Adventures in Ba Sing Se
I don't own Digimon or Avatar: Last Airbender
Chapter Thirty Four: Adventures in Ba Sing Se
Tale of Toph and Katara
The sun was rising above Ba Sing Se and inside the Gaang's house everyone but Toph was in the bathroom. Aang's head was covered in shaving cream and he shaved it with a shaving tool, Sokka used his machete to remove his facial hair and he clicked his tongue at his reflection. Katara fixed her hair loopies while Daisuke brushed her teeth before she swallowed some water and gargled before spitting it out and she smiled as her teeth sparkled. Meanwhile with Toph she was face down on the ground of her room when the door opened to reveal Katara there and she gasped when she saw the young girl still asleep. "Toph, aren't you getting ready for the day?" She asked as Toph sat up her hair a big bushy mess, Toph then spat into a spittoon and it span around from the impact and Katara's eyes widened slightly.
"I'm ready," Toph said.
"Are you sure, you've got dirt on your… everywhere," Katara said to Toph who stood up.
"You call it dirt, however I call it a healthy layer of earth," She said grinning. Katara looked at her and furrowed her brow in thought before she smiled.
"You know what, let's have a girls day out," She said.
"Do I have to, and what about Daisuke?" Toph asked.
"She's already left!" Sokka was heard shouting. Toph looked at Katara who was grinning as both of them then left the house. Soon they were both standing in front of a building.
"The Fancy Lady Day Spa? Sounds like my kinda place," Toph said sarcastically.
"You ready for some serious pampering?" Katara asked her.
"Sure Katara, as long as they don't touch my feet," Toph said as both of them entered the building. Soon both Katara and Toph were getting their feet scrubbed, Katara was smiling as she enjoyed it but Toph had to be held down by two women while a third one scraped the dirt of her feet and Toph was growling in anger. Suddenly she Earthbent the woman out of the door and she crashed into the wall and slumped. Then the two girls were in a mud bath with both their faces covered in mud, their hair wrapped in towels, an attendant then walked up to them both with fresh towels but Toph made a scary face by Earthbending the mud on her face making the women scream in fright before running away. The two girls then went into a sauna and Toph Earthbent a rock onto the coals and Katara bent some water onto the rocks and steam emerged and covered both of them and they sighed happily.
"Well, that wasn't so bad. I'm not usually into that stuff but I actually feel ... girly," Toph said later on as they walked across a bridge her face covered in makeup as was Katara's.
"I'm glad. It's about time we did something fun together," Katara said smiling at Toph as three girls walked past them both.
"Hey nice makeup," One of them said to Toph.
"Thanks," Toph said.
"For a clown," The girl added and the three girls laughed and Toph frowned.
"Don't listen to them, let's keep walking," Katara said to Toph.
"I think she looks cute. Like that time we put a sweater on your pet poodle monkey," Another girl said.
"That was a good one, like your poodle monkey, you want to know what else is funny?" Toph asked as she made a hole under the three girls and they fell into the water.
"Now that was funny," Katara said bending the water into a wave sending the girls away making them scream in terror. "Those girls don't know what they're talking about," She told Toph.
"It's okay. One of the good things about being blind, is I don't have to waste my time worrying about appearance. I don't care what I look like. I'm not looking for anyone's approval. I know who I am," Toph said before she cried slightly.
"Well I think you look beautiful," Katara said to Toph.
"I am?" She asked.
"Yes you are," Katara replied.
"I'd say the same but I don't know what you look like," Toph said and both of them laughed happily. "Thanks for this Katara, I had a good day," She said punching Katara in the arm showing affection to the Waterbender.
Tale of Iroh
Meanwhile in another part of Ba Sing Se was Iroh walked to a flower shop and looked at a basket before he picked it up.
"If this is for a romantic picnic, may I suggest this lavender one?" The shopkeeper said offering another basket to Iroh.
"No it's not a romantic one, but it is a special occasion," He said to the man before he tossed a coin paying for the basket as he walked past a flower that was closed in the sun and he pushed it inside the shade. "The moon flower likes partial shade," And with that he bowed to the man before he walked off and he then heard a child crying.
