Book I, Entr’acte: Tales of Langshizi, Chapter I

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I, Imbalance

Entr'acte: Tales of Langshizi

Music: A Peaceful Place & Asami and Mako Dine (LOK OST)

(https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlejc_qetMpgBKmB3mAplLr0eYDQqum_c)

Chapter I:

The Tale of Aang and Katara

Aang petted Appa, who bellowed, lying down on the ground. "That's it. Well done, buddy; you earned a break today." He didn't like having to demand so much from his friend, for he had already helped him dismantle ten factories and counting, carrying heavy machines to the shore to be shipped back. He didn't even want to know how many more they had left. It was a strenuous task. Their stay in Langshizi had not been as pleasant as the one in Yu Jin. The mayor of the city was a stubborn old man and already received them reluctantly. Most of the colonists weren't thrilled to see them either. Based on Sokka's research, it was one of the colonies established during the beginning of Azulon's reign, a time when the war had intensified. The colony had been built on the ruins of a city whose name had been erased from the records of the Fire Nation.

So many cities–so many lives–destroyed, forgotten. He couldn't help but think of home. He thought the Fire Nation's modus operandi didn't surprise him, only to be wrong again. The inhabitants of the current city had resisted his efforts, but there wasn't much they could do against Zuko's orders. He had hopes that perhaps the city of old would eventually rise from the ashes, returning to what it once was.

He sat contemplating the sea for a while, letting himself be carried away by the tranquility. Appa nuzzled his back, grunting softly. "What's the matter, you want to go back already?" He stroked his head, and Appa licked him. "I'll take that as a yes."

Flying over the city, you could better appreciate its composition: the docks were teaming with life, for travelers from all over and merchandise flowed through there like an artery's blood. Near the docks stood the city. It had some squares dedicated to Azulon and blazing, golden statues. The mayor's residence was on one of the avenues, and its expansive inner courtyard was as distinctive as black from white. Near it were located the administrative buildings. Further away from the city there was a mixture of factories and farms, their workers living in modest houses quite far from the city but close to the workshops.

They were lodged in a house located between the countryside and the city. It was a pleasant, spacious property, but they had had trifling time to enjoy it. After all, they were on a mission, not a vacation.

The altitude was decreasing as they approached the building. It was already nearing dusk, and he could see some lights already lit through the windows. Landing softly on the grass, he fed Appa and headed for the door. He wondered if everyone was back. The lack of chatter told him that Sokka hadn't arrived yet, and there was no sign of Toph's sarcastic barbs. He was sure he would have met her outside. Strolling through the door, he ran into Katara, who was so focused that she hadn't even noticed his presence. Momo was sleeping at her feet. When he had left that morning, the room was bare, but was now flooded with papers, scrolls, and chests of yet more papers. She was looking at them intently. Only when he almost tripped with a box did she notice.

"Oh, hi, Aang. Didn't see you there." She smiled at him and went back to her reading.

"Hey…What's all this?"

"Remember those colonists that were smuggled here? Well, they took new names at their arrival. I'm trying to pin them down. This is the registry starting from a few months ago."

"That's a lot of people… Need some help with it?"

"Thanks, but I think I've got this."

He gave back a weak smile, rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey, Katara, I was wondering… since we're free today an–"

"Free? We still have like a hundred missing colonists to account for."

"Right… but I was thinking that maybe we could take some time off, enjoy the views, go out for some food. There's plenty of stuff to do around here."

"I don't know. We have to help, Aang; everyone is counting on us."

"Yeah…No, you're right; forget I said anything…" He shrugged, lowering his head.

"...Ok, maybe just a few hours wouldn't hurt."

"Really? That's great! So, I heard about a nice vegetarian place. We have to check it out."

"Sounds good to me." She smiled, leaving the papers inside a chest. Momo woke up, hazily walking over to Aang, who knelt down to pet him.

"You stay here, little guy; watch over for us. I'll bring you back a treat, I promise." Momo looked back, confused. Katara opened the door, waiting for Aang to come out, and they made their way into the city. She seemed tired, for he had noticed the bags under her eyes. He wondered if he had them as well. The colony certainly wasn't small, and it required an enormous effort to get the populace's compliance.

None of them had been able to see each other much, all their time taken by their respective responsibilities. He treasured, at least, those small moments as they became more fleeting. The group didn't feel the same anymore, and he yearned for things to go back to the way they were. But he felt like it wouldn't come to pass; that life would pull them apart. Once, it seemed impossible, but his friends' behavior as of late was making him doubt it. Sokka wasn't being very talkative, all wrapped up in going back to the Fire Nation, and Toph… She just disappeared on her own, only to come back later, often days on end...

