ATLA: Book Two: Earth {Makki}

Chapter Three

Chapter Three: Behind the Mask of the Blue Spirit

Makki |~|

We were lucky to find another Earth Kingdom town a few days after leaving Song's house on her ostrich horse. It's been about a week since we've started begging for money in the town. We sit against the same building every few days with the horse cushioning us. Zuko and I would sit next to each other in silence as we leaned against the ostrich horse while Iroh held out his hat for coins.

"Spare coins for weary travelers?" Iroh asked the people passing by.

Most who looked our way would spare about two bronze coins. But even then, we were just scraping by.

"This is humiliating!" Zuko complained. "We're royalty! These people should be giving us whatever we want."

"They will if you ask nicely," Iroh reassured.

"And you were royalty," I corrected. "I think you forget, we're wanted criminals. You should keep your voice down in case someone is looking for us."

"Spare change for a hungry old man?" Iroh groaned as a pretty young woman passed by us.

"Aw, here you go," she smiled as she placed a coin in the hat.

"The coin is appreciated," said Iroh. "But not as much as your smile."

Zuko and I both facepalmed as the young woman giggled before walking away and being replaced by a middle-aged man with a mischievous grin.

"How about some entertainment in exchange for... a gold piece?" the man smirked.

"We're not performers," Zuko sneered.

"Not professional, anyway," Iroh smiled as he placed the hand on the ground, stood up, and began to sing. "It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but the girls in the city they look so pretty!"

"Come on, we're talking a gold piece here," the man said before unsheathing a pair of broadswords. "Let's see some action. Dance."

The man started to swing his swords at Iroh's feet. Iroh hopped from one foot to the other, dodging the swords while continuing to sing.

What's this guy's problem?

"And they kiss so sweet that really have to meet... the girls from Ba Sing Se!"

I looked to my right to see Zuko clenching his fists on his pants. I placed one of my hands on top of his.

"Try to calm down," I whispered. "Think if you were to blow up in flames here."

Zuko glanced at me from under the brim of his hat and I slowly shook my head.

"Nothing like a fat man dancing for his dinner," the man obnoxiously laughed before tossing a gold piece at Iroh. "Here you go."

"Such a kind man," Iroh sat down.

"...Then you and I must have two different definitions of 'kind'," I mumbled.

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That night, after spending some of our bronze pieces for a cheap dinner, we walked to a secluded cave in the woods where we've recently been camping. Iroh always falls asleep right away, I have some trouble falling asleep sometimes but I still sleep pretty peacefully, and I can't speak for Zuko about anything.

Tonight was one of those nights where sleep was gonna come very slowly and take a long time to overtake me. When I was finally starting to feel tired, I heard movement behind me and flipped on my side to see someone, dressed in black, leaving the cave.