Zuko sighed deeply as they all stepped out of the train. Stretching his arms as he tried to hold back a yawn.
This had already been a pretty long day. General Sung at least had said he had send word and Ba Sing Se was sure to accommodate them.
And honestly that did sound pretty nice. He could use a normal bed just around now.
Suddenly the train moved on how-ever, what appeared behind the train made Zuko halt. It made all of them halt as they wide-eyed looked at the woman who stood there.
A woman, wearing a fine long green robe in silk. Her hair arranged in traditional earth kingdom style.
And she was smiling from ear to ear… That smiled looked painful. It honestly looked like it hurt.
There was a forced manic look over the woman's eyes, her body was standing straight and stiff. There was nothing relaxed about it or her wide smile.
"Hello. My name is Joo Dee." The woman spoke in that constant smile. "And I have been given the great honour of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se."
There was stunned silence as they all looked at the woman. Zuko could only be thankful he clearly wasn't the only one creeped out by this.
"And you must be Katara, Sokka, Toph and Zuko." Joo Dee looked from one to the other. "Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?"
It turned in Zukos stomach. They had been calling him by name at the wall which probably was their big mistake. General Sung had most likely reported all of their names to the main city.
"Yeah. That sounds good." Sokka stepped forward. "We need to an audience with the earth king. And it needs to be immediately. It's about the war."
"Great!" Joo Dee smiled at him. "Let's begin our tour! Then I shall show you to your new home. I think you are going to like it here!" she completely dismissed Sokkas request as she turned around and started to walk.
Zuko frowned deeply. "Mam. Maybe you didn't hear my friend. But this is urgent and it's about the war."
Joo Dee turned around. Facing them all with that same wide smile. "You are in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here."
Everyone was stunned quiet by her words. It was not just the words but the way Joo Dee said it. With that huge and forced smile which made it run cold down Zukos spine.
"Eerh. Lady." Sokka began. "Didn't you hear about the giant drill outside?" he asked.
At that Joo Dee laughed. "Ohohoho. A giant drill? What a wonderful story. What will they come up with next."
"But." Sokka gasped. "We helped defend you against that thing!"
"Sokka." Zuko put a hand on Sokkas shoulder. "That kind of information would probably be considered military confidence. A civilian like Joo Dee wouldn't know."
"But… Why?" Sokka asked. "Their city was attacked. Shouldn't they know?"
"It's to prevent spreading a panic." Zuko informed. "In the military. Most information will be on a need to know basis so leaders can keep their heads calm and know that their orders will be followed. And at this moment civilians wouldn't have to know about that drill."
"But." Katara began. "Don't the people have a right to know?" she asked.
"Arguable yes. But a panic within a city can be just as devastating as any attack. Just imagine people hoarding food. Blocking doors and streets as they scream. Trying to climb the walls and falling down. Hurting each other. Keeping calm is indeed essential in situations like this. And I am thinking the plan is to make sure that the fire nation wont even make it through the outer world. Which means there really wouldn't be a reason for the civilians inside to know." Zuko explained patiently.
"You know a lot about this Zuko." Aang blinked.
"Yes. I had command of a ship for three years. And before that I studied and trained to join the military. A study which I kept up while being banished as my aim was to join the main force and become a leader at one point." Zuko replied.
"How very nice." Joo Dee smiled. "Now this way please to start our tour." she said as she turned around and walked clearly expecting them to walk with her.
Everyone glanced after Joo Dee clearly feeling uncomfortable.
"This sucks." Toph plainly stated but finally started following their guide and the rest came as well.
Soon they were seated in a small carriage pulled by ostrich horses. Joo Dee's smile hadn't faded the tiniest bit as she began to talk. "This is the lower ring." she introduced.
Zuko glanced out seeing all the tiny houses of low quality squeezed together, many of them looking old and about to break apart. There was a lot of people too, crowded together in far to small a space. All wearing worn out clothes and not a single one of them were fat.
Neither was it lost on Zuko that most had blades hidden somewhere on their person… Not just the tough looking bandit types.
But also the older women and regular people. Judging from the area they had to… Self defence.
"What's the wall for?" Katara looked forward as true enough they were headed for another huge wall.
"Oh Ba Sing Se has many walls." Joo Dee smiled. "The one on the outside keeping us safe. And the ones on the inside maintaining order. This is where our newest arrivals lives. As well as our crafts men and artisans. People who work with their hands."
Zuko looked at Joo Dee. What a nice way to say carpenters, black smiths and brick layers.
"It's so quaint and lively." Joo Dee continued and Zuko looked out to see what was clearly bandits in the shadows, and hungry children playing with stones on the ground.
"Why do they have all of these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?" Katara asked.
"Out of sight out of mind." Zuko replied and they all turned to him. "If you don't see it. It doesn't exist. So it's just kept out of sight from those in power."
"That's not how it works!" Katara exclaimed. "It doesn't just stop existing just because you keep it out of sight."
"Tell that to the royals, nobles and rich elites." Zuko said. "As far as they are concerned. If they themselves are able to live in luxury and eat their food then everything must be fine everywhere else."