"How have you and Appa been holding up?"

"Oh well, you know… The usual. We just ferry some digging machines from one side to the other. Today it was… I don't remember what it was, but it was different."

"Was it the same batch of machines, wasn't it?"

"Yeah… This feels stupid. I mean, I'm the Avatar. I'm supposed to be helping people, not getting some tools to the other side of a lake."

"You are doing your part, Aang. It's better this way; this is not like the Earth Kingdom."

"I know; I just don't know why they don't see we're only trying to help. It's not like I'm a monster that's going to eat them alive."

"Well… sometimes, people are just going to think that, and you have to make the best of things."

"I guess it's going to take some time, huh?"

"Yeah… I just wish it was like when we were kids. Just go out there and save the day, and, voila, everything's back to normal. But… life can be difficult."

"Last time I checked, we were still kids; who's to say things can't go back to normal?"

"It hasn't been normal for a long time. I wish we could be kids again, but people made the decision for us years ago."

"Hey, there's no need to feel that way. We took it upon ourselves to help; that doesn't mean there won't be time for fun."

She smiled. "Ok, Aang. … So… What kind of fun are you thinking?"

"Well… I was thinking. Last time we were at a Fire Days Festival, we didn't get to stay long; but now since no one is hunting us down, we can get to enjoy ourselves more. Maybe have some fire flakes, fried rice balls, fireworks..."

"Are you asking for a date?"

"Uh… Um, yes; but, I mean, only if you can… Or--"

"Yes, I'd love to." She laughed. "Still gotta work on that, though."

He chuckled, still a little nervous. His plan had worked… barely.

As they walked down the street, they neared the outer parts of the city, home to the artisans and craftsmen. It made for a varied assortment of sights and a great place to celebrate that day. They toured around the shops until they settled near one that displayed in full view elaborate pyrographic paintings. The artist, with his bushy brown hair and beard, instead of trying to sell them, sat on the street with his canvas, using a slight touch of fire to draw what looked like the outline of the street. It piqued Katara's interest, but the artist gestured at her to stop. "Ah… Would you hold it right there for a moment, young lady? There. What do you think? Oh no. Wait, it's not finished until… there. The heart of the painting."

"It's amazing."

"It is yours if you'd like it."

"I cannot accept it."

"Please, take it; just one person looking at it in wonder is worth all the effort." The man wrapped the painting and cheerfully handed it to them, bowing. Aang reciprocated the gesture, trying his best to remember the form. He probably did it the other way around, but the artist didn't seem to care. The man just took another canvas from his shop and sat back on the street with a pensive look on his face as they continued their evening.

To his surprise, they found a good restaurant with food fit for a Fire Nation noble. They stayed for hours, spending their time reminiscing about their adventures and the ones that would follow. But doubt sunk into him, for the group certainly felt different. Things between him and Katara had changed, and they had all spent their time on their own lately. He feared it was a sign of them growing apart. He remembered what Toph had said in Yu Jin–that she had become detached from the group… The question irked his mind. Perhaps, Katara had been thinking similarly. "So, have you noticed Toph acting weird lately?"

"Well, I wouldn't blame her; she doesn't really like city life. Maybe she just needs some time off."

The answer he did not want to admit; it felt like a sting, but he pretended it was no big deal. "You think so? But… then we wouldn't be together."

"If I've learned anything about Toph, it's that she needs her time alone. You know all this is new to her; she's always been kept locked away by her parents. Gaoling was all she knew until we came along. I've been in the same spot. Before we met, all I knew was my tribe; and now, we travel around the world."

"You're right… Feels like yesterday, doesn't it?"

"Yeah… I'm… I'm starting to miss my home. Seeing Dad was great, but I haven't seen Gran Gran in so long. I miss her… Wonder what she's up to; what everyone is up to. The kids must be so grown up now."

"Well, surely, we can stop by, after… you know all this."

"I'd really like that… But there's still a lot for us to do."

"Hey, don't worry; we'll do what we have to. Against all the odds, we beat the Fire Lord and ended the war. How hard could this be?" She smiled and held his hand as they watched and applauded the street performers, jugglers, and magicians entertaining crowds of passersby, gaining their cheers.

One magician had caught their attention, wearing a long crimson robe with golden embroidery and a fox mask. She was bending the shapes of animals in the air: owl-foxes, lion-seals, and the like. The animals moved so fluidly that they seemed to have a life of their own until they faded away, recombining into other animals. As a crowd gathered around her, they left the restaurant to get a better view, so entranced were they by the performance. As the fire animals danced around the night sky, they collided into each other one last time to form a dancing dragon then vanished into an amber cloud. The mysterious performer bowed to the crowd, finishing by disappearing in a cloud of sparkling smoke.

