Chapter One:
Light poured down in parallel lines, the crimson sun creating what seemed to be invisible fire. The group below- which consisted of four people and two animals- perspired profusely, sweat flowing off of their boiling bodies. They had been traveling for days on end, flying during the day, walking during the night. However, on this day, the last day of their perilous journey, their Flying Bison, Appa, was too tired to continue. Now they walked in plain sight across the barren plain towards Ba Sing Se, or the "Impenetrable City." They brought news of a forthcoming Solar Eclipse, which, if used correctly, would give the other nations the power to end the Fire Nation's wrath. One hundred years! One hundred years of war between the Fire Nation and the world. Now Aang, the new Avatar, as well as his friends Katara the Waterbender, Sokka the warrior, Momo the lemur, Appa the Flying Bison, and Toph the Earthbender, were the only hope for the world.
"If I wanted to be hot, I could've stayed in the desert we just stormed out of!" Toph whined.
She tossed her arms up in the air with disgust, causing a block of solid earth to rise in a massive chunk, propelling the unsuspecting Sokka fifteen feet into the air. His cry filled the silence, and ten seconds later, he returned to the earth with a juggernaut of a thud.
"Nice job, Monkey Brains. You should really get Twinkletoes to teach you how to land on your feet."
Sokka's mouth contorted into a ridiculous shape. One of his eyes twitched, along with his lips and eyebrows. His back was bent into an awkward position, and as soon as he recovered from Toph's wittiness (although he never called her witty out loud), he reached back to retrieve his boomerang. With all the strength an adolescent boy could muster, Sokka threw his weapon straight for Toph's head. As it neared her, Aang flung a pile of earth and a gust of air towards the boomerang, in the hopes that it would stop the object from moving. When the tip of the blade was a hair's length away, Aang's bending knocked the weapon out of the way.
"Did anyone else feel a gush of air?" Toph asked.
As Sokka began to form his classic abashed face, Aang smiled while walking over to him, and jokingly placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Sokka, you have to show respect for my Earthbending teacher. I know she can be a bit of a hassle, but let's face it, she could beat you with one swipe of her hand!"
With that, Aang beamed, showing all of his pearl-white teeth, and awkwardly scooted away. Sokka was once more returning to his gaze of consternation when Toph interjected.
"Nice face Snoozles, I can even feel how ugly you are." Toph snickered.
"Yeah- well- at least I'm not blind!"
"Nice one Snoozles, keep 'em comin'."
"She is so… irritating!"
"Sokka?" Toph said.
"What!"
"Ouch."
Sokka lifted his boomerang for a blow that- at least according to his beliefs- would hit Toph smack on target.
"OK, OK, everybody!" Aang jumped in between the two arguing betties. "I think everyone is just a bit overtired! So, how about we get some rest?"
"Twinkletoes, why don't you let me handle this?" Toph cracked her knuckles.
"Umm, Aang, how about I handle this?" Sokka unsheathed his sword.
At that point, Katara threw herself into the middle of the group. There was visible foam dripping from the corners of her mouth, and it seemed as if steam was pouring out of her particularly small ears.
"Really, guys? Aang, you're the Avatar! Toph, you're the best Earthbender the world has ever known! And, well, Sokka… My point is: you're all acting like a bunch of four-year-olds! Why don't we finish what we started, and keep on walking. The Earth King needs to find out about the Solar Eclipse, and to be honest, I need a vacation from all of you. I'm going to keep on walking towards the Outer Wall, because being the observant group-member, I noticed it on the horizon an hour ago! Now quit your belly-aching, and step lively!"
Aang stepped forward with a solemn face, "Thank you for your wisdom, Katara." He then saluted her with the Air Nomads' gesture, bowing half-way to the ground. As soon as he had finished his attempt at peace, arguing erupted between the Sokka and Toph.
"Sokka, you're still ridiculous!"
"Yeah? Well, Toph, you're just an earth-slider!"
"Thanks!"
"I don't think I can take you anymore, and this time, I'm serious."
"Guys, come on! We need to get to Ba Sing Se!" Aang pleaded.
"I don't care about you, Twinkletoes. I'm not moving from this spot."
"Nice, Toph, very mature!" Sokka glared bitterly.
"Look who's talking!"
Sokka then stormed off towards the desert they had just gotten away from. Then, as quickly as the angst had started, Katara proved herself worthy of the title "mature," and ended it. She launched herself in Sokka's direction, grabbed him by the ear, and singlehandedly dragged him forward, despite his crab-like display of flailing limbs. When Aang saw how Katara was taking control, he quickly got rid of the earth tent Toph had built to block them out, in order to impress Katara.
"Get out, Twinkletoes!" Toph sent Aang flying.
Sighing, Katara bent down and poked Toph's feet. This got her out of her comfort zone, and once this had occurred, she seized the opportunity to grab Toph's ear with her free hand. She stormed over to Aang, producing a cloud of dust as she walked, and placed the now- limp Sokka into Aang's hands.
"Walk." demanded Katara.
With that command in mind, the group marched without another word spoken between any of them; even Appa and Momo were silent. They continued for two hours more until they finally reached the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se. For days they had attempted to get to this point, and now it was in their reach. The utopia of Ba Sing Se, the Earth King, The Eclipse, the victory in the War; maybe it would all work out, but that was something they would only find out with time.
From the highest point along the wall, the secret police force of Ba Sing Se, the Dai Li, closely watched the group's actions. As the silently seething quartet reached the gate, the Dai Li covertly slithered down the backside of the wall, used Earthbending to open a hole in the ground, and dropped suddenly into it. As they closed the tunnel entrance and glided towards their master's chamber, they smirked gleefully. He would be especially pleased to hear that the Avatar and his friends were having a little row. They knew he'd love to use this rare opportunity to his advantage…