BOOK 2: EARTH
CHAPTER 14: CITY OF WALLS AND SECRETS
Traveling by the train was always relaxing; one can look outside and see the wonders of nature past by as the destination if waiting on the horizon. V looked out and saw two fox antelopes, grazing on a hill side. They look up at the monorail tracks behind them as a monorail goes past. He looked out at the rolling hills of the Savannah below. Much of this area healed after the fire nation broke thru the wall long ago.
THEN
From what the accounts on both sides said from their point of view V was able to put together a detail story of what happen when the Fire Nation broke through.
After gaining a foot hold Iroh ordered the tank divisions to fan out and capture key locations that would give them more breathing room. Dante was ordered to take the divisions across the Savannah within the wall. Dante watched the wildlife scatter and flee from the sight of oncoming armored spearhead. Then Dante saw something up ahead. "Stop!" Dante said abruptly. Lu'Ten stepped on the brake and Dante raised his in the hand to signal for the rest of the spear head to halt. In the distance was another Ba Sing Se Earth army ready to meet them head on. Dante and the other commanding officers met to plan out the best course of action.
One of them wanted to rush the Earth forces, overwhelming them enough that they have little time to respond to their attack. The second disagreed stating at it they will see and hear them coming and would most like spring the traps in the ground that were set. Back and forth they went until Dante had enough; he stood up and jumped down from his tank and began to walk out toward the Earth army with a red Fire Nation banner under his left arm.
"Lord Sun Dragon?" one of the commanding officers called out to Dante.
Dante turned around to glare at them. "What? I'll rush them and when I plant the flag in the open you guys join in. Both plans in action, right?"
The commander's watched Dante walk on to the enemy with full determination to face the expected before him.
He reached a rock and places the rolled up flag on the large rock. Dante walked forward seven paces until he was face the army of Ba Sing Se. Dante adjusted his light armor and robes, that allowed him to move better in the thick of combat. He then decided to get the Earth legion's attention.
"Hey! You guy's looking for a fight? WELL HERE I AM!" Dante shouted with smile and welcoming, challenging gesture.
The Earth commander on his horsebird wondered why only one fire Nation soldier walked out to meet them. He figured it was a chance to parley but he knew that it wouldn't be the case.
NOW
In retrospect some of the commanders didn't like Dante at all; the reasons varied from his archaic stance of joining the soldiers in the battlefield to being a mercenary hired for the money to the fact that he once helped the other nations at one point in time. Dante's allegiance was never to the Fire Nation or for that matter any of the other three nations. So when they heard that he was given temporary command of this battalion some of the commands of were understandably offended. But after seeing Dante could do against the demons that would stalk the battlefield they knew it was best to keep their mouths shut. Dante's experience came from a lot of trial and error. But when it was time to defeat a foe he will not falter.
Nature will always heal over time. But the scars of the past will always be there in the history and the memories of the people. V knows that those scars are so deep that people will do anything to make sure they will never become wounds again. Even to the point of full denial.
Katara looks out from the window and notices the Inner Wall of the Earth Kingdom capital drawing closer. "Look, the Inner Wall! I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece."
"Hey, don't jinx it! We can still be attacked by some giant exploding Fire Nation spoon. Or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp!" Sokka said slightly skeptical.
"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph asked slightly annoyed, yet still jokingly.
"I'm just sayin', weird stuff happens to us." Sokka said.
A man, sucking a corn plant in his mouth, takes a seat between Toph and Sokka, startling them. The only one who was more startled was Griffon was sleeping in-between Sokka and Toph only to have the wind crushed out of him by the fat corn sucking man. "Ya HAD to say that, Dipshit?" Griffon poked his mouth from under the fat guy.
Aang and Katara looking out the windows. Aang closed his eyes sadly.
"Don't worry Aang, we'll find Appa." Katara said sympathetically.
"It's such a big city." Aang said doubtfully.
"He's a giant bison! Where could someone possibly hide him?" Sokka said optimistic.
The monorail final entered the Inner Wall; Sokka, Katara, and Aang got a grand view of the giant city through the windows.
The three notices that Ba Sing Se stretches almost as far as their eyes can see, and it has many roads and buildings. Their train enters the monorail station, stopping there. All of them disembark and Toph gives sigh of disgust. "Back in the city. Great."
"What's the problem? It's amazing!" Sokka said excitedly.
"Says the tribal idiot who has NEVER EVER set foot in a city in his entire life." Dante added ironically.
"It's just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days." Toph said.
Aang looks at the bison whistle in his palm, and he blows it. Katara walks over to Aang, and places her hand on his shoulder. Aang suddenly feels more confident now. "I'm comin' for ya, buddy. He's here; I can feel it."
Dante's left eye twitched. "I sense a disturbance in the Force."
"Yeah I sense it too, right behind us." V said.
Behind the team the monorail departed. Across the track, is a woman with long dark hair that billows in the wind? She approaches them with a strange smile on her face. "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 Dante, Valen, Sokka, Katara, and Toph! Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?"
"Yes. We have information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King, immediately." Sokka jumped right to the point.
"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 smile excitedly.
Slightly annoyed Sokka walks up to Joo Dee. "Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the king about the War, it's important."
"You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here." Joo Dee smile again.
Team Avatar has a confused look on their faces regarding Joo Dee's strange statement. An ostrich horse pulls a carriage through the streets. Many shops and refugees line the streets. The inside of the carriage Joo Dee showed Team Avatar the first part.
"This is the Lower Ring." Joo Dee explained.
"What's that wall for?" Katara asked.
"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!"
Two men conversing in an alley. One of them is holding a large sword that glistens in the light. Both glare at the carriage as it passes. Katara becomes unnerved while Momo, who was looking out of the window by hanging from the ceiling, quickly retreats completely into the carriage. "You do want to watch your step, though." Joo Dee replies nervously.
"Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?" Katara asked again.
"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 said looking out the window in a bored manner.
Elsewhere in another part of the Lower Ring Zuko walking down the street with Iroh catching up to him from behind, holding a large vase with several orange flowers placed in it. Zuko stares coldly at the flora and Iroh.
"I just want our place to look nice, in case someone brings home a lady friend!" Iroh gives his nephew a nudge with the elbow.
"This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here." Zuko states bleakly.
"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not. Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!" Iroh says.
Jet and the other two freedom fighters watch from a distance behind the two firebenders. "Look at them, firebenders living right under everyone's nose."
"Jet, you saw a man with a hot cup of tea. It doesn't prove he's a firebender. And what if he is, are we supposed to attack them ? I thought we were starting over here, changing our ways." said Smellerbee.
Jet walks forward a bit and turns his head to face the pair. "We are. When I get the evidence I need, I'll report them to the police and let them handle it, Okay?"
Smellerbee and Longshot exchange glances. They both hoped that this was the case.
Meanwhile Joo Dee is continuing the tour in the carriage in the Middle Ring. "This is the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se, home to the financial district, shops and restaurants, and the university."
Sokka reminds her while leaning toward Joo Dee, losing his patience. "Yeah, we met a professor from the 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 Earth King to hear!"
Joo Dee smiling excitedly "Isn't history fascinating? Look, here's one of the oldest buildings in the Middle Ring, Town Hall!" The carriage stops and Joo Dee exits. Sokka stares at her, annoyed. "Is that woman deaf? She only seems to hear every other word I say."
Toph crosses her arms as everyone else glares sadly at Sokka. "It's called "being handled". Get used to it."
"I know what you mean. But if it makes you feel better Sokka, we do the same thing to you. Expect in her case she is a lot nicer about it." Dante smiled pleasantly like Joo Dee.
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Actually … it does."
Back in the Lower Ring Jet leans against the wall of a tea shop; He turns around and peeks inside the window, spotting Zuko and Iroh speaking with Pao the shop's owner.
"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel ?" Pao asked.
Zuko and Iroh are wearing aprons of tea shop servers. Iroh desperately attempts to tie the string behind his back, but his effort is in vain.
"Ridiculous." Zuko said annoyed.
"Uh, does this possibly come in a larger size?" Iroh asked while showing Pao the apron strings are not quite long enough to tie.
"I have extra string in the back. Have some tea while you wait!" Pao pours some tea in two cups, hands them to his new employees, and heads to the back of the shop.
Iroh takes a sip from his cup, but his face contorts in disgust holds the cup at a distance. "Blech! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!"
"Uncle, that's what all tea is." Zuko reminded of the truth.
Iroh disagreed for he knew only one truth when it comes to tea. "How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?! We'll have to make some major changes around here." Iroh angrily takes the tea pot and heads over to the window Jet is spying through. Jet gasps and moves away just in time as Iroh dumps the tea out the window. Jet slowly stalks around the corner of the shop and leaves.
Back in the carriage Team Avatar continued the tour in the now bright and shining Upper Ring. "The Upper Ring is home to our most important citizens. Your house is not too far from here!" Joo Dee said happily.
The carriage passing by another wall with a tall gate; behind it, the roof of an enormous building can be seen. Three men are standing in the gateway, wearing dark robes and wide brimmed hats turn their eyes toward the group, looking somewhat hateful at them.
"What's inside that wall?" Katara asked.
"And who're the mean-looking guys in robes?" Sokka asked.
"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 explained.
"Can we see the king now?" Aang asked.
"Oh no, one doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!" Joo Dee smiles happily.
"So true. Long ago I popped in one day to visit the Earth King, but that day was the day he got assassinated." Dante said.
"What did you do?" Katara asked.
"There was only one thing I could do when something like this happened: I cleaned the blood of the my knife . . . and I walked away." Dante said with raised eyebrows for emphasis. Katara had an uneasy feeling in her stomach as she stared.
"Remind me to speak to you about that … later." Katara said.
Aang only nodded nods his head sadly and returns to looking out the wind.
In a short while they reached their new residence. Momo briefly flew in an air and landing on the roof of a small, posh, very expensive house.
"Here we are! Your new home." Joo Dee says happily. Suddenly a messenger comes and gives Joo Dee a scroll and leaves. "More good news! Your request for an audience with the Earth King is being processed, and should be put through in about month. Much more quickly than usual!"
"A month?" Sokka asked in surprised.
"Six to eight weeks, actually." Joo Dee closes her eyes and smiles widely.
Joo Dee shows Team Avatar inside their new home. Living room is very spacious. Complete with firepit for cooking and rooms to bathe as well as storage. All made in the elegance High Society of Earth Kingdom culture.
"Isn't it nice? I think you'll really enjoy it here." Joo Dee said.
"I think we would enjoy it more if we weren't staying for so long. Can't we see the Earth King any sooner?" Sokka asked again for the umpteenth time.
"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 smiled.
Aang nodded in understanding. "If we're going to be here for a month, we should spend our time looking for Appa."
"I'd like to escort you anywhere you'd like to go." Joo Dee bows to Aang from behind.
Toph became annoyed. "We don't need a babysitter." Toph gets up and walks toward the door.
Joo Dee takes a step, blocking Toph's path. "Oh, I won't get in the way. And to leave you alone would make me a bad host! Where shall we start?"
Toph turns around in annoyance. The misery of being handled never lets up.
Joo Dee figured the search of a lost pet should begin at the most logical of places, the pet store. Once inside Momo jumps on the bowl and starts to eat, but is scared by a cat owl, who screeches at him. Cut Team Avatar, accompanied by Joo Dee, is in a pet store and speaking with the owner at the counter.
