Despite being taken for the annual Kyoshi games and hauled halfway across the world, all but guaranteeing an early demise as the roar of the crowds filled their dying ears, Sokka and Katara's worries temporarily dissipated at the site of Ba Sing Se. For a city infamous for its extreme excesses and fascination with death, the jade green pagodas, cabbages and vast ivory colored walls drew a sharp contrast in the siblings' minds.
"It just goes on," Katara muttered, gazing out of her window as the sprawling city stretched before her. "I never thought you could put so many people in one place."
Equally transfixed, Sokka stared out of the window, wondering if the sea of green roofs with cabbage motives reached beyond the horizon. "Yeah. Never thought there would be so much green in one place either."
"How do you think they feed so many people? Our district can barely scrounge up enough to feed everyone."
Sokka sniffed the air. "Heh, well, this is the capital of the world now. First class citizens get priority, right? Keep 'em fat and happy…"
Katara could only roll her eyes at her foolish brother. She has huge desire to hit him in shoulder to make him stop spilling nonsense out of his mouth that potentially could get them in trouble, but decided against it. Her brother's words, before they left the pole, spun in her mind as if trying to ease her: they are already doomed and no one could do anything worse for them. Looks like Sokka decided to live up to those words and ate all food supplies before they even reached Ba Sing Se and forced them to make detour to resupply before entering capital city region.
As the siblings grew silent, not willing to waste their energy on futile bickering, they were content to look out upon the city and marvel at its enormity. Yet, there was some truth in those words. Perhaps it didn't matter if they spoke ill of the empire at this point. They would suffer a death equal to the punishment.
The siblings' personal guide, Wushu, who sat just a few seats away from them, was very clear as to their fate - death in a variety of exotic flavors. Sobering news for a tribute, but thrilling for the waiting crowds.
Before the blood could be spilled however, Wushu also elaborated on a bit of information that struck the siblings as odd, again running counter to their previous ideas of how a tribute was treated. He said that they would be given a small amount of money and were allowed to spend it as they saw fit. Clothes, food, mementos for their family to remember them by, it didn't matter. It was a last chance to live life before they would die.
Nothing was as great as an incentive as that.
The train slowed as its wheels screeched against the steel tracks, lurching forward as it came to a stop within a vast station. Peering out the window, the two siblings stared as dozens upon dozens of finely clothed noblemen and women scurried around, carrying around expensive luggage.
Footsteps clanked against the metal floor of their coach, making their heads turn. Wushu looked upon them with indifference, flanked by two men with dark conical hats dark green robes. Sokka leveled his eyes at them, almost sizing them up, while Katara's lips pursed into subtle frown. The Dai Li evoked no sympathy from anyone in the empire.
Wushu spoke as a man looking down upon vermin. "Ah yes. Welcome to the Middle Ring, tributes. Come along now let's not dawdle, we have a very tight schedule for today."
Quickly grabbing what little luggage they had from the overhead compartments Sokka and Katara followed their guide out of the train. Making their way through the engine steam and stepping out into the frigid air, they were suddenly met by two strange individuals.
As one they spoke, their voices perfectly synchronized, their pearly white teeth gleaming behind painted lips.
"Welcome tributes to our glorious capital of Ba Sing Se! We are Joo Dee and we will be your personal assistants. We are honored to accept you into our magnificent city."
Frozen in place, eyes boggling out of their heads, Sokka and Katara felt an uneasy feeling creep over them. The Dai Li agents that shadowed them disappeared into the steam that swirled into the air from the resting train, yet even that wasn't enough to put them on edge as these two women did.
Wushu spoke for the both of them as he indicated the bags hanging off their shoulders, amused at the siblings' discomfort.
"Yes, yes, very well. Now will both of you be so kind as to take their luggage? Come now tributes they won't bite. They are completely docile."
With an uneasy look Katara reluctantly handed her bag over. "Joo Dee huh?
Her brother merely shrugged, handing his bag to one as he muttered under his breath. "It must be one of those stupid names capital residents invented."
Wushu narrowed his eyes. "I don't appreciate your tone, tributes. You will conduct your accordingly during your stay. Do I make myself clear?"
With varying degrees of enthusiasm the siblings agreed, briskly led away from the boarding platform and through the moderately busy station. They were met by curious glances from passersby, eyes either widening in shock or narrowing in disgust. Some seemed genuinely thrilled to see them, as one would be thrilled to see a groomed dogRat on a leash, and one lanky boy even tried to talk to them, before being led away by his mother. They were as exotic as a person could be in the empire, being both tribals and tributes.
