High-Risk Trading

-Sokka's Point of View-

I can't believe Aang just wasted one copper piece over a bison whistle that doesn't even work! He blew at it for a good 5 seconds or so but no sound was made! This kid is definitely hard to handle.

"No offense Aang but, I'll hold the money from now on," Katara said as she gestured to Aang to hand over the money. He silently obeyed and handed it over.

"Is there anything else we need to buy Sokka?" Katara asked. "No, we're mostly good. I've already bought all the supplies we will need. We better head back to where Maya is." I replied.

We started walking back to the forest and as usual, the market is filled with loud vendors trying to sell whatever they are selling.

When we got near to the market's pier, we heard someone calling out to potential customers.

"Earth Nation, Fire Nation, Water Nation! So long as bargains are your inclination, you're welcome here! Don't be shy, come on buy!" the vendor said. He suddenly made eye contact with us and ran towards us.

"Oh! You there! I can see from your clothing that you're world-traveling types. Perhaps I can interest you in some exotic curios?" He said and then he winked.

Aang, as the usual curious cat, stopped and agreed with the vendor. "Sure! What are curios?" he asked. The vendor took a while before he can answer but then he said, "I'm not entirely sure... But we got 'em!" he said and then he placed his arm on top of Aang while dragging him into their ship that was anchored on the edge of the pier.

We entered the ship and inside we saw a lot of weird and somehow rare items. It was a complete mix of fire nation, water tribes, earth kingdom accessories, weapons, etc. How were they able to get a hold of these things?

I went ahead and looked around and so did Aang and Katara. I was looking at their weapon collection when we suddenly heard someone talk.

"I've never seen such a fine specimen of lemur."

Aang turned around to look at who it was and so did I and Katara. I saw a quite middle-aged man who seems to be the owner of the shop. He had a reptile bird on top of his left shoulder.

"That beast would fetch me a hefty sum if you would be interested in bargaining." the owner said. It was followed by a loud screech from his pet.

Momo hissed at it and then afterward was stopped by Aang when he wrapped him in his arm and said, "Momo's not for sale."

The owner then scoffs and went to the counter. All three of us then resumed looking around.

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-Katara's Point of View-

I walked around the eerie merchant ship looking at all the collectibles and items that they have, when suddenly inside a small cubbyhole I saw a scroll with the water nation's emblem imprinted on its cap.

I grabbed the scroll and then I opened it. To my surprise, it was a waterbending scroll that teaches 4 waterbending techniques!

"Look at this Aang!" I exclaimed calling out to him. He then stood beside me and we both looked at the magnificent scroll. "It's a waterbending scroll!" Aang said.

"Check out these crazy moves!" I exclaimed. "Where did you get a waterbending scroll?" Aang asked the merchant. He suddenly stood up, rushed towards us, and snatched the scroll from my hands.

"Let's just say I got it up north at a most reasonable price... Free," he said while rolling up the scroll and putting it back in the cubbyhole.

"Wait a minute..." Sokka suddenly said. He turned around and started babbling. "Sea-loving traders with suspiciously acquired merchandise, and pet reptile birds?" he continued and then he quickly faced one of them while yelling at his face.

"You guys are pirates!" Sokka shouted.

I knew it. Which means they didn't get the waterbending scroll for free. THEY STOLE IT!

One of the pirate crew placed his arm over Sokka's shoulders and then he said, "We prefer to call ourselves high-risk traders."

I walked towards the counter where the captain was standing behind of, and then I asked, "So how much for the uh... traded scroll?"

"I've already got a buyer, a nobleman on the earth kingdom. Unless, of course, you kids have 200 gold pieces on ya right now?" he answered.

200 GOLD PIECES? JUST FOR A SCROLL? HE'S INSANE!

Aang suddenly pulled me away and then he said, "I know how to deal with these guys Katara, pirates love to haggle." he said while gesturing for me to give him the copper pieces that we have left

200 gold pieces are way big of a difference from 2 copper pieces! Even if Aang haggles with him there's no way he's gonna accept it. But since they're pirates and the scroll is obviously stolen...

I gave Aang the copper pieces and then I took a step back. "Watch and learn," he said. As soon as he got close to the pirate captain, I hurriedly went back to where the scroll was and made sure that nobody will see me.

Sokka was busy being taken care of by the other pirate crew, while Aang was distracting the captain through his haggling.

This is a perfect opportunity.

I slowly slid the scroll inside my shirt and then I hurriedly went back to Aang.

"It's not as amusing the second time boy!" the captain scolded. I held onto Aang's shoulder and said, "Aang, can we get out of here? I feel like we're getting weird looks." It was an excuse to get away from the place before they notice that I stole something.

Aang grabbed his staff and looked at the captain. "Aye! We be castin' off now!" he said. I called out to Sokka and told him that we were leaving and then we proceeded to walk outside the ship.

"What was that all about Katara?" Aang asked. "Yeah! I was just starting to browse through their boomerang collection." Sokka complained. "I'll just feel a lot better once we get away from here," I replied to them. Let's just hurry and get out of here.

"HEY, YOU! GET BACK HERE!" a pirate crew shouted. Oh no...

