A/N : Kind of a in-between chapter, necessary for the rest of the story… the kataang chapters are going to pick up from here lol.
I don't own Avatar the Last airbender.
As she watched from the window of the train, Katara thought about what had happened since yesterday. When Aang had left, she, her brother and Toph had begun to prepare to camp for the night,and leave with Ying after a good night's rest. But only an hour later, the airbender had returned, with some bad news. The Fire Nation was attacking the Outer Wall.
The drill had been operated by Azula and by her two friends. While Aang had battled the princess and Toph had slowed the machine down, she and her brother had fought against Ty Lee. They had learned that name while running away from them when the earthbender had just joined them.
The general responsible for the Outer Wall, Sung, had given them bedrooms after the battle, and they had all been too exhausted to talk, eat or do anything else.
That morning, they had taken the first train towards the Inner Wall, but Sung had warned them that the journey, by train, would last at least two hours, for they had to cross the Agrarian Zone first before arriving at the city.
And now, she sat next to Toph, who was holding Momo, and in front of her sat Aang and Sokka, discussing where it was most sensible to try and find Appa. She had listened at first, but how Aang described the city, with mansions, zoos and large private estates in the Upper Ring, it sounded… Wrong?
Katara knew she had not lived in such cities before in her life. First, for seventeen years, it had been the little village on the coast of the South Pole. There, everything was shared: Food, clothes and comfort. There was no one who considered himself above the others. Even her father, who had been elected chief when she was five years old, had never seen himself as more than the others.
Then, she had lived for just over a month at the North Pole. It had been different. There, the social hierarchy was so much more structured. There had been rich and poor, the downtrodden and the masters. Katara had hated it. Nearly as much as the fact that women were subjugated to the men. Of course, in her village, there had been a little of that. Sokka was a prime example. But the women had roles and had taken over the men's roles when they went to war, and did them as well as their husbands.
Now, while moving to this new city, she asked herself what it would be like there. Katara gently touched the earthbenders arm next to her.
"Can I ask you some questions about Ba Sing Se?" She whispered. Katara didn't want to let the boys hear it.
"Yeah, what do you want to know?" The blind girl began picking her nose.
"What is it like? I mean, how do people act around each other?" She asked.
"I don't know. Or at least, I only saw the Upper Ring. There… Well, it is only for the rich and powerful, or for long-serving government officials. So I don't think I would give you a good description. I heard about the Middle ring, which is a sort of blend. There, the people are prosperous, but still… Well, peasants. And the Lower Ring, the biggest, is just a mess. Even from our house in the Upper Ring, I could feel the thousands of heartbeats, I could feel their fear and desperation. So, a nice place, you know?"
Oh… Well, that sounded terrible. Katara sighed, looking out of the window, towards the fields where people were working, like there was nothing to worry about. Not like their Outer Wall had been breached, something that only had happened once, by the old general Iroh. Katara still struggled to associate the image of the old man with the one painted by Earth Kingdom people. A terrible man, burning and pillaging most of the northern part of the continent and then besieging the capital for nearly two years. She had also heard that the siege, at the verge of being lost, had been stopped by the Fire Nation. He had camped inside these walls… Sung had explained that the Fire Nation general had put his headquarters in full view of the Inner Wall, just to show that he was there to be attacked, if they dared… Why had the siege stopped?
But there were more pressing matters now than some history lesson. Sung had given them several official-looking papers, such as applications for accommodation, financial assistance and such things. The waterbender took them out of her bag. The old general had advised her to use Aang's name, for the Avatar would be more impressive than A water tribe savage. No offence miss.
Well, she had taken offence. Katara had remarked the social prejudice against her people here in the Earth Kingdom. Some people found them savages. Others found them exotic. One particular crude man had said that she would be an exotic ride. At that comment, she had nearly run him through with an ice spear, but Sokka had restrained her.
As she was filling the papers out, she felt Toph move away, to be replaced by someone else. Quickly looking sideways, she saw Aang. Looking over her shoulder to the papers.
The airbender had been on her mind since this morning. Before, there had been no time, and she had been too exhausted. But now, filling this meaningless paperwork in, her brain had begun to think of other things. How Aang had asked if they could talk. How he had looked at her when he said How I feel about you. How his grey eyes had shone, for the first time since losing Appa, with love and understanding when he had finally called her by her name. She had missed hearing his musical accent uttering her name. But what was she going to say when he wanted to talk? That she loved him? Was she really sure about that feeling? Her heart had been shattered when Aang had ignored her these last few days, so apparently, he was becoming important, even if her mind tried to find reason to push the decision further along the route. But did she love him?
