Dawn of a New Prince (Star Wars/Avatar Crossover)

Katara smiled innocently at her brother. "Is that so? Well, thank you for giving me that right, brother dear. I'm sure it will be a winning conversation."

Toph burst out laughing. "And if you can't do it, I'd be glad to fill in Twinkle Toes. I'll even make statues to illustrate my point."

"On second thought, you are forbidden from bringing up the matter until your wedding night!" Sokka told her, raising his index finger for emphasis.

"I have the feeling that your teaching style would be blunt and to the point," Pathik told Toph, "Which is, perhaps, not the best way to educate the boy on the subject."

"It wasn't exactly pleasant for me, either, when I felt my parents do it one night," said Toph, shuddering. "One thing about having an earth-sense. You don't miss much."

Aang

The Avatar looked back and forth between his friends, wondering what, exactly, they were all going on about. He felt as if he was missing something very important, but he had no clue what that could be.

"What exactly do you have to explain to me...?"

((Good, we're almost to the climax of the RP now. Once Zareal returns with Iroh and Azula, Vader and company can find where they are. And then the final battle begins...))

"I'd imagine so," Pathik told her sympathetically. Even in an enlightened state, the Guru could still imagine learning of the subject in such a way.

Sokka turned to the Guru, "Could you..."

"I'm afraid I have no experience on the subject," Pathik told him. He turned to the girls, "I thikn we should retire for the night."

Sokka groaned and took Aang's hand, "Come on. Let's go somewhere more private."

As soon as they were in a courtyard, well away from the others, Sokka began, "Well, you know, men and women are different. First of all, a man has..."

OOC: LOL.

***

"I hope Sokka doesn't say something stupid," muttered Katara.

"Sure he will. But it'll be funny," said Toph, in a rather chipper mood.

The waterbender noticed. She wondered at it, and smiled to think that Toph was genuinely happy. And Katara knew why.

Sokka might have had a large brain, but he had a big heart too, for all his faults.

Aang

After being gone for nearly half an hour, Aang returned to the girls. His left eye was twitching rather violently, his entire face was red, and he refused to make any eye contact whatsoever with Katara or Toph. He wordlessly took a seat far away from them and tried to forget everything that Sokka had just told him. And failing miserably while doing so.

((I think I'll pause things with the Gaang in a little while, to let Zareal get Iroh and Azula and bring them to the Eastern Air Temple.))

(Remember when this RP used to be about Zuko becoming Darth Vader's new apprentice?)

Zareal

"Not much time," Zareal said, trusting in the force to guide him to Azula. He knew that he had to have been detected, and the sooner he could get out, the sooner he, and Azula, would be out of Vader's grasp. It was a big city though, and quite difficult to find anything in.

(Where's Mara during this, by the way?)

(Cool. Just need to post one last time with my two characters at the Temple)

Sokka sat down next to Toph, crossing his arms and trying not to think about his conversation with Aang. Needless to say, he had told Aang everything he knew and didn't stop until he knew he wouldn't have to say anything on the subject to Aang ever again. He looked away, seeming to find the horizon rather interesting.

Pathik, meanwhile, meditated, a serene look on his face.

(I guess it's time for Zuko and the Empire to do something then. Ba Sing Se needs to be Imperialised. )

((Well, I figured that Aang needed some time to at least get a grasp of controlling the Avatar State, so the final fight between him and Zuko and Vader would be more interesting and fair-ish. But I do admit, things have gotten carried away. As for Mara, probably practicing her Force skills somewhere in the temple, after Zareal left. And come to think of it...Vader would feel Zareal's presence in the city, no doubt...))

Vader

"He is here." Vader suddenly stated as he came out of a deep meditation. He turned his head to his apprentice, who had been practicing with his blades earlier. "The Jedi has come back to Ba Sing Se."

Helios

Helios stopped mid-step in a form before turning to his master. "The Jedi returned," he asked, eye's narrowing. "Is he alone, or has he brought back the Avatar with him?" It made little sense to him why the Jedi came back, but he didn't care so long as the greatest threat to him was defeated.

Darth Vader

"I do not sense the Avatar with him." Darth Vader replied. "Or the Hand, and any of the Avatar's companions, for that matter. For whatever reason, he is alone. That mistake will prove to be his undoing. Right now he is in the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se. Find him, apprentice, and put an end to him. Slaying your first Jedi will be another step toward fully becoming a Sith."

Helios

Though dissapointed the Avatar would not die soon, Helios did relish the challenge a Jedi would pose. "It will be done, my master," he said, and strode from the room. He would take no Dai Li with him into combat, the Jedi was his fight alone and the earthbenders would only get in his way.

