Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar, but if I did, that would be cool
This is my first fan fic, so go easy on me. I may have unnoticingly copied someone else's work, so if I did, point it out in a review and I will change it. R&R!
Chapter 1: Escape from Ba Sing Se
"I… I can't believe it," said Aang while steering Appa. He felt sick to his stomache. He always believed Ba Sing Se to be untouchable. Now the Earth Kingdom had fallen, and Aang could not do anything about it.
"Now the Water Tribe is the only thing keeping the Fire Nation from victory," said Sokka. For anyone who knew him, Sokka was easily identifiable by his witty and sarcastic attitude. Now, a sense of depression and hopelessness were the only things which could be found in his voice.
"I failed everyone," said the Earth King. "I failed you, the Council of Five, and I failed the entire Earth Kingdom. If only I could have ruled better. Maybe the Earth Kingdom would still be standing."
"You can't blame yourself, your Majesty," said Aang.
"Don't call me that anymore." the Earth King demanded bitterly as he stroked the soft fur of his pet bear, Bosco. "I don't deserve that title. You can just call me Kuei."
"Anyway, you had no way of knowing what was going on. Long Feng made sure of that." Aang's stated sharply.
""What about Iroh? We can't just leave him behind," Toph said worriedly. "We have to keep moving, Toph," Katara said softly. "If we go back, we will be caught, and Aang will not be able to save the world."
"I just wish there was something we could do." said Toph.
"Anyway, we have to focus on finding a place to stay for the night." said Katara. She then looked over to Toph as she began to speak.
"Last time I was here, I remember stopping in to a village of refugees just before entering the walls of Ba Sing Se."
"Then it shouldn't be too far off," said Katara. "Toph, would you be able to point it out on the map of the area?"
"No," Toph responded flatly.
"Oh right. Sorry," Katara said, remembering that Toph was blind. While this conversation had been held, Sokka had been staring blankly to the ground. He was the landscape quickly whip by, when suddenly he saw a large battle on the ground taking place.
"Hey guys! There's a battle down there!" he said.
"Alright Appa! Land by the battlefield!" Aang said as he pulled on Appa's reigns. The massive bison immediately began descending onto an open beach where a group of earthbenders were fighting a division of Fire Navy soldiers.
As Appa neared the ground, everyone except Toph and Kuei immediately recognized an old man with green robes, a hunched back, and a ram horn crown.
"Nice to see you, Bumi," said Aang as he stepped off of Appa and assumed a fighting stance. "Need some help?"
"Aang! I'm glad you're okay," said the King of Omashu. "And now that you mention it, I could use a speck of help at the moment." After saying this Katara, Sokka, and Toph all followed suit and assumed fighting position.
The first to attack was a fire navy soldier who began rushing towards Toph. When he was close enough, the blind earthbender lifted the ground below him sending him flying through the air and crashing down onto three of his allies. Next, a firebender shot a blast at Katara, who dodged the blast took out her water skin, and shot a powerful water whip back at him, causing him to be knocked off to the side. With the combined power of the Avatar team and Bumi's army, the division was easily defeated in minutes flat. Aang finished them off by hitting the ground with his staff, sending an air blast and sending them flying into the ocean.
"Well, now that that's over with, why are you here Bumi?" Aang asked.
"Hold up just one minute Aang. Who is that sitting on your bison?" Bumi asked, pointing his crooked finger at Kuei. "Is that the Earth King?"
"The ex-Earth King," Kuei corrected.
"It is an honor to truly meet you, your majesty," said Bumi
"Your ex-majesty," Kuei corrected once more. "And it is an honor to meet you as well. I didn't know there were other kings besides me."
"Um, excuse me Bumi, but could we get back to my question please?"
"I see your impatience hasn't lessened in the last hundred years. Anyway, after me and my army fought off the Fire Nation in Omashu, word spread to me about the fall of Ba Sing Se," said Bumi. "So naturally I decided to come here and help reclaim the Earth Kingdom.
