JB21Q
patreon
Emerald Dragon chapter 22
🕑 Added 2021-08-16 21:36:48 +0000 UTCChapter 22 -
"Where is dad? Is he here?" Sokka asked, his voice hopeful.
"No, unfortunately not." Bato sighed, shaking his head. "He and the other warriors should be in the Eastern Earth Kingdom by now. This is no place for a reunion. Let's get somewhere warmer." He said before he wrapped an arm around Sokka and Katara and began leading them away while the others followed. A short while later they arrived at a nearby campsite. "After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey. The sisters have cared for me ever since." He said as they arrived in the courtyard where they found several nuns walking around, talking to each other. "Ah, Superior." He said to one nun, presumably the lead nun. "these are Hakoda's children. They've been traveling with the Avatar and um..." He trailed off awkwardly as he struggled to find a way to introduce Harry.
"It's alright, I've heard the rumors, same as you." Mother Superior said to him before turning to Harry. "If I'm correct then you are the Emerald Dragon, is that right?"
"Yes, it is," Hary said in a polite voice. "and yes, I will behave." He added when he saw her open her mouth.
"I found them by my boat," Bato told her.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Avatar." She said to Aang. "It gives me great joy, to welcome you to our abbey."
"Thanks!" Aang smiled, giving her a small bow. "And don't worry about my friend," He said, pointing to Harry. "he's really a nice guy, he's actually quite misunderstood."
"I'll take your word for it." She replied, sounding somewhat doubtful.
"What's that smell?" Sokka asked suddenly.
"Hmm," Katara sniffed the air. "it smells nice."
"Oh, sisters craft ointments and perfumes," Bato explained.
"Well maybe we should get some and make a bath full of it for Appa because he stinks so much," Sokka said, laughing loudly, causing everyone to look at him. "am I right?" He asked with a wide smile, one that got noticeably smaller when he saw the lack of amusement from everyone else.
"You have your father's sense of humor." Bato sighed as he rolled his eyes.
"Oh, so being a dumbass is hereditary then?" Harry asked casually, earning an exasperated look from Katara, an offended look from Sokka, and an actual glare from Bato.
"Someone like you shouldn't even mention him." Bato snarled.
"Wow, living with nuns but no forgiveness huh?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Wow, this is just like home." Katara grinned as they all stepped into the hut where Bato was staying, there was a tent opposite the door, likely the place where Bato would sleep. There was a small fire in the middle of the hut and pelts were placed all around it.
"I'm glad you like it," Bato said, giving Katara a warm smile as he and the two siblings sat down by the fire before he noticed Harry looking around. "though I'm sure you're friend probably isn't used to sleeping in a place like this." He added, frowning at Harry while pouring some food for Katara and Sokka.
"I've slept in better, I've also slept in worse." Harry shrugged.
"Glad to..."
"So, Bato," Katara quickly interrupted whatever Bato was about to say. "was it true that you and dad lassoed an arctic hippo?"
"Well," Bato chuckled. "it was your father's idea, I was just dragged along." He said before he started telling stories like an old grandpa at a family celebration. Harry barely paid attention and instead looked around the hut, when he did look back occasionally he saw Aang try and join the conversation unsuccessfully multiple times. Katara and Sokka were just so happy to talk to another person from their tribe, especially one that they hadn't seen in years, that they didn't notice how upset Aang was.
"Aang," Harry said as he walked over and patted Aang's shoulder. "come on, let's go practice some waterbending." He suggested.
"Huh? Oh yeah, that sounds like a good idea." Aang said as he stood up. "Hey guys, we're going to go practice." He said to Katara and Sokka, hoping to catch their attention.
"Hmm, yeah, sure." Sokka said dismissvely.
"Yeah, see ya." Katara nodded without taking her attention away from Bato. Aang's head dropped slightly, Harry patted him on the shoulder, he was about to pull Aang out of the tent when Bato spoke up again.
"There's something I should tell you kids. I'm expecting a message from your father."
An excited Katara looked like she was going to burst with happiness. "Really?!"
"When?!" Sokka demanded, eyes wide.
"Any day now," Bato answered. "your father said he'd send a message when they found the rendezvous point. If you wait until the message arrives, you can come with me, and see your father again." He offered.
"We haven't seen him in two years," Sokka whispered to Katara. "I...I can't believe it."
"I know," Katara nodded. "it would be great to see him."
Harry saw Aang's eyes close and decided it would be best to leave so he patted him on the shoulder once more before pulling him out of the hut.
"It'll be alright, mate." Harry said as the two kept walking, "It'll be alright." Harry repeated as he gently rubbed the top of Aang's head.
