The Elements of Nature, Book 2

Chapter 13, Tales of Ba Sing Se

The Tale of 11 Mares

At Team Avatar's house, the group are getting ready for the day, with Fire,’ Rapidfire, and Blitz shaving a little, and the mares (except for Twilight and Terra) are combing their manes or brushing their teeth (as in Spikes and Rainbows case).

Outside, Twilight is sitting on the porch, waiting. She then sees a carriage drive up and stop in front of the house. The carriage’s driver quickly opens the door, and “Shining Armor, Cadence!” step out as Twilight runs up to her brother and sister-in-law.

“Twiley!” Both Shining Armor and Princess Cadence said as the two do a quick hug before ... “Sunshine, sunshine, ladybugs awake. Clap your hooves and do a little shake!” The two said with a little laugh as the rest of the team head out, except for Terra.

A minute later, the mares go to check on Terra, who is still asleep. They open her door and that Terra is still asleep on her bed, her blanket sloppily lying over her and her mane is a mess. “Terra! Aren't you gonna get ready for the day?” Agua asked her sprite sister.

Terra does gets up, but it causes her messy mare fly around. She spits on a nearby vessel which spins upon impact. The mares are shocked to see Terra’s bad morning manners as Terra gets to her hoofs and brushes a large amount of dust off her sleeping dress. “I'm ready,” Terra said.

“You're not gonna wash up, dear?” Rarity asked, slightly digested. “You've got a little dirt on your ... everywhere, actually.”

“You call it dirt, I call it a healthy coating of earth!” Terra responded.

“Hmm...” Twilight said while thinking. “You know what we need? A girl's day out!”

“Oh, that sounds wonderful!” Rarity and Agua said at the same time.

“I wouldn't mind.” Fluttershy said.

“Of course you wouldn't mind, Fluttershy.” Pinkie said to the shy Pegasus. “Count me in.”

“Me too.” Cadence said.

“Same here.” Applejack said as they all look at both Rainbow and Terra.

“Do we have to?!” Terra whined.

“It'll be fun!” Rarity said. “I know where we can go!”

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Later, outside of a large building, Agua, Terra, Cadence, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Misty Fly and Spitfire are standing near the entrance of “The Fancy Mare Day Spa?” Rainbow asked, now regretting coming.

“Sounds like my kinda place.” Terra sarcastically said.

“Are you all ready for some serious pampering?” Rarity asked the group.

She got mostly ‘OK’s from them, except from Rainbow and Terra. “I’m not so sure.” Rainbow said.

“Sure, Rarity, whatever you say. As long as they don't touch my hoofs.” Terra said as they walk in.

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Inside the building, most of the mares are siting while smiling, having their hoofs scrubbed. But Terra’s dirt-covered hoofs are being hold down as the attendants try to scrape the massive amounts of dirt off her hoofs, getting and angry face from Terra. Suddenly an explosion erupts from one of the doorways, due to which, the frame becomes crumpled. An attendant flies out and hits the opposite wall, Terra having earthbent out of annoyance. 

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Later, the mares are now taking mud baths. A Unicorn attendant with a large pile of fresh towels walks over to Terra, who inhales air, and then exhales, earthbending the mud on her face, creating a scary appearance, which scares the attendant, who runs away. The group of mares and fillies laugh as the mud around Terra's mouth forms a large smile.

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Later in a sauna, Terra kicks the ground, bending another rock from another pile, making it fly onto the pile of hot rocks. Agua, using waterbending, splashes the hot rocks with some water creating steam. All of them sigh in relief. 

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Later, outside the spa, Terra has a lot of make-up on her face while walking through the streets of Ba Sing Se, along with the other mares and fillies. “Well, that wasn't so bad. I'm not usually into that stuff but I actually feel ... girly.” Terra said.

“Me too.” Rainbow said.

“I'm glad. It's about time we did something fun together” Sweetie said as they’re crossing a bridge over a creek. As they do, they pass three mares going the other direction. “Wow, great make-up.” Are mare holding an umbrella said to Terra.

“Thanks.” Terra said.

“For a clown!” The mare finished, causing her and her two friends to laugh. Terra's smile is replaced by a frown as they stop walking. Agua then puts her leg over Terra's shoulder, attempting to console her.

“Don't listen to them, let's just keep walking.” Agua said.

“I think she looks cute. Like that time we put a sweater on your pet poodle.” One of the mares said.

