"Pai Sho Me the Way" by bballtoday
My first fan-fic, so please be critical. Give me what you can, and enjoy!
Dedicated to puggie178, because he got me thinking of stories I could make.
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Interactions:
Taak: Thank you so much sir. I hope with this information I will finally find it.
Pong: Anyone should be able to taste the sweet pleasure of the best tea in the Earth Kingdom. It was my pleasure.
Taak: Trust me, I?m not going there for the tea. (Turns his back, flips the white lotus tile, and starts walking away) Goodbye.
Pong: Goodbye, and good luck, son.
*Back to reality*
Interactions:
Taak: (Stares at Qui Lee with his mouth wide open) How stupid do you think I am?
Qui Lee: (In disbelief that Taak thinks he is lying) What?
Taak: You*ve chased me around the world and almost really injured me with a boulder when we were in Chin Villiage! Even I know that a White Lotus wouldn*t do any of that!
Qui Lee: That boulder was hollow! I made a hole in it that would keep you safe. How else did you get out alive?
Taak: Bumi saved me, and what are you talking about? You are my enemy not my friend. You are just on big problem!
Qui Lee: That*s exactly it! The Order, that*s we call them for short, ordered me, no pun intended, to make a problem for you. There aren*t many problems now that we are not in a war. They wanted you to struggle so you could learn, Taak.
Taak: Really? They ordered you to do that? Then why are you helping me, and disobeying them?
Qui Lee: That*s a great question, but have you noticed that when you do things outside of their orders, being yourself, doing your own thing, they love it?
Taak: Yeah. I*m thinking outside the box.
Qui Lee: Well I*m doing the same thing.
Taak: I, I*m sorry?I just can*t believe you.
Qui Lee: I understand, but I could help you. I*ve come to know more about you than any of them, and I know that you need help. We can do this together.
Taak: I can*t do this though. It*s so hard.
Qui Lee: Yes you can! You*ve wanted this at least twice as long, and as much as me. Worked at least twice as hard as I did for it, And all that trash! If I could do it, even with my punky personality I had, then you shouldn*t have a problem. And I could talk on and on about that you have it, but you just need the confidence!
Taak: Yeah. I can do this.
Qui Lee: Will you let me help?
Taak: What can I lose? Sure, anyways Aang wasn*t able to succeed until he had Zuko?
Journal:
I still don*t believe the whole story that Qui Lee told me, but it sounded too good to be fake. I am just confused. I know that I will need help to take that last step into White Lotus-hood, but ever since I first met Qui Lee he was just plain trouble. I just have to go with it. I cannot let any more things get on my mind, clouding my visions of my goal. I*ve got to keep my eyes on the prize. No matter what Qui Lee throws at me.
Thanks Madtay! You kinda predicted it, but I can't wait to see your reaction for the end. I've planned something pretty interesting, if you ask me. Here's another, by the way.
(Flashback Continued)
____I was doing the wrong thing. Obviously. Instead of hurting people I figured and whispered to myself, **I should be helping people.**
____Iroh overheard me, **So you want to help people?**
____I nodded my head confidently, **Yep, I will help anyone. Good or bad, because I know that I*ve been bad so why not?**
____And what Iroh had said change my whole life forever, **I know a group that you can join.** He moved his white lotus tile then and said, **that*s it. I won, but I hope you can too.** He then flipped me the white lotus tile and told me to visit an old man in some desert.
____You know what group that is, and you know the extreme days you must go through to become a White Lotus. I did that. I did that for almost half a year to become an official member of the Order of the White Lotus.