"W...why are you rubbing my head?" Aang couldn't help but ask.
"Everyone knows bald people like getting their heads rubbed," Harry said, sounding like he had just spouted a very obvious fact. "so...you want to talk about why you're upset?" Harry offered, removing his hand from Aang's head. Aang huffed, before taking in a deep breath.
"It's just...I can't believe they would leave me." Aang sighed.
"You don't know that they've left you," Harry replied. "they're just excited, maybe they won't see him and stick with us, or maybe they'll just see him and quickly come back with us."
"Maybe," Aang didn't sound convinced. "but I just...I just wish they didn't want to go."
"Aang, you were raised by monks all of your life." Harry pointed out. "You didn't have a father or mother, they lost their mother. As for their father, they knew he could have been dead, they're going to be happy to hear that he's alive and to see him. Imagine if Katara and Sokka left right now and that you got the chance to see them again after years of not knowing if they were dead or not. Do you understand?"
"I...I guess." Aang sighed. "I'm just worried."
"And that's fine, but you've got to see it from their point of view." Harry shrugged just as they were stopped by a messenger that had arrived on an ostrich-horse.
"Excuse me, is Bato of the Water Tribe here?" He asked hopefully.
"Yeah, why?" Aang asked politely.
"Please, make sure he gets this!" The messenger said, he tossed a scroll to Aang before riding away.
"Yeah, we'll do your job for you, you're welcome," Harry called out, rolling his eyes before turning his attention to Aang. "so, what is it?" He asked.
"It looks like a map," Aang said as he looked at the scroll. "wait...it's a map to Katara and Sokka's dad!"
"Ponytail senior?" Harry asked as he looked at the map. "Hmm, looks like it is."
"Guess we'd better go and give it to Bato then." Aang hummed, wondering if he could get away with not giving it so Katara and Sokka would definitely come with him.
"As opposed to doing something stupid like not giving it to him, yes." Harry agreed.
"Um...right, right." Aang nodded. 'Yeah,' He thought to himself. 'it would be pretty stupid to not give it to him.'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Um...guys," Aang said once he and Harry got back into the hut. "a messenger came and gave me this." He said as he handed it to Bato.
"Thank you, young Avatar." Bato smiled at him as he took the scroll from him. "Oh my, it's a map to your father! He told Katara and Sokka.
"Really?!" Katara gasped.
"Yeah!" Bato said excitedly before he paused, his smile dimming slightly. "Last chance, guys." He said, holding up the scroll.
"I...I want to, but I can't." Sokka sighed, running a hand over his face. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Katara nodded.
"Uh...what's going on?" Aang asked. Sokka coughed before turning to face him.
"Well, Katara and I aren't going to find our dad, because...we're coming with you, we have to do it," Sokka said in a firm voice.
"What?! Really?!" Aang blurted out.
"Of course," Katara nodded. "Don't get us wrong, we'd love to see our dad, but this is important. If we help you then people like our dad won't be in danger, besides, you're our friend."
"Wow, thanks guys, that...that means a lot," Aang replied. Harry smiled at the three before stepping out, he walked a small distance away before he stopped.
A voice interrupted his quiet time, "Why are you out here?", he turned and saw Bato step next to him.
"I just figured that they could use some time alone." Harry shrugged. "Aang was worried about them leaving him, I think it's better if they get it off their chests. Besides, I'm not really much of a talker."
"Hmm. I talked with Katara and Sokka, they told me a lot about you." Bato replied. "They both seem to think highly of you."
"They're not perfect," Harry sighed. "but they have earned my respect, for whatever that's worth."
"I...I'd like to apologize." Bato said in an awkward voice. "You've helped not just the Avatar, but also Katara and Sokka, for that you have my gratitude."
"You don't need to apologize, I'd likely have been worse if I was you," Harry replied easily. "besides, I'm used to it."
"How does one be used to it?" Bato asked.
"Simple," Harry snorted. "just have it be the one constant in your life, you'll get used to it then. For as long as I can remember there was always someone who would judge me for a reason, it might because of my family, maybe because of what I've done or what I've not done, judging people is the easiest thing to do in the world. That's why everyone does it."
"Well," Bato coughed, looking ashamed. "I don't really know what to say to that, but I do wish you all the best." He said, extending a hand towards Harry.
"Thank you," Harry said, accepting his hand and the unspoken gesture of peace that came with it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid bitch!" Zuko cursed as he paced around his room in his ship, he grabbed a plate from his table and tossed it as hard as he could. It bounced off the floor and hit him in the knee, causing a new burst of anger that resulted in him kicking the table over. Uncle Iroh, who was sat next to the table, didn't even bat an eye at that.