Making their way out of the station the group quickly scurried down a vast flight of steps to where a green cabbagemobile rimmed with gold waited for them. Two Dai Li agents stood at attention and one was courteous enough to open the passenger door for them. Without much ceremony they were rushed into the cabbagemobile and made them selves comfortable in the relatively confined space, the engine sputtering to life as they were driven down a relatively peaceful street.
"Its so… nice here. Look at how clean the streets are," Katara commented, looking out the window of the car.
"Yeah, you could probably eat off the surface of the sidewalks. Must be expensive to live here," Sokka muttered, eyeing a couple walking their dog.
As one, the two Joo Dee spoke, catching the siblings off guard. "Yes, only the most powerful and influential individuals live within the Middle Ring."
"And on occasions such as the annual games the tributes may stay here was well. You should both feel honored," commented Wushu.
Unconvinced, Sokka's eyes narrowed as he spied a pair of Dai Li agents shadowing the couple. He tapped Katara on the shoulder pointed in their direction. Her face grew grim. With power and influence came security and it seemed the Middle Ring was no exception to this.
"Yeah, it's a real honor to be here and all. So when are we going to get some food? I am starving!" Sokka said, sitting back in his seat.
"We are glad you feel this way, tribute!" the Joo Dee replied, "You will enjoy the luxury of Ba Sing Se's elite and your security will be guaranteed by the city's most dedicated protectors – the Dai Li!"
"Great. I've always wanted to be watched around the clock and have my privacy violated. It's my dream come true, but let's return back to the topic. Where is the FOOD?"
"We are glad you think this way tribute! Dai Li patrol the Middle Ring regularly. No trouble will occur to you or your food as long as they keep vigil!"
Fighting the urge to roll his eyes, Sokka was merely content to groan internally and his stomach agreed with him releasing low rumble sound as if indicating that it desired to be filled.
Their ride ended as the cabbagemobile came to a violent halt and parked in front of a luxurious house, its high white walls crowned by a jade-colored pagoda roof with huge cabbage head on top of it. Legends say Cabbage man himself helped to build this magnificent building. A group of Dai Li agents stood guard in front of the entrance, rigid and unmoving.
"This is where you'll be staying until the start of the games. Doctors will conduct a medical evaluation, inspect you for any hidden contraband, and get you properly cleaned. After all those procedures were completed you'll be assigned different wards to sleep in or do other activities." Wushu explained gesturing for one of the Joo Dee assistants to open the door.
"Uh… what was that about contraband?" Sokka asked as he exited the cabbagemobile, a sudden queasiness making him uneasy at the mentioned of that dreaded phrase.
"And why do we need another medical examination? That seems kind of redundant," Katara said, stretching out her legs on the lawn in front of the house.
Reining in his impatience, Wushu calmly addressed their seemingly petty concerns. "Both are necessary to ensure your health and security, as well the health and security of those around you. Smuggling in contraband, whether they are knives or the dreaded juice of the Si Wong, will not be tolerated. In addition, any sickness or disease you may have contracted must be immediately addressed."
"That way we're fit enough die in the games. That's the reason, right?" Katara insisted.
Wushu gave her an imperious look, smiling venomously. "How very keen you. Of course that's why we do it. It wouldn't be fair if one of you tributes were sick. You'd die a less than sportsman like death."
Ignoring his tone, Katara growled as she swiftly turned away, storming off toward the door as two Dai Li agents flanked her, tailed by a Joo Dee.
"Uh… question," Sokka piped up.
Wushu let out a sigh as he turned toward the tribute. "Yes, what is it?"
"Well, uh, I don't mind the examination or anything, and I probably wouldn't mind if they get, uh, too intimate. Its just… since I'm a guy-"
"You will be assigned a medical professional that is highly qualified to examine you."
"Oh, no doubt! But, uh… can it be a girl for me?"
There was a short pause. Both men stared at each other, anticipating a response. Wushu felt an overwhelming urge to punch him.
"… Tell you what, tribute. I'm going to specifically ask for a male with cold, rough hands to examine you if you don't shut up and get in the house. How does that sound?"
Sokka blinked. "… You drive a hard bargain, sir."
"Indeed. Now move."
Briskly, Sokka made his way to the entrance as he followed after his sister, trailed close behind by a Joo Dee and two more Dai Li agents.
Wushu slowly followed in their wake, groaning under his breath. It was going to be a long day.
o0o0o0o
Time had passed and fortunately for Sokka his guide did not follow through on his word and the examination went fairly smoothly, save for a few instances of awkward giggling. Katara for her part found the entire ordeal uneventful.
As dusk approached the two siblings were hurried to their rooms and ordered to dress in their finest clothes. When they were finally through they were whisked away into the inner yard of the residence they lived in, where the other tributes had gathered.
