Here we are. The gang has arrived and I want to thank everyone convincing me to continue with this series. I am yet to own Avatar. Or the cheapest character there is.

Sigh.

Welcome to the Earth Kingdom... and lets get started for...

THE QUEEN OF THE EARTH KINGDOM

(just pretend it's a booming narrator's voice introducing it).

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CHAPTER ONE: From Where We Left Off...

It was getting later for the young Earth King who was set to announce his engagement, or at least he was set to confirm his engagement and at such an integral time came the invitation of the Earth King's greatest of confidants – King Bumi and Avatar Aang – both of which seem to have generally settled all their matters at this time, three years after the war.

King Bumi had a new lady friend back at Omashu (who didn't come with him on "business trips" mostly because of her old hips) and Avatar Aang was surrounded by his usual group of comrades; including the sometimes whiny next-in-line for the throne of the Fire Nation, Prince Zuko and his girlfriend, the (yet to be debated) roughest, toughest girl in the Earth Kingdom, able to take down men 20x her size… well, actually… able to take down anyone except for her two companions – Avatar Aang and King Bumi.

That Earthbending champion Toph, had been begging the old wrinkly geezer for a rematch ever since the last year where he humiliated both herself and her hot-headed boyfriend in the battle over the future of Omashu.

Being around Bumi, did nothing to lighten the girl's spirits, which were already souring from the moment they went over the walls of the gigantic city.

"I still hate this city" the Beifong said as they entered, her feet settling on the concrete of the walls as Appa set down and Zuko rubbed her back soothingly (yet quite futilely as it just seemed to aggravate her all the more).

"We've actually become quite accustomed to it" said a voice and the figure belonging to it gracefully swung over from the tree canopies that were blocking the sunlight of the tall city buildings. "Long time no see…" the voice said again and the figure dropped beside the weary travellers.

Toph grinned, feeling the familiar light pad of the girl's footsteps and she turned to her. "15 years too long" she joked.

Aang took no time embracing the seventeen year old that had just landed. In the three years since they fought together, and the two since he had suggested in confidence that (as trusted friends) the two orphans be assigned to the Earth King's Counsel.

"Smellerbee!"

It didn't look at first glance as though much had changed. The tree dweller still inhabited the trees and it seemed (much to the Omashu King's delight) that the new look of the Earth Kingdom capital was strangely organic – with canopies of trees everywhere that hid the tall buildings.

Much different to the old king's theme-park modelled city, yet still a lot better than what it used to be.

And more fun… King Bumi thought, as he imagined himself in a toga swinging through the trees.

Nevertheless, it was quite obvious that the Earth King had been taking more advice from Aang's friends than Aang originally assumed he would have.

"I'll take it you're here to see the Earth King" Smellerbee said confidently, at last when all the introductions/re-introductions were complete.

"Yeah. Are the Dai Li around to escort us?" Katara asked sweetly, seething inside at how long Aang had taken in the embrace of the other girl.

Smellerbee scoffed at this, "You think the Earth King would be dumb enough to leave them in control of the city after they turned to the Fire Nation?" She didn't wait for a response, and answered the question that was hanging in the air herself. "No. We're in charge of Ba Sing Se defences now."

While everyone reeled, Sokka couldn't keep his mouth shut. "YOU?!!" He spat incredulously.

"…And our army. The Jet Forces."

Most of those within earshot grew visibly uncomfortable with the casual mention of Jet's name.

"We train new recruits to patrol, fight the outsiders and lock away anyone suspicious for questioning" at this Smellerbee threw an angry look to Zuko's direction, which Zuko was glad his girlfriend couldn't see. "We're doing it how Jet would have done it. We're not taking any chances. There's too much at stake."

"Wouldn't you feel safer with benders protecting the city?" Katara asked again, a little naively.

"The Earth King agrees that everyone would feel a lot safer with traitors outside of the city" Smellerbee snapped back at her, her expression darkening. "Plus, our recruits are specialists at different weaponry. You couldn't even have gotten close to the city if Longshot's crew didn't wave you through instead of shooting you down." Smellerbee secretly thought to herself that the young waterbender was giving her a good reason to make sure their next entry into the city wasn't so comfortable.

Sokka put an arm around Smellerbee. "Don't worry about her" he said, "she doesn't realize that non-benders are just as capable as benders. So when do we eat?"

At the words of the smooth operator, Smellerbee pushed him off of her. "Depends what you catch Ponytail" she said, walking ahead and indicating for the others to follow her.

"You DO realize you have a wife at Kyoshi?" Katara asked nudging her brother as she walked past.

"Yeah, but she never feeds me either" he grumbled, holding his stomach and daydreaming about baby moose-lion cubs.

"I'm really glad you'll get to meet my parents at their fall-house in Ba Sing Se" Toph whispered to her taller partner as they walked along.

"Fall house?" He asked confused.

"Yeah, they have one for summer, spring, fall and winter at different locations around the Earth Kingdom. It's a wonder that they're ever back at the regular house." She said nonchalantly.

Zuko smiled. He was going to fit right in with her rich parents. He knew there were some perks to Toph, and now was going to be the time of cashing in on those perks.

"So, who is the Earth King getting engaged to?" Aang asked happily to Smellerbee as they walked along.

She was either going deaf, or pretended that she didn't hear him. Aang didn't want to think that more secrets were revolving around Ba Sing Se than the last time they were here, and even more than that, didn't want to think that the Earth King had convinced the council that he could marry his bear.

Either way, it was going to be an extremly eventful trip to the Earth Kingdom Capital.

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More action to come. Sneak peak for the NEXT CHAPTER:

"It DOES matter, Sugar Queen! She's in love with him. Just like how I feel about the angry jerk and how you feel about your own reflection."

"Well maybe she's in love with the Earth King too" Katara defended.

"You can't be in love with two people!" Toph spat back.

"Yes you can!"

"You're both idiots" Smellerbee muttered as she walked out towards the royal Dining Room.