All three of us turned around and then Aang said, "Well, well... Look who's come to their senses. Told you the haggling would pay off."

I slowly tried to back away, one step at a time. When suddenly a lot of pirate crew members went out of the ship with weapons in their hands.

"There they are!"

"Get them!"

"Nobody's going nowhere."

Three of the pirate crew said as they look at us menacingly.

"I don't think these pirates are here to trade with us," I said, and as soon as I finished my sentence all of them chased after us.

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-Maya's Point of View-

"COME ON! WHY WON'T IT SUDDENLY WORK?!" I shouted as I frustratingly threw my whole body to the ground.

I already felt it! I already felt my left hand heating up just a while ago! But then after retrying it, it suddenly doesn't work and both my hands feel like they're at the same temperature.

I quickly sat up and said, "Okay! One last time! If it still doesn't work, then I'll just have to give up the idea of bending."

I stood up and this time around I used my right hand to see if I would be able to make fire come out of it. I held my right arm in front of me as I tried to concentrate.

"You can do it, Maya... You can- UGH!"

I was suddenly thrown to the ground when something hit me. It was Sokka, Katara, and Aang; apparently, they were all riding Aang's glider before crash landing on me.

"Ow... You guys are heavy." I slowly said while in pain. One by one, the three of them stood up before helping me get on my feet.

"What were you guys doing? What's going on?" I asked them. "We were being chased by some crazy mad pirates," Sokka explained as he slowly took out the supplies he bought for our trip.

"What? Why? Did you do something?" I asked. "We were just looking at their shop," Aang said.

"Then why would they chase you?" I asked once more. "We have exactly no clue," Sokka answered. "That's... strange?" I said as I tried to dust off my clothes.

"I used to kinda look up to pirates, but those guys are terrible." Aang suddenly said and then he fixed his glider before sitting down beside a rock.

Katara who has been quiet for a while suddenly said, "I know. That's why I took this." and then she showed us a scroll.

"No way..." Aang said in a worried tone. "Isn't it great?" Katara exclaimed. "What's that?" I asked. Sokka suddenly stood up and shouted, "No wonder they were trying to hack us up! You stole their waterbending scroll!"

"You stole from the pirates?!" I yelled. "I prefer to think of it as 'high-risk trading'," she replied. Aang suddenly giggled as he said, "Good one Katara." I looked at Aang with brows crossed and said, "Not funny Aang."

Sokka gave her sister an angry look and Katara started pleading to his brother. "Sokka, where do you think they got it? They stole it from a waterbender!" she said. "It doesn't matter! You put our lives in danger just so you could learn some stupid fancy splashes!" Sokka argued.

"These are real waterbending forms! You know how crucial it is for Aang to learn waterbending!" Katara shouted back. "Katara, Sokka, stop. That's enough. What's done is done. The scroll's already with us, so we might as well just make it useful." I said trying to calm the siblings.

"Pshh... Whatever." Sokka said and then he stormed off. "Sokka!" I called out. He didn't look at me and he just proceeded to place the supplies on Appa's saddle.

I looked at Katara and Aang and said, "I'll go talk to him." and then I went up to Appa's saddle too.

"Hey. Need help?" I asked. "I got it." he timidly replied. "Look, I know you're mad because you're just worried and concerned about everyone's safety, but look at it this way! Katara does have a point, she just stole what the pirates stole first and she didn't only do it for herself." I explained. I knelt behind him while holding onto his shoulder.

"Think about Aang. If Aang gets to learn at least a few basic waterbending forms then it would be a great advantage for him." I continued. He looked at me and then I asked, "What do you say?"

He looked away and then he finished fixing up the newly bought supplies. "Alright. I'll let it go this time. Besides, you have a point. What's done is done. Let's just make sure that they don't practice our supplies away the second time around." he suddenly said. I smiled at him as I said, "That's the spirit."

We both went down off of Appa and walked closer to the two waterbenders. "You've come to take the scroll back?" Katara asked Sokka. "I'm here to watch over you two. Just to make sure you guys won't practice are supplies the down river again," he answered and then he sat down on top of a rock. "We're here to cheer you on!" I said as I sat down on the ground beside Sokka.

"Alright then, let's get on with these waterbending lessons!" Aang exclaimed. "Alright! But first, I just wanna try this one move and then it's your turn. Here hold it open for me" Katara said to Aang as he handed him the scroll.

Katara took a few steps back before doing the form. "The single water whip. Look's doable." Katara said confidently. She slowly faced the waters as she starts bending them. She tried doing the water whip but her waterbending looked so unstable that she got herself whipped on the forehead instead.

Sokka laughed at her and then she asked, "What's so funny?" she looked irritated. "I'm sorry but, you deserve that." Sokka teased. He looked at Aang and then he continued, "You've been duped! She's only interested in teaching herself."

"Aang will get his turn once I figure out the water whip!" Katara suddenly shouted.

I just let out a sigh. It seems like these two are still not okay.

Katara tried to do the water whip once more but this time she accidentally whipped Momo in the butt, making the lemur screech in pain.