"The Western Air Temple." The airbender said suddenly, cutting off her train of thoughts.
"What?" She looked up, seeing him still looking at the paper.
"My place of birth. You put the Southern Air Temple. It is the Western." He smiled, not judging, just informing her.
"Oh… I thought you lived all your life there." Katara answered, quickly looking over to where Sokka was describing the fields and routes to the blind girl. Yeah, they wouldn't bother them.
"No, I went to live with Gyatso and the others when I was still a toddler, but I was born in the Western Air Temple. But don't worry, not like they'll check." A dark look came over his face, before disappearing as fast as it had appeared. Katara didn't like it. She had thought they were past those brooding moments in the dark.
"Well, I care." The waterbender crossed the words out, replacing them with the correct place.
"Katara… could we-" the rest of his sentence was drowned by the announcement by an Earth Kingdom official, in a green uniform, who heralded their arrival at the station of the western gate of the Inner Wall.
"Aang, I want-" But her own words were cut off by her brother, who walked up, and sat down heavily next to her. Well, that was the story of their… Well, the thing they had going on. Each time there would be progress, a friend interrupted them, or a battle was to be fought. Katara didn't know which it would be today.
"Is the city as big as they say?" Sokka asked the airbender.
"Yeah, I flew over it several times before… It took a day to cross it entirely." Aang sighed.
A day… With Appa, who was quite capable of flying fast if needed. So, the city was really as massive as Than had suggested. But really? Six million people, crammed inside such a space? How did people live here?
They entered a tunnel, going through the Inner wall. Katara put her hand on Aang's.
"Don't worry, we will find Appa." She murmured, gently clasping the airbender's fingers. She released them when they emerged. As much as she loved her brother, she didn't want him teasing them.
When her eyes adjusted to the change of light, her heart sank. Next to her, Sokka took a sharp breath, also looking out of the window.
And endless sea of houses greeted them. In every direction, brown tiled roofs greeted them. As she looked closer, the waterbender remarked that most of the houses were unrefined blocks, with extension that seemed more like hasty added rooms… It was a slum.
Not trying to imagine the horrid conditions in those lodgings, Katara moved her eyes towards the next wall, in the distance…. This was just the Lower Ring…
"And that is why I never stepped a foot inside the city." Aang grumbled next to her. "Air Nomads did charity around the world, but were never permitted inside the Lower Ring. Because, apparently, The Lower Ring is the example of perfect conditions for the poor." He said the last part in a voice that sounded happy, but at the same time, full of disgust. Katara suspected it had been something someone had said to him once… Before the iceberg.
"It's… Impressive!" Sokka exclaimed, "Of course not the conditions, but… How did they manage to build this in an orderly fashion? How did they make the water systems to the fountains? Oh Spirits, this is great!" As he continued his rambling, Katara smiled. Leave it to her brother to see the good parts of such a city and wanting to know how they worked.
"Yay… Back to the rules and walls… You'll see, you'll get sick of it after a couple of days…" Toph complained, next to Sokka.
As the train stopped inside a station that overlooked a nicer part of the Lower Ring, Katara began to pick up her bag, as did Sokka, while Aang put the chest under his arm. As he did, she saw something that surprised her. Aang had begun to build some more muscle… Feeling a blush come to her face, she looked away.
"You're welcome Sugar Queen." Toph grinned, probably having felt her heart rate.
"I don't know what you are talking about Toph." She stated, trying not to look towards Aang.
"Yeah, yeah, just think about it. He'll have to do way more training. And just imagine how he could be looking in a few months…" The earthbender continued to smirk.
"Oh shut it." Katara walked towards the doors, where people were pushing each other to get out or in the monorail.
When the train went, they stood on the station, alone. Katara saw Aang look over the seas of buildings from a little balcony. Walking towards its, she heard him speak.
"He's here, I can feel it." She saw the whistle in his hand, and the slumped shoulders. She realized he had tried to call Appa. Putting a hand on his shoulder, the waterbender made him turn around.
"Welcome to Ba Sing Se." A voice behind them spoke, and Katara turned. In front of her stood a small woman, around thirty. She looked like someone from the Southeastern Earth Kingdom, with tanned skin and dark green eyes. But what made Katara's skin crawl was the plastered smile on her face, which didn't quite reach her eyes.