(Flashback Continued)
____I didn*t know, but at the same time, Iroh was reading me. Making his move he said, **Falling short of your dreams are always tough. You always have another chance though.**
____**I think I*m done trying to become part of that. My dream is sadly over,** I let out with my head down.
____Well, dreams aren*t always what you see in them,** Started Iroh. **You will follow what you see, but the meaning of the dream is realized when you work towards your dream and get the true result.** From that I started to realize what I was truly dreaming about. He continued, **Maybe there was something you saw in those earthbenders, those athletes, those, those?**
____**Those heroes! That*s it!** I said interrupting Iroh. It hit me after listening to him that my dream showed Earth Rumble, but Earth Rumble athletes were people who I looked up to. That*s exactly what I wanted, to be looked up to, or be a hero, as I thought of them when I laid my eyes upon them. **Wow, Mushi, I never looked at it like that, but how can I become a hero? Who would ever look up to me? I don*t know where to start?**
____**Well, many people don*t like my brother. Maybe you can get rid of him. Ha, ha, ha!** He thought about what he just said, and that wouldn*t make sense since I didn*t know his brother was Ozai at the time. **Nevermind.**
(Flashback Continued)
____The cup showed me my whole journey of how I got to where I was. I wanted to jump in and change a few things. I wanted to help the younger me out. I wanted to relive my experience of reaching for a dream. I had dreamed so much, and I missed it. I*ll be honest, that*s what kept me and my life going. I took my eyes back to my cup, looking at the reflection of who I was in the bright, white mug. I was the same person, but yet I was different in the reflection. I was living my dream in this reflection.
____**Son, is there something wrong with my tea?** I looked at the reflection of a big guy behind checking on me. I turned to see his white hair and white beard, and it was the creator of the best jasmine tea I*ve ever had.
____ **Oh no. It*s great! It makes me think about my life.** I said while turning the cup round and round.
____**I have a break, and I love spending them playing pai sho. Would you like to take this time and play with an old man like myself?** he took out the board, assuming that I would say yes. And I nodded him in. **My name is Mushi, and you are?** waiting for me to give my name
____I helped set up and introduced myself, **I*m Qui Lee. It*s nice to meet you Mushi.** I now know that Mushi was just his Earth Nation name, and he is obviously Iroh.
____Iroh kept the conversation going, **So what brings you to the Impenetrable City?**
____I thought about lying, but I decided that he*s harmless, **Actually, disappointment. That*s what brings me here. I just failed at becoming a competitor in the Earth Rumble, which I*ve been dreaming about since I first saw great Earth benders showing their talents.** He stared at the board, reading it with full detail.
*Qui Lee*s point of view*
(Flashback)
____I wanted to be the Hard Awakener, but that just backfired on me. My dreams were, what seemed, destroyed, and that pushed me to try and destroy anyone else*s dreams I could. It was my duty and I was to stick to it.
____Living in Ba Sing Se, there were so many opportunities to ruin people. With a person for every step I*ve taken in my life this couldn*t be hard at all. And it wasn*t. I stuck with that for a month, making people miss opportunities, torturing them mentally. I even caused a man to miss his important meeting that would*ve gotten him his big promotion. He had his eyes on this for years, while I had my eyes on him for minutes, and my job was done.
____My energy was drained from my hard work, but this time after working hard, unlike the others for practicing for Earth Rumble, it was unsatisfying and it seemed worthless. My hard work towards something I failed at seemed more productive. I took time to recuperate and stop for a hot cup of tea.
____I know what you are thinking. The Jasmine Dragon. Well, no, that was not open at the time, but Iroh was working at this shop. I wish I remember what the tea tasted like during that moment, but my mind was so cloudy. I never got to enjoy the tea, but inside I could feel a rebuilding from this, and I just stared into the tea for what was five minutes. I was thinking, and I saw something in that perfect cup of jasmine.
(Day 130 continued)
Interactions:
Qui Lee: Well, you are*nt that good now, but I can*t give you the chance to achieve you dreams. You*re not good enough yet, but I won*t let you become?
Taak: Whatever! It doesn*t matter anyways. I got lucky. I don*t think I could even become a master swordsman.
Qui Lee: What? You*re giving up?
Taak: Isn*t that what you want anyways?
