A lazy afternoon in the desert drifted by, as a nice heavy wind blew across the wastes. On the horizon was a small camp, where Azusa lay buried in the sand as Poi and Bayar watched Kim and Shen train under the comforting shade Bayar had made with some stone. Bayar lazily popped a Lèsè fruit into his mouth before handing the bag to Poi, who took a small handful and shoved them into her mouth. For the last thirty minutes Shen had been trying to produce a flame, with no luck.

        “Why isn't this working? I was able to bend just fine back in the inn,” Shen fumed as he rubbed his hands together and again tried to conjure a flame. Kim sighed as she came up behind Shen and kicked his legs apart, widening his stance.

        “Trying to force it won't do any good. You need to relax and-" Kim began, but was cut off with a uncharacteristic snap from Shen.

        “Kim, if you tell me to breath again, I swear to the great desert spirit I will-”

        “You know what you could be doing right now instead of talking? Breathing.” Shen glared a little as he heard the laughter drift over from where Bayar and Poi sat. Poi stopped when she noticed the glare, but Bayar did not. Kim paced around Shen, sighing. She thought Shen had made some sort of breakthrough during the fight in Taraz, but still he was struggling to control his flames. She she briefly wondered if she was training him wrong, but she dismissed the idea as soon as it came. Whatever Shen's problem was, it must lay within himself.

        “Let's take a break, Shen. We need to check the map anyway,” Kim said as she walked over to where Azusa laid. Looking at the giant slumbering insect warily, Kim reached out her hand while leaning back, trying to keep her distance. At the same time, she rummaged through the bags tied to her back until she found their map. After retrieving it, she went and laid the map down on the makeshift sandstone table that sat between herself and Poi. Laying it flat, Kimiko hummed a little as she trailed her finger over a landmark written on a map.

        “Okay we just passed the Sketcher's Steps. So that means the nearest settlement is....the Misty Palms Oasis." As Kim said that, both Poi and Bayar sat up with very different expressions on their faces.

        “Yes!” Poi said, clapping her hands together and bouncing in her seat from excitement.

        “No!” Bayar said, as his face paled and shook vehemently. “Absolutley not, that place is nothing but a cesspool! The very worst hive of scum and decadence you Wetlanders have to offer.”


        “Bayar, you've never even been there,” Shen said, walking up to the group as he wrapped his hands in bandages.

        “So? We’ve both heard the stories,” Bayar said frowning.

        “Oh, come on! Misty Palms is known around he world as the most fun place on earth. Remember all the stories Aoi told of her trip there , Kim?” Poi asked, looking over at Kim, who was now frowning herself.

        “I do...I think Bayar might be right.”

        “You do?” Bayar, Poi and Shen all said in unison. Kim blinked as they all looked to her.

        “Well, yes. We aren't on a pleasure trip, and we have enough supplies to make it to Omashu. No point in stopping in Misty Palms.”

        “We still need to call Vachir and let him know that we found the Avatar,” Poi said.

        “And Azusa can't fly is the entire way there.  She'll need to rest,” Shen chimed in. Kim looked desperately to Bayar to try and get him to say some support. Bayar stared back, and as Kim glared she could see him realize that agreeing with Poi and Shen would irritate her, leaving him with only one course of action.

        “They....raise a good point.” Bayar said hesitantly, and a soon as he finished Kim through her hands up with  an annoyed huff causing Poi grinned widely.

        “It's settled then! Misty Palms, here we come!”

*
*

        The wind had picked up, the gusts blowing hard enough to cause Azusa's might bulk to sway in the air. The flying sand in the air made Kim and Poi cover their eyes, trying to keep dust out, as Bayar and Shen had their goggles firmly strapped to their heads. The wind grew worse by the minute and the air blasted in their ears. Kim winced as she tried yelling to get Bayar and Shen's attentions, but her voice was lost in the roar of the wind. She saw their hands moving fast, nodding to each other a little, and after a moment she realized that they were communicating with their hand signs. Kim had to admit she was impressed watching their hands move with such fluidity. Her train of thought was lost, however, as the the city came into view on the horizon. With the sun setting behind it, the city was already lit up like a torch in the night. Stretching for miles, the sky line was dotted with towers of of brightly-colored flashing lights. All the roads leading to and out of the city eventually merged, leading straight into its heart. Airships circled the city, and as they got closer they could make out images on huge screens that lay on their sides, showing images of women dancing in sequined clothes. As they came closer still, the wind died down as the gusts were broken on the skyscrapers. Poi held Kim's hand tightly as she looked around, a childlike wonder in her eyes that Kim couldn't help but smile at. Looking towards the brothers, she saw Shen was looking around as they flew amongst the bright lights of Misty Palms. He stood up on Azusa's harness, trying to get a better look,  eyes so wide you'd think he was trying his best to take it in all at once. Even Bayar seemed a bit bedazzled by the city, leaning over the side of Azusa's saddle to gaze at the cars, and people moving around below them. All of their jaws dropped as they reached the center of the city, where the biggest building sat. Grand ornate buildings, one looking like a diamond standing straight up, another like a drill pointing towards the heavens, while another looking like a giant arch. A giant statue stood among the buildings , the shape of a young man wearing the attire of the Air monks gripping a staff, the arrow on his his forehead glowing in neon. All of theses sat in the shadow a large ornate building and the cities very center, looking like a Water Tribe palace made completely of ice, despite the sweltering heat. A large purple neon sign glowing across its central tower wrote “Eska's Palace”. Shen quickly directed Azusa to descend, landing at the foot of the stairs leading up to this architectural impossibility. Sliding off of Azusa, he looked up at the giant iced building, craning his head to see the top. Kim followed him, looking around to see people staring at them; no doubt that a giant flying beetle was not a common sight in this more civilized part of the desert. There were all sorts of people about, of different shapes and sizes, wearing a variety of clothes and fashions that were foreign even to Kim, a fact that stirred a quick feeling of envy that she smouldered immediately.

