Chapter 82: An Old Friend

Katara stared around the hidden ferry dock, shaking her head. "I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Zuko's grim face.

Than said, "We're all looking for a better life, safe behind the walls of Ba Sing Se."

Than's sister, Noli, added, "It's said that the Great Walls are the largest and strongest in the whole world. The Fire Nation has spent a century trying to break them down, but not even the Dragon of the West could do so. He tried for 600 days but was ultimately unsuccessful. He ran back to the Fire Nation with his tail between his legs."

Still watching out of the corner of her eye, Katara saw Zuko's face pale for a moment, and then there was a spark of anger in his eye.

He said in a flat tone, "I heard that the Dragon broke through the Outer Wall. The only person in Ba Sing Se's history to ever do so."

Ying frowned. Her hand strayed to her swollen stomach. "I'm sure that's just a rumour. Fire Nation propaganda, no doubt. Ba Sing Se is safe from ashmakers like him."

Zuko said nothing. His mouth became a thin line and he nodded.

Sokka pointed. "That looks like the line for tickets."

They walked over and joined the long line.

Katara wanted to ask Zuko what was wrong, if he was okay, but by the look on his face she knew that he wouldn't answer.


When they'd finally reached a ticket-seller Aang looked down and saw a small plaque that declared the elderly woman's name as 'Ena'.

Aang said, "Um, hi, Ena. Five tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please."

Ena sneered down at him. She barked, "Passports?"

"Uhh…" Aang said. "No one told us we needed passports."

Sokka leaned on Ena's desk. She eyed his arm with distaste. Sokka said, "Don't you know who this is? This is the Avatar."

Ena laughed harshly. "Yeah, right. I see fifty Avatars a day and this one isn't even the most convincing. Costume isn't even impressive."

Her gaze fell on Momo and her frown deepened. "Besides, no animals allowed. Do I need to call security?"

Aang shook his head hurriedly and held his hands up in surrender. "That really won't be necessary."

Ena nodded. "Next!"

Toph cracked her knuckles. "I'll take care of this."

Katara's eyes widened in horror. "Toph, I don't think—"

Zuko's hand on her shoulder stopped her. "Just watch." He said.

Toph walked up to Ena's desk and said politely but firmly, "My name is Toph Bei Fong and I'll require five tickets, please."

Toph slapped a piece of paper down. Ena picked it up and eyed it critically. The woman gasped.

"This is the Golden Seal of the Flying Boar! It is my pleasure to help anyone of the Bei Fong family."

Toph nodded. "It is your pleasure. As you can see, I'm blind and these three imbeciles," she gestured at Aang, Katara, and Sokka. "Are my valets. And, of course, this is my bodyguard."

She pointed at Zuko, who'd taken up position at her right shoulder. He stared impassively at a spot two inches to the right of Ena's head.

Ena shifted uncomfortably in her seat. She said, "But, the animal—"

Toph interrupted, "—is my seeing-eye Lemur, yes."

Momo scurried up and settled on her shoulder, peering around with his large eyes.

Ena looked around. She said, "Well, normally its one ticket per passport but this is just so official… I guess it's worth five passports and a pass on the animal."

She stamped the tickets and passed them across along with Toph's passport.

Toph smiled sweetly. "Thank you so much."

They moved away from the desk so the next person in line could take their place.

Sokka punched the air, laughing. "Yeah! We scammed that lady good."

Zuko eyed Sokka's display. Turning to Toph he said gravely, "Lady Bei Fong, your valet appears to be acting inappropriately and speaking unduly to one above his station. Should I rectify the situation?"

Toph smiled like a tiger-shark. "Rectify away, my trusted bodyguard."

Sokka goggled at them both. "Wait, what?"

Toph snorted and Zuko cracked a smile.

A security guard's hand landed on the Tribesman's shoulder. She demanded, "Tickets and passports, please."

Looking over his shoulder at her, Sokka said, "Is there a problem, officer?"

Zuko smirked as he soon as he saw the guard's face. He said nothing, though. This was going to be good.

The guard said, "Yeah, I've got a problem with you! I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious and, let me guess, you're travelling with the Avatar."

Sokka frowned at her. He turned slightly in her grip. "Do I know you?"

Zuko barely suppressed a snort of laughter. He saw Katara glancing at him, confused.

The guard growled, "You mean you don't remember? Maybe you'll remember this!"

She grabbed hold of his shirt and yanked forward into a short kiss. Sokka's hands automatically went to her waist.

He pulled back and exclaimed, "Suki!"


Sokka pulled Suki into a hug, and Zuko finally allowed himself to laugh.

Suki laughed as well. "Sokka, it's so good to see you!"

She stared over at the others. "All of you. Lee, what are you doing with these trouble-causers?"

She said it with a grin. Zuko laughed again and replied, "Trying and failing to keep them out of trouble."

Suki pulled out of Sokka's embrace and gestured to Zuko. "Come on, Lee, you know the drill."

He sighed good-naturedly before stepping forward into a hug. He whispered in her eye, "It's good to see you, Captain."

She whispered back, "You too, Captain."

They let go and Katara stepped towards the other girl. "You look so different without your makeup! And the new outfit."

Suki nodded. "Yeah, the crabby lady selling tickets makes all the guards wear this."

Katara turned to Zuko. "You recognised her? And didn't tell us?"

Zuko shrugged, smirking. "I've seen her without makeup plenty of times. Besides, I thought it'd be funny."

Aang laughed at that.

Suki turned back to Sokka. She looked up and down and whistled softly. "Look at you, sleeveless guy. Been working out?"

Sokka flexed, grinning at her. "Eh, I'll grab a tree branch and do a few chin touches every now and then. Nothing major."

Zuko rolled his eye at that. The only time he saw Sokka engaged in any sort of exercise was when they were being chased by something.

Aang asked, "Are the other Kyoshi Warrior around?"

Suki nodded. "Yeah, after you guys left Kyoshi, we decided to find a way to help people. We ended up escorting some refugees and we've been here ever since."

Momo landed on her shoulder. She grinned at the lemur and scratched behind one of his large ears, making him purr.

"Hi, Momo! Good to see you too. So, why are you guys getting tickets anyway? Wouldn't you just fly across on Appa?"

Aang's face fell. Katara said quietly, "Appa is missing. We're hoping to find him in Ba Sing Se."

Suki's face went solemn. "I'm sorry to hear that. You doing okay, Aang?"

Aang nodded, face grim. "I'm doing fine. Would everybody just stop worrying about me?"

Zuko frowned at the Avatar's rudeness.

A voice cried out, "Avatar Aang, you have to help us! Someone took all of our belongings; our passports, our tickets, everything's gone!"

They turned and saw Ying hurrying towards them. Katara quickly rushed over and held her arm out to the heavily pregnant woman. Ying took it gratefully.

Aang said, "I'll talk to the lady for you."


Ena scowled down at them.

"No passports, no tickets!" She even went so far as to stamp 'denial' on the Avatar's forehead.

"But she's pregnant!" Aang exclaimed. "And all of her stuff was stolen! You have to make an exception."

"No exceptions!" Ena shouted. "If I just gave tickets to everyone then there would be no order! And without order, there'd be no civilisation!"

Zuko frowned at the woman. "You made an exception for us!" he growled.

Ena opened her mouth to fire back, when Aang said, "What if we gave them our tickets?"

"No!" She yelled.

"But…"

"No! Next!"


Aang and Zuko returned to the group empty-handed. Aang said to Ying, "I'm sorry, she wouldn't give us more tickets."

Ying started crying as Katara tried to soothe her. Than and Noli came over and Ying fell into her husband's arms.

Aang continued, "Don't worry. You'll get to the city safely. I'll lead you through the Serpent's Pass."

Than said, "We couldn't ask you to risk your lives like that for us."

Aang shook his head. "It's fine. He turned to Zuko and said, "You said you'd been through the Pass before?"

Zuko nodded. "Once. It's dangerous, but do-able."

Aang said, "Then that's what we're doing."