"Look the inner wall! I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece." Katara says as they arrive to the inner wall.
"Hey don't jinx it! We could still be attacked by some giant exploding fire nation spoon. Or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean of killer shrimp." Sokka says.
"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph asks.
"I'm just saying. Weird stuff happens to us." Sokka says as a guy sucking on a corn on the cob sits between him and Toph.
"Don't worry Aang. We'll find Appa." Katara says as she notices Aang's sad expression.
"It's such a big city." Aang says.
"He's a giant bison. Where could someone possibly hide him... Oh." Sokka says as they arrive in the wall seeing it is a very large city.
"Back in the city.. Great." Toph says as they arrive at the station and get off the train.
"What's wrong Toph?" Alexis asks.
"Just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait. You'll get sick of it in a couple of days." Toph says sounding not very thrilled.
"Who's she?" Alexis asks as she spots a woman coming over to them.
"Hello. My name is Joo Dee. I have been given the great honor of showing the avatar around Ba Sing Se. And you must be Sokka, Alexis, Katara, and Toph. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?" Joo Dee asks.
"Yes! We have information about the fire nation army that we need to deliver to the earth king immediately." Sokka says.
"Great. Let's begin our tour and then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it." Joo Dee says as she starts to walk off.
"Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the king about the war. It's important." Sokka says as he goes over to Joo Dee.
"Your in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here." Joo Dee says as the group just look at her.
*Timeskip*
"This is the lower ring." Joo Dee says as they are riding in a carriage.
"What's that wall for?" Katara asks.
"Oh Ba Sing Se has many walls. There are the ones outside protecting us and the ones inside that help maintain order. This is where our newest arrivals live as well as our craftsman and artisans. People that work with their hands. It's so quaint and lively. You do want to watch your step though." Joo Dee says.
"Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?" Alexis asks.
"This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live." Aang says sadly.
*Timeskip*
"This is the middle ring of Ba Sing Se. Home to the financial district. Shops and restaurants and the university." Joo Dee says.
"Yea we met a professor from Ba Sing Se university. He took us to an ancient underground library where we discovered information about the war that is absolutely crucial for the king to hear." Sokka says as Joo Dee looks at him.
"Isn't history fascinating? Look here's one of the oldest buildings in the middle ring... Town hall." Joo Dee says as the carriage stops and she gets out.
"Is that woman deaf? She only seems to hear every other word I say." Sokka says.
"It's called being handled. Get used to it." Toph says.
*Timeskip*
"The upper ring is home to our most important citizens. Your house is not too far from here." Joo Dee says as they soon begin to pass by a giant wall.
"What's inside that wall?" Katara asks as she looks at the wall.
"And who are the mean looking guys in robes?" Sokka asks seeing some not too friendly looking guys by the wall.
"Inside is the royal palace. Those men are agents of the Dai Li. The cultural authority of Ba Sing Se. They are the guardians of all our traditions." Joo Dee says as she smiles.
"Can we see the king now?" Aang asks.
"Oh no one does not simply just pop in on the earth king." Joo Dee says.
*Timeskip*
"Here we are. your new home. More good news. Your request for an audience with the earth king is being processed. And should be put through in about a month. Much more quickly than usual." Joo Dee says as she reads a scroll she was given.
"A month!?" Sokka asks.
"Six to eight weeks actually." Joo Dee says as she smiles.
*Timeskip*
"Isn't it nice. I think you'll really enjoy it here." Joo Dee says as she shows them inside their new home.
"I think we'd enjoy it more if we weren't staying so long." Alexis says.
"Can't we see the king any sooner?" Sokka asks.
"The earth king is very busy running the finest city in the world. But he will see you as soon as time permits." Joo Dee says.
"If we're gonna be here for a month we should spend our time looking for Appa." Aang says as he looks out the window.
"I'll be happy to escort you anywhere you'd like to go." Joo Dee says.
"We don't need a babysitter." Toph says as she tries to walk toward the door only for Joo Dee to stop her.
"Oh I won't get in the way and to leave you alone would make me a bad host. Where shall we start?" Joo Dee asks.
*Timeskip*
"I'm sorry but I haven't heard anything about a flying bison. I didn't even know there were any." A animal shop keeper says.
"If someone wanted to sell a stolen animal without anyone knowing where would they go?" Aang asks.
"Where's the black market? Who runs in!? Come on you know!" Sokka says as the shop keeper looks at them nervously.
"That would be illegal. You'll have to leave now. your lemur is harassing my sparrowkeets." The shopper keeper says as Momo is trying to eat the birds food.
*Timeskip*
"Hmm I've never seen any sand benders or nomads around here. You should ask professor Zay. He teaches the class on dessert cultures." A university student says as he pushes his glasses up.
"Right. And which of your professors could we ask about the war with the fire nation?" Sokka asks.
"I don't know. I'm not a political science student. I have to get to class." The student says as he quickly runs off with his scrolls.
*Timeskip*
"Well I'm sorry no one has seen your bison. Why don't you go get some rest. Someone will be over with dinner later." Joo Dee says as she is sitting inside the carriage.
"Well that was helpful." Alexis says as Joo Dee leaves before the group spot a neighbor watching them.
"Hey come with me." Sokka says as they go over and knock on the door.
"Your the avatar. I heard you were in town. I'm Pong." The man says as he opens his door.
"Nice to meet you Pong." Aang says kindly.
"So Pong what's going on with this city? Why's everyone so scared here to talk about the war?" Sokka asks.
"War? Scared? What do you mean?" Pong ask.
"I can feel you shaking." Toph says bluntly.
"Look I'm just a minor government official. I've waited three years to get this house. I don't want to get into trouble." Pong whispers.
"Get in trouble with who?" Alexis asks.
"Shh. Listen you can't mention the war here. And whatever you do stay away from the Dai Li." Pong says before he shuts his door on them.
*Timeskip*
"I've got it! I know how we're gonna see the earth king." Katara says as she comes running over with a scroll.
"How are we supposed to do that? One does not just simply pop in on the earth king." Toph says.
"The king is having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear." Katara says as she looks at the scroll.
"You mean platypus bear?" Aang asks.
"No it just says bear." Katara says as Sokka looks over at her.
"Certainly you mean his pet skunk bear." Sokka says.
"Or his armadillo bear." Toph says.
"Or polar bear dog." Alexis says.
"Just bear." Katara says bluntly.
"This place is weird." Toph says.
"The palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd." Katara says.
"Won't work." Toph says as she lays back.
"Why not?" Alexis asks.
"Well no offense to you simple country folk but a real society crowd would spot you a mile away. you've got no manners." Toph says as she takes a piece of food from a plate beside her.
"I've got no manners. Your not exactly lady fancy fingers." Katara says offended as Toph then burps before throwing the rest of her food aside.
"I learned proper society behavior and chose to leave it. You never learned anything. And frankly it's a little too late." Toph says.
"Yea but you learn it. You can teach us." Sokka says.
"Yea I'm mastering every element. How hard could manners be?" Aang asks as he and Sokka good around acting like they got manners before eventually bowing and hitting each other's heads.
"I'm dating a goof ball." Alexis says.
"Katara and Alexis might be able to pull it off. But you two would be lucky to pass as bus boys." Toph says.
"But I feel so fancy." Sokka says.
*Timeskip*
"Wow. You look beautiful." Aang says seeing the girls dressed up and blushing at seeing Katara.
"You look stunning Alexis." Sokka says seeing Alexis dressed up.
"Don't talk to the commoners ladies. First rule of society." Toph says as she stops Alexis and Katara from talking to the boys.
"We'll get in through the party and find a way to let you in through the side gate." Katara says as she, Alexis, and Toph leave.