"I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything about a flying bison. I didn't even know there were any." He said truthfully.
"If someone wanted to sell a stolen animal without anyone knowing, where would they go ?" Aang asked.
"Where's the black market? Who runs it? Come on, you know!" Sokka demanded.
Nervous and perspiring the Pet store owner looks at Joo Dee, who is standing behind Sokka and Aang, shaking her head. "That would be illegal. You'll have to leave now; your lemur is harassing my sparrowkeets."
Momo, who eating the birds' food, defended himself from the attack of the sparrowkeets. Dante had a large Rainbow Dragon Constrictor over his neck as it moved about him like a tree. V observed a sparrowkeet that landed on his finger. Katara just enjoy the playfulness of the puppies in a pin. Toph was sitting on the back of an infamous Green Ka Dragon. That devoured the leg of a goat while in its pin.
Next was the world renowned Ba Sing Se University. Team Avatar stood in front of a student who happens to know Professor Zei. "Hmm ... I've never seen any sandbenders or nomads around here. You should ask Professor Zei, he teaches the class on desert cultures." University student suggested.
Sokka found it ironic that the moment they needed Professor Zei he's off discovering things in the great unknown. "Right … And which of your professors could we ask about the war with the Fire Nation?" Sokka asked.
The student looks at Joo Dee, behind Sokka, who shakes her head at him. Sokka notices this from the corner of his eye, but she quickly stops before he can see it fully.
"I don't know. I'm not a political science student ... I've got to get to class." The University student nervously stands up and goes away, but trips, dropping his scrolls. He quickly picks them back up, and hurries to go. Joo Dee waves at him, smiling.
Creepy.
With nothing to gone now Team Avatar returned to their new house. Joo Dee is still sitting in the carriage, and talking to them through the window. "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."
As the carriage drives off, Sokka, followed by the rest of the gang, notices a man in the house across from them peeking through a window at them. The man's head ducks back behind the door.
"Hey, come with me." Sokka gestures to the rest of Team Avatar to follow him.
Everyone follows Sokka across the street. Sokka knocked on the front door and the same man appears and opens the door, smiling at them. "You're the Avatar! I heard you were in town. I'm Pong."
"Nice to meet you, Pong." Aang smiles back.
"So, Pong, what's goin' on with this city? Why is everyone here so scared here to talk about the war?"
"War? Scared? What do you mean?" Pong shifts his eyes to the sides.
"I can feel you shaking." Toph said in an annoyed tone.
"Did you pee a little?" Dante asked after sniffing the air.
Pong again looks to the sides to confirm that no one is present except them. "Look, I'm just a minor government official I've waited three years to get this house. I don't want go get into trouble."
"Get in trouble with whom?!" Katara asked.
Pong puts his finger on his mouth, and whispers. "Shh, listen, you can't mention the War here. And whatever you do, stay away from the Dai Li."
As he closes the door, everyone looks at each other's faces in confusion.
"So everyone knows about the war but are forbidden to speak of it. Fascinating." Valen pondered.
In the apartments in the Lower Ring Jet spies on Zuko and Iroh on an apartment balcony across from theirs; in the shadows he hides behind a clothesline. He was going to find the proof he needed.
"Would you like a pot of tea?" Iroh asked.
"We've been working in a tea shop all day! I'm sick of tea!" Zuko exclaims Zuko says while lying on a bed.
"'Sick of tea?'" That's like being sick of breathing! Have you seen the spark rocks to heat up the water?" Iroh asked as he rummages through the cupboard beneath the counter.
Jet smirks to himself as hold the emerald colored sparkrocks in his hand. "They're not there. You'll have to firebend, old man. Where're you going?" Jet wondered as Iroh left the room. A few minutes later he came back. "I borrowed our neighbors'. Such kind people." Iroh told Zuko. He strikes the rocks near a pile of twigs below the teapot, and creates a flame. Jet, frustrated, ducks behind the clothesline and leaves.
The next morning slowly approached. Dante open his eyes to see the shadows of the room and the blueness of the morningtide. He sat up and to see his companions still asleep. They were and he had no intention of waking them. He got dressed and slipped out into the twilight. In the upper ring was a guard tower. Dante gathered energy and pushed off from the ground leaping into the air and landing silently on the roof top. He sat cross-legged and awaited the rise for the sun. Slowly it came and upon it eventual peek Dante closed his eyes to revel in the warm of the new day.
The sun rose and its rays cast down on the house of the upper ring causing a blue jay to chirp happily. Katara coming out from the door, yawning and stretching, in the bright beautiful morning. She then saw Dante returning home from up the road.
"Good Morning, Dante." she greeted.
"Morning." Dante greeted back with a neck pop.
"Where did you go?" Katara asked.
"Morning glory." Dante replied as he went inside.
Katara takes a roll of papers on a mail slot attached to the wall, and reads it briefly, gasping with excitement, before running back inside. The others are all lounging around the upper part of the living room, and she runs to inform them about the information in the roll.
"I got it! I know how we're going to see the Earth King!" Katara informed her companions.
"How are we supposed to do that? "One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!"" Toph mimicking Joo Dee.
"Unless you have be paid to assassinated the Earth king." Dante said as he sat down beside Toph on a pillow seat.
"The king is having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear." Katara reading the details from the papers.
"You mean, platypus bear?" Aang asked.
"No, it just says 'bear'." Katara said.
"Certainly you mean his pet skunk bear." Sokka said.
"Or his armadillo bear." Toph added.
"Gopher bear?" Aang asked.
"Just ... bear." Katara stated.
"This place ... is weird." Toph nodded in understanding.
"Where Valen and I are from, a 'bear' is considered normal." Dante said as he ate some pastels out of a big dish.
Katara grew excited again as it mean they may have advantage. "The palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd!"