"Shh, it's okay, shhh," His mother tried to comfort her child as Iroh saw an instrument and he took it and started to play a tune.
"Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home," He sang as he kneeled down to the boy who stopped crying and he smiled at Iroh and pulled his beared making him yelp in shock and a laugh was heard and Iroh looked to see Daisuke standing there with Flame behind her.
"I never knew you played and sang Iroh," She said walking up to him.
"It's a talent I am proud of, what are you doing here young one?" He asked.
"I was just walking around with Flame, we needed to get out of the Upper Ring, too many rules up there," She replied and Flame grumbled. "Anyway, what's with the basket, you got a date with a lady friend or something?" Daisuke said teasingly.
"Nothing like that, but it is a special occasion. Do you wish to join me?" He asked.
"Sure," Daisuke said and she and Flame followed Iroh as he walked off and soon they were in a courtyard where they all saw four boys playing earth soccer and one boy kicked the ball into the air before he Earthbent it towards the other team and one of them Earthbent a rail that the ball followed before he flew off and Iroh and Daisuke ducked as the ball crashed into the window.
"Hey!" A voice shouted from inside.
"It is usually best to admit mistakes when they occur, and seek to restore honour," Iroh said to the four boys when everyone heard noises and an angry face of a large man looked through the window.
"When I get through you kids! The window won't be the only thing that's broken!" He shouted.
"But this time, run!" Daisuke shouted and the kids bolted and Daisuke, Flame and Iroh all ran off through the streets quickly. Daisuke and Iroh then pulled into an alley and panted.
"You two give me all your money," Both of them looked to see a man holding a knife and in a poor stance.
"What're you doing?" Iroh asked.
"I'm mugging you!" He shouted at them.
"With that stance?" Iroh asked confused.
"Huh? What're you talking about? Just give me your money, old man!" The thief shouted at Iroh.
"With a poor stance, you are unbalanced, and you can be easily knocked over," Iroh told him as he easily disarmed the man and knocked him over and smiled as he twirled the knife in his hand before he helped up the man.
"With a solid stance, you are a much more serious threat," Iroh said taking a stance as the mugger did the same before Iroh looked at him and fixed the stance slightly. "Much better, but to be honest you don't look like a mugger," He said to the man.
"I know, I'm… just confused," The man said.
"I'll say," Daisuke said to him. Later on the thief held a teacup while Iroh poured some tea into it. "So you really think I could be a good masseur?" He asked.
"Of course," Iroh said.
"This is great, no one has ever believed in me before," The thief said happily.
"While it is always best to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing," Iroh said to the man. Iroh, Daisuke and Flame then left the man and they walked off together until they reached a hill as the sun started to set and Iroh kneeled down and he took several things out of the basket before he put some rocks at the base of the tree that was on the hill and he then took out a sheet of paper and closed his eyes before he put the paper at the base of the tree and he then lit two incense sticks and Daisuke and Flame saw on the paper was a young man that looked like Iroh.
"Who's that Iroh?" Daisuke asked him.
"Happy birthday, my son," Iroh said ignoring Daisuke making the young Firebender gasp silently. "If only I could have helped you," He said shedding tears. "Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home," He said before he broke down in tears and Daisuke kneeled down and hugged him comforting the grieving father.
Tale of Aang
Aang was flying through the city on his glider before he then landed in what appeared to be a zoo and he walked up to a cage and saw an Armadillo lion sulking. "Hey there, you look hungry," Aang said as the armadillo lion roared at Aang making him jump back.
"They are hungry, the Dai Li won't give me any money because the kids stopped coming. And the kids won't come because my zoo's nasty and broke," Aang turned behind him to see a man sweeping up the ground.
"What kinda animal is that?" Aang asked pointing to an animal in a cage near the two of them.
"Oh, that's a rabaroo. I wish I could get her a big open prairie like she likes. I'd let her hop away to happiness," The zookeeper said sadly.
"Let's do it," Aang said.
"Pardon?" The zookeeper asked him.
"There's a big open space right outside the walls of the city," Aang told him.
"But how're you going to move all of these guys?" The zookeeper asked him.
"I'm great with animals," Aang said and moments later the animals were rampaging through the city and terrorising the citizens, the rabaroo was eating cabbages from the Cabbage merchant's cart.