***

Music:Mametsubu Renkinjyutsushi(FMA) & On the Lam (LOK OST)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlmwsvFUawE)

(https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlejc_qetMpgBKmB3mAplLr0eYDQqum_c)

The Tale of Sokka

Another day at work. Sokka had once again been assigned the afternoon of coordinating boarding the ships back to the Fire Nation. It was a tedious job, but he was good at keeping lists and giving orders to the not so helpful dock workers. Langshizi was a much more established colony than Yu Jin, and many viewed his work hostilely; but Sokka didn't care.

So far, it had been more difficult to tell friend from foe since the war ended. For crying out loud, the enemy was now run by his best friend. Even if working with the Fire Nation still seemed strange, it wasn't like they could do much against Zuko's orders. In fact, some colonists of Earth Kingdom descent were relieved; but he hadn't run into many of them lately, for their work was relegated to the factories or tilling the soil. But things were not going too terribly; they had even given him an office.

He leaned back in his seat with his head in his hands. Since they had arrived, they had done nothing but work, work, work. Toph was grumpier than usual, and Aang and Katara were unbearable. So, he had spent his time between his work and daydreaming about his case back in the Fire Nation, every day waiting for a letter from Zuko. Maybe he would call him back; but the day had never come.

Tired of his endless days, he decided to explore the colony; and how better than to ask the locals where to have a good time. He jumped up from his chair and headed for the loading area on the dock, where there were still some workers carrying countless piles of boxes of luggage and supplies. It would be the last ship to sail that day.

He approached a group of workers who were taking a break among the crates.

"Good afternoon, guys! How's it going?"

"The cargo is almost ready for this ship. If you don't mind, we are taking a break here."

"Well then, if everything is running smoothly, my work here is done. See you tomorrow. Um.... By the way, Lee?"

"My name's not Lee."

"Oh, right. So…"

"Molihua."

"Molihua, quick question: what do you guys do for fun here?"

"That depends… for the ladies or for the men?"

"Hah, good one."

"There's a nice bar downtown. Don't think they let in kids, though. Lots of rough characters there, fighting, gambling. Probably better if you go to sleep. I hear it's way past your bedtime."

"Way past my bedtime… Pfft. Yeah, right."

He stormed off, walking downtown. Who do those guys think they are?

The streets of Langshizi were well planned, with all the avenues leading to the heart of the city. Although the buildings were reminiscent of the Fire Nation, the colony had its own style. Their stones had a unique, dark color. Everything was painted a typical colonial red, closer to maroon to distinguish it as below the Homeland. National banners lined the streets. The first time they arrived, they buzzed with life; now the symptoms of the Harmony Restoration Movement were beginning to set in: closed businesses and people protesting, a daily occurrence, though diminishing in fervor. But it still surprised them to see some at night.

Passing through the protesters and the gathering crowds he determined he was close to the center of the city. He could now hear music, and the streets were already decorated for the Fire Days, although there were still a few weeks to go. It gave the city a certain appeal. Street vendors from distant colonies and even the Fire Nation had already settled in, bringing with them a diverse collection of rare goods and traditional dainties. He was still trying to get used to it. He was tempted to grab a bowl of komodo-chicken wonton soup, but, against all his wishes, was steadfast… until he was given a free sample.

Maybe this day isn't going to be so bad after all. He ate the soup in one gulp to the astonishment of the vendor and cheerfully walked down the street. He reached a corner, assuming it to be the famous bar, and was disappointed to find out it didn't match the description at all; though it did seem like a frequented place judging by the extensive queue to get in.

The place looked shabby, faded compared to the other buildings in the area; but it was full of people. From outside, you could hear cheers, no doubt there would be a fight, and he grinned with excitement. A red poster on the wall read, "Duel Tournament, Come see the best fighters in the world put their skills to the test, with a special guest challenger. You don't want to miss it." And for sure, he wouldn't miss it. Pity that Toph isn't around; she would love it. Happy to go see the fight, he hurried to the door, strolling past the bouncers.

"Good evening."

"What do you think you're doing?"

Sokka smiled. "Oh, sorry. Listen, buddy, I work with the mayor s--"

The bouncer raised an eyebrow before picking him up and throwing him to the middle of the street like a rag doll. "Get lost, kid. Who's next?"

Annoyed, he stood up again and dusted off his clothes. What's up with that? He watched the people pass inside as if nothing happened. There were some old people standing in line who entered with ease, and an idea clicked in his mind.