"Won't work." Toph informed rather bluntly and she laid back.
"Why not?" Katara asked slightly confused.
"Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd will spot you a mile away. You've got no manners!" Toph takes a pastry from a bowl and eats it. Dante notices the bowl between him and Toph and eats some as well.
"Excuse me? I've got no manners?! You're not exactly "lady fancy fingers!"" Katara said becoming offended by her friend sudden criticism.
Toph burps in agreement. "I learned proper society behavior and CHOSE to leave it. You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late." Toph said throwing the half eaten pastry to the side and scratches her groin to get rid of the sudden itching. The icing on the cake is when she picks her nose and flicks the snot off her finger.
"She right. Even a bastard like me had to learn how to be a gentleman when sneaking into a high society party to steal a jewel, and leave with the crowd without raising the alarm - all in the same night. "
"Aha, but you learned it! You could teach us!" Sokka stated excitedly.
"Thieving or proper society behavior?" Griffon asked ironically, wanting to know what Sokka meant.
"Proper society behavior, of course." Sokka clarified.
"Huh." Griffon said rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm mastering every element. How hard could manners be ?" Aang said.
"Hmm Sounds like it's worth a shot." Dante said thinking they could give it a shot.
Aang grabs a nearby curtain and puts it around himself like a noble's robe and talks in a very sophisticated manner. "Good evening, Mr. Sokka Water Tribe, Ms. Katara Water Tribe, Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty. Your Momo-ness."
Momo peeks at Aang from under the carpet and slightly bows. Sokka stands up also wearing a curtain like a robe, mimicking a typical high class person. "Avatar Aang, how do you do? Go on." Sokka said.
Aang bows to Sokka, and Sokka, trying to outdo Aang's bow, bows back. Aang tries to further out do Sokka's bow with a deeper bow and Sokka returns this bow with an even deeper bow. Both of them try to bow at the same time, but they knock each other's foreheads' together and fall down.
"They fired the shot and it was an excellent miss." V commented while ready his book.
"Katara might be able to pull it off, Dante and Valen are able to take care of their end, but you two would be lucky to pass as busboys!" Toph shook her head sadly.
"But I feel so fancy!" Sokka said.
Toph take one finger to close the left nostril and fire snot speck that hits Sokka's forehead. At dusk, and Sokka and Aang are played games while their friends prepared for the evening party.
"Earth!" Aang said with a hand into a fist.
"Fire!" Sokka said wriggling his hands.
Sokka grumbles at losing the game, while Aang raises his hands, triumphantly, and flicks Sokka's forehead while grinning. Katara and Toph enter the room from a door, wearing makeup, exquisite Earth Kingdom dresses, and holding a fan each. Toph and Katara stare at the boys calmly before giving in to a fit of giggles. Aang blushes and stares dreamily at the sight of Katara.
"Wow, you look beautiful." Aang commented.
Sokka flicks Aang's forehead to remind him that he's right here. Katara opens her mouth to reply to Aang's compliment, but is stopped by Toph placing her fans in front of her mouth. "Don't talk to the commoners, Katara. First rule of society." Toph says as Katara began Toph's Proper Society Behavior Course.
"Dante and V have left already and will meet up there. We'll get in the party, and then find a way to let you in through the side gate." Katara says to the boys as she and Toph leave.
The sound of a gong is heard as Momo walks past them, wearing one of the curtains as a cape. Aang looks at Sokka, who merely shrugs. Griffon drops the gong hitter and flying out the window to the party.
Outside the tea shop, where Iroh and Zuko are working, Jet spies on the shop from an alley. Jet's is so full of suspicion that he fails to notice Smellerbee and Longshot walking up behind him.
"Jet, we need to talk." Smellerbee called out.
"What ? Oh great, it's you guys. Where have you been ? I could use some help with surveillance here!" jet said. Happy to see his friend finally arrive.
"We've been talking, and we think you're becoming obsessed with this. It's not healthy." Smellerbee said honestly.
"Oh, really? You both think this?" Jet asked suspiciously.
Longshot places his arm on Smellerbee's shoulder in silent agreement with her statement. "We came here to make a fresh start. But you won't let this go. Even though there is no real proof!" Smellerbee said.
"Well, maybe if you'd help me!" Jet stated angrily.
"Jet, you gotta stop this." Smellerbee begged.
Jet glared at them. "Maybe you've forgotten why we need to start over. Maybe you've forgotten about how the Fire Nation left us all homeless . How they wiped out all the people we loved. If you don't want to help me, I'll get the evidence on my own."
Longshot and Smellerbee look down, guiltily as Jet goes toward the tea shop, alone.
Inside the tea shop business is booming. Iroh is poured tea to a customer's cup. "This is the best tea in the city!" the costumer praised.
"The secret ingredient is love." Iroh informs with a wave a hand through the steam coming from the teapot and walks toward the back of the shop where the owner is, while Zuko gives him a disgusted look.
"Waiter, more tea." Indra called out Zuko from the table near the counter. Zuko walked with a pot of hot tea. Zuko poured the tea in the cup and Indra slipped it silently.
"So, when are you going to teach me what you know?" Zuko asked impatient.
"When I feel like it." Indra replied simply.
"When you feel like it? Or maybe you have nothing to teach because you are a bum." Zuko whispered finding it ridiculously that someone offer to teach should wait for whatever stupid reason.
Suddenly the front door slammed open and enters jet. "I'm tired of waiting! These two men are firebenders!" Jet pointed an accusing finger at Iroh and Zuko. He unsheathes his hook swords and prepares to fight.
Iroh and Zuko quickly exchange a look, not knowing what to do. Indra slipped his tea while he looked back at Jet and then at Zuko. "If you want to learn what I know you have to show me what you are made of." Indra whispered to Zuko.
"I know they're firebenders, I saw the old man heating his tea!" Jet stated.