“Good one, Star.” The third mare said.

“Let’s go, guys.” Twilight angrily said.

“No, no, that was a good one. Like your poodle.” Terra sarcastically said with a laugh. “You know what else is a good one?“ Terra asked the mares as she earthbends the bridge, removing a circular part below which the three girls are standing, causing the girls to fall into the creek below.

“Now that was funny.” Agua said as she waterbends a wave that sweeps the girls away as they scream. Terra then walks away as the others run up to her.

“Those girls don't know what they're talking about.” Rarity said, clearly offended.

“It's okay.” Terra said to the group. “One of the good things about being blind, is I don't have to waste my time worrying about appearance. I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am.” Terra then stops walking and cries a little bit.

“That's what I really admire about you, Terra.” Agua said to her spirit sister. “You're so strong, and confident, and self-assured. And I know it doesn't matter, but ... You're really pretty.”

“I am?” Terra asked with a smile.

“Yeah, you are.” Rainbow said when she lands.

“Yuper do!” Pinkie said.

“I'd return the compliments, but I've no idea how you guys look like.” Terra said, causing the group to laugh. “Thank you, Agua.” Terra then punches Agua, showing the group her version of affection, getting an, 'Ow!'

The Tale of Iroh

At the Lower Ring marketplace, Iroh is in a shop that sells baskets, and examines a basket kept. “If this is for a romantic picnic, may I suggest this lavender one?” The shop owner said as he points to the basket in question.

“No, it's not a romantic picnic, but it is a special occasion.” Iroh said as he buys the basket. Iroh then begins to leave when he notices a vase that has a moon flower. He slides the vase into the shade, which causes the flowers to bloom instantly. “The moon flower likes partial shade.”

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Later, Iroh is at another shop in the market, one that sells musical instruments. The sound of a crying foal then catches the three stallions attentions and they turn around and see a Pegasus colt sobbing in the middle of the street and his mother trying to console him. “Shhh. It's okay. Shhh.” She said.

Iroh then takes an instrument from the shop, and starts singing, walking toward the colt. Iroh gets down on one knee near the boy as he begins to sing. “Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, drifting in the foam. Little soldier colt, come marching home. Brave soldier colt, comes marching home.” The colt's frown instantly turns to a smile as he reaches up and pulls Iroh's long beard, causing Iroh to groan while the boy laughs. Iroh then smiles and pats his beard. The colt's mother then takes her son by the hoof and leads him away as Iroh stands and looks at them with a smiling look on his face.

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Later at a courtyard, Iroh sees four colts are in the courtyard, playing soccer. One of the colts hits kicks the ball. But the ball, instead of hitting the gaol, it heads into the direction Iroh is standing. He dodges the ball just in time, but the ball breaks through the window directly behind where he was. A crash and a loud voice can be heard from inside. “Hey!”

“It is usually best to admit mistakes when they occur, and seek to restore honor.” Iroh said to the colts, when a loud noise is heard and all 5 of them look up, startled. At the window, a very large body and head become visible through the hole.

“When I'm through with you foals, the window won't be the only thing that's broken.” The big pony angrily said.

“But not this time.” Iroh said to the foals. “Run!” Iroh and the foals run away in all directions. Iroh is running down the marketplace street quickly. He hides in an alley, places the basket down, and he looks around the corner to see if he is being chased.

“Give me all your money!” Iroh looks down the ally and see a stallion with a knife, who has a very poor stance.

“What are you doing?” Iroh asked in disbelief.

“I'm mugging you!” The stallion said.

“With that stance?” Iroh said, causing the stallion to look at his stance.

“Huh? What're you taking about? Just give me your money, old colt!” The stallion said.

Iroh just shakes his head. “With a poor stance, you are unbalanced, and you can be easily knocked over,” Iroh said as he quickly grabs the leg of the mugger and disarms him, while pushing his attacker and knocking him to the ground. He smiles, while twirling the dagger in his hoof, and then helps the stallion, whose name is Tyco, to his hoofs. “With a solid stance, you are a much more serious threat,” Iroh demonstrates a proper stance, which Tyco attempts to imitate, but is still not assuming the correct form. Iroh walks over to him and holds his head still while he adjusts Tyco's stance.

“Much better! But to tell you the truth, you do not look like the criminal type.” Iroh pointed out as they sit down

“Yeah.” Fire’ remarked.

“I know. I'm...” Tyco than sighs. “I'm just confused.”

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Later, the two are drinking some tea, discussing what Tyco should do. “So you really think I could be a good masseur?” Tyco asked Iroh.

“Of course!” Iroh said as he pours some more tea.

“This is so great. No one has ever believed in me.” Tyco said to him.

“While it is always best to believe in one's self, a little help from others can be a great blessing.” Iroh said while smiling.

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Later, Iroh is walking to a tree on a hill within the city as the sun’s setting. Leaves fall from the tree as Iroh approaches it, who places the basket he had bought earlier down and removes his hat. He then rests on his knees and piles some rocks at the tree's base.  “Happy birthday, my son,” Iroh said with great sadness as he pulls out a sheet of paper and looks at it for a few seconds, closing his eyes, before placing it down as well. Finally he pulls two incense sticks, and lights them with his hoofs by firebending.

Iroh has made a small memorial for his deceased son, Lu Ten. “If only I could have helped you,” Iroh then begins to sing, but in a voice that cracks due to him crying. “Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, drifting in the foam. Little soldier colt, come marching home. Brave soldier colt, comes marching home.”

The Tale of Firebrand, Shining Armor, Rapidfire, and Spike

At the Upper Ring market, Shining Armor, Firebrand, Rapidfire, and Spike are looking for dinner with some empty saddle bags and some gold and silver Geo Firman coins. “I hope there’s a stand that sells gems here!” Spike said as he looks for one, to no avail.

“Calm down, Spike.” Shining Armor said to the little dragon. “I’m sure there's one around here somewhere.”

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In the palaces dinning room, it’s empty, no one anywhere inside, except for one Earth Pony, but he’s different from other ponies. He has a black suit covering his upper body with a red stripe in the middle and grey pants, along with grey boots and a grey saddle bag, black boots with grey souls. He also has bones over his clothes, acting like ornaments, the broken up skeletal remains of a dragon. There's a ribcage on his chest, a tail bone on his right shoulder and the skull his left shoulder, ribs covering the back of his black suit and boots, and the claws on his shoes. The only part of his body that is exposed is his face, which is turquoise with a large lower jaw, and what look like gills behind his cheeks. He also has dark red sunken eyes.

He’s has a flash light in his hoof, looking for something. “Where are you, friend?” He suddenly asked as he does a whistle, but it’s his ‘gills’ that flap when he does it. Suddenly, a Doberman pinscher hunting dog appears and sits next to him, growling softly, wearing a red dog collar with spikes and an apparatus of some sort on it. “There’s a boy,” the bone covered pony said as he pats the dog, when he notices a hoofprint in the dime light. He walks over to it and instantly sees that it belongs to a Unicorn stallion, early 20’s, around 272 kilograms, and was performing a show of some kind.

“Hmm ... Interesting,” he said as he looks out of one of the windows and sees the Middle Ring market, and sees a red Unicorn in the distance, while his dog sniffs the print, and gets the scent. “Hunt him up,” he commanded the dog, which, by some impossibility, transforms into a giant white lizard that has a black head, dons a white patch on each side of the head, four red eyes, two on each side. It now also has sharp teeth and the gums protrude in lower jaw and it has a row of red spikes running down its back, which also has a black stripe. Each of it’s four legs has black feet, each ending in 3 red claws and a red marked tail tip. It still has the red dog collar.

The bug/lizard thing then runs for the nearest marehole cover, and heads into the sewers as it heads for the Middle Ring.

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In the market, Fire’ and Shining Armor have bought about 5 apples, 6 bananas, 7 oranges, 8 turnips, 9 cabbages, and 10 packets of strawberries. “I think we’ve got enough, and I’m not saying that just to be lazy,” Fire’ said.

“But I haven't gotten any gems yet!” Spike whined, waving his empty bag in the air.

“He’s not gonna stop till we find something.” Shining Armor said to Fire.’

“Okay, I need to get something else anyway.” Fire’ said as they head further into the market.

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In the sewers, the buglizard has picked up Fire’s scent, and heads right for him.

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In the market, “So, Fire,’ have you been keeping my sister out of trouble?” Shining Armor asked.

“I try, but trouble always finds us, specifically me.” Fire’ answered. He then spots a stand that sells jewelry, and runs towered it.

“Hey, where are you going!” Rapidfire nearly yelled as Fire’ arrives at the stand.

