you look smart. Want to be a minister?"

The people found it a little disturbing at first, and to be sure, he was always making decisions that confounded and angered many. Yet there was still a sense of trust developing. They rarely understood it, but they found themselves doing whatever it was Bumi ordered without hesitation. (Complaining was another matter.)




"So that's why I consider my city a Democracy, young Toph. I may be King, but they all do what I say because they want to. I'm just their will, with all its strangeness and insanity, personified. The previous guy wasn't, so that's why I challenged him and tossed him out."

"So, I can challenge you right now, and become Queen of Omashu if I beat your old butt?"

"Sure! But watch out! Even if you win, you might not be in charge. How many around here will take orders from a little girl?"

"What about the people of the Fire Nation. They did what Fire Lord Ozai ordered because they wanted to? That was a democracy, too?"

“That's one way of looking at it. I can't really say. I've never had dinner with any of the people in the Fire Nation, so I don't know what they were thinking. It's too bad, because I used to like that spicy food when I was young. We didn't get any after the war broke out, and traveling there was just impossible, of course. Even Iroh was eating jook before we attacked Ba Sing Se."

"Unless I want be eating more than Sokka, I guess the only way to find out about this place is to beat you up and see."

"That's one way of looking at it. Good pun, by the way."

Toph twisted her feat, and the Earth loyally launched her at the mad king.

Bumi smiled.

END

[NeeNee]

Nice one. It's sort of ... cute, in a weird way. And sort of funny, in a non-laughing way.

But it made me smile like an idiot almost the entire time. Couldn't even say why, exactly, but it did. So yeah, nice read. Love your style.

[Loopy]

I've put quite a bit of work into my style, so I always like hearing that. Thanks for sticking with this thread!

This time, we have another idea from the shipping thread. Concept by High Elemental, ship by Luna.


Can You See Him?

"See? It's a tower like on the palace!"

"Wow! You're really good at blocks. They fall over when I do them that high. I can't ever do it right. I... I..."

"It's okay, Azula. I'm here so I can stack them for you. You don't have to worry about anything ever again. Now... do you want to knock them down?"

"Ha! I love you, Lu Ten!"

Iroh felt the breath flee his body, like a broken army racing from the devastation of the battlefield. Did he hear that right? Was she talking about his son?

"Mommy came today."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I should have been here."

"It's okay. You're here now."

"Good. I'm glad you're happy now."

"...Lu Ten?

"Yes, cousin?"

"I love you."

"You just said that. But I never get tired of hearing it."

"No, I mean... you know."

"Yes. As soon as you feel it, I know, Azula. I understand you like no one ever has. And I'll never leave you."

"Oh!"

"Are you okay?"

"I... it... you... I'm just... so happy... it's hard to talk..."

"Then don't. Come here and give me a hug. I'll just hold you. Do you remember that song, the one I used to sing?"

"Yes. That was before you left. You said Uncle would sing it to you. You sang it to Zuzu. I don't like it."

"You should, now. They never hear it anymore. Your uncle can't sing it to me, because he thinks I'm dead. And I'd never sing it to Zuko again. I'm all for you now, Azula. This song is all for you."

"Oh!"

"Yes. Now here, let me hold you. I'll sing. Just relax."

She quieted. Was she asleep? Yet her smile was firm, not the weak leftovers of a pleasant dream. Then her voice sounded again.

"Ha! You want to sing, too, Azula?"

"Yes! I like the new words. Let's sing together!"

"Okay! We'll pick up where we left off... Braaave soldier girl, come marching home!"

Iroh ran from the scene. It was hard enough seeing Azula this way, but to hear her voice, singing those words, echoing from the cold stones, as the chill air wrapped around his body...

Iroh ran.

END