Zuko, Iroh, and I decided it was time to hit the road again. After Zuko's little fit with the lightning I was able to calm him down and all 3 of us set off on the ostrich horse.

We had been riding for a little while when Iroh started to make... "exaggerated" noises expressing his pain.

"Maybe we should make camp..." Zuko suggested

"That might be best" I added

"No please... don't stop just for me~" Iroh pleaded continuing to make noises.

Zuko scoffed and use the reigns to stop the ostrich horse. We all hoped off and I looked around. The farther we traveled the greenery became more and more barren. Sunlight pressed harshly on my cheeks.

Suddenly, the ostrich horse twitched and we knew something was approaching us,
"What now?" Iroh complained sitting on a rock.

Zuko and I assumed a fighting stance while I got out my new weapon. Within moments, we were completely surrounded by men on rhinos holding various weapons.
"Colonel Mongke.... what a pleasant surprise!" Iroh beamed laying his hand on his nephew.

"If your surprised we're here then the dragon of the west has lost a few steps.." Mongke replied looking down harshly upon Iroh.

All the men got ready their weapons,
"You know these guys?" Zuko questioned

"Sure.. Colonel Mongke and the rough rhinos are legendary! Each one is a different kind of weapon specialist. They are also a very capable singing group!" Iroh exclaimed.

"We're not here to give a concert...we're here to apprehend fugitives"

"Would you like some tea first? I'd love some... How about you Katche? I make you as a Jasmine man... am I right?" Iroh grinned looking at one of the rough rhinos. I smirked getting my weapon at the ready.

"Enough stalling! Round em up!"

I set the blade at the end of the pole aflame. Embers flared harshly against the cool of the air. I tightened my grip and charged at one of the rhino's riders. I jumped onto the stead and knocked the rider off while Zuko and Iroh fought with the others.

"New weapon (Y/N)?" Iroh asked while launching a flame at one of the riders.

"You bet" I called back helping Iroh finish off an attacker.

I threw my staff at another rider knocking the weapon out of his grasp. Zuko was then able to bend him out of the way.

Soon, all of the riders were taken down except for one. We all jumped onto the ostrich horse and zoomed down the path. Wind swung through my hair.

Suddenly, smoke struck our eyes. The attacker had thrown some kind of explosive at us. Luckily, the ostrich horse was fast enough to avoid it.

"It's nice to see old friends..."

"To bad you don't have any old friends that don't want to attack you" Zuko retorted

"Hmmm... old friends that don't want to attack me..."

~

We found ourselves in a small village on the outskirts of a desert.

"Can we get some tea or something? That fight did a number on my back..." I muttered

"Whatever you want (Y/N)... we need to look for someone to help us anyway" Zuko replied looking around.

"Ohh! Let's go in here! I think this one will have the people we're looking for" Iroh exclaimed pointing at one of the buildings.

"Works for me!" I chirped.

We were seated at one of the tables and my request for tea was met. We all sipped along while trying not to bring attention to ourselves. The building was dark and all of the people in it seemed tired.

"No one here is going to help us... these people just look like filthy wanderers..." Zuko complained.

"So do we..ahw this is Interesting... I think I've found our friend" Iroh said pointing to an older man by a pai sho board.

"You brought us here to gamble on pai sho?"

"I don't think this is a gamble..." Iroh replied to his nephew before getting up and going to the table. Zuko and I looked at eachother before following Iroh.

"May I have this game?"

"The guest has the first move" the man across the pai sho board replied. Zuko and I stood awkwardly behind Iroh as he moved his piece.

"I see you favor the white lotus gambit... not many still cling to the ancient ways.."

"...those who do can always find a friend" Iroh replied

"Then let us play"

The two men took turns laying down different gambits, Zuko and I just sat and watched. I soon noticed that they were forming a shape on the board... not playing... it looked like Iroh's favorite white lotus tile.

"Welcome brother, the white lotus opens wide to those who know her secrets.."

"What are you old gas-bags talking about?" Zuko questioned frustrated.

"Yeah I am very confused? When did Pai sho get this complicated! Is this why I never win?" I added tilting my head.

"I always try to tell you that pai sho is more than just a game" Iroh grinned tossing his white lotus gambit through his fingers.

My head turns as two earth Kingdom men headed towards our table. Zuko immediately latched onto my hand ready to defend me.
"It's over! You three fugitives are coming with me"

"I knew it you three are wanted criminals with a bounty on your heads!" The pai sho man shouted at us.

"I thought you said he would help!" Zuko panicked

"..he is just watch" Iroh whispered back.

"You think you're going to capture them and collect all that gold!"

Suddenly, whispers flowed through the air of the tavern as flocks of shady looking fellows approached the two men that were threatening us.

"Maybe we shouldn't..." one of them muttered.

A fight broke in the tavern. Everywhere there was earthbending, punching, and throwing. The pai sho man motioned towards a door leading out and the 3 of us followed.

He then lead us further into the village and then into a small shop. The house was dark, but filled with different pots and flowers.

"It is an honor to welcome such a high ranking member of the order of the white lotus... being a grandmaster you must know so many secrets"

"Now that you've played pai sho are you gonna do some flower arranging? Or is someone in this club going to offer some real help!" Zuko questioned crossing his arms as we followed the man to a door. I shook my head and looked to the door.

"You must forgive my nephew... he is not initiated and has little appreciation for the cryptic arts"

The man knocked on the door and a small opening on the door was unveiled revealing someone on the other side.
"Who knocks at the guarded gate?"

"One who has eaten the fruit and tasted it's mysteries" Iroh replied

The door was opened and we tried to follow in but the door was slammed on Zuko and I.
"I'm afraid it's members only... wait out here" Iroh said before closing the opening.

"...so these flowers smell nice" I smiled.

"They're okay I guess" Zuko muttered leaning against the wall.

"Still as angsty as ever I see..."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Its okay Zuko I find it cute actually..." I lifted my eyebrow.

"What-whatever" Zuko mumbled trying not to blush.

~

After a while the door finally burst back open.
"What's going on is the club meeting over?" Zuko said.

"Everything is taken care of... we're heading to Bai Sing Se"

"Bai Sing Se? Why would we go to the Earth Kingdom capital?" Zuko questioned

"Yeah aren't we trying to avoid soildiers?" I added.

"The city is filled with refugees... no one will notice 3 more" the pai sho man explained.

"We can hide in plain sight there...and its the safest place in the world from the fire Nation... even I couldn't break through to the city."

The front door opened and a young man stepped out,
"I have the passports for our guests but there are 2 men out on the street looking for them"

~

Well this is not how I expected my day to go. To keep us hidden from the men, we were stuck out of the shop in huge flowerpots on a cart.

Well Bai Sing Se... here we come!