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Chapter 10

Ba Sing Se

As Zuko looked out over the crowd that had gathered on the docks in welcome and couldn't help but compare it to when he'd entered the city as a refugee with his uncle, bitter and angry at his fallen circumstances. Very different from the excited and cheering crowds that awaited the pair of ships now. He glanced over at the the graceful Waterbender ship, the Sabvabaa, easily loped alongside the Royal yacht.- as it had throughout the long journey, smiling slightly as he recalled how the yacht's commander, Captain Yong, had voiced reservations about the sail powered vessel being able to keep pace with the pride of the Fire Navy- and that he'd kept those same doubts to himself after watching the sleek ship sprint across the bay on the first day of the voyage, tacking much closer to the wind than any Fire Navy ship in the process.

Zuko could see Sokka and Suki at the prow, laughing and pointing excitedly as they drew closer and the crowd came into easier view. Suki had sent the Kyoshi Warriors back to Kyoshi Island and she seemed more carefree with the break from her responsibilities. The pair were clearly excited by the the pageantry Ba Sing Se had prepared to greet them. Personally, Zuko doubted that the crowd was going to welcome him with open arms in spite of Kuei's invitation to stay at the Earth Palace for the duration of the Summit. The coming weeks were not going to be pleasant.

****

Ba Sing Se, for all its history and tradition of holding onto the status quo with all the determined stubbornness of an Earthbender had seen many changes over the past half year. From its reluctance acceptance of refugees to being conquered and than re-conquered, Ba Sing Se was still coming to grips with itself as a city and more than one person looked at the slowly approaching ships with as much worry as excitement.

Others saw only the opportunity such a large crowd presented and profits were quite good- soaring even as the Avatar startled and delighted the crowded pier as he and his sky-bison came down for a dry landing. One such entrepreneur darted around a cart of reeking cabbages and its strident owner who'd been relegated to the edges of the crowd by the fishing boats- and headed deeper into the crowd, nimbly avoiding a trio who had somehow managed to claim an excellent (if fragrant) vantage point to see the docking ships.

***

As the two ships came close enough to make out details a loud roar erupted from the crowd- a massive sound that bellowed from hundreds of throats, drowning out words and thought as the people of Ba Sing Se greeted the ones who had somehow, despite all odds, managed to bring about the end to the long years of war.

If any of the onlookers had glanced over at the small group by the cargo boxes they would have seen two narrow eyed warriors clad in dusty well used and broken in leathers that told of long use and wear. Similar in build and looks, with black warrior braids and watchful eyes that glared at any who dared come to close to their companion- a slight figure mostly hidden beneath a cloak much too big for it's owner. If the cloaked figure noticed the uneasy looks those unfortunate enough to meet the eyes of the dangerous pair, it was impossible to tell as the hood was firmly fixed in the direction of the pair of ships now docking. One got the impression that an earthquake wouldn't shake the cloaked figure's absorption, so deep was their concentration.

Another cheer went up as Kuei, the 52nd Earth King of Ba Sing Se and Bumi, King of Omashu stepped forward to greet the arrivals. As might be expected, the cheer turned into a full throat roar that had Appa answering in kind as Aang was welcomed to Ba Sing Se in person by the Earth King and again the crowd sounded its approval as Chief Hadoka and his children stepped nimbly onto the docks.

The watcher stirred slightly as the crowd roared the arrival of the first Fire Lord to visit in over a hundred years. A few of the spectators had remembered the refugee Li who'd worked in his uncle's tea shop earlier that summer- who by the way was that famous General that had saved Ba Sing Se- and had quickly connected the threads of rumor into a tale that was surprisingly accurate- and quickly gaining legendary status in its own right.

The hooded figure observed the Fire Lord's greetings to the Earth Kingdom rulers silently, leaning forward at times for a better view. The two bodyguards divided their attention between the crowd and their charge, paying no attention to the antics at the pier. Finally, having apparently seen enough, the hooded figure nodded to the nearer of the two and the three of them made their departure as quietly as they had arrived.

***

Elsewhere in the crowd, a more boisterous group watched the spectacle unfold with varying degrees of excitement. One, a young girl pushed her heavy dark hair from her eyes impatiently and jumped up and down trying to see over the shoulder of one of the older boys standing in front of her. "Move, Hian! I can't see around your thick skull!"

"Grow taller, squirt." Her older brother smirked down at her before turning his eyes back to where the Avatar addressed the crowd, thanking them for their welcome and support, despite their position near the back of the throng, the Avatar's voice could be heard clearly.

"But I wanna see too!" His younger sister whined in protest, to no avail. In entreaty, she turned beguiling eyes up at her parents who were standing behind her. A quirked eyebrow and a slight nod were exchanged and the girl was lifted up onto her father's shoulders. A small breeze lifting the hem of her mother's dress in the process, earning the pair a half-hearted frown which was met by a contrite shrug and delighted giggle from their youngest offspring.

The deep booming of drums signaled the end of the ceremony and with a bow to the crowds and assembled dignitaries, the Avatar leapt back onto his bison and the pair took off with a woosh that drowned out the renewed cheers, leaving the others to make their less dramatic exits.

"Aw, I wanted to see him Airbend more!" Hian protested as the group made their way through the crowd. "Agreed," Said his friend, Toka. At the advanced age of 16, both teens considered themselves grown-ups to their parents' collective amusement. "I'm sure you'll get the chance," Hian's father reassured the pair. "From what I hear, the Avatar is going to be here through the winter. Plenty of time to see the Avatar bend."

"That's if he ever comes down from the Upper Ring," Hian pointed out, shoulders drooping slightly. "Which he probably won't."

"You never know." His mother ruffled his hair, causing him to duck and grin as she took a playful swat at him. "The Avatar is still a boy and if he's anything like you two- he'll be bored sitting in all day meetings. And don't forget- Air Nomads don't like to stay in one place for too long."