"He works in a tea shop." A police officer said bleakly. As if there was another way to heat tea.
" He's a firebender! I'm telling you!" jet persisted.
The policeman stands up with his partner. "Drop your swords, boy. Nice and easy." He warned.
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead; show them what you can do." Jet taunted Zuko.
Jet slowly walks toward Zuko and Iroh with his swords. Just as one of the policemen is about to draw his swords, Zuko steps in front and grabs them instead taking the policemen's dual broadswords and enters a fighting stance.
"You want a show? I'll give you a show!" Zuko accepted the challenge.
Indra smile with mild satisfaction. That was the response he wanted to hear.
Zuko pulls a table in front of him with his foot and kicks it at Jet, who slices the table with his swords and jumps over it. As he lands, he swings both hook swords at the Fire Nation prince, who deflects the attack and jumps backward on to another table, which is sliced in half by Jet, swinging one sword through the middle of the table. Zuko steps onto one half of the table and balances on one foot. Jet continues his attack by cutting the legs on the half of the table Zuko is standing on. Zuko quickly jumps up, and as he lands, he swings both broadswords at Jet's feet, and Jet somersaults away and lands in a crouching position before charging forward at Zuko again. Zuko swings both of his swords at Jet. Both weapons clash together in a fierce metal hiss as the battle continued.
BA SING SE PALACE
High seat of power in all of the Earth Kingdom for many years; Tonight is party the Sovereign of all under Heaven decided to have before his pet Bear. Several high class citizens are lined up and being admitted inside by a guard, who is checking the invitation of one group before letting them pass. Toph and Katara are next in line and approach him.
"Invitation please." The Guard asked politely.
"I think this will do." Toph replied formally, showing the official seal of the Beifong family to the guard. Though the guard did recognized the seal it was not what he asked them to show.
"No entry without an invitation. Step out of line, please." The guard said to keep the motion of traffic moving.
"Look, the Pangs and the Yum Soon Hans are waiting in there for us! I'm going to have to tell them who didn't let me in." Toph said irritated.
"Step out of line please." The guard points his finger to the side.
Katara and Toph move out disappointedly, when Katara notices a carriage, from which a nobleman in dark golden trimmed clothing comes out, and two Dai Li agents bow to him. Katara has an idea, and she, along with Toph, go to the Nobleman.
"Sir, I'm sorry to bother you, but my cousin lost our invitations. She's blind. Do you think you could help us? Our family's inside and I'm sure they're very worried." Katara pleaded.
The nobleman smiles and bows his head. "I am honored, please come with me." He says.
The nobleman walks toward the guard at the entrance with Toph and Katara following him. The guard bows to him and the three of them go into the palace. As they are walking in, Toph and Katara stick their tongues out at the guard while his back is turned.
Inside the lavish palace was illuminated by emerald lanterns on the ceiling. Guests from all over the Earth kingdom gathered to socialize. Everyone from the rich and famous to the noble and royal. Even the Pharaoh and his elegant queen of a mighty Earth kingdom of the desert where he dressed in full royal regalia of gold, jade and ivory robes.
At one table sat the famous Bosco the king's bear eating a steak, his drool dripping of his chin. Seated to either side of him are two guests.
"He's taking all the good stuff!" the older guest complained.
"Quiet! You don't know what I had to do to get seats this near the bear!" the younger guest hushed his peer to avoid trouble. Bosco slightly hits the younger guest before pouncing onto the table and eating a large plate of meat in front of him. (Why the Earth Kingdom threw a party for his guests, I have you clue)
Toph, Katara, and the nobleman walk into the hall. "It's beautiful, isn't it? By the way, I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister to the king." By the way, I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister to the king." Long Feng introduced.
"I'm Kwa Mai, and this is ... Dum." Katara introduced with fake names. Names that made Toph frown and pull a string hanging from Katara's headdress, causing her pain.
"Now where is your family? I'd love to meet them." Long Feng said.
Katara feigning looking around. "Uh ... I don't see them right now, but I'm sure we'll find them soon. Thanks for all your help."
As they walk away, Long Feng appears in front of them … somehow. "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 said turning around and leads the two girls, while Katara glances at Toph, nervously.
The three walked a few steps when two young men appeared behind them. They cleared their throats cause the three to turn and face them. It was Dante and V dressed in black robes with a sash around their waists, V's was purple and Dante's was red. Dante's hair was surprising; Katara expected him to appear with his normal dark hair not a one that was a long mane that came down to his chest, it could be a wig … maybe. She knew he can change his appearance but Katara couldn't help but chuckle to herself silently.
"Ah you have arrived my dear." V said with arms raise in a friendly manner. Dante had his hand behind his back uninterested in the around. They were in disguised so they had to change up their mannerisms just a bit to sell it.
Katara and Toph knew they had to tell V and Dante that their names are different now. They walked over and Katara embraced V while Toph embrace Dante. "Husbands!" they both said to them.
"Eh?" Dante muttered.
"Listen, the guy behind us, we gave him fake names. Mine's Kwa Mai." Katara whispered.
"And for some reason my name is Dum." Toph sighed.
"Oooookay." Dante said deciding to just smile nod and go with it.
The four came apart and Katara presented them to the gentleman who was sticking by their side. "Long Feng my I introduce our husbands . . ."
"Mr. Bingly, sir." V said bowing with a friendly smile.
"Mr. Darcy, sir." Dante said bowing with a proud emotionless expression.
The reason behind their choice of personas is because V like reading Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Dante didn't want to do that at first but was convinced in reading it eventually. Turns out Dante found the book very good and insightful. Fast-forward to now V persuade Dante to play Mr. Darcy ... and not Wickham. To Dante, he could relate more with Darcy from his own past experiences with his brother Vergil, who abandoned him for a quest of selfish gain.
