"Hello, my name is Joo Dee, and I am here to fulfill any needs you may have while in Ba Sing Se."
"Ha," Sokka laughs, "Good one. Who are you?"
The woman chuckles, a wide smile plastered across her face, and bows again, the same hair piece as the real Joo Dee bobbing in her short black hair. "My name is Joo Dee, as I said."
"No, but really, who are you?"
The woman blinks, "I am Joo Dee. I am here for you while you are in Ba Sing Se."
"What's going on?" Aang pops his head in.
"This woman says she's Joo Dee."
"Uh, no." Aang squints. "Nope, definitely not."
"I assure you Avatar Aang, I am Joo Dee."
"No, you're not. Joo Dee had long hair, she was taller than you too."
"Yeah," Sokka chimes in, "And you know, the whole kinda creepy smile looked better on her too."
"I promise you-"
"Out of the way! It's urgent!" General How charges through, not even waiting for an invitation before storming inside. The sling on his arm is a sharp contrast to the armor he wears.
Sokka shrugs. "You heard the man, urgent. So, uh, bye?" He closes the door, leaving a very confused Joo Dee outside.
"Avatar! You must all get ready at once! We must go meet the Earth King!"
"Why, what's going on? You're hurt!"
"Yes, yes, I'll explain everything on the way, we must go now!"
Within five minutes the entire group piles into a now cramped palanquin and is rushing towards to palace. "It's the Fire Nation soldiers that we captured, the Dai Li have taken all of them prisoner and won't let us near them. You're the Avatar, you must have some pull with the Earth King, make him make Long Feng hand over the prisoners. We need whatever information they have!"
"We don't have any pull with the Earth King. He all but kicked me out of his fancy dinner party earlier," Aang scoffs.
"You're the Avatar, the master of all four elements, you must make him listen! The Dai Li are-" How stops and takes a breath before drastically lowering his voice. His hands are shaking. "The Dai Li run unchecked throughout the city. The other night my house was attacked. I fought them off but," he clenches his teeth, "they went after my son." Katara gasps. "He's okay, but I can't live with them in this city any longer!
"I've been fighting with Long Feng for years but this, this was too far. They didn't even bother to hide that they were Dai Li, they used their rock hands. Now, with them having the Fire Nation soldiers, they'll be unstoppable. We have to get those prisoners."
"And what will you do to them? What exactly are the Dai Li doing to them?" Zuko stares down the general.
"Prince Zuko – and yes, the Council of Five all know who you are – you're under the protection of the Avatar. If you want my advice, don't push your luck. We've all lost family to the Fire Nation and its bloody war, don't forget that."
"I'm not saying you haven't! But those men are my responsibility, we stopped the drill, we practically handed them to you. If we help you, I need a promise you won't hurt them."
"They came to invade our city, why should we be kind to them? What have they done other than burn and rape and pillage?"
"Chances are they're just under orders and know that my sister would have killed them or their families if they disobeyed. They may not have had a choice! Does that make it okay, no! But at least give them a chance!" Zuko roars. "And because they were lied to, they were lied to since they were born, every single person in the Fire Nation was lied to. You want to stop the war you give them the truth."
"And what truth is that, hmm? You Fire Nation scum all think the same. You attack us and then want us to bend over backwards for you. The Fire Nation knows it's in the wrong. You all attacked first, you started this!"
"We don't know that! We've been taught that we were defending ourselves. We've been taught that this war is justified."
"Of course you were," How fumes. "How typical. And I'm sure you believe it was."
Zuko growls, "I don't. I know we attacked defenseless Air Nomad temples. I know we started this, but I also know we can end it. I want my people to know too."
How pauses, glaring at the young man across from him. The palanquin stops abruptly and sunlight streams in. "We're here."
They climb out and blink, taking in the view. It's the same as every other time they're seen the exterior only this time Dai Li line the avenue. There's no move to attack as the group advances, the presence weighs down on them regardless.
There's no nobility milling about the throne room. In fact, no one is present other than General Sung with a few other presumably Council members, the king on his golden throne, and Long Feng beside him. Bosco lays in front of the throne. "What is the meaning of this!" Long Feng shouts, his outrage not quite believable. "You dare to summon the king, who do you think you are? You have no right to do such a thing and should consider yourself honored that he showed up instead of throwing you in the dungeon."
"Enough," The Earth King raises a hand. "What do you have to say for yourself General How and," he sniffs disdainfully, "explain why you brought the Avatar of all people here with you."
The general bows, the others quickly follow suit, "King Kuei, I would not have called this meeting unless it was of the utmost importance. Any member of the Council of Five has the right to call an emergency meeting with the king if there is a threat to the city that we cannot deal with. I have reason to believe that is happening."
"Yes, yes, Long Feng has told me all about your suspicions, something about the Fire Nation attacking and the Dai Li being usurpers. Really General How, what are you thinking? What I really want to know is why you brought the Avatar? He's not welcome here."
"Uh, what?" Aang scrunches his face in confusion.
"You heard me, you're not welcome here. You've ignored all of my lunch invitations, my garden exhibitions, my tea parties, and now you have the audacity to stroll in here and not only crash Bosco's party but now to try and – well what are you here for exactly?"
"Your majesty, we never got any invitations except to Bosco's party. That was the only one. As for-"
The king interjects, "No, I've sent countless ones since you've arrived in the city."
"I promise you, we haven't gotten any other than that one," Aang replies
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Oh," the Earth King pauses then shrugs, "Long Feng, have a word with my courier later, see what happened. As for you Avatar, I suppose I can forgive you then." He smiles, "What brings you here today?"
Sokka has to stop from rolling his eyes and Aang, yet again somehow replies calmly. "I'm here because of the prisoners that were taken from the Fire Nation drill. The Dai Li has all of them and the Council of Five would like to question them. We also need to find out when the next solar eclipse is so we can invade the Fire Nation."
The man on the throne laughs, "Invade the Fire Nation? Why on earth would we do that, they're our allies."
He's met with shocked silence until Zuko opens his mouth. "Are you serious? You actually think the Fire Nation is your ally? Let me guess, Long Feng told you that didn't he?"
The Earth King opens his mouth to respond but Zuko cuts him off. "Why do you think there's such an influx of refugees in your city? They don't want to be here living in filth, I promise you, but to them it's better than living somewhere where misguided Fire Nation soldiers may get them. The Fire Nation is going to wipe you out, they already reached the wall and if not for us they would have breached it and if you don't help us, come summer, come Sozin's Comet, Ozai will burn you all."
The king scoffs, Long Feng laughs. The king opens his mouth once again but is cut off by Long Feng who doesn't notice. "Those are silly conspiracy theories, nothing more. Everyone in the city is perfectly safe and happy, there is no war! Why would you-"
"No, I want to hear what they have to say. What proof do you have?"
"Ask anyone in the Lower Ring and they'll tell you about the war. The drill is still sitting outside the wall. Ask any of the people the Dai Li are holding as prisoners, they're Fire Nation soldiers."
"What you're calling a drill is a simple agricultural tiller, nothing more. We're trying to cultivate more land around the city. For the last time, we don't have any prisoners, we have a few people who were working on it and yes they are from the Fire Nation but they are simple mechanics, nothing more."
"Then bring them to us! Let us talk to them."
"That's fine. I assumed you would make some wild accusations like this and so I came prepared." The doors open and in shuffle five Fire Nation soldiers dressed in simple green tunics. They're smiling, taking in the sights of the palace.
"Gentlemen, could you please introduce yourselves, tell us a little bit about yourselves?"
The first steps forward. "I'm Goro, I work in the engine room of the new tiller machine. I make sure it runs smoothly."
"I'm Hiro, I make sure the beams are intact."
"I'm Lee," Zuko rolls his eyes at the name, "I check that all of the pistons are firing and that the levels on everything are correct."
"I'm Kenta." That voice, Zuko recognizes it. He squints, the man looks familiar. It clicks.
"No you're not. Your name isn't Kenta. You're-
"Akina!" Katara exclaims.
"What? No, I'm Kenta. I work on the tiller, I make sure the pipes are working."
"And are they?" Toph demands.
"Are what, the pipes? Yeah, they're fine.
"All of the pipes, you've checked them all, recently?"
"Yeah, earlier today. They're fine." A look passes between the group, something's more than a little wrong. "If you don't mind, I'd like to go back to work though, we're kinda on a deadline."
"What about the war? What about the ship, the North Pole even? You were on my ship Akina!" Zuko shouts. "What's going on?"
Akina's face is uncomfortably blank. "I-I don't know what you're talking about."
"Your Majesty," Long Feng interjects, "Do you really want to see this? These children are pestering the poor man who just wants to do his job. I'm not surprised either. After all, what would the exiled son of the Fire Lord like more than to cause issues with his father's alliances."
"The exiled son of- oh, so we have a prince with us? We should have done something more, a prince and the Avatar it's truly a-"
"King Kuei, he is an exiled prince, banished by his father, unloved and unwanted." Zuko's jaw tightens. "He only wants to cause his father pain by-"
"Oh can it old man!" Toph hollers, "We've behaved pretty well in your city, didn't make trouble, but you don't care, don't you! Let's go down to the drill right now!"