“Excuse me, but I need a custom necklace.” Fire’ said to the Unicorn vendor.

“Certainly. Any particular colored gems you looking for?” The vendor asked.

“I guess he found your gems, Spike.” Shining Armor said to the baby dragon, but before Spike could even react, they hear a roar a few blocks behind them, and see an explosion. It’s loud enough to get even Fire’s attention as he places the necklace in a purple and gold box, along with some gems in a paper bag. They see that's it's the buglizard, a frightening sight that scares everypony away as it runs down the street, right toward Firebrand.

“What the heck!?” Fire’ said as Shining Armor grabs Spike and Rapidfire and ducks in between some stands as the buglizard passes by. The buglizard then jumps onto the stands, destroying some, until it lands on a stand right in front of Fire,’ jumps down, and crawls up to Fire’ till it’s mouth is right in front of Fire’s face. “Do I know you?” Fire’ asked the monster, right before it lunges at him.

Fire’ manages to get out-of-the-way as the buglizard destroys the stand, but it uses it’s tail to hit Fire,’ sending him flying into another stand. “Firebrand!” Shining Armor yelled.

“It’s okay.” Fire’ said as he leaves the rubble. “I’m fine.”

“He won’t be for long,” Spike quietly said, with fear in his voice. “LOOK OUT!!!!” Spike screamed, but it's too late, the buglizard is already charging at Fire,’ who only has time to get up as the giant, four-eyed lizard tackles him, the two rolling along the ground till the buglizard is on top. Everyone watching is either shocked or terrified by the fight going on. The only one not at all fazed is the dogs owner, who’s quietly watching from the shadows.

“Get off me!” Fire’ said as he uses his back legs to create the thrust needed to send the buglizard into the air and land a few meters away. Fire’ quickly gets up as the others run to his aid, but the buglizard tackles Fire’ again. “Why are you guys just standing there?” Fire’ asked the others, “Hurry up and help!” Fire’ managed to say before the buglizard pins him down to the ground.

Shining Armor sees a stand selling weapons, and takes a bola from it, and, right when the buglizard was about to bite Fire’s head off, throws the bola and traps the lizards mouth. Fire’ takes this and throws the giant lizard off him, right by the other three, who barely get out-of-the-way. “You okay, Fire’?” Spike asked the red Unicorn as he gets up.

“A few bruises, but I’m fine. Nice shot, by the way,” Fire’ said to Shining Armor.

“Hey!” The weapons vender yelled at Armor. “Your gonna have to pay for that bola, especially since I wasn't done fixing it yet!”

“Say what?” Both Spike and Rapidfire said as they see the buglizard get up and, with much effort, rips the bola apart, freeing it’s jaws.

“Aw, man!” Fire’ said as the buglizard jumps into the air, and does a crash landing on a stand behind them, partially destroying it. Fire’ jumps in one direction while Armor, Rapidfire and Spike jump in the opposite direction, with the buglizard right behind them. Rapidfire, thinking quickly, takes an unwilling Spike and uses him like a gun and fires a couple of shots, but the lizard uses it’s prehensile tail to deflect the shots as it lunges at them, teeth ready to tear flesh, but Firebrand grabs the giant lizards tail before it could do anything to his friends, who get up and surround the buglizard.

“Hmm, three against one,” the dog’s/lizard’s owner said when he sees this, not counting Spike at all. “Well, the odds are becoming a bit unsporting,” with that, he whistles.

“Anyone else hear that whistle.” Shining Armor said. Suddenly, the lizard swings its tail around and throws Fire’ several meters away. It then sprays out a yellow fog from it’s mouth. “Ah, I can’t see!” Shining Armor cried as Fire’ enters the fog, and...

“I can’t see either.” Fire’ said as the fog dissipates, with Rapidfire and Spike being the only other beings in it.

“Where that giant, bug-lizard-thing go to?” Spike asked.

“Not sure.” Fire’ said as he begins to regain his sight, along with Shining Armor. “But I have a feeling that we’ll be seeing it again, sooner or later.”

In the shadows, the mutant Earth pony and his dog, back to normal, are watching the four, with the Doberman pinscher growling at them. “No, no old friend. You did well. And we leaned that the stories are true -- that Firebrand is worthy prey.” He said as they leave, disappearing in the shadows.

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Later at the teams house, the four are unpacking when the mares walk in. “Hey guys.” Twilight said as they head in. “How was the market today?”