Erv stood by dutifully as he listened to Lord Vader and his apprentice discuss the Jedi's appearance. He was confident that Lord Helios would be able to deal with a loan Jedi. In the meantime, he had managed to gather quite a bit of information about the Dai Li, Ba Sing See, and the planet itself. Many secrets, of course, were difficult to find, especially with their allies keeping watch over him "for his own protection". Nevertheless, like the Jedi of the Old Republic, benders underestimated normal people. He had even ascertained information on the Earth King himself.

Azula

"So this is where you've decided to live now? I would say it's quaint but to be honest Uncle I must say it is quite fitting." Azula commented as she walked through the Apartment of Anwar and Iroh.

The Water Tribe boy had stayed back at the Tea Shop, having offered to close it up for Iroh. Something told Azula that Anwar probably wasn't going to return to the Apartment. And she was fine with that. After all, a weak Water Tribe boy would just get in the way of Azula and Iroh, even Uncle likely knew that fact.

"Is there anything you need to do before we begin discussing the best way of going about killing Vader then?" Azula asked her Uncle as she turned to look at him.
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Mai

Mai sat alone in the Quarters given to her. Vader and Zahanna had worked out a deal, and Zuko had some pull with the Dai Li as well, Mai still didn't feel comfortable living underground with them.

Zuko was obviously different. People didn't even call him by his name anymore, instead referring to him as Darth Helios which Mai thought was a truly ridiculous name to have. But it fit the part, She supposed. After all, he was now the Apprentice of a Metal Man that had flown out of the sky and as Mai knew now, the rest of the Galaxy as well.

She still hadn't had any alone time with the former Prince since the alley way. She wanted to talk with him, but she couldn't just ask the Dai Li. Who knows who would find out then. Likely Vader, Mai supposed. And if Vader found out that Mai and Zuko were close.... Well were they even close? Mai wasn't sure. Zuko had changed a lot. As had Mai. They hadn't really been friends for over four years now.

That was the big question then, Mai realized. Had they both changed entirely too much by now.... They didn't really know each other if that was true, Mai supposed. She had been holding onto a memory, a fond one, but still. What a foolish thing to do.

For a second, Mai regretted having been given her own room. At least Ty lee or Zahanna would have been a decent distraction.
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Lilith

Lilith walked through the underground base alone, feeling a little lost as she wandered around through the identical tunnels. She still hadn't found anything to draw with, which is what Lilith wanted most at this point.

"Would it have killed them to add some sort of garden down here...." Lilith grumbled as she turned a corner, only to see another identical hall. The Dai li had no taste or creativity. And apparently, a need for lots of pointless halls as well.

Ty Lee yawned as she walked through the hallways. This place seemed so dank and depressing. Part of her regretted leaving Azula. Sure, she was prone to bouts of anger and used fear to control her and Mai, but the places she took them were always extravagant. Still, she could always make the best out of everything.

Without knocking, Ty Lee barged into Mai's room with her usual grin, "Hey Mai, what's up?"

*

"Milord," Erv began, seeing that Vader was alone now. While some were intimidated by Vader's silence and the breathing sound of his suit, the officer found his blunt manner a welcome relief from other Imperials' attitudes. Thus, he was unperturbed as he delivered his report.

He continued, "Long Feng maintains absolute control of the city. His Dai Li number in the hundreds, but do not use standard "earthbending". They seem to be trained more on apprehending criminals than anything else. They also enforce a silence about this planet's war. As for the Earth King, he seems unaware of the state of the world outside his palace, deferring control to Long Feng. He is also regarded as a quasi-deity of sorts. If the Empire chooses to house a garrison in this city when reinforcements arrive, the people may turn violent if the Earth King is harmed."

He paused for a moment before finishing, "Long Feng isn't used to sharing power, milord. He may not be trustworthy."

Iroh

"No, Anwar is closing up the shop, I have no other obligations," Iroh said, still wary and solemn. "There is something up your sleeve, Azula. You know that Vader is too powerful for both of us combined, so you either have information or a power more effective than bending." Firebending would not help them against the metal man, as he demonstrated to both of them individually.

Azula

Azula smiled in self satisfaction as Iroh asked her the one question she had been waiting for him to ask since they had arrived at the apartment. The scarred Princess grabbed a small kumquat off of the table in the middle room as she turned to look at Iroh. "Well Uncle, if you don't mind me using a metaphor... of course you wouldn't, you and Father always loved them after all." Azula stated as she went off on a rather odd subject.