Qui Lee: (Shakes head in disapproval for almost a minute) No, I*m not gonna do this anymore! The Order taught me to make my own decisions, and that*s exactly what I*m doing! Their plan is not gonna happen on my watch!
Taak: Excuse me. What?
Qui Lee: Remember when I told you my story?well that*s not all. I left out the best part.
Taak: No way. You*re not saying?Hey, before you tell me the story can you let me go?
Qui Lee: Are you gonna run? I*ll let your arms free, and I*ll tell you my story.
*The next week*
(Day 130) Journal:
All my practice and training has been pretty unsuccessful, to be honest. Master Piandao is having me take the final test in 3 days though, and that is not a good thing. Although, once I pass, I*ll get to make my own sword and either continue with training, or take the lessons and run. Either way, I*ll be admitted into the Order of the White Lotus afterwards. I*m really not a big fan of swordsmanship, and have thought about giving up. He says that I could pass first time I try, but I can tell that he*s not very impressed. Let*s get down to business and train like I never have before.
Interactions:
Qui Lee: (Watching Taak practice in the field) Huh, he really could use some work. (Walks in the open) Aren*t you testing in a couple days? You could still use some work.
Taak: Well, well, well, look at who it is. I thought you were gonna train me up. I haven*t seen you.
Qui Lee: Well, I*ve seen you. You*ve come here every day, it*s so predictable. And that*s your problem. I think you*ve worked on habits on your journey. You used to be unpredictable early on.
Taak: (Thinks about that, and notices that it*s true) You*ve just been scared to challenge me. (Lying)
Qui Lee: (Makes a rock sword) Okay, give me your best shot!
Taak: (Takes Qui Lee*s word, and actually knocks him down) Wow! I did it!
Qui Lee: Wow, you actually did, and you weren*t predictable. I was taking it a bit easy, but you actually do have a chance to pass. So? (Quickly encases Taak in a rock trap) You*ve come a long way, and now it*s time to stop you.
Taak: (Trapped) Really? I just became good! What are you gonna do with me?
*Later that day in the field*
Interactions:
Taak: (Practicing his swordsmanship on a big boulder) Hah! Take that!
Qui Lee: (Hiding behind a bush watching Taak, he whispers to himself) My goodness, this is just embarrassing. Let*s take care of this. (walks quietly behind Taak)
Taak: (Doesn*t notice Qui Lee, and sees the boulder start shaking, so he stops. The boulder breaks, and turns into a sword) What did I just do?
Qui Lee: I thought you would*ve gained intelligence by now. (Summons the rock sword into his hands) How about I give you some real training?
Taak: Sure. Why not?
Qui Lee: (Strikes down onto Taak)
Taak: (Blocks the strike and kicks him in the gut. Next strikes a slash from the right)
Qui Lee: Good. (as he blocks the slash)
(Taak kept slashing and striking, but Qui Lee would just block it and throw weak strikes back.)
Taak: What you can*t handle me?
Qui Lee: (Knocks Taak on the ground and points sword at his neck) No, that*s not it. I thought you*d be better. It*s not fun when you are so scrubby. If I*m gonna stop you then it should at least be a challenge. You have a lot to work on. (Leaves)
Taak: Is everyone a sword master but me? This is so hard for me.
Thanks Madtay! I wanted to try and make it seem kinda like the comic books with the interactions, because I started right after I finished the Promise Series. But I didn't want to lose the focus and development of the main character so I included the Journal. And that's a good guess you had, but...
-I once met a girl or should I say she once met me. She showed me her room isn't it good? Norwegian Wood.
I finally caught up, and you're doing awesome! I like the journal-interactions set up you have, it's different from anything else I've read.