They were as colorful a bunch as they could be. Dressed in their best, representing the many districts they hailed from, Sokka and Katara nonetheless kept their guard up. Instinctively, Katara walked closely beside her brother, thumbs digging into her open palms. Sokka eyes hovered from tribute to tribute, sizing them up, cracking his fingers as he did so. They tried not to let on that they were intimidated despite the severe tension gripping their bodies.
Suddenly, a gong echoed through the yard. All eyes turned toward the raised platform in the center, where an old and lanky man dressed in jade-green robes and a faded green turban ambled up to the microphone.
His voice boomed over the murmur of the small crowd. "Welcome, welcome, and welcome tributes! Let me be the first to greet you on this most auspicious holiday! Cabbage Appreciation Weekend!"
Out of some instinctual gesture the group of tributes applauded as best they could, making an effort to show they at least respected the state enforced holiday.
The old man grinned appreciatively, bowing his head to make an attempt of showing modesty.
"As you all are no doubt aware, this holiday is to celebrate the superiority of the humble cabbage over all other vegetables. It is also a time of rest, relaxation, and reflection before you will be thrust into the games and given the honor of fighting for fame and glory!"
Far off in a corner among the gathered fighters, leaning against a pillar, Zuko stirred at the mention of those words. He gave his undivided attention to the elderly speaker, as if the very mention of the word 'honor' had the power to rouse him from his inner turmoil.
His sister gave him a sideways glance. "Don't get your hopes up, brother. You will not live long enough to see your honor restored if you continue to make fool out of yourself."
Zuko flashed her a glare. "And you're so confident you'll live through this?"
Azula's lips curled into a smile as she causally inspected the sharpness of her nails. "Naturally of course."
On the platform, the elderly man continued. "Use this precious time to live as you see fit! We encourage it! Do anything you want! And if you want to hone your skills, then facilities will be provided to do just that. Your assigned Joo Dees have been issued a small amount of money, which they will hold at all times, but with which you can spend however you like to. Servants will carry anything you buy and have it delivered to your quarters."
Among the crowd, Toph quietly voiced her displeasure, sticking her tongue out in disgust.
"Bleugh! I didn't get reaped to enjoy the finer things in life! I already had that at home."
Beside her, Toph's partner made his irritation known. "Ugh, c'mon Toph, its not that bad. Have you seen this city? It's huge! I am sure there should be anything for you to do here before the games starts."
"It ain't the same, Duke. Just wait 'til I get in the games. Heads are gonna roll." Duke was taken aback by such sudden change. For all he knew this little blind girl was just another (good for nothing) pampered noble, but the huge predator smile this girl displayed made him reevaluate her and he didn't like what he saw there.
With a satisfied grin as he looked over his audience the elderly man beckoned his guest to come up onto the platform.
"But enough about my glorious holiday to the greatest vegetable on earth! Please welcome our very special guest speaker, professor Zei! He will introduce you to our empire's history as well as the creation of the Kyoshi games!"
Another round of applause as the professor took his position on the platform. His hair was tied into the regulation pigtail that was required by all males born in the city. Worn and gaunt, he had the look of a man who had seen too many days wandering the great deserts of the continent.
"Good evening everyone! I'd like to thank the executive of Cabbage Corp for inviting me here. Without his patronage my expeditions into the interior of this vast nation would not be possible. He is truly a great and generous man."
Sitting at a table in the middle of the audience beside his sister, Sokka fought the urge to roll his eyes. Instead, he slouched in his seat, made a fist with his hand, and mimicked an obscene gesture as he pumped his arm over his pelvis.
"Oh yeah, thank you Cabbage Corps, you're sooo good to me," he muttered, mocking the professor.
Eyes widening, Katara promptly elbowed her brother in the arm, hissing as she whispered. "Hey, knock it off!"
"Hey, not my fault this whole thing is boring me to death."
"I thought you liked history, Sokka."
"You call this history? I am sure we will be spoon fed same propaganda we have at home."
Katara saw lost case and decided to remain silent. Her brother could be an ass if he wanted, but this wasn't time for them to bicker about things that couldn't be changed. As the two siblings turned their attention toward the platform, the professor continued.
"… From the former Earth Kingdom the Earth Empire would rise. The seeds of its foundation can be traced back to the rule of the fiftieth Earth King, when his armies crushed those of the vile Fire Nation and saving the Air Nomads from certain annihilation."
Sitting quietly at her table, Ilo stirred at the memory of the elders telling stories of those dark days. Her hand twitched uncomfortably.
"Ilo, are you okay?" Aang whispered.
"I'm fine Aang. Just… remembering the ghost stories the elders told us."
He nodded his head slowly. "Yeah… its different when you realize the things that happened in those stories was real at some point."