        “Look at this place, Kim. It's incredible. Aoi didn't do it justice,” Poi said, looking around at the passing cars on the street. Kim had to agree, that loudmouth had undercut the grandeur, but she was still worried about the seedier aspects that had been mentioned. As they looked around, a man wearing a blue uniform with a matching velvet hat came up to them, looking at Azusa nervously.

        “Um, Greetings. May I please take your...beetle?” he said politely, smiling to hide his nervousness around the large animal.

        “Take her where?!” Shen asked as Bayar stood by him, giving the poor man a hard look. Kim stepped forward and rolled her eyes, as she pushed past the brothers.

        “He's a valet. He'll take Azusa to a place she can rest that’s not in the middle of the street,” Kim said with a sigh. With a hesitant nod Shen gave the man Azusa's reigns as he lead her off towards a small building that served as stables. This place was pretty on-the-ball to still have such a facility, Kim noted. Few people were using riding animals these days. Heading into the ice palace, the group continued to gawk and look around like the tourists they were. Kim flushed in embarrassment as she walked faster up to the main desk, pulling out her wallet as she walked.

        “Greetings. Welcome to Eska's Palace, the coolest place in the the Si Wong Desert,” the female greeter said. Despite looking nothing like one, she wore clothing reminiscent of traditional Water Tribe clothing, dark blues and a bright white collar around her neck.

        “We need two rooms, with two beds each, for the night, and lodging for our transportation,” Kim said as she heard music and clapping  coming from a room across the large hall that was the main lobby, signaling that some sort of show had just started.

        “Of course, and while you're here, please enjoy all the exotic pleasures you can only get here. We have a 24-hour all-you-can-eat buffet, shows featuring the amazing Aero, and of course our world-class casino.”

        “Whats a casino?” Shen asked, leaning over the desk to look at Kim.

        “A gambling den,” Bayar said leaning against the desk on Kim's other side, arms crossed as he looked around. Kim noticed for some reason Bayar's mood had changed, he was now eying the entire casino with a look he had till now reserved for her alone. Meanwhile Poi and Shen both looked like kids at an amusement mark, getting ready to bolt the first chance they got. Kim's apprehension towards this whole situation was growing worse by the minute. Taking the room keys and the ticket for Azusa's pen, Kim  turned to the others.

        “We might as well eat.”

*
*

        Shen had never seen so much food in his life. When Poi had told him about the concept of a buffet, he was skeptical, but now he saw trays upon trays of steaming hot food: sandcrab legs, llamaboar steaks so tender they melt in your mouth, mountains of raisins and dates, and thousands of other foods he had never seen before. Shen was still doubtful that he wasn't dreaming. Following Poi's lead, he piled his plate high with everything that looked delicious, and a few things that didn't, ("Try everything once," his father used to tell him). Kim gave both him and Poi a slightly disgusted look, deciding to avert her attention towards her soup. Bayar's mood hadn't changed but he wasn't so proud to not indulge in copious amounts of sandcrab. Snapping a leg in half before sucking out the soft meat from inside, Shen noticed his brother smile a little, despite Bayar's best efforts to hide it. That smile disappeared as his jaw dropped, his eyes went wide, and his face turned scarlet. Shen raised an eyebrow and turned to see what Bayar was looking at. They’re waitress approached wearing a bright blue uniform, the chest line on said uniform was cut incredibly low, with her cotton whit collar connecting to the long sleeves of the uniform. The uniforms legs where bear showing off the woman’s long legs, fishnet stockings and high heels. The waitress smiled at him cheerfully, he skin as tan as his or Bayar's.