"My name is Jo Dee. The ministry sent me to welcome the Avatar to the city." She bowed politely towards Aang, but as she did, Katara stepped towards her, handing her the paper work.
"Oh no, no need. The Avatar's needs are cared for, by our Cultural Ministry. No worry." The woman waved her off. So, that had been a waste of time. Katara rolled her eyes. She was already not liking this Jo Dee.
"Please, follow me to the carriage." She didn't even wait for a response, but turned around and walked away.
"Ehm…is it just me, or is she weird?" Katara heard the airbender whisper in her ear. Trying to hide a smile, she just shook her head, and watched as Sokka walked up to the lady.
"We have information for the Earth King. Could we have an audience with him?" Her brother asked the lady, but she just smiled and walked along. They followed, not having any other choice.
A carriage, with two ostrich horses, stood in front of the station, and Jo Dee entered it. They did the same, and as soon as they sat down, it began to move.
Katara had sat next to Aang, she saw Jo Dee look at them. Gone was the vacant expression, and it was replaced by a calculation look. Spirits, what was it with this woman? The blank expression returned.
"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."
Pardon? There was nothing quaint about the Lower Ring, Katara thinking. It seemed invested with criminals and ragged figures. She saw several men look at their carriage as if they were thinking about how best to overwhelm them.
"You do want to watch your step, though." Jo Dee smiled.
"Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?" Katara asked. It didn't seem right. It looked like they had just put all the troublemakers together…. How was that a good policy? And the lady had said all new arrivals were in this part of the city… So, Than and his family were somewhere there, in the masses… How could such living conditions be good for a newborn child?
Jo Dee didn't answer her. Instead, she looked outside, and a wide smile came on her face.
"We are leaving the Lower Ring now. The Middle Ring is the financial district, as well as the home to the Ba Sing Se University." The lady said, while they entered another part of the city through a tunnel. As they passed the wall, Katara was astonished… Just a few metres, and the city had changed dramatically. Gone were the slums, to be replaced by neat rows of houses, quite liveable. She saw several great buildings in the distance. Probably the university.
"We met a professor from the university, who helped us obtain knowledge that is absolutely crucial for the King to hear!" Her brother pushed his face just inches away from Jo Dee's, but she didn't move, just smiled at them.
"Isn't history fascinating?" was her only response...
Katara quickly put a hand on her brother's arm, to calm him down. She had seen the scowl on his face and knew perfectly well that he was fuming. Of course, he was. He had discovered a good plan to defeat the Fire Nation, something that no one had ever managed to do in a hundred years, and there they were, being told off by some stupid dignitary who was purposely ignoring them.
They passed another wall, with another tunnel through it, and when they emerged on the other side, Katara's mouth fell wide open.
The Upper Ring was a whole lot different than the other two. There were mansions, rolling hills and wide streets… Each mansion had a garden big enough to house at least dozens of refugees… Was this how the rich lived? Totally ignoring the suffering and the pain and the loss of their fellow people?
They rode past a great building, with high brick walls, golden roofs and banner as massive as had been her entire village…
"That is the Palace of the Earth King." Jo Dee explained, still with that insufferable smile plastered on her face.
"Well, stop here! We can go see him now!" Sokka stood up in the carriage, ready to leap outside.
"Oh no! One does not just pop in on the Earth King!" Jo Dee still smiled, but she had grabbed Sokka's wrist. Her brother just looked astonished at the woman, while the carriage continued towards a building next to the palace.
"This is going to be your home, Avatar Aang." The lady bowed her head courteously, "It has been the home of every Avatar visiting the capital."
"No, it hasn't." Aang answered with such force that Katara looked sideways, to see the airbender was also livid, "The Avatar has an apartment, there." He pointed backwards, evidently meaning the Palace.
"Oh, that! No, that was only when they had official business here. You can't expect the Earth king to make room for just a visitor." Jo Dee smiled when the carriage stopped? She exited the carriage rather quickly.
"Welcome to my life. It is called, being handled." Toph muttered next to her, while she stood up.
Katara also left the carriage, to see a beautiful house, surrounded by a garden. Well… It was better than the slums. But she didn't feel comfortable, just looking at it. It looked… too perfect. As if it was completely new. But before they could even enter, a soldier came from the palace, holding a scroll. Katara just saw Aang's name on it, but Jo Dee took it and read it.
"Oh! Your audience request with the King will be put through in a month! That is quick! Much faster than normally." The lady said, as if it was a good thing…
A month… that was too long! They had not kind of kidnapped Toph and traversed a desert just to lose all that hard work, sitting here!
"Well… At least it will give me time to find Appa." Aang said
"Appa?" Jo Dee seemed confused. Again, Katara saw the fake smile disappear, before returning quickly.
"My Sky Bison. He was taken by merchants, and apparently is here somewhere in the city." Aang spoke, and Katara couldn't help but feel relieved at the fact that he sounded concerned, and not just devoided of emotions. He was really back.
"Avatar Aang, I'm quite sure you are mistaken. The Sky Bisons are extinct." The lady smiled still.
"As are the airbenders." Aang pointed to his arrows.
Jo Dee took them to several pet stores, and then to the university. But each time, people were quite convinced that they had never heard about a Sky Bison being traded in these parts. After several hours, Jo Dee dropped them off next to their house when the sun was going down. She also told them that if they needed anything, they could put it on the tap of the Cultural Ministry. And, that she would be back tomorrow to help… search… for Appa.
Katara watched the carriage ride away, and then, saw someone peek from the window in the house opposite theirs. Sokka had also seen it, and he walked up to the building with her. Time to meet the neighbours.
She knocked on the door, with Toph, Sokka and Aang behind her. The door was opened, barely, and she managed to see a face in the darkness.
"I heard the Avatar was in town… I'm Pao…" The man sounded scared. Sokka pushed himself next to her, and spoke.
"What is going on with this city? Why is everyone afraid to talk about the war?"
"War? Afraid?" The man sounded very worried now.
"I can feel you shaking, cut the ostrich horse shit." Toph muttered, loud enough to be heard.
"I'm just a minor government official… You don't know what I had to do to get this house, so close to the Palace… Just… you can't mention the war, you never know who is listening. Stay away from the Dai Li!" With that, the door was shut in their faces, and they turned to their own home.
Sokka and Toph walked in front, and Katara stayed next to Aang.
"You know who they are?" She asked
"The Dai Li? Yeah… They are a kind of organization to uphold Earth Kingdom cultural traditions… Why should we stay away from them?" The airbender sighed, passing the door inside their new house. Katara followed.
The house was beautiful… She entered a large living space, and saw several doors further along, probably leading to bedrooms and, hopefully, a bathroom.
"I'm taking the fourth bedroom!" Katara heard her brother shout somewhere in the house, and Toph yelled that she was taking the one opposite of Sokka. Katara moved towards the rooms and entered the first door on the left. A large bedroom was on the other side of the door, with at one side a large bed, and against the other wall, a large cabinet and a desk.
"Hey… What do you think of this city?" Aang's voice came from the doorway, and Katara turned around, to see him leaning against the door.
"A bit unsettling, isn't it?"
"Yeah… And what about Jo Dee?" the airbender sighed, walking over to the bed and sitting down.
"Well… She was… different? With her with us, we will never find Appa." She answered, pulling her bag open to put the limited clothes she had in the closet.
"Agreed…" Aang sounded so downcast…
"Well, maybe we should just… You know. Explore without her." She turned, grinning. When the airbender saw her face, he also began to smile.
"Katara… Do you mean to escape our chaperone?" He said, raising his eyebrows slightly.
"I won't call it an escape… But you know… It wouldn't be our fault if we lost her, just for an hour."
"Yeah… And it wouldn't be our fault if, you know, she wasn't here when we left the house…" The airbender stood up, grinning.
"Yeah… You are always up early… And you know… You have to eat. So it would be very credible for you to get breakfast…" She also grinned, gravitated towards the airbender.
"Could I motivate you to get up early? To join me for… Breakfast?" Aang's grin disappeared, to be replaced by a sweeter smile. Katara felt her heart begin to beat harder.
"Of course. But we'll have to leave Toph and Sokka, to make it seem like we are indeed, only going out to eat." She whispered.
"Oh no… What a shame…" Aang's grin made it quite clear he didn't think it was that bad.
Answers :
Gabriela N. Gonzalez : Yeah, He also thought Aang quite clearly said what he felt about her, but that was never explored in the next episodes… In this fic, that will be different lol. I think they were quite right with the plan, because Roku said to defeat Ozai before the Comet, which would technically be the case.
CoyoteLemon : Oh, that is going to happen… But not like you think !
Jjsmith103 : It was so beautiful how he just opens up when he said that, that I wanted to elaborate it a bit!