*Timeskip*
"Invitation please." The guard says as the girls go up to him.
"I think this will do." Toph says showing him her family seal.
"No entry without an invitation. Step out of line please." The guard says.
"Look the Pangs and the Upsoonhans are waiting in there for us. I'm gonna have to tell them who didn't let me in." Toph says persistently.
"Step out of line please." The guard says as the girls get out of line before Katara sees an official and gets an idea as they go over to him.
"Sir. I'm sorry to bother you but my cousin lost our invitations." Katara says.
"Our cousin is blind sir." Alexis says.
"Do you think you could help us? Our family's inside and I'm sure they're very worried." Katara says.
"I am honored. please come with me." The man says as the girls follow him inside.
"It's beautiful isn't it? By the way I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister to the king." The man says as they stop inside the guest room.
"I'm Qua May, this is my sister Rosa, and our cousin Dung." Katara says resulting in Toph pulling Katara's hair at the name.
"Now where is your family? I'd love to meet them." Long Feng says.
"Uh I don't see them right now but I'm sure we'll find them soon. Thanks for all your help." Katara says as they try to walk off but get stopped by Long Feng.
"Don't worry as your escort it would be dishonorable to abandon you ladies without finding your family first. We'll keep looking." Long Feng says as the girls follow him reluctantly.
*Timeskip*
Shortly the girls soon find the boys after a little while.
"Thanks for letting us in." Sokka says annoyedly.
"Sorry but the guy who escorted us in won't let us out of his sight." Katara says.
"What guy?" Sokka asks.
"What are you doing here? You have to leave immediately or we'll all be in terrible trouble." Joo Dee says as she comes over.
"Not until we see the king." Sokka says.
"You don't understand. You must go." Joo Dee says as she tries push Sokka to leave but ends up knocking into Aang who accidentally splashes the beverage he was holding on a near by woman.
"Sorry. No don't shout." Aang says as he blows air at the woman drying her off and messing her dress and hair up.
"The avatar. Oh I didn't know the avatar would be here." The woman says as everyone then looks at Aang.
"You keep their attention while I look for the king." Sokka whispers.
"Watch this everybody." Aang says as he jumps onto the table gathering colored drinks and making a colorful round ball with them.
"Aang the earth king." Alexis says as she goes over to Aang as the king comes into the room
"Greetings your majesty." Aang says as he air bends a ball and starts to head that way only for the entire group to eventually be caught and all brought to a room where Long Feng is waiting.
"Why won't you let us talk to the king!? We have information that could defeat the fire nation." Sokka says.
"The earth king has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day to day maluca of military activity." Long Feng says.
"This could be the most important thing he's ever heard." Aang says.
"What's most important to his majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing degrees on such matters. It's my job to oversee the rest of the city's resources. Including the military." Long Feng says.
"So the king is just a figure head." Katara says.
"He's your puppet!" Toph shouts.
"Oh no no! His majesty is an icon. He can't sully his hands with the endless changes of a war." Long Feng says.
"But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the fire nation defenseless! You could lead an invasion-" Sokka then gets cut off by Long Feng.
"Enough! I don't want to hear your ridiculous plan. It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war no be mentioned within the walls. Constant news of an escalating war will throw the citizens into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined, our traditions would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful orderly utopia. The last one on earth." Long Feng says.
"You can't keep the truth from all these people. They have to know." Alexis says.
"I'll tell them! I'll make sure everyone knows!" Aang says as Long Feng comes over.
"Until now you've been treated as our honored guest. But from now on you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. If you mention the war to anyone you will be expelled from the city. I understand you've been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest. Now Joo Dee will show you home." Long Feng says as a woman comes in the room.
"Come with me please." The woman says.
"What happened to Joo Dee?" Katara asks seeing it is not the same woman as before.
"I am Joo Dee. I will be your host as long as you are in our wonderful city." The woman says as she bows and smiles.