“Uh, the usual.” Fire’ simply said with a sly smile.

The Tale of Blitz

Blitz is walking down a candlelit street at night. Bored, he pulls his nun-chucks out, throws it into the sky, and catches it as it comes back down. He walks past a building and into the alley beside it, some colts who are having trouble keeping a lion in line, and by the windows of the building, but he then hears voices from inside. Intrigued, he turns and sticks his head inside the window. “What's this?” He asked when he sees the room is the 5-7-5 Society's classroom. There is a mare on the stage reciting her haiku to the rest of the them.

“Through all the long night, winter moon glows with bright love, sleet her silver tears.” The mare on the stage said.

“Aah, poetry.” Blitz said as the lion, who is still struggling with his handlers, kicks backward and hits Blitz in his flank, sending him through the window, and inside the room. The mares look at him and shriek, startled. “I am so sorry. Something struck me in the rear. I just ... wound up ... here.” Blitz said while collecting himself and removing the window frame.

The mares laugh, and clap at Blitz's unintended haiku. He first looks surprised, but then grins widely as their teacher, Macmu-Ling, gets up. “Five, seven, then five, syllables mark a haiku.” She then bows to Blitz. “Remarkable oaf.”

Blitz than thinks for a moment. “They call me Blitzle, that is in the USA. I am not an oaf.” The mares then laugh at his haiku.

“Chittering monkey, in the spring he climbs treetops, and thinks himself tall.” Macmu-Ling said while she narrows her eyes.

“Oooooh!”

“You think you're so smart, with your fancy little words, this is not so hard.” Blitz haiku.

“Oooooh!”

“Whole seasons are spent, mastering the form, the style, none calls it easy.” Macmu-Ling said as she walks up to the stage.

“Oooooh!”

“I calls it easy. Like I paddle a canoe, I'll paddle yours too!” Blitz said while imitating paddling a canoe as the ladies laugh.

“There's nuts and there's fruits.” Macmu-Ling said as she takes a plum from her sleeve, drops it to the ground, and squashes it. “In fall the clinging plum drops, always to be squashed.”

“Squish, squash, sling that slang. I'm always right back at ya, like a boomerang!” Blitz said, causing an annoyed Macmu-Ling to walk off the stage and back to her seat as Blitz turns to the class again and raises his leg up to silence the laughter. “That’s right, I’m the Blitz. With a B-L-I-T-Z, young ladies, I rocked ya!” This time, however, his ‘haiku’ is not cheered at, and is met with silence. Blitz stares as the class, as the annoyed and angry class does the vice versa. Blitz then counts the number of syllables his haiku had, and realizes that he had 6 syllables in the last line instead of 5.

A large security guard catches him by the collar, and throws him out through the door. “Uh, that's one too many syllables there, bub.” The gaud said as he closes the door.

Outside the room, Blitz falls to the ground with a loud noise. He then sits up. “Poetry...”

The Tale of Zuko

At the Pao Family Tea House, Zuko walks down the shop with a tray of cups, and looks behind at a mare. He walks up behind his uncle who is on a ladder, stacking things on a shelf behind the counter. “Uncle, we have a problem.” Zuko said as Iroh descends from the ladder. “One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now but there is a mare over there at the corner table. She knows we're Fire Nation.” Iroh looks at the mare, but is quickly pulled back by Zuko. “Didn't I say don't look?”

“You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot. Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you.” Iroh teased.

“What?!” A bewildered Zuko said.

The mare in question then gives the two some coins. “Thank you for the tea. What's your name?” The mare asked Zuko, causing Iroh to slightly smile.

“My name's Lee.” Zuko said when he turns around. “My uncle and I just moved here.”

“Hi Lee, my name's Jin.” The light green Earth Pony mare said to him. “Thank you and ... well, I was wondering if you would like to go out sometime.” Jin said with a blush.

Before a clearly stunned Zuko can respond, Iroh answers that question. “He'd love to!”

“Great. I'll meet you in front of the shop at sundown.” Jn said as she walks away, as Iroh throws his arms on a bewildered Zuko's shoulders, with a large smile.

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Later, Zuko comes out of the tea shop at the evening, with his mane combed. He walks out into the middle of the street and looks around as Jin emerges from an alley beside the shop and walks up to him. “Hey. Well, look at you.” Jin said as she messes up Zuko’s mane. “You look so cute.”