"There's really no need for that," Long Feng interjects. "His majesty has no reason to travel outside of the safety of the palace to see some common tiller."
"No, I want to. What they're saying is concerning and if even the esteemed General is involved, we should should take a look."
Long Feng grits his teeth, "Yes, your Majesty."
. . .
The denizens of the Lower Ring eye the opulent group on the train, no idea who the king is but all too aware of the Dai Li escorting him. A few young pickpockets are almost bold enough to try but glances from the guards stop them.
"Is it always this smelly?" The king gags, covering his nose.
"It wouldn't be if your people were better taken care of," Katara mutters. Zuko nudges her. "What, it's true," she whispers.
"Your Majesty," Aang leans forward and lightning strikes the few commoners in the train car 'Majesty' 'Did I hear him correctly? 'Is that the king?'"They've gotten used to these conditions, to being crammed in with no breathing space, because of the war."
The king laughs albeit nervously, "Oh Avatar, there's no war." Someone snorts loudly. "Everyone in Ba Sing Se is safe and –" he falters, "happy." Kuei turns to the closest man outside of the group, a man dressed in threadbare clothes who is a little too thin in the face. "You, aren't you happy?"
"Uh-" He looks at the Dai Li, then again at the king, "Uh sure, I guess."
"See, he's happy. Everything is fine, everything is just fine."
The train grinds to a halt and everyone quickly files out onto the busy platform. It smells even worse here. The sticks of incense and heavy coats of perfume don't mask the overbearing smell of human feces and rotting food baking under the hot sun. The King turns green, swaying where he stands. Katara pulls water from the pouch at her hip, pushing the healing energy into him, steadying him as merchants swarm, only to be pushed away by the Dai Li.
"Sir, sir! Try these exotic fruits!"
"Madam, we have a necklace just for you!"
The Dai Li and guards manage to form a ring around the group, keeping the commoners out. There hadn't been enough of a warning for the streets to be cleared. Every dozen feet or so the king pauses, looking around in horror. Even the guards are shocked at how the inhabitants clamoring around them live.
Katara spies a food vendor, flies buzzing gleefully around it. "Your Majesty, perhaps some fresh fruit will make you feel better?"
"Ah yes, that's a great idea."
"Your Majesty," Long Feng interjects, "It's below you to eat such common food."
"No, no, no if it's good enough for my people it's good enough for me." The king ignores any objections before requesting the 'best apple'. He's given the best – though their best happens to be slightly rotten. He finds out in the first bite.
"How happy do you think everyone really is here, with food like that, smells like this, being cramped the way they are?" Katara asks. "I've seen people here with limbs missing from the War, with infected eyes because they bathed in dirty water, with deadly wounds that could have been healed if only there was money for a healer. This is Ba Sing Se, this is your city."
The king says nothing.
It's easy to see where the drill is, even inside of the city. The wall buckles and bulges around it as if still waiting to be split open. Beyond the wall sunlight glints off of the drill.
"Tell me Long Feng, why exactly would you want to till the desert? You said it was a tiller, how does it work, why pick the middle of the desert when there's rich land on the other side of the city?" General How questions.
"That's not even the most unbelievable part." Toph makes a ridiculously flowery, mocking bow, "Your Majesty if I may." Without waiting for an answer the wall shifts, the ground rushing up at them at an alarming rate. They stop in front of the little hole the group had used to get inside before. "Great, now lead the way Aang, Sokka, whoever. I'm staying out here."
They all climb inside with Long Feng protesting hotly and the king overruling him simply out of curiosity. No lights are on, there's no mechanical hissing, the great beast was slain and the dead husk quickly abandoned. A fire starts in Zuko's palm, throwing shadows at odd angles. Katara's heart speeds up but she glares resolutely forward.
Long Feng's protesting grows louder, more insistant as they head deeper inside.
"What the-" The king gasps at the cavern, a criss-cross of organized beams contrasting sharply with a twisted, gaping hole in the pipes.
"Did that guy before say all the pipes were fine your Majesty?" Sokka smirks.
"Yes," the king looks at Long Feng, realization slowly dawning, "Yes he did."
"I can't let it end like this! Dai Li!" The few Dai Li there falter, one moves to attack but a water whip slashes quickly across his arm.
"Guards," General How roars, "Arrest that man!"
"No! I won't let you do this How, Kuei, you won't destroy Ba Sing Se like this!" The guards rush forward but Long Feng strikes a pipe, what little steam is left in it hisses out. Metal groans as Katara freezes the mist. It falls revealing the door hastily pulled closed – rock hands still embedded in it and Long Feng long gone.
. . .
I know how bad I am at updating. Thank you everyone for all the encouragement 3 and sorry for all the lost sleep ;p