***

"Make way for a war veteran."

"Good evening, sir. Welcome to The Cranky Komodo-rhino."

"Thank you, young man."

He grinned behind his beard as he walked through a long, dark hallway to the

main hall. In the corner nearest to the hallway was a bar. The crowd roared as two fighters dueled below. The pair, a spearman and a swordsman, were testing each other with light jabs, waiting for a blunder. As the lancer pounced forward, the other sidestepped, almost stumbling, slicing the man's spear in half and tripping him to the ground. Cheers erupted as the swordsman emerged victorious, leaving the pit and walking straight past Sokka to the bar. The bartender tossed him a pouch, and he slammed it against the counter, laughing. "Tonight, the drinks are on me, Lao!"

The people cheered again. "Kento! Kento! Kento!" Sokka shrugged and joined in the cheers. Taking advantage of the offer, he ordered some dragon fruit juice and sat down at the balcony to await the next round. The man sat at the table next to him.

Sokka smiled smugly with his eyes on the stage. "Good guard. Movement needs work, though."

"What did you say, old man?" The bustle of the place fell silent.

Sokka looked around, trying to see if he was talking to someone else; but the man pointed at him. "Yeah, you. Got a problem?"

"Me? You're butchered that move, boy, just being honest here."

Kento stood up, drawing his sword. "You think so? Come over here and show them." One of his friends tossed a sword at his feet; and some patrons had already gathered around them. He picked up the sword, and the man rushed at him, swinging aggressively. He parried and moved for cover behind tables and chairs; but Kento gave chase, caring not for the damages. He deflected yet more hacking blows and swung some of his own. The swordsman tried to sidestep; but he elbowed him in the jaw. Kento tripped against the broken furniture and surrendered with a sword tip to his throat. Silence reigned as Sokka spun to see a multitude of mouths agape.

"I bet ten silver pieces on the old man!"

"Fifteen!"

The crowd was abuzz with bets, counterbets, and scoffs.

The bartender scratched his beard before strolling out to smile at him. "That was one of our best fighters. You have to join the tournament; I'll give you a cut of the earnings. What do you say?"

"Hmm… How much are we talking about?"

***

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight, we give you a new challenger: a mysterious master of the sword. Some say the lost master of the legendary Piandao. I give you Master Niji!"

He stood in the pit to the cheers of the crowd, before him his opponent wielded a steel mace.

"I'm ready for this… What's the matter; don't want to hurt a weak old man?"

The fighter swung, the chain hissing. He ducked and circled around him but was met with another hurtling chain forcing him back. Sokka sliced dust at the man's face. Blinded, the fighter swung like an animal. Taking advantage, Sokka thrust a barrage of slashes and stabs; and the man collapsed to the ground in surrender.

"I can do this all day." He waved to the crowd, grinning as they applauded louder. "Who 's next? Send them all at once, so the fight is even."

The bartender stood atop ready to announce the next challenger. "Now for our next fight, the new champion of the Yu Dao Dragon Brawl, give a round of applause to A–gni Guy!" He could feel the clank of armor nearing as the warrior pushed past the crowd, jumping into the pit with a trident in hand.

Sokka panicked, flailing at the bartender. "...Wait. Hold on a second; I just remembered I had to do something. It's getting late an–"

"What are you talking about? You have to fight him; it was in your contract."

"Ah, yes. You see, I have this knee thing, and I really need some timeout in between fights. Old people stuff, you get me?"

"There's no time for timeouts now!"

He turned nervously to the soldier. "Umm… Mister Agni Guy, I'm a big fan. Listen; why don't we do this tomorrow–" The soldier slashed at him; Sokka reflexively blocked it, closing his eyes. He opened them to find the sword bent from the impact. He backed away slowly until the warrior had him against the wall.

"I guess not. Is that the Smoky Dragon?!" Agni Guy turned around. He couldn't believe that worked, and he tried to climb out of the arena, desperately clawing through the crowd. The bartender tried to chase after him, but he was too far to be caught.

"Hey, Niji, where are you going?! Get back here; your contract isn't finished yet!"

"I'm using the escape clause!" Just as he thought he was about to escape, he bumped into the bouncer, who looked confused at first; but as the bartender neared, he caught on. He tried to snatch him. Sokka took a bystander's mug, splashing the drink in the guard's face.

"It burns!" He ran past the man snatching at thin air. He scrambled until he was blue in the face, stopping to gasp for air in an alleyway. Making sure no one followed him, he dumped the beard.

"That was enough fun for the night."