18 Chapter 18

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Today I was at a new bar. I had just found the bar was small but cozy, and here I was having a nice relaxing day off, behind the counter, Peko, a small well-dressed man with a tiny mustache, was flipping drinks like a beast,m… alcohol bending?.

"Here you go!" Peko grinned putting a drink in front of me.

I looked at the man and then to the drink I hadn't ordered in puzzlement. "What is this?"

"This is my thanks for bringing me clients," Peko winked, "Having the demon of the north in my bar brings hundreds just to see you,"

"Okay," I said, a bit uncertain, but a free drink is a free drink.

"Is one of my best drinks, is called northern paradise," Peko stated proudly, "Enjoy," he added, going back to serve other customers.

After enjoying my drink, I decided to leave and as I was about to, a man barged up to the bar almost running into me, thank goodness for my water sense.

The man in question was a tall young man with a long thin ponytail, dressed in the normal attire for the northern water tribe guard attire with sword and a short bow strapped on his back. "Peko!" he yelled, running straight to the counter.

The man seemed greatly upset as he banged his fists on the countertop, making me wonder if I would have to intervene. But something was off, the man looked familiar, but I could not quite remember where I had seen him before.

Odd, I wonder where I had seen him.

Peko looked up from the drink he was making. "Ah, Ron. How can I assist you? Did you come to pay me what you owe me?" There was a certain bitterness in his tone.

"I told you to not tell anyone!!" cried Ron in anger, "I will make sure you—" alright, time to do my job.

"You will make sure of what," I inquired with slight amusement.

"Shut the fuck—-" The poor, poor man couldn't finish his sentence, when he realized who was I.

"By all means, continue," I smirked, his reaction was delightfully delicious.

"Sir, it was not my intention to…" I shushed him, as I walked towards him, the bar had by this point gone completely silent.

"Now, pay your bill… and never come back," I whispered, close to his ear, "Or I will freeze your balls, capiche?"

"Yes," the man nodded in fear.

"Good," I smiled patting his cheek, as I turned to Peko, "Thanks for the drink,"

"A pleasure Mr. Demon," Peko waved at me as I left his bar.

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After leaving the bar I decided to buy some groceries and with that in mind, I was now walking down to the Trade Street.

It was noon, so it was now full of people and patrolled by pairs of elite uniformed city guards.

This place was very well guarded, one of the most guarded places actually, mostly to avoid thievery, and similar stuff.

As I turned around a corner around one of the many shrines, I found myself on a tranquil street where people were surrounding something.

White fur was around the general area, and I was sure I could smell the faint yet invasive smell of wet fur.

It took me a second to manage to get around the people, to see something that made my day even better.

Appa, besides the big sky byson, no other than the young Avatar, Aang and his friends. Aang was currently explaining to the people around his pet how much Appa loved food.

"Welcome to the Northern Water Tribe," I smiled, people around started to slowly scatter.

"So… you are the demon of the north?" Sokka inquired in disbelief, and I have to say…I was impressed at the speed they learned about me, "you don't seem that tough," he added.

"You can always try… and see how tough I really am," I smiled at Sokka, which in turn made him take a step back.

"We are looking for Pakku," Aang said breaking the silence, "Do you know where to look?" He asked with a hint of hope on his voice.

"I do," I nodded, "go to the palace, and ask the chief for him,"

"Why do they call you the demon of the north?" Katara inquired, "They just said to avoid you… but you seem nice,"

"Appearances are deceiving," I winked at her, getting a blush from her and a glare for the ever pacifist Avatar, "And, well… the title was given to me after I defeated Pakku,"

"You defeated the grand master!" Sokka smiled, "Maybe you can teach Aang instead,"

"No," I shook my head with a laugh, "I have other things to do," no I didn't, "See you later," one glance at him showed me something, he was still too weak to entertain me, for now. I was going to wait for him to grow.

In the meantime, I have one thing to stop… and killing Zhao was the key to do it.

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[Iroh POV]

Zhao was going to fail this invasion, his mind was not at peace with itself. His mind was stuck in the past, while dreaming of a glorious future where he would be the one to win this war. And he was forgetting the delightful present.

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Wise words, words that most ignored.

"We are two months away from the Avatar," Zhao stated, "I will destroy the Avatar, and the Northern Water Tribe, all in one… I will win this for the Fire Nation,"

"Such confidence only brings misfortune," I smiled at him, "Be always wary of your enemy,"

"He's a child," Zhao scoffed.

"You would be surprised of what a child can do when pushed against a corner," I stated, "Don't forget Zhao, even a child can become a monster to be feared if pushed enough,"

"He's nothing to be afraid of, but I am," Overconfidence…. it will be his own outdoing. After all, overconfidence will only drown him in a sea of reality.

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[Aang POV]

The demon of the north, I didn't expect him to be so, not demon like. But there was something on his eyes, something when he was looking at me. Something hungry.

"That guy thinks he's too good for us!" Sokka was still rambling above how he didn't want to teach me.

"He has a life Sokka, we can't expect him to drop his duties for us," Katara stated, "Besides, if Pakku trained him… maybe he can duplicate that result with us,"

The idea of training with Katara, it made my heart pump blood a bit faster, "I would love to,"

"Well, I for one will volunteer with the warriors of the tribe," Sokka said with a wide smile, "I'll make us some money, and show how good the southern water tribe really is!"

"Thanks Sokka," I smiled, I was lucky to have such good friends.