"UGH! WHY CAN'T I GET THIS STUPID MOVE?!" Katara yelled in frustration. Aang puts down the scroll on a cut-off tree trunk and then he said, "You'll get it." then he walked towards the river.

Aang did the form as he said, "You just got to shift your weight through the stances." He did the water whip and in just a single try, he was able to do it perfectly. Woah, now that's waterbending.

"There! See? The key to bending is-" Aang said but he was suddenly cut off when Katara yelled at him.

"WOULD YOU PLEASE SHUT YOUR AIRHOLE?! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOUR INFINITE WISDOM GETS A LITTLE OLD SOMETIMES! WHY DON'T WE JUST THROW THE SCROLL AWAY SINCE YOU'RE SO NATURALLY GIFTED?!" Katara yelled.

Unbelievable. How could she say that?!

Sokka and I looked at her angrily with our arms crossed. She noticed us staring and then she asked, "What?!" in an angry tone. She then looked back at Aang who was about to cry.

Suddenly her tone changed and she was able to calm down after realizing what she has done. "Oh my gosh, Aang. I'm so sorry. I don't know what came over me." she said and then she went back to where the scroll was.

"But you know what, it won't happen again," she said as she rolled up the scroll and then afterward handed it to Aang.

"Here, It's all yours. I don't want to have anything to do with it anymore." Katara said. "It's okay Katara," Aang said.

Sokka suddenly spoke up while saying, "What about Momo? Aren't you gonna say sorry to him? He's the real victim here." and then he pointed at the lemur who was caressing his butt that was whipped. Katara knelt beside Momo and then she said, "I'm sorry Momo."

"And what about me? There was that time you-" Sokka tried to tease Katara but he was cut off when she said, "No more apologies!"

"Alright, guys, enough of this. It's already getting dark. Let's go ahead and camp out." I suggested and then all of us went to prepare to sleep.

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-Zuko's Point of View-

We arrived at the seedy merchant's pier a few hours back and what do you know? Who would've thought that this side track that uncle has caused, actually led to figuring out the Avatar's whereabouts?

We were looking at some items inside a pirate ship when I overheard one of the crew say that they lost the waterbender girl as well as the bald monk she was traveling with. I asked them if that monk had an arrow on his head and they answered yes.

It appears that they had stolen from them a waterbending scroll. That is when an Idea came up inside my head. I made a trade deal that I would help them get their scroll back if they promise to capture the bald monk and give him to me in return.

We are currently on my boat, sailing on the river trying to look for them. The pirate's ship was tagging behind us. The captain was with me on my boat.

"Shouldn't we stop to search the woods?" he asked. "We don't need to stop. They stole a waterbending scroll right?" I asked. "Hm-hm," he answered. "Then they'll be on the water," I replied.

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-Maya's Point of View-

I was able to sleep for a good five hours before suddenly waking up at past midnight. Though awake, I didn't get up because I could feel everyone is still asleep. I wouldn't want to disturb them. I'm currently lying down covering myself with a blanket while looking at my left hand. I still can't erase the feeling that I felt on my hand.

I could've sworn I really felt it release a small spark of fire back then. It was faint but, I can clearly remember feeling hot on my hands.

I was so in my thoughts when I suddenly heard rustling from outside. I removed my blanket and then I saw from a distance, Katara was walking away while holding onto the scroll.

I stood up and hurriedly grabbed her by the shoulder. "Where are you going with that?" I asked. She let out a faint shriek before finally answering me. "Maya you scared me!" She said in a whisper.

"What are you doing Katara? I thought you were letting go of the scroll?" I asked. "Shhh! You'll wake them up!" she hushed me. "I just really wanted to get this one thing right. I can't sleep until I get it right!" she told me.

"Please Maya, don't tell them! After tonight I promise I will completely surrender this to Aang." she pleaded. I let out a sigh of defeat as I replied, "Alright, but don't take too long. I'll wait for you. Be back here before they wake up." She smiled at me and then she suddenly hugged me.

"Thank you, Maya! I'll be quick," she exclaimed and then she ran off. "I doubt that," I said to myself.

I walked back to our camp and sat down on the ground. I stared at the campfire as I realized, why not continue what I was doing as well, and prove once and for all whether I inherited mom's bending abilities or not?

I grabbed one of the woods from the campfire and then I walked a little bit farther from the camp with a lit firewood in hand.

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-Zuko's Point of View-

We've traveled for quite some time now, and it's already almost the break of dawn. We still have not found them nor have any idea where they could be. The captain and I stayed up all night to keep watch just in case something comes up.

I was on the brink of stopping the ship and continuing the search on land when we suddenly heard a girl's voice say, "Ah! Stupid scroll!" followed by some splashes of water.

The captain and I looked at each other and after that, I told everyone to anchor the ship at the bay. Once we've docked I hurriedly went to where the waterbender was and I saw that she was trying to get away from one of the pirate's crew.

"NO! LET GO OF ME!" she shouted and then she waterbent her way out. She ran away from the pirate crew with her back turned against to where she was going. I stood in her way and quickly grabbed her by the wrists as soon as she got close. "I'll save you from the pirates," I said.