"This is not at all how I was taught to live by the monks." Aang swallowed.
"It's a city." Zuko said. "Royals are not supposed to interact with peasants." he said as he looked outside feeling his own stomach sinking.
Even though the palace Zuko had grown up in didn't have a massive wall like this. It had guards… Lots of guards who would burn people that came to close to the palace.
By the end of the day… It was the same thing.
"Why not?" Katara asked. "That doesn't make any sense."
Zuko turned to Katara. "The peasant might say something the royal wont like. Something that could undermine their royal position."
"Like what?" Katara asked.
"The truth." Zuko replied and they silenced. "The undesired truth. So… Keep it away. Keep it hidden. And keep the peasent in his place so he doesn't cause any trouble." he looked at the people outside as they neared the wall. "Out of sight out of mind." he glanced at Joo Dee.
Her face had changed. Her smile getting more strained as her eyes were on Zuko. Twitching… She looked scared.
"My how insightful you are." Joo Dee then said. "I hope of course. You will all be on your best behaviour. Then we will make sure to make your stay here comfortable and pleasant."
Zuko looked at Joo Dee. "You are not here to give us a tour are you?" he asked.
"What do you mean?" Joo Dee asked. "I am here to help you get what-ever you need."
"You're here to make sure we behave." Zuko stated.
"Oh I am sure there will be no trouble at all." Joo Dee smiled. Her body though was shaking. "Look! We are in the middle ring now!" she gestured as they had now driven through a tunnel.
And true enough, just like Zuko had expected. Everything was much nicer here. The buildings were big and well kept looking beautiful. There was space to walk around. While there were a lot of people, it wasn't outright over crowded. Fresh water, trees and bushes. It all looked very pleasant… And it was separated from the lower district by just tone wall.
"This is the home of the financial district! Shops and restaurants and of course the university!" Joo Dee beamed.
"Great. Are we headed towards the earth king? Can we meet him?" Sokka asked.
"Oh look! It's one of the oldest buildings in the middle ring!" Joo Dee beamed. "Town hall." and she opened the door to take a step out and gestured for the others to come out with her.
"It's like she doesn't even hear what I am saying." Sokka gasped.
"It's called getting handled." Toph muttered. "Get used to it. Like Zuko just said. She's here to make sure we behave."
Zuko groaned as he leaned back. "I forgot how much this sucked." he admitted.
"Always walk straight and directly to where you need to go. Following your guide. Don't stray." Toph stated.
"Only speak when spoken to. And only respond in polite impersonal ways." Zuko continued.
"Don't ask questions." Toph said. "You have to sit only the correct way."
"And stand only in the correct way." Zuko continued. "Don't you dare get your clothes dirty. And under no circumstances can you stuff your face. No matter how hungry you are."
"As a girl you must be delicate and allow the men to open the doors for you." Toph said.
"As a boy you must always consider the girl and offer her assistance in any way." Zuko said. "But of course never offend the delicate creature or Agni forbid. Ask a question."
"And I the girl must never take offence." Toph sighed deeply fake fanning herself with her hand. "And of course above all else!" She exclaimed. "Don't you ever dare cause any trouble! Who knows? Suddenly a party might actually get interesting for ones."
Zuko snorted. "Just remember to go to bed on time." he rolled his eyes.
Toph grinned as she lifted a hand. "High five for nobility parties that suck." Toph grinned and Zuko high fived her as he smirked as well.
"Wow." Sokka said. "It sounds like a lot of unnecessary and hard work to be a noble." he had to admit.
"You don't even know the half of it." Toph stated sticking a finger into her nose.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as these two makes it out to be." Katara stated.
"No. It's worse." Toph stated making Zuko smirk amused.
Then Zuko shook his head as he sighed. "The main thing is that you are never supposed to cause a scene." he said. "Maintain the image and don't cause any trouble for the powerful elites in the room. They will be looking for reasons to be outraged."
"How though do we get to see the earth king then?" Sokka asked.
Zuko groaned. "For now. I think it's in our best interest to just not make a scene. Maybe we'll be introduced to the earth king by the end of the tour."
"You honestly believe that?" Sokka asked.
Zuko shrugged. "The avatar is the most important person in the world right now. Why wouldn't the king want to meet him?" he asked. "Royalty is all about having connections and networks."
"I don't think it's going to be that easy." Sokka said. "I think they are keeping things from us."
"Well obviously." Zuko replied in a slight eye roll.
"What are you all talking about?" Joo Dee was suddenly in the door making them all jump.
"No-Nothing." Aang stammered. "We were just… Saying how nice this other wall is!"
"I see. Yes it is a very impressive wall." Joo Dee smiled her big strained smile. "At our next stop you will see my personal favourite wall. Come this way please." she asked as she stepped back and gestured.
The team looked at each other.
"Guys… This city is creeping me out." Toph then whispered.
"Tell me about it." Sokka replied.
Aang was shivering and Zuko was honestly on guard.
What had they gotten themselves into?