"Nephew, please calm down." Uncle Iroh requested before sipping on some of his tea.
"Calm?!" Zuko demanded, a short burst of fire shot out from his fists as he turned towards him. "How in the Fire Lord's name am I supposed to be calm?! Our best shot of catching the Avatar had just slipped through our fingers because of you!" He roared, as far as he was concerned it was because of his uncle that the Avatar wasn't already in his grasp.
It started with that bounty hunter named 'June'. She had tracked a fleeing target who had stowed on board Zuko's ship and captured him while inflicting some mild but expensive damage to the ship. Something that had angered Zuko greatly, though he was admittedly impressed with her proficiency and skill. After finding the huntress, he had gotten her to agree to repay him for the damage to his ship by helping track down the Avatar instead of paying for it.
They had come quite close to catching up to him, having tracked them down using her shirshu - a large, quadrupedal creature that lives underground and has a highly developed sense of smell and an ability to paralyze a target - in fact, they had been able to spot the Avatar's bison a small distance away when Uncle Iroh had opened his mouth. "You should be careful, the Avatar and the Emerald Dragon together should not be underestimated." He had warned them. June, who hadn't known that they were tracking those two specific people had stopped the shirshu immediately.
"No, no, no and fuck no!" She had said before kicking them both off. "There is no way in hell that I am helping you fight the Avatar and the Emerald Dragon! I don't have a death wish!" Zuko had tried to argue that she still owed him for the damage she had caused to his ship, she had tossed him some money, money that she had previously claimed not to have, before taking off. This, unfortunately, resulted in them missing the Avatar and his friends as they flew away on his bison.
"Nephew, all I did was warn you and June." Uncle Iroh pointed out.
"Exactly!" Zuko hissed. "You shouldn't have told her that because..."
"If I didn't then we would be armed with an unwilling ally when fighting against the Avatar and Harry." Uncle Iroh cut him off. "She would be a liability on the battlefield, providing she didn't run as soon as she realized who she was fighting." Zuko paused at that before he growled again.
"But we could have at least waited until we got close enough so that I could capture the Avatar!" Zuko argued.
"And how would you plan to fight off his two Water Tribe friends and him?" Uncle Iroh raised an eyebrow. "Even with June, I doubt that you would have stood a chance."
"Those Water Tribe savages are..."
"Clearly somewhat competent if they've been assisting him." Uncle Iroh pointed out. "Not to mention the Avatar himself, admittedly the boy seems to be twelve years old and so far hasn't mastered the other elements, but he has one very special advantage. You might not know this but he is 'The Avatar'!" Uncle Iroh said, stressing out the title. "And if by some miracle you deal with all three of them by yourself then you'll also have to fight Harry."
"I could have held him off long enough to..."
"Don't be foolish!" Uncle Iroh said sharply, causing Zuko to stop. The young man took a deep breath and stared at his Uncle, having noticed the shift in the man's voice and posture, Uncle Iroh was in what Zuko had mentally dubbed as 'teacher mode'. "You have a lot more training before you're even close to Harry's level. Think, Prince Zuko, in a nation full of people that can make fire, how dangerous must a person be for them to be considered a dragon?" He asked.
"I know that Harry is dangerous," Zuko replied. "I know what he can do."
"Just like any man, you know only what you've seen and what you've heard, Prince Zuko." Uncle Iroh replied. "Harry has never shown his true power in front of you. He has held himself back in your presence. I've seen the true power he possesses, I've seen his 'fiendfyre' burn down an entire village. Even I have no defense against it, the best I can think to do is overwhelm it with my own fire but that would take a considerable amount of effort and I'm not sure if that would work. Perhaps I could avoid it or maybe even redirect it, but as I said, I'm not sure if that would work. You may consider June's actions to be one of a coward's, but she was smart enough to not jump into a situation that she can't handle. Do not underestimate the Avatar or him, do not make the same mistake that your father had made."
Zuko turned away, closing his eyes. As much as he wanted to ignore Uncle Iroh's words, he couldn't. He couldn't let himself underestimate Harry, he might not know as much as Uncle Iroh but he knew that Harry was vicious and dangerous when he wanted to be. His last meeting with the Fire Lord had been proof of that, Zuko could still hear the screams.
Comments
Christian Jeffress
Another really highly enjoyable chapter, especially that ending that leads itself to some rabid speculation lol
Joseph Morrison
Uncle Iroh stopped harry from killing him?