        “Hiya! How y'all doing tonight? Can I get you folks something to drink?” the waitress said with a perky and pleasant tone. Shen realized that his own mouth was open and closed it quickly.

        “Water please,” Shen said, trying not to spill his noodles, as he suddenly didn’t know what to do with his hands.  Bayar also mumered a request for water, the untouched napkin by his plate suddenly looking like the most interesting thing in the world to him. Kim shook her head at the both of them and ordered tea for her and Poi. As soon as the waitress was out of ear shot Bayar looked right at Shen.

        “Can you believe these Wetlanders' lack of shame?” His face was still red, and only got worse when Poi giggled.

        “I-it wasn't that bad,” Shen said, hiding his own blush.

        “You two are so sheltered,” Kim said with a sigh, as Bayar pouted and looked away.

        “Tho, wha thoud we do afa dinna?” Poi said, mouth full of food.

        “Poi, don't talk with your mouth full!” Kim snapped, as Poi swallowed loudly.

        “So, what should we do after dinner? It's not every day we're in Misty Palms.”

        “Were not on vacation, Poi. We need to keep a low profile, get a good night's sleep, and then set out first thing in the morning,” Kim said, with a nod of thanks as the waitress came back with their drinks. Poi pouted a little but didn't argue; she had to admit she was looking forward to to sleeping in a real bed tonight.

        “Good. I don't want to stay here a moment longer then we should,” Bayar said ,as he got up to get more crab. Bayar's eyes lit up as he saw that there was only one crab leg left. It was soaking in the butter and oil all by its lone some looking like the most delicious morsel he had ever seen. As he reached for it a man burst into the restaurant, running through tables, his arms and clothes full of gambling chips. Hot on his trail where three security guards, each carrying stun batons.  The thief slid over a table, and twisted around a waitress, as he continued to allude those chasing him. Bayar turned around crab leg on his plate right as the thief smashed into him. Time seemed to slow down as Bayar could only watch as the  crab leg through to the air and landed on the ground, bouncing twice before settling. Bayar glared at the back of the fleeing criminal, and slammed his foot into the ground, bringing up a slab of rock that the thief ran right into with a cringe-inducing smack. He stumbled backwards dizzily as Bayar came up behind him and wrapped his arms around the thief’s waist from behind and swung the man up and over his head, slamming him down into the floor. Bayar got up looking down on the unlucky thief with a wicked glard.

        “Bayar?” A voice behind him spoke, and caused him to turn around to look at a young man with big sideburns and greased-back black hair.

        “Zenji?” Bayar said, blinking as he recognized the face. “What are you doing here? And what are you wearing?” Bayar said, as he called attention the large white fur collar on his neck and shoulders; he wore nothing else save for a cheap bone necklace and shorts that were also fur trimmed and bright blue, mean to be reminiscent of Water Tribe clothing. Zenji flushed as he helped his partner haul up the beaten criminal.

        “It's...the uniform...for the job. Sands, what are you doing here? I never thought I'd find you in a place like this.”

        “It's long story,” Bayar replied, as Shen and the girls came up.

        “Zenji?” Shen said with a grin as he approached, giving the older man a fist bump.

        “You're here too, Shen?” he asked as Shen nodded. Zenji's surprise just increased as Poi and Kim came up to stand besides the brothers. Kim coughed loudly causing Bayar to roll his eyes alitle.

        “Kim, Poi, this is Zenji of the [DON'T USE GOBI] Tribe. My blood brother.”

        “You have another brother?” Poi said curiously, causing Shen and Zenji to both chuckle.

        “We don't share blood, but we've bled for each other, we have fought for each other, and we  are bound by oath as brothers,” Zenji said with a smile, one that Bayar did not return.

        “It has been a long time, Zen,” Bayar said slowly, and Zenji nodded slowly.

        “It has. Listen, I gotta take this guy to our holding cell. Why don't we grab a drink later, get caught up?” Zenji said, tightening his hold on his prisoner. Bayar was silent for a moment before nodding.

        “Sure, sounds like fun,” Bayar said, smiling just a bit.


        “Great. I'll meet you at the iceburg lounge in an hour,” Zenji said as he pushed the thief along. As soon as he was gone Bayar sighed, the smile he put on disappearing immediately.

*
*

        “So, what's the story between you two?”  Poi said as the group walked through the lobby towards the escalators. Bayar had been more quiet then usual the rest of that meal. Both Poi and Kim had noticed this, Kim specifically noticed his lack of complaining.

        “Nothing fancy. Our tribes were allies and trade partners, and we were best friends. We would tag along with our fathers, traveling for days just to hang out.”