Also, I feel like Qui Lee is part of the White Lotus, and he's like some kind of test for Taak to pass... And I feel like what I said just made no sense. Oh well. Post soon! :]
*A month later*
(Day 124) Journal:
Qui Lee has been chasing us all around, even to the Firenation. I*ve learned all about everywhere now, and I*ve learned to love the Firenation the most, surprisingly. Zuko has done a great job changing everything back to good. Right now, here in the great Firenation, so fun to say now, I have come to learn the ways of the sword from Master Piandao. Bumi tells me that once I learn a great skill, like swordsmanship, I will become a White Lotus.
Interactions:
Master Piandao: Yesterday I saw your beginning skills with the sword, and I was impressed to see you wanted to master swordmanship. Today we*re going to see how well you can write you name, or identity. (Hands Taak a pen, ink, and a script of paper)
Taak: (Grabs materials) My name? You want me to write my name?
Master Piandao: I want you to put your identity on paper. Add your own touches as you wish.
Taak: (Writes name perfectly and adds a small drawing of a white lotus tile) Do you like it, Master Piandao?
Master Piandao: It*s great, Taak. I see you like to show your goal with everything you do. Now let*s do some more training for today. Have you practiced your forms in your time gone?
Taak: Yes, Master Piandao. I found a nice field to do my practices. (They leave to the yard)
Fat: (After training with Taak, and countlessly knocking him down, even though he*s the butler, he knocks Taak*s wooden sword out of hands and it flies into Master Piandao*s grasp.)
Master Piandao: You need a lot more training, young one. That should do for today.
Taak: I know I can beat him give me one more chance. I can do this!
Master Piandao: Enough is enough. You should get some more practice on your own.
Taak: Okay, I*ll see you tomorrow. I know I can do this. I just need more training.
Oh groovy! I didn't know madtay was reading this! Well, I hope this little break has let you catch up. I'd like to know what you, and any other readers think.
-Avatar March Madness, a good break from your usual fanfic! (At least for me)
Okay so my new fanfic is Avatar March Madness. It's good if you love March Madness, or if you've never done a bracket then this can teach you in a fun and (hopefully) less confusing way. Also it's competition, who doesn't like that? But for the sake of Avatar March Madness, I am taking a break on this fanfic. There's only about 5-7 more parts in this so...you know.
Anyone that is here, I am making something, kind of like a tournament mixed with a fanfic mixed with a comedy. I tried posting some of it yesterday, probably 24 hours ago, but it's still not showing for me. If you like this, sports, Avatar, competition, or all of the above then you will probably like it. If not, still check it out. If it doesn't show up by midnight or later, I will try to repost it. I won't tell you what it is yet, only until it's out, but I'll advise you there may be some upsets in it.
*Back to reality*
Interactions:
Taak: Wow. Great story, I actually feel kinda bad for you.
Qui Lee: Thanks.
Taak: I still don*t like you. That sob story won*t be enough to change my feelings about you. You are still a bad guy, out to get me. I must admit, good try. (starts walking away)
Qui Lee: (talking to Taak*s back) Go ahead, run. That*s all you*re good at, I*m finding out. You ran away from me every time, and now while I*m here sitting, not even on the attack, you are still running. I thought you were on this journey to learn, not to RUN.
Taak: (turns back around to Qui Lee) Who do you think you are? Trying to teach me to be better when you are the one that needs help is just despicable!
Qui Lee: You don*t know who I am, what I*ve gone through, and what I am going through. You just don*t understand. You think that becoming a White Lotus is so hard, just wait until you are one. Some tasks are brutal, like maybe you want to save Ba Sing Se.
Taak: What would you know about being a WHITE LOTUS!?!?
Qui Lee: (sighs) Right. But I do know about difficulties, and hard tasks, and tryouts. Maybe you won*t listen to me, maybe you will, but learning and help comes from many different places, places you would never think of. You didn*t think this would be easy, did you?
Taak: I*ve had enough of this! Goodbye, and could you do me a favor and stop chasing me! (leaves)
Qui Lee: (whispers to himself) I wish I could.
Message Boards
-I once met a girl or should I say she once met me. She showed me her room isn't it good? Norwegian Wood.
