Disclaimer -- All content related to Avatar: The Last Airbender is copyrighted to Nickelodeon. I am merely borrowing the world's setting for this little story of mine. The contents of the story are mine, though.
Authors Notes: I should note that this story is very much a work-in-progress. What you see here is a very early revision of what I hope will be a prologue to a much larger story. As such, what is written here may change dramatically from the final version. I would definitely like some feedback on what is written here.
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The ride in the carriage was unnerving to Zuko every time the carriage went over a large rock or pothole. The entire carriage would shudder uncomfortably as it went down the roughly paved roads. He would have voiced a complaint to his father.
Azula had viciously mocked him the last time he had complained and his father had silenced him with a scolding glare.
As the carriage came over the hill, Zuko was able to see massive cliffs before him in the distance. "How high are those cliffs, Father? Zuko uttered the question before he could stop himself.
Ozai had been in a foul mood since being dispatched to the Earth Kingdom by Fire Lord Azulon.
"Those aren't cliffs, dumb-dumb. They are walls." Azula remarked.
Ursa gave her daughter a disapproving look. "Don't insult your brother, Azula."
Ignoring Azula's needling, Zuko remarked on the walls. "But, but, they've got to be hundreds of feet high!" Zuko gazed in amazement upon the scale of the "cliffs" that stood before him in the distance. They were at least three days from the great city and yet the walls were visible from this great distance.
When Uncle had mentioned that the walls of the city were magnificent, Zuko didn't entirely believe him. The Fire Nation propaganda portrayed the Earth Kingdom as a society of primitive savages. He found it hard to believe that 'filthy dirt-pushers' could walls that dwarfed the walls of the Fire Nation capital. Upon gazing upon the "cliffs" before him, Zuko realized how wrong he was.
After a three week long uncomfortable trek across the northern Earth Kingdom they had finally reached the gates of Ba Sing Se. Zuko craned his neck up to gaze upon the top of the walls. He was unable to make out any details due to their great height.
Even though it had been mere months since the city had fallen; extensive work had already been done. As they were making their approach to the main gates; Zuko had noticed that the emblem of the Fire Nation had been carved into the walls above the main gate. In addition to the addition to new carvings, the main gate was under extensive reconstruction. There were workers installing an entirely new gate system that would eventually make use of sliding metal doors.
When Zuko started observing the workers, he noticed that workers were carrying what looked like rolled Fire Nation banners. As he watched them carrying the banners, he noticed that they were made of the finest fabrics. The red color of the banner was rich and vibrant. It looked to Zuko that no expense was spared in their manufacture.
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Upon reaching the inner ring of the great city, Azula looked around her. There were Fire Nation banners everywhere. Within days, of taking the city, the Fire Nation quickly established its authority over the residents of the city. Azula grudgingly admitted to herself that she was impressed. She didn't think His Royal Tea Loving Kookiness would conquer the great city. She was wrong. She hated being wrong..
She frowned at this. With his successful conquest of the city, His Kookiness would be hailed as a hero. She could see any chance of Father inheriting the throne die before her. Something could still happen to Uncle, though. Accidents can happen.