"It's different when you realize it happened to your own people."
Aang gulped, blinking. "… Yeah. Then they get really scary."
The two airbenders grew quiet as their attention slowly shifted back to the professor.
"… His majesty personally led a three-nation alliance. Calling on the resilient air nomads and hardy mercenaries of the water tribes, braving the terrible fire unleashed upon the world through Blood's Comet, the armies of the Fire Nation were hurled back, exhausted in their efforts and spread thin across their conquered lands. These soldiers, far from home and treated like scum by their corrupt officers, stood no chance. One by one, the cities in the Fire Nation colonies were liberated and the foe driven back across the sea."
There was a momentary pause as the professor cleared his throat; as if he was coughing out the very sand he breathed in on his many expeditions.
" As I was saying… in the wake of this achievement great shipyards and factories were built throughout our nation. The surviving air nomads, seeking refuge, were happily accepted into our great cities, where they found peace and protection. Decades passed since this great struggle and eventually the Fire Nation recovered from their loss, hoping to wipe away the shame of their defeat in their war against fiftieth Earth King.
"However, this was not the same army they had faced decades before. Well trained and well equipped, the army fought back valiantly against the Fire Nation's attacks. Under the shrewd leadership of the fifty-first Earth King the army was once again able to humiliate the Fire Nation in battle after battle. Each day the foe grew weaker, while our army grew stronger.
"Yet, even at this most critical phase in the war, fate intervened. The fifty-first king took ill under mysterious circumstance and died soon after. Chaos gripped the palace as officials hastily looked for a successor. And in that dark time rose our beloved emperor, Long Feng himself.
"At the time he was the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se, assisting and overseeing many tasks along side the previous king. Under his leadership the army and navy were reformed, but it wasn't until he graciously accepted the crown that he was able to see those reforms in action. After months of careful planning Long Feng, who was named the fifty-second Earth King at the time, launched a massive invasion of the Fire Nation. Through toil and blood, after thousands of casualties on both sides, the Fire Nation was finally defeated. Its lands were annexed as part of the Earth Kingdom and it was at this point that our great emperor proclaimed the Earth Empire.
"Through great effort and much sacrifice, peace and prosperity were achieved. Yet, not all was right with the world. In his wisdom, emperor Long Feng sought to extend an olive branch to the northern and southern water tribes. Tribal raiders had wreaked havoc on the vital sea routes of the empire and our emperor wished to see them secured. When the north refused, the only choice was war.
"Through great feats of science and engineering, the empire's best minds set to work on a new invention that would give our army a distinct edge – the airship. Molten earth and fire rained down upon the frozen citadel of the north as a fleet of our airships descended from the clouds. Though valiant in their defense, the northerners surrendered and accept the rule of our emperor. The south was soon annexed as well, wisely choosing to peacefully accept our emperor's rule.
"It was through the efforts of bright and brave individuals that the empire was able prosper, yet none have come close to the contributions that the executive of Cabbage Corp have made. When famine gripped the empire in its war with the Fire Nation, it was through his extraordinary efforts that a crisis was averted, using his company to feed our starving people. To commemorate his achievements, the emperor declared cabbage as a national vegetable and granted him a fief, known today as Cabbage Island.
"Some did not accept the new order. From the uprisings on Shu Jing Island to the tribal rebellions in the South Pole, there were those who sought to bring an end to the prosperity and order of the empire. Again, the rebellions were crushed. Again, the chief executive of Cabbage Corp proposed an ambitious plan to keep the many people of this empire obedient to the will of the emperor."
The professor waved a hand over the gathered fighters. "That plan is why all of you are gathered here now. That plan is why tributes from every district of this empire are reaped since its implementation. It is to ensure the longevity of this empire. The Kyoshi Games are what keep us together. Through your sacrifice, peace is ensured!"
There was an applause that echoed through the yard, led in part by the many Joo Dee that hovered near their assigned tributes. Whether the young men and women gathered for the games believed in the professor was hard to say. Many years had passed without so much as an uprising. Perhaps the empire was finally, truly, at peace.
"They preach peace and harmony among race here, but we all know what they tell us at home." Zuko mumbled.
"Yeah. They like to rub us in the face how barbaric savages we were or how productive it was to fertilize their fields with our blood and bones since this is the best soil where cabbages flourish." Azula silently whispered.
"They basically call us vile and bloodthirsty scums even lower than those tribal fools as if they weren't the same. Or how they put our great grandfather's head on the pole after they surrounded and killed him in battle" Zuko continued to murmur.
"Keep your mouth shut, Zuzu, you are making fools of yourself, again." Azula whispered after seeing Dai Li and several tributes looking at them.
Sokka, for his part, did not dwell long on such things. