There were two fox antelopes, grazing on a hill side. They looked up at the monorail tracks behind them as a monorail goes past, pushed by two earthbenders. Inside the car Aang, Katara, Sokka, Reiko, Kurai and Momo are awaiting their arrival at Ba Sing Se. Katara looks out from the window and notices the Inner Wall of the Earth Kingdom capital drawing closer.

"Look, the Inner Wall!" Katara said excitedly. "I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece."

"Hey, don't jinx it! We can still be attacked by some giant exploding Fire Nation spoon. Or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp!" Sokka said skeptically.

Kurai chuckled.

"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Reiko said, annoyed yet jokingly.

"I'm just sayin', weird stuff happens to us." Sokka said.

A man, sucking a corn plant in his mouth, took a seat between Reiko and Sokka, startling them. Aang and Katara looked out the windows, the former closing his eyes sadly.

"Don't worry Aang, we'll find Appa." Katara said sympathetically.

"It's such a big city." Aang said doubtfully.

"We'll find him Aang." Kurai said, smiling.

"He's a giant bison! Where could someone possibly hide him?" Sokka said somewhat optimistically.

The monorail entered the Inner Wall. Sokka, Katara, Reiko Kurai and Aang viewed the giant city through the windows.

Sokka realized the city's gigantic size. "Oh."

The three noticed that Ba Sing Se stretched almost as far as their eyes could see, and it had many roads and buildings. Their train entered the monorail station, stopping there. All of them disembarked.

"Back in the city. Great." Reiko sighed irritably.

"What's the problem? It's amazing!" Sokka said excitedly.

Kurai looked annoyed too. "It's just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days."

Aang looked at the bison whistle in his palm, and he blew it.

"I'm comin' for ya, buddy." Katara walked over to the downtrodden Aang, and placed her hand on his shoulder. Aang spoke more confidently. "He's here; I can feel it."

On the other side of the monorail track, there was a woman with long dark hair that billows in the wind. She approached them with a strange smile on her face.

"Hello, my name is Joo Dee! I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se. And you must be Sokka, Katara, Kurai and Reiko! Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?" Joo Dee said excitedly.

"Yes. We have information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King, immediately." Sokka said urgently.

"Great! Let's begin our tour. And then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it!" Joo Dee said.

Sokka was slightly annoyed. "Ugh!" Sokka walked up to Joo Dee. "Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the king about the War, it's important."

"You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here." Joo Dee said assuredly.

Team Avatar had a confused look on their faces regarding Joo Dee's strange statement.

"This is the Lower Ring." Joo Dee said.

"What's that wall for?" Kurai asked.

"Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls! There are the ones outside protecting us, and the ones inside, that help maintain order." Joo Dee said as she gestured to some refugees. "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!"

Two men were conversing in an alley. One of them was holding a large sword that glistens in the light. Both glared at the carriage as it passed. Inside the carriage, Kurai became unnerved, while Momo, who was looking out of the window by hanging from the ceiling, quickly retreated completely into the carriage.

"You do want to watch your step, though." Joo Dee said nervously.

Katara had a Nervous look on her face. "Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?"

Aang was Upset and somewhat bored. "This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live." Aang Looked out the window.

The carriage passed by a house in the Lower Ring.

Kurai turned and looked at a young man in the window and met his eyes. It was Zuko! They both stared at each other excitedly, and Zuko rushed outside his house.

"Don't worry!" Zuko shouted. "I'll find you!"

Aang wasn't sure whether to view this as a threat.

"Is he a friend of yours?" Joo Dee said nervously.

"Yes." Kurai put a hand on Aang's shoulder. "He is a very good friend.

Xxx

Zuko went back inside the house, looking a bit disappointed as Iroh put a vase with orange flowers on the mantle.

"I just want our place to look nice, in case someone brings home a lady friend!" He gave Zuko a nudge with the elbow.

Zuko smiled a little. "I will find her, Uncle. I won't lose Kurai again."

"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not. Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!" Iroh said.