"A pleasure. I'm Long Feng, a cultural minister to the king. I was just helping your wives find the rest of their family." Long Feng said.
Dante and V looked at the girls a bit nervously as to what "family" Long Feng was taking about. If standup improvisation had a skill to make fake family appear in the crowd that they could use then the problem would be solved.
But then the music began to play as entertainment was about to take the floor. Outside Aang and Sokka waited outside the palace. Aang and Sokka peeked around the pedestal of a statue of a lion.
"Where are they?" Aang asked nervously.
Aang and Sokka duck behind the pedestal when Sokka came up with an idea. "Aang and Sokka duck behind the pedestal. We dress Momo like a ghost, okay? He flies by the guards, creating a distraction. Then, we blast a hole in the wall-"
Aang stands up and looks over the pedestal, and points to some busboys unloading supplies from a carriage and taking them inside. "Or we could go in as these guys. Toph said we might pass as busboys!"
"Okay ... But remember that Momo ghost plan. I think it's a winner." Sokka beamed a smile.
Sokka has the idea that there is a prize with his name on it everywhere he goes.
As good ideas come, they also go. Back at the Tea shop Zuko bursts out through the door and tumbles onto the street. Jet runs after him and strikes at Zuko with both swords. Zuko defends the strike and both combatants lock swords.
"You must be getting tired of using those swords. Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me?" Jet taunts Zuko with a sinister grin.
Behind the fighters Iroh leans outside the door. "Please, son, you're confused! You don't know what you're doing!" he pleaded for the Jet to come to his senses.
Zuko swings at Jet, but Jet stops Zuko's broadsword with the ends of his hook swords, spins around and deflects it to the side. Zuko spins with his swords and tries to counterattack, but Jet hooks the ends of his swords together and begins to swing them at Zuko in large circular motions. Zuko retreats back a few steps to defend himself.
"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now." Jet taunted again.
As Jet swings at Zuko's feet, Zuko stabs one of his broadswords through the hilt, pinning it to the ground. Jet looks at it with annoyance before focusing back on Zuko.
"You're the one who needs help." Zuko states truthfully. He was going to fight of Jet even if it means killing in self-defense.
Both the combatants lose a sword, and continue fighting with only one. He turns in a circle and tries to swipe at Zuko, but Zuko quickly advances and swings his sword at Jet. Jet pulls his attack just in time to bend backward and avoid Zuko's blade, cutting the straw sticking out of Jet's mouth in half. Jet regains balance, and jumps backward onto the edge of a well.
"You see that ?! The Fire Nation is trying to silence me. It'll never happen." Jet begins to attack again, hooking his sword to the top of the well and sending a flying kick toward Zuko.
At the palace Aang and Sokka are standing back to back, fully dressed as busboys, serving refreshments to the guests of the party. Aang begins pouring a drink while Sokka is serving food to people who pass by.
"Where are they?" Aang asked a little worried on the situation.
"Forget about them! Just keep an eye out for the king." Sokka says. He grows slightly annoyed as Momo's tail, which has been sticking out of Aang's hat, begins to wag in his face.
"I don't know what he looks like." Aang admits the obvious.
"You know, royal, flowing robe, fancy jewelry." Sokka says. He grabs Momo's tail, still wagging in his face, and vigorously stuffs it back into Aang's hat.
Aang looks around the room to show the party guests, all fitting Sokka's description. They are all adorned in fancy, flowing robes and headpieces, chatting and eating food. "That could be anyone!"
"Another crab puff, please." said a fancy girl's voice.
"And more wine, would you kindly." said a fancy guy's voice
Sokka leans in like a good servant, eyes closed, with his tray to hand her a puff, unaware it's Toph and Dante. Aang became happy to see a familiar face. "You found us!"
Toph turned to Aang with a smirk on her face. "I'd know your little footsteps anywhere, Twinkle Toes."
Katara and V catch up to the group and Aang blushes when he sees Katara, again. Dante did the sensible thing and plucked Aang's head to help him stay focused.
Sokka opened his eyes, realizing who they are. "Thanks for letting us in!" he said sarcastically.
"Sorry, but the guy who escorted us in won't let us out of his sight!" Katara said.
"Even when I got a lap dance from a royal belly dancer he got one with me as well." Dante said.
Slightly confused of not seeing anyone following them Sokka asks: "What guy?"
The group looks around for Long Feng. He is nowhere in sight. Suddenly V realized something. "Hey did Long Feng say he was a cultural minister to the king?"
"I think so, why?" Toph asked.
"If he is what I think he is then we need to be on high alert here, just in case something goes wrong." V said.
"If something goes wrong then we need an escape plan. If Long Feng can appear and disappear like Joo Dee then we need to get the fuck out of Dodge, right now." Dante said.
"Well speak of the devil . . ." V said upon sees Joo Dee coming toward them.
"Hey Doo Dee, how you been?' Dante asked in a fake cheerful tone.
"What are you doing here?" She asked, "You have to leave immediately, or we will be in terrible trouble!" Joo Dee said anxiously upon to see them here of all places and so soon.
She tries to push Sokka, but he blocks her with his tray. "Not until we see the king."
"Yeah, would care to do a dance for us while we wait considering that you are panicking like a normal human and not acting like a creepy-ass windup sex toy."
"You don't understand …" Joo Dee said nervously, as if there is a killer in the crowd.
"You were creepier before but . . ." Dante said and gave Joo Dee's buttcheek a pinch.
"Oh!" Joo Dee jumped a little.
"Hey, may I remind you that you are happily married to me!" Toph said as she wished to continue the fake marriage charade.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know the shotgun wedding we have didn't allow it to be an open marriage." Dante said sarcastically.
". . . You don't understand. You must go!" Joo Dee urged. She shoves Sokka on Aang, causing him to spill the water inside the pitcher he was carrying on a guest who cries out in alarm.
"Sorry. No, don't shout." Aang pleaded.
Aang uses his hands and foot to airbend a gust at the guest. His hat is blown off, along with Momo. It dries the water on her, but also turns her hair, clothes, and makeup into a mess, leading Aang to smile sheepishly. The guest is briefly shocked, but smiles in amazement. "The Avatar! I didn't know the Avatar would be here."
All the guests' attention is now focused on Aang. Joo Dee's large, happy smile quickly turns sour and is replaced by a frown and a look of dread. Aang looks around at the guests as Momo hides back under the hat on the floor and slinks away.
"Send in the clowns?" Dante asked V.
"Send in the clowns." V nodded.
Aang blushes and waves at the crowd, laughing nervously, as Sokka leans in toward Aang.
"You keep their attention while I look for the king." Sokka whispered.
"Watch this, everybody!" Aang jumps out of his busboy clothes and lands on the long dining table as Sokka walks off into the crowd. Aang swings his arms over the guests' drinks, waterbending the liquid out of the cups. He jumps onto a pitcher and balances on top of it, while continuing to waterbend. Aang brings the liquid above his head and creates a swirling multicolored ball. The crowd cheers and claps as he spins around. Bosco growls with delight at Aang's antics.'
Outside the tea shop Zuko and Jet are still in combat. Zuko growls as he swings his sword at Jet, who dodges the attack. He moves on to Zuko's side, and they end up back-to-back. Zuko and Jet attempt to strike the opponent behind them, but neither can get past the other's defense. Then out from the crowd two Dai Li agents walking toward the fight.
"Drop your weapons." Dai Li agent warned.
Zuko and Jet step away and face each other. Zuko lowers his sword, as Jet points at Zuko and Iroh. "Arrest them, they're firebenders!"
"This poor boy is confused, we're just simple refugees." Iroh said in his and Zuko's defense.
"This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees!" Pao told his side of the story.
"Its true sir, we saw the whole thing. This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city." A customer added.
"Oh, ho, ho. That's very sweet." Iroh said blushing. One who gets praise for his tea is something to be proud of.
The two Dai Li agents walk up to Jet, who looks at them angrily. The odds were stacked in their favor. "Come with us, son." One of them said.
Jet swings his hook sword at the agent, who catches the sword with his rock gloves. The guard disarms Jet, and both guards pull the boy's arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using their rock gloves' stones. Cut to Jet as the guards drag Jet away toward a wagon designed for holding captured criminals.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!" Jet pleaded.
Jet is thrown into the wagon, on his knees, as he looks up as the doors are shut. The crowd begins to disperse. The people left in the street watch the wagon go away. Longshot and Smellerbee look on, hidden within the crowd, and silently walk out of sight.
Iroh returned inside and Zuko was about to do the same until he saw Indra waiting by the door while drinking the rest of his tea. "You have done well, Zuko. I however would prefer you killed him."
"The authorities arrived." Zuko replied.
"But they won't always be there. Sometimes you would have to do what must be done without hesitation." Indra said giving Zuko the empty cup.
"So . . . I'm I worth your time?" Zuko asked..
"Yes." Indra walked off into the night.
"When?" Zuko called out.
"When you are at your most venerable. And it will be soon."
Zuko rolled his eyes, So many secrets and so many tests. He is starting to not care if this kid will help him or not.
In the shadows within their headquarters the Dai Li agents dragged Jet into a dark room, making him sit on a stone chair. "You have to believe me, they're firebenders! They won't stop until they win the War." Jet pleaded for his captors to listen.
Several square stones from their rock gloves circle Jet's head and clamp down on his skull, holding it in place. "Calm down, you're safe now." The Dai Li agent said in a soothing tone. The agent stands in front of Jet, surrounded by a metal track. From behind him appears a small orange lantern attached to the track. It travels around the track as the hypnosis began. "There's no war in Ba Sing Se." Dai Li agent continued.
Jet suddenly became confused. "What're you talking about? Where do you think all the refugees come from? You can't hide it!" Jet says as he watches the lamp continues passing by his face.
A circle of stones covers Jets mouth, muffling his protests. Dai Li agent continued in the hypnosis. "Who is hiding anything? We can't hide something that doesn't exist. There is no war within the walls. Here we are safe. Here, we are free.
Jet's eyes widen and his protests become silent, and the brainwashing begins to affect him. Jet then saw a bright green light appearing behind the Dai Li agent. Jet wasn't sure if it was real or fake. The Dai Li agent then released him from the chair.
"Come and see." Dai Li agent offered with a friendly gesture of his hand. The brainwashed Jet rose from the chair and blind obedience and was escorted into the shiny green light before him.
Back at the palace the Earth King finally comes in two lines of guards walking into the hall. Eight of them are carrying a curtained palanquin; The Earth King is sitting on the platform. The crowd as they marvel in the Earth King's presence. Sokka sneaks through the crowd and attempts to get a better view of the king. The lines of guards place the palanquin down and face the guests. Sokka looks over at Aang and points at the king. "Aang, the Earth King!"
Aang, who is entertaining Bosco with waterbending bubbles. Aang notices him and bends an air scooter, whisking down the table. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
Three guests pulling their food and drinks off the table before Aang can run over them with his air scooter. The Earth King's platform is carried off the procession while a line of guards walk up to the long dining table. Sokka exits the crowd and tries to follow the king, but two Dai Li agents grab him and begin leading him away, pulling his arms behind his back.