"On the way to Ba Sing Se, we found a mining village that was under the control of the Fire Nation. Once we helped regain their village, a young man requested to join our army. After this, we continued our journey to Ba Sing Se, and here we are. Oh by the way, the young man I mentioned, he says he knows you."
After this was said, a boy with long brown hair, a head band, and green shaded clothing.
"Haru!" said Katara, running over to her old acquaintance and wrapping him in a friendly hug.
"Katara! It's so good to see you!" said Haru breaking away from Katara's embrace.
"How's it going, Haru?" Aang questioned.
"Pretty good," responded Haru. "Once we finished the battle, my dad came back home to stay with Mom and me. It was a shame that I couldn't be with him longer, but I had a duty to protect my nation."
"Aw, that is so touching," said Sokka sarcastically. "Moving on. Does anyone know a village nearby?"
"Well, on the way here, we saw a small village of refugees called Wei Xiao Se" said Bumi
"That's the one we're looking for," Katara said.
"All right everybody. Would anyone be willing to escort Aang and his friends to Wei Xiao Se?" Bumi said. Haru separated him from the crowd and moved himself to the front.
"I would be honored to escort the Avatar, your majesty" Haru said, bowing respectfully.
"Then it's settled. Haru will escort the Avatar while my crew and I go get lunch," the eccentric king said, drawing a stare from everyone around. Noticing everyone's eyes on him, he said, "What? You can't take back an entire kingdom on an empty stomach."
"I know!" Sokka agreed. "Like the last time we tried that, we-" he was cut short by a sharp jab in the shoulder by Toph.
"What was that for?" he asked angrily while rubbing his shoulder.
"For being stupid," Toph said calmly. Aang bade farewell to his old friend, and followed Haru on a journey to Wei Xiao Se, along with Katara, Sokka, Toph, Kuei, Appa, Momo, and Bosco. The travel to the refugee village was nothing to interesting. It basically included discussion of the war, the Battle in the Crystal Catacombs in Ba Sing Se, and Sokka's perpetual hunger. After a few hours, the Avatar Team finally made it to Wei Xiao Se.
"It is time for me to go back to King Bumi and help regain Ba Sing Se." Haru said, a sad tone in his voice.
"I'm sure we'll see each other again." Said Katara
"Good Bye Katara," Haru said, giving Katara one last farewell embrace.
"Bye Haru," said Katara.
"Good bye everyone" Haru said, giving one final wave before turning around and walking back in the direction of Ba Sing Se.
"Okay, our first order of business is to find a place to stay for a while," Katara said, knowing full well Sokka would disagree.
"But we haven't eaten in hours. I think we should eat first." Said Sokka.
"Okay then. All those who agree with me raise your hand." Katara said, causing Aang, Toph, and Kuei to all raise their hands. Seeing the unanimous vote, Sokka crossed his arms sat on the ground and began to sulk. The group searched for a place to stay for about an hour, until they found what they were looking for.
"Help Wanted for help around the house, both minor and major," Aang read off of a sign on the front lawn of a house. "In exchange, a salary of 2 gold pieces will be given per day, along with free housing and feeding."
"That sounds perfect!" Katara exclaimed.
"I know! There's gonna be free food!" said Sokka, drawing looks from the group. He quickly rang the doorbell, overeager for the food. The door swung open, and an aged, stout woman answered the door.
"Hello?" the old lady said.
"Excuse me ma'am." Katara said. "We saw your sign, and we were wondering if we could take the job."
"Oh, I'm sorry," the old lady said. "I guess I must have forgotten to take the sign down. I already gave away the job earlier today." Almost on queue, a young man with brown, messy hair and a large scar on the right side of his face.
"No… it can't be," said Toph in a shocked tone, feeling the vibrations of the young man and immediately recognizing him. Then Aang shouted loudly in shock and fear.
"Zuko!"
