Dark clouds appear on the darkening horizon when I give my watch post to Circus Girl.

I eye her for a moment, but I am sure she will not appreciate being told to not hesitate to wake me when she feels it is no longer safe without me on deck. "Move along, waterbender," she says, "I will wake you when you are needed."

With a nod, I do as she says. She is always curt with me. Then again, it might be better this way.

The captain's cabin is already occupied. Not with Mai, as I half expected, but with the Cabin Boy and the brat. They are curled up on the cot, at the foot end, like dogs. Frightened dogs, with their backs pressed to the wall.

The brat cracks open an eye as I take off my boots. Gently, I run a hand over his head, and he closes it again. The motion wakes the cabin boy. He relaxes when he sees who it is. I repeat the gesture on him, and he too goes back to sleep.

I stretch out at the top end of the cot, lower legs and feet hanging off the side to give them space.

...

What wakes me, is the sound of feet, and chains. Just in time to see the door fly open with enough force that, had I stood behind it, surely I would have gone down.

The weakened pirate without weapons isn't a match for a rested waterbender at night. Gorou behind him, fevered, is more of a challenge.

That tattoo on his arm is more than it seems. Lightening quick, a disk shoots from it, towards me, and only the hastily raised book I grab from the desk saves me from a concussion. Even so, I think my ring finger is broken.

I hate fighting other competent benders when I'm not standing on ice. But no matter. He's not at his best, and while he may be luring me in, I am no longer exhausted.

With a hit of the book to his head as he is distracted by the pain of a jab to his injured arm, he goes down. Thank you, hardcover.

Not, that they have invented paperbacks yet.

I move to my boots, take the knife I keep in one out, and give it to the now-awake cabin boy. "Defend yourself and him. If you can help it, do not open the door."

He nods, determination and readiness for action shining through. I take a moment to locate all the people on board. None below. All on deck. They must have gotten Mai and Azula. Damn it. There is also another large body of water approaching overhead. Perfect.

We have found that conflict is best solved with words. Because after all, if an opponent no longer exists, it is no win for us. We have not stood for what we pretend to embody: freedom.

I imagine the campaign Gorou launched to get the others to agree with his plan, insane as it was, went something like effective reformation campaigns the majority did not want. First the repetition of key-phrases that spark the need for action. Then the pressure on advocates of the opposing view through many voices. And finally, acceptance-management through identification with long-held ideals that are remotely represented in the new course of action.

Smooth sailing, really, until we came along.

This time, I'm not shy about being brutal.

...

As Zhenan port comes into view, I am glad to have told the Cabin Boy to hide in the crow's nest. The port looks less than well-kept or even ordered. It seems to work, with lots of shouting and close scrapes, and quite a bit of threatening.

I am just glad to be a bender, and able to manoeuvre the ship to the nearest open space at the docks. Circus Girl and Azula lower the plank once the ship is secured. We have all decided that it is for the best if I guard the prisoners while the women contact the bounty office. That is, Mai and Azula would have been the best choice, but they still refuse to acknowledge each other. And because Circus Girl does not trust me, it can't be me. Mai refuses to leave her brother with me on board, and having a small child with them when they go speak to the officials will be detrimental. So, Azula and Circus Girl are going. Because of Circus Girl's voice, Azula will do the talking.

I have a bad feeling about this.

Yet, it is as it is. Mai and I guide the prisoners on deck. All of them are tense. After that dreadful attempt at taking their ship back, they know their best chances are with the guards on land. The ship is mine, now.

To me, the concepts of free trade regulated by a state in order to prevent illegal dealings or monopolies is a simple one, easily grasped. To the people of this world it's a pipe-dream, the stuff of idealists' fantasies. We know how to make use of that. So long as one is aware of where the money flows, one can make the right purchases.

And there is no such thing as pity within a market.

I watch the masses of people weave along the docks. Workers carry heavy crates, or roll large barrels to carts. Merchants meet with traders and haggle as slips of paper and coin exchange owners. Passengers exit their cabins, and lift their luggage onto carriages.

Guards stand watch, somehow looking less reputable than the street rats lifting change from pockets.

Through the thick of it, Azula and Circus Girl, together with a unit of guards shove their way through the throng of people. Behind them, the cleared space disappears as quickly as they made it.

Something is tense within every single one of them, except for Circus Girl and the officer. I don't know whether to attribute it to the fact that they are about to escort dangerous criminals, or whether something else might be in the works. Azula holds herself casually – or as casually as she ever does – and that in itself is suspicious. I thought her a good liar.

So what is making her nervous to the point of losing composure so far that she makes mistakes like this one? Or is it a mistake? Does she perhaps want to warn Mai?

I glance at her, but the woman is busy arranging the pirates into an orderly row to get off the ship.

They look battered, and hungry, all of them.

Some of their eyes are defeated. Some defiant. Gorou's are determined. He meets my gaze squarely.

I think that, perhaps, he too has noticed it.

The tension in the air.

Azula, Circus Girl and the officer walk the plank onto deck. I remain to the back, not far from the earthbender.

One by one the pirates are led to the dock by the guards, captain first, half-dragged, and their cuffs are connected by a sturdy rope the guards brought with them. They each carry another pair of cuffs.

Azula walks towards me as though to let me in on how it went, and how much money we are receiving for the pirate's bounties. Her earlier attempt at casualness is gone, replaced by intent. It is similar to how she usually holds herself, but rather than the posture of an observer, she is ready for a fight.

Alright.

Taking a deep breath, careful to remain standing as I have, naturally balancing out the ship's movement, I ready myself to move out of the way of her bending. The officer is talking with Mai. Too familiarly. Circus Girl is watching with a smile.

I bend some water to creep up the sides of the ship. I will throw everyone off balance first, and hopefully throw someone to the ground while keeping my footing.

Azula's attack comes suddenly, once she's reached the ideal range of bending for her. It's closer than she usually was, when we travelled together, I notice as I slide to the side, and sweep my arm.

The ship tilts dangerously, ropes that tie it to the dock groan loudly, and one snaps sharply, like the crack of a whip.

All stumble, except for me, having anticipated the way the ship would move beneath my feet.

The pirates, three of them that are still on board, fall to the planks. Mai staggers a few steps, and the officer catches her elbow to help her keep her balance.

The crackle of lightening forces my attention to Azula.

That settles it. She is no longer a child.

"I see you've recovered," I tell her, even as I will the masses of water I used to tilt the ship on deck. I freeze the ground we stand on, sealing the pirates to their places on the wood, and everyone's feet but mine where they stand.

Azula is unafraid of continuing her lightening attack and sends it directly at me.

All I can to is twist, hoping to avoid it.

Something behind me splinters, and I just about manage to clear the space I stand on of ice so that any sparks don't travel through it to me.

...

Don't forget to throw some power stones :)

...

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