Zuko then stops Jin from messing up his mane anymore. “It took my uncle ten minutes to do my hair.” Jin then grabs Zuko by the leg and goes with him as he glances once back at the teashop.

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Later at a town square, several ponies stand around doing various activities, with Zuko and Jin eating at a restaurant, Jin is sipping tea while Zuko pokes at his last meatball with his fork, not looking at Jin. “So, how do you like the city so far?” Jin asked.

“It's okay.” Zuko answered.

“What do you like to do for fun?” Jin asked while sipping some tea.

“Nothing.”

“Excuse me, sir.” A waiter addressed Zuko. “Would you and your girlfriend care for dessert?”

“She is not my girlfriend.” Zuko hissed. The waiter then walks away and Zuko laces his hoofs and looks at Jin, who is eating noodles from a bowl at fast speed. Zuko just stares at the sight for a moment. “You have ... quite an appetite for a filly.”

“Umm ... thanks? So, Lee, where were you and your uncle living before you came here?” Jin asked.

“Umm ... well, we've been traveling around for a long time.”

“Oh. Why were you traveling so much?”

“We were ... uh, part of this traveling circus.” Zuko nervously said, trying his best to make a good excuse.

“Really? What did you do? Wait, lemme guess.” Jin then thinks and comes up with an answer. “You juggled!”

“Yes, I juggled.” Zuko said while folding his legs.

“I've always wanted to learn how to juggle.” Jin said as she holds out some things for Zuko to juggle. “Can you show me something?”

Zuko takes the objects in his hoofs, and throws them one by one in the air, but is unable to catch them, and one of the objects, a small vase, falls on his head, breaking into many pieces. “I haven't practiced for a while.” Zuko said as he wipes away the broken vase from his mane.

“It's all right.” Jin sadly said. But her frown then turns upside down when she remembers something. “Hey, I want to show you one of my favorite places in the city.”

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Later in a street in the city, Jin is leading Zuko to a small fountain. “I'm so excited for you to see the firelight fountain. The lamps make the water sparkle and reflect in the pool in the most beautiful way.” She leads Zuko into an open area with a large fountain and several posts with candles on top surrounding it in a circle. However, the candles are not lit. “I can't believe it! They aren't lit.”

Zuko then looks at Jin and sees that she’s about to cry. “Close your eyes, and don't peek.” Zuko said to her. Jin then closes her eyes as Zuko walks out, holds his front hoofs together, and closes his eyes as he prepares. Zuko then opens his eyes, and he begins firebending. Using the very tips of his hoofs, he shoots small bursts of flame in all directions at the candles to light them. Once finished, he stands straight and looks at Jin, still with her hoof covering her eyes. “Okay, now you can look.”

Jin then removes her hoof and opens her eyes. “Oh, wow.” She said when she sees that the candles are now lit. Jin looks at Zuko, amazed. She walks up to him, looking at the candles. “What happened? How did they light? What did you?” She then looks at a smiling Zuko.

They both turn to look at the fountain. As Zuko looks at them, Jin brushes her hoof through her mane and smiles at him, and then holds his hoof. Zuko turns to look at Jin smiling at him. They both turn to be face to face and as Jin begins to lean in for a kiss, but Zuko quickly draws a piece of paper which he holds between their lips. “I've brought you something.” He said to a surprised Jin. “It's a coupon for a free cup of tea.”

“Lee, thats so sweet”

“Don't thank me, it was my uncle's idea.” Zuko said a she takes a few steps back. “He thinks you're our most valuable customer.”

“Your uncle is a good teacher.” Jin said as she walks close to him and turns his head toward her. “I have something for you too. Now it's your turn to close your eyes.” As Zuko closes his eyes, Jin goes closer to him and kisses him, and then pulls back slightly. Zuko returns the kiss, but immediately jumps back away from her. He stands for a second, looking at her, then turns his back and begins to walk away. “What's wrong?”

“It's complicated. I have to go.” Zuko said to a disappointed Jin.

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Later at the tea house, Iroh is looking out from the windows at the street, waiting for Zuko. The door then opens, as Zuko walks inside, being silent. “How was your night, Prince Zuko?” Iroh asked. Zuko just walks into a room and slams the doors shut behind him without replying to Iroh.

Iroh looks after him for a second with a confused look before turning back to the window to continue his work. But Iroh turns back when he hears Zuko opening the doors. “It was nice.” Zuko said as he closes the door again, making Iroh smile.