Dai Li agent stepping out from a pillar in the hall throws his hands out, causing his rock gloves to fly forward. While Katara is looking away, the gloves of the agent grab Toph and pull her backward, covering her mouth to keep her silent. A second later, another pair of gloves grabs Katara and pulls her back the same way as Toph. Dante and V are chatting with a bunch of young fancy ladies when three Dai Li Agents appear in front of them. And finally a Dai Li guard who was standing watch discovered Momo still hiding under the busboy hat and trying to sneak past, his ear and tail sticking out from under. The agent reaches down and pulls the hat off, with Momo looking up, surprised. Aang reached the other end of the dining table on his air scooter, knocking over several dishes. He dismounts the scooter and holds his arms up in triumph. Long Feng walks up to Aang from behind the line of guards.
Long Feng bows to Aang "Avatar, it is a great honor to meet you. I am Long Feng, Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se and head of the Dai Li. I'd like to talk to you. Your friends will be waiting for us in the library."
Long Feng gestures Aang to follow him, as he goes into the library. Aang hesitates for a moment before hopping off the table and following. Library's large double doors shutting. Aang and his friends, including Griffon and shadow that were in a cage, faced Long Feng who is sitting in front of a hearth that illuminates the area with a green flame.
"Hmm, you abducted us out of the party without the guests missing a beat on the dance floor. Smooth." Dante commented. He's been spirited away many times but he has to give credit to the Dai Li on this one.
"Why won't you let us talk to the king? We have information that could defeat the Fire Nation!" Sokka protested.
"The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day to day minutia of military activities." Long Feng states monotonously.
"This could be the most important thing he's ever heard." Aang adds.
"What's most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It's my job to oversee the rest of the city's resources, including the military." Long Feng explains.
"So the king is just a figurehead." Katara understands.
"He's your puppet!" Toph says angrily.
"Oh, no, no. His Majesty is an icon, a god to his people. He can't sully his hands with the hourly change of an endless war." Long Feng reassures them
"But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the Fire Nation defenseless. You could lead an invasion ..." Sokka steps forward with a solution.
Long Feng stood up, annoyed causing confused Sokka to back down. "ENOUGH! I don't want to hear your ridiculous plan. It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the War not be mentioned within the walls. Constant news of an escalating war will throw the citizens of Ba Sing Se into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined, our peaceful way of life – our traditions – would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia: the last one on Earth."
Aang and his friends stare at Long Feng with a mix of shock and horror at this revelation. But V nods in understanding what Long Feng is doing here in Ba Sing Se. "I see. You're trying to win by an Economic victory."
"Economic victory?" Aang asks.
"He plans to win the war by gaining the most resources while the Fire Nation wastes theirs on waging the war. Bold gamble, but it is doomed to failure unless all the people on onboard, or for that matter, aware of the situation." V said.
Katara agrees "You can't keep the truth from all these people. They have to know." Katara said. It was illogically to try and keep the war a secret from those who don't know.
Stepping forward, Aang points a finger at Long Feng, putting his foot down. "I'll tell them! I'll make sure everyone knows!"
Long Feng knew that would be the case. "Until now, you've been treated as our honored guest." Long Feng steps forward and bends down to look Aang in the eye. Aang stares back at Long Feng, angrily. "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." Long Feng turns around and walks over to the hearth with the green fire. "I understand you've been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest."
Aang glares angrily at Long Feng that he had his arms tied.
"Then I'll tell the people." Dante stated stepping forward.
"Ah, the Legendary Strider, it is an honor to meet you at last." Long Feng said turning around to face Dante.
"You know me?" Dante said.
Long Feng nodded. "More than most people; the majority that knows you knows your name but not your face. And that's how YOU liked."
Dante shrugged off that threat. "So what, if I spill the beans, you will tell the world what I look like? That's been done before."
"Perhaps, but for someone like you … like an Nephalem, you would reserve secretly at all costs, otherwise forces of darkness, such as Demonkind itself, will target the ones closet to you. In your eternal war against the demons even you would take on anonymity. Anonymity and independence – You could retire here and live in peace from the rest of your immortal days. After all that is what the some of the citizens Ba Sing Se and you have in common."
"What makes you think-" Dante asked.
"I have my ways. And my ways are in the shadows. And Dai Li don't divulge anything of interest to anyone but me."
After hearing another revelation everyone behind Dante stared at him expecting some witty retort. Some measure of defiance. But unforchantly there was silence. Dante's hands clenched into a fist tightly before releasing it in letting the issue go.
"I just have one more question. If this is a utopia for all on Earth then you wouldn't have a problem of a firebender walking in you city." Dante asked.
"Ba Sing Se is a utopia for all, including Fire Nation citizens that have escaped their country to live in peace here. After what you done to the city in the past and what you did in helping to stop the drill all debts are paid, Sun Dragon. But don't expect us to not take our eyes off you. Unless you wish to find your necklace I think you can act civilly into you find it, right?" Long Feng said.
"If you have it, give it back!" Dante said in a harsh tone.
"We don't have it. But a word on the wind said that there is young woman walking around with it on. I heard you have a good nose Dante, so be a good dog and sniff it out." Long Feng says. Dante stepped back in line with the rest of Team Avatar.
Dante had every reason to kill Long Feng where he stands. "Alright we will be civil, but if you try to do anything against me or my friends, I'm going to personally use your bones as kindling."
Long Feng smirks as he sits down just as Joo Dee opens the doors and walks toward the group. "Now, Joo Dee will show you to your home." He said concluding the meeting.
Team Avatar looked at Joo Dee and found to looking slightly different. "Come with me, please." Joo Dee said.
"Oh hell no!" Griffon said as he stared at who was NOT before them.
"What happened to Joo Dee?" Katara asked in surprise.
Joo Dee bows her head to Team Avatar. "I'm Joo Dee. I'll be your host as long as you're in our wonderful city." Joo Dee smiles cheerfully at the group in the same artificial way.
"Toph was right. Ba Sing Se is weird." Katara though to herself as they the situation got more creepy by the minute.