        “They would get into all sorts of trouble. When they were fifteen, they stole our father's sandsailer, and went joy-riding across the the northern approach. They found them the next day with the skiff upside-down on top of a huge boulder,” Shen said, laughing along with Poi. Kim looked at Bayar, who was staring off into the distance now barely watching as he walked.

        “So what changed?” Kim asked, eyes narrowing.

        “The [DON'T USE GOBI] Tribe's home has always been the golden wastes. They always had access to a deep and plentiful well, and so they never wondered far from it. One day that well went dry, and they were forced to leave. They wandered a long way looking for a place to settle, and a lot of their kin abandoned their ways to try and find new lands elsewhere. Finally, they were sent an invitation from the Mayor of Misty Palms. He invited the [DON'T USE GOBI] Tribe to come and work for him, run the casinos and protect the city. They were too desperate to refuse. Seems they didn't stop to think what their bargain would entail,” Bayar said stopping to look in on a theater where a show was starting. A dozen Sandbender women came out to take the stage, each dressed in small blue sequined outfits that revealed their legs and arms. Each one wore tall furry boots and matching hoods. As they began to dance, Bayar's anger was replaced with embarrassment as he turned away, turning a deep red which only grew worse when he noticed Kim was looking right at him. The group continued along till they stopped at the elevators and Kim gave each of them a room key.

        “Poi, I'll be up in a few minutes. Now that we have a minute I'm going to try calling you-know-who,” Kim said before turning to Bayar.

        “Try not to go over board on the cactus juice.”

        “Just because you Wetlanders like to pollute your minds and bodies with that, don't think we do. Seriously, who deliberately eats something that sends you into a delirium?” Bayar said with a snort as he and Kim walked away in separate directions, leaving Poi and Shen alone. Poi gave a simple mischievous grin as she abruptly turned around and raced back the way they came, Shen following after her.

*
*



        Kim stood in the lobby, her hand holding the phone up to her ear. For the last fifteen minutes she had been trying to make a long-distance call, and for what felt like the thirteenth time she was met with an annoying, insistent beeping. She had initially tried the pay phone, but when that had gotten her nowhere she  had gone straight to the the front desk to complain. If she hadn't been In such a hurry she would of called the hostess out on her annoyed tone when she had demanded to use the phone. But here she was continuing to try and get a message to the outside, despite her efforts telling her it wasn't going to happen.

        “Ma’am, there's a storm passing through the area, and I believe that’s the reason you're having trouble. If you would like, I can give you a complimentary roll of chips. Pass the time in the casino while you wait for the storm to pass!” The hostesses transparent pep made Kim's blood boil, but she suppressed it.

        “No thank you, I'm  sure it won't be much lon-” Kim began, but once again hearing the obnoxious beeping of the phone caused Kim's self-control to break. Slamming the phone down on the reciever hard enough that she sure she broke something, Kim abruptly turned and walked past the hostess, snatching the roll of chips out of her hand. Kim eventually found herself in the middle of the casino. She wasn't actually averse to gambling; she just didn't want to give that smug woman the satisfaction of just giving up. Kim crossed her arms, looking around at the crowded casino floor. Rows upon rows of gambling machines, each one glowing obnoxiously with blinking lights. Past them was a row of women sitting in font of mats, rolling dice while their players bet. Kim shook her head a little as she passed by. She stopped when she saw a table that had assembled a few curios onlookers. Kim perked up as she recognized the game they were playing. Three men and a woman sat around a table, each with a row of neatly stacked tiles in front of them with many more in the middle. Pai Jong, a game descended from Pai Sho. Her father called it "a gutter game, a bastard child of a ancient game of skill and strategy, unworthy of its connection". That had not stopped Kim from playing it with Poi and her parents every chance she got; once she even got Vachir to play. Kim bit her lip as she saw one of the players bow out; it looked like they were playing with high stakes. Kim looked down at the chips in her hand, and with a playful grin she took her seat at the table. It's not like she was betting with her own money. What's the worst that could happen?

*
*

Bayar sat at the bar, looking into a glass of water, his hand tracing his growing beard as he looked at his reflection. Zenji in that ridiculous outfit was fresh on his mind. He though he would never see his friend again, but now he wished that he hadn't. Zenji had always been as proud a Sandbender as he was, more so in some cases. What had changed? Bayar's contemplation was cut short by the arrival of Zenji. He almost wished he was wearing that ludicrous Water Tribe get up; the stripped silk suit he wore looked wrong on him.

        “Sorry I’m late. I had to speak to my superiors,” Zenji said with a smile that wavered when he saw the look on Bayar's face. “I see you already started. Well, the next round's on me. What are you drinking?”

        “Water. What else would we be drinking?” Bayar said narrowing his eyes.


            “N..never mind.” Zenji said as he took a seat next to him.