The Girl simply wasn't her best at this point. Now that she was sure that Zareal, Mai, and even Ty lee, had all left her. Along with the fact that she was still injured, and unfed. (As even though Iroh would most likely disagree, Tea does not count.)

But Azula caught herself before she continued off on talking about her Uncle and Father, and she mentally course corrected herself to get back on subject. "Well, you could say I know where all the pieces are set in this harsh game against the metal man. Mai and Ty lee are both in the city and they are already helping Vader." Azula stated her assumption as though it was fact. To be honest she wasn't exactly sure. But her fears, and her intuition, said it was true. So she pretended.

"And the Jedi... he was looking for the Avatar so they could fight Vader together, and he succeeded. So if we find Zareal the Jedi, then we find the Avatar. We can use them to kill Vader." Azula decided, planning as she spoke.
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Mai

Mai didn't look up when Ty lee burst into the room, and instead gave a rather boring reply. "Eh." Was all she said.

Darth Vader

"It is none of your concern, Erv. I knew all of this before. When it becomes necessary I will eliminate Long Feng and install another as the head of the Dai Li. But for now Long Feng is a useful tool. He craves more power, and so he will side with me to get it. For now, at least. But when he does turn on me, I will be ready. He is no threat to me, anyway." Darth Vader said with a dismissive wave.

"As you wish, Lord Vader," Erv told him with a bow as he left the room. He might have known that his lord would gather as much, but it was Imperial protocol to let one's superiors know of any new information.

*

"Come on, Mai. I mean, this place is depressing, but you like dark places! And Zuko's here!" Ty Le told her with a mischievous grin, "I even found out where he sleeps..."

The Circus Girl smirked. She knew that Mai and Zuko had a liking for each other and like a good friend, she was attempting to move things along.

(I have no idea whether Iroh knows about Jedi or not... so I don't know how to have him react.)

((He shouldn't know about the Jedi. I think he should just act a little confused when Azula talks about him, and maybe even asks who he is.))

(Ok.)

Iroh

"The Avatar," Iroh asked, confused somewhat. The Avatar was in the city? And what was this Jedi she was speaking of? "What do you mean, Jedi?" It made no sense, and Iroh was starting to wonder if Azula was losing her sanity.

Zareal

Zareal walked through the streets searching for any sign of the Princess. Her Force signature was stronger than most, but it was still proving difficult to find her. He had tried looking in a few places he thought she might be at, but no such luck. Suddenly, he felt it, a presence he remembered back in the tunnels.

"The apprentice," he breathed, and wished now he blended in better. It was now a race, get to the princess and get out before the young sith found him. Without a saber, he was defenseless.

Helios

Helios followed the force in his attempt to find the Jedi. It was difficult for him to follow people through the Force, but the Jedi was easier to detect than the commoners. Three lightsabers hung on his hips, two belonging to him and one that belonged to the Jedi. It wouldn't be much of a battle to test his skill if his opponent was at a disadvantage.

Azula

Azula held her hands behind her back, having them clasped together as she smiled at Iroh. She actually had the upper hand over her Uncle when it came to information. The Girl wanted to bask in this small victory for a few seconds, but Azula was pretty sure her Uncle wouldn't let her. Besides, who knows how much time they would have.

"Vader is a Jedi, though Zareal referred to him as a Sith. They have powers similar to Benders....almost like a fifth type of Bender. It's certainly a fascinating thing to think about, especially when you see what power they have. No doubt that helped them convince Zuko to leave you and join Vader."
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Mai

Mai shook her head in reply to Ty lee. She was still the eternally optimistic Girl she had always been. "Are you referring to Darth Helios, Ty? Because he's out in the city right now."
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Anwar

Anwar sighed loudly as he leaned against the counter that seperated the customers from the entrance to the kitchen. It had taken a few hours, but Anwar had finally finished cleaning up the damaged tea shop. Of course he had intentionally taken as long as possible.

And now the young Man had no idea what he was supposed to do now. He couldn't go back to the Apartment, not when he knew that Azula was waiting there.

Jet was gone, taken who knows where. Anwar didn't really care much about that though, at least he didn't have to worry being killed by that particular psychopath though. Apparently the city was full of them right now though. Which was just awesome.

Iroh

Iroh thought for a moment and said, "Why would this Jedi want to fight that monster? How can you trust him to not just take over once Vader was defeated, if that is possible?" It was unlike Azula to take chances this big, she would need to have some assurance that she would remain on top no matter what the outcome.