"My ca-, oh forget it!" The merchant exclaimed walking off as Aang watched the rampaging animals.
"Oi, this was so much easier in my head," He said rubbing his head before he got an idea and took out his bison whistle before he took in a deep breath and he blew the whistle with the aide of Airbending and a shockwave emitted throughout the city stopping the animals rampage, they then all ran off towards Aang who was running and blowing the whistle loudly.
"You have to open the gate," The zookeeper said to the two guards that were at the wall.
"Or what?" One of them asked.
"Or that!" The zookeeper shouted pointing to a horde of animals chasing Aang.
"Open the gate!" A guard shouted and the ran off as the gate opened up and the zookeeper followed after them as Aang zoomed through the gate and he started to Earthbent the whole area while riding on his air scooter, he made several different types of terrain for all the animals ranging from mountains to large fields. He was soon done and several citizens walked over out of the city and they looked at all the animals.
"Well Mr Zookeeper, what do you think of your new facilities?" Aang asked the zookeeper.
"They're great Avatar, you should think of a future in working with animals," He told Aang.
"Mommy, Miss Snowflake got out of the house again," A little girl said.
"Fluffykins? What're you doing in there?" Another kid asked their pet.
"I think you should stick to your day job," The zookeeper said and Aang laughed.
Tale of Sokka
In another part of the Upper Ring was Sokka and he was walking around and throwing his boomerang around and catching it when he then passed a small building and peaked it. "What is this?" He asked as he looked in to see several girls sitting in front of one who was reading something.
"Through all the long night, winter moon glows with bright love, sleet her silver tears," One girl said.
"Ah…poetry," Sokka said dreamily as he heard a noise and felt something kick his butt and he fell inside and everyone looked at him.
"I am so sorry. Something struck me in the rear. I just ... wound up ... here," He said as the girls giggled at his haiku.
"Five, seven, then five, syllables mark a haiku. Remarkable oaf," A woman who was obviously the head of the group.
"They call me Sokka, that is in the Water Tribe. I am not an oaf," Sokka said to her and the girls giggled again.
"Tittering monkey, in the spring he climbs treetops, and thinks himself tall," The woman said.
"Ohhh," The girls all said.
"You think you're so smart, with your fancy little words, this is not so hard," Sokka said.
"Ohhh," the girls said again.
"Whole seasons are spent, mastering the form, the style, none calls it easy," The woman said to Sokka walking onto the stage.
"I calls it easy. Like I paddle my canoe, I'll paddle yours too!" Sokka said and the girls laughed.
"There's nuts and there's fruits. In fall the clinging plum drops, always to be squashed," The woman said dropping a plum and stomping on it.
"Squish, squash, sling that slang. I'm always right back at ya, like my ...boomerang!" Sokka said drawing his boomerang and the girls all laughed and Sokka bowed to them. "That's right, I'm Sokka, it's pronounced with an "okka", young ladies, I rocked ya!" He then said before a man grabbed him.
"Too many syllables bub," He said before he threw Sokka out.
"Poetry," Sokka sighed sadly. At the same time Momo was flying through the sky when he suddenly saw something on the ground and he flew down and saw it was a footprint that matched Appa's and inside the footprint was a piece of fur that matched Appa's and Momo curled up in the footprint and cooed sadly.
Tale of Daisuke and Zuko
In the Lower Ring in the tea shop that Zuko and Iroh worked in, Iroh was standing on a ladder looking for something when Zuko walked up to him.
"Uncle, where did you go earlier?" He asked him.
"Oh I went somewhere to remember someone dear to me," He answered and Zuko nodded his head as Iroh looked at him and grinned making Zuko raise an eyebrow.
"Hey, thanks for the tea," A voice said and Zuko's eyes widened as he turned to see Daisuke standing there as she handed some coins to Zuko who took them. "So a teashop huh?" She asked.
"Yeah, what's it too ya?" Zuko asked.
"Oh nothing, I never pictured you to work in a tea shop," Daisuke said. "And I was wondering something, do you want to do something later?" She asked and Zuko nearly tripped over his own feet.
"What?" He asked bewildered.
