As they all made their way to the palace the team ran into their first problem.
People were standing in a long line and each one presented an invitation to the guards at the door who looked it over before letting them inside.
Invitations only it seemed. Which probably shouldn't be to surprising considering how this entire city seemed to work with a literately class based system controlling everything.
"What do we do?" Katara asked.
"I erhm… I think I can get us through." Zuko chewed his lip. "I'm going to need Sokkas help though."
"Okay." Sokka looked up.
"Please don't be mad at me." Zuko asked. Almost begged.
"Hey look. What ever you gotta do. Just do it." Sokka said. "The important thing is that we get to see the earth king. That has to have first priority."
Zuko nodded. "Right. I'm glad you understand. So erhm.. I need you to walk slightly in front of us and your head needs to be bowed at all times." he said. "You are not allowed to look anyone in the eyes. Your eye gaze must be below everyone else."
"Huh?" Sokka looked up.
"Do not speak." Zuko said. "Not one word. If you have to speak. Address me as young master and Katara and Toph as young Miss's."
Sokkas eyes widened as he finally started to get the picture.
"But seriously don't speak unless you absolutely have to." Zuko said.
"I am having second thoughts about this." Sokka stated.
"Sokka." Katara tried.
"I know. I know. Kidding." Sokka sighed. "Okay." he stepped forward in front of Toph and looked down. "Like this?"
"Keep your hands in front like this." Zuko asked grabbing Sokkas hands and pulled them into the correct position. "Bowed shoulders to. Lower Sokka. Keep your feet together."
"Am I good now?" Sokka asked.
"Not by a long stretch but it has to do." Zuko sighed deeply. "Seriously. I'm really sorry."
"And seriously. Just do what you need to do. It's fine." Sokka assured as he looked up at Zuko.
"You need to keep your head down dumbass." Toph shouted hitting Sokka over the head.
"Auw!" Sokka hissed then pouted. "You know I am basically a prince of my own tribe too right?"
"The place where you were about… Thirty people?" Zuko asked.
"Thirty-two with all the men gone thanks." Sokka snorted. "When all the men comes back it is going to be over fifty people!"
"Prince of fifty people?" Toph asked. "Wow Sokka. That's almost half an apartment building in the lower ring."
"Hey! We might be few in numbers but we are proud." Sokka stated.
Zuko glanced away. Not really wanting to talk about the reason why the numbers of water tribes people in the south pole was so low now.
"Come on then Snoozles. We need to get inside." Toph snorted and Sokka sighed but fell in line and they got in line with all the other noble people.
Standing in line was agonizingly painful. Sokka stood with lowered head and shoulders like he had been asked to. Toph stood straight looking straight forward with her empty eyes and her hands in front of her. Katara did her best to try and imitate Toph.
And then there was Zuko who seemed to somehow tower over all of them. Standing straight and a stern serious frown on his face while his eyes looked harsh.
Seriously… How did this guy manage to change like this and become so impressive looking? Was it the clothes?
No other people had clothes similar to Zukos around them. It really had to be the way he was standing.
Finally they made it front of the line and the guard reached out a hand. "Invitation please."
Zuko stepped forward. "This is terrible embarrassing." he said. "My younger sister is blind as you can clearly see." he gestured at Toph. "And our father out of the kindness of his heart hired a pair of eyes for her from the lower ring. But this peasant is worse than an antelope dog!" he exclaimed hitting Sokka over the head. So hard that Sokka almost tripped. "The ungrateful proletariat forgot our invitation."
Sokka hissed as he had to fight his urge to bark back that he did no such thing. It was all part of the play.
"I hope you would be kind enough to ignore this dreadful transgression." Zuko then continued. "Perhaps this would be enough to compensate." he said holding up a hand holding up four gold pieces. Which was the same number pieces as there were guards by the gate.
You could see the greed in the guards eyes all ready. Nervously they looked at each other.
Then one whispered. "That's definitely a real noble though." he said and they all nodded as they stepped aside. "Please enjoy the party." he asked with a bowed head. But also his hand reached forward and Zuko put the coins in his hand as he walked through followed with Katara and Toph.
Without thinking Sokka stepped forward as well only to get a spear at his throat. "Not you. You dog!" he stated. "Get back to the lower ring with you!"
Sokka held up his hands as he backed away and finally managed to rejoin Aang a bit away from the cue.
"Geesh." Sokka groaned. "That's another level of snobbery."
"Good job Sokka!" Aang grinned. "You kept your head down."
"I did do a good job." Sokka stated then hissed. "Did he have to hit so hard though?" he asked. "Also man. This is the first time I have seen Zuko do any good acting. He's usually the worst actor on earth."
"Well… He has been raised and trained to act exactly like that." Aang pointed out. "That's probably why it came a lot easier to him."
"I'm starting to really appreciate that he actually turned out to be a good guy." Sokka admitted. "If this is how noble children are raised. No wonder so many of them are evil."
"Well they are people who puts a lot of value in material goods. The air nomads taught me that's what poisons the soul and tethers the spirit to this world so you cannot be free." Aang said.
Sokka looked at Aang. "I happen to like owning things." he stated. "This is just kind of over the top is all I am saying."
Aang smiled innocently. "That's fair."
"Wow." Katara whispered as the trio had made it inside to the party. "I'm honestly impressed. I didn't know you could act like that."
"Honestly... I just did what I thought Azula would have done." Zuko admitted. "Azula always manages to get her way."
"Well it worked." Toph smirked "Of course a good old bribery always helps to. Good thinking." she smirked.
Zuko halted as he looked up.
"What is it?" Katara asked.
"Don't look." Zuko whispered. "But we are being watched."
Kataras eyes widened. "What do we do?"
"Keep a low profile." Zuko whispered. "Right now it's only one guy. he can't keep an eye on all three of us if we split up. At the right moment, one of us should slip away and let the others in."
"What do you think that guy wants?" Katara asked.
"Well." Zuko whispered back. "We are the Avatars group. That may be reason enough." he said. "It could also be that someone knows I am the fire nation prince in which case there are many reasons to keep an eye on me." he said. "It may be me he is watching so... One of you try to slip away and i'll keep his eyes on me."
Both girls nodded seriously. And then Toph grabbed Zukos arm.
"Hey." Zuko looked down.
"I am your helpless blind little sister am I not?" Toph asked. "Keep up the act. Guide me around."
Zuko sighed deeply. "You are enjoying this too much." he said.
"I have a genuine Prince Escort. I am going to use it." Toph stated in a smirk making Zuko roll his eyes and Katara chuckle amused.