"He'd love to!" Iroh said happily.
"Great, I'll meet you outside at sundown," Daisuke said before she left and Zuko glared at his uncle.
"You are evil uncle," He said.
"We'll you'd never do it yourself, I gave you a nudge," Iroh said grinning like a Cheshire cat and Zuko groaned. Later on at sundown Zuko walked out of the shop neatly dressed with his hair all combed, he walked out into the middle of the street.
"Hey there you are," He turned and his jaw dropped and his eyes widened as he saw Daisuke wearing a crimson dress with golden designs on them and her hair was now down to her back. "Do you like it?" She asked and Zuko just nodded and Daisuke giggled. "You did your hair up," She said before she then ruffled Zuko's hair.
"Cut it out, my uncle was the one did it," He said waving her hand off.
"Aw, Zuzu you had Iroh dress you for your date, that is so cute," Daisuke said pinching Zuko's cheek and he went bright red. Daisuke then grabbed Zuko and dragged him off and soon both of them were sitting in a restaurant and Zuko poked his last meatball with his chopsticks while Daisuke drank her tea.
"So how do you like this place Daisuke?" Zuko asked her.
"It's fine, what about you?" She replied.
"Its fine I guess," Zuko said.
"What do you do for fun?" Daisuke asked Zuko.
"Nothing, why are you asking me this stuff?" He asked her confused.
"Aren't we supposed to do this on a date?" Daisuke asked confused and Zuko blushed slightly.
"Excuse me sir, but would you and your girlfriend care for dessert?" The waiter asked Zuko.
"She's not my girlfriend!" Zuko assertively stated making everyone in the restaurant look at him and the waiter walked off, Zuko then saw Daisuke slurping up her noodles with vigour surprising him. "You've quite the appetite Daisuke," Zuko said.
"Thanks…I guess, so what did you and Iroh do while you wandered the Earth Kingdom?" Daisuke asked him.
"Whatever we needed to do to get by," Zuko answered her.
"Let me guess you juggled?" Daisuke asked before she giggled and Zuko growled.
"Yeah, I did actually," He said as he took some plates and threw them one by one into the air but he failed to catch them and he was hit in the head by them and Daisuke laughed and Zuko frowned before it turned into a smile.
"Come on, let's go," Daisuke said as he dragged Zuko off. "I've heard of this place where it's covered by candles and they make the water sparkle in the most beautiful way," She told him before she gasped. "Oh man, they're not lit," She said sadly and Zuko looked around.
"Close your eyes, and don't peek," He told her and Daisuke looked at him before she nodded and closed her eyes, Zuko then walked towards the fountain of unlit candles before he focused and he Firebent sending small flames from his fingertips and he lit all the candles. "Alright, open up," He said to Daisuke who did so and gasped.
"Whoa, Zuko….this is beautiful, thank you," She said to a smiling Zuko and she hugged him and they both looked at each other and Daisuke leaned in but Zuko stopped her with a coupon.
"It's from Uncle, he thinks you're a valuable customer and it's for a free cup of tea," He told her.
"Tell him I said thanks, and I have something for you, close your eyes," Daisuke said and Zuko did so before he felt something soft on his lips and he looked to see Daisuke kissing him and he returned the kiss and he took out something from his pocket and Daisuke felt him pull her hair and when Daisuke looked at him she felt back in her hair and looked into the water before she gasped.
"My ribbon!" She exclaimed before she looked at Zuko. "You had it all this time?" She asked.
"I never let it go, it made me think of you every time I looked at it," He answered before he kissed Daisuke again and Daisuke did the same and they kissed passionately. They then broke the kiss when air became an issue.
"I had a great time Zuko, thank you," Daisuke said.
"Same here, so are we a couple or something?" Zuko asked and Daisuke kissed him again. "I take that as a yes?" He asked grinning.
"Yup, later," Daisuke said before she ran off with a happy smile on her face and Zuko walked off back to his apartment. He opened the door to see Iroh tending to some plants.
"How was your date Zuko?" He asked but Zuko slammed his bedroom door and Iroh raised an eyebrow before Zuko opened the door again.
"Amazing," Was all Zuko said to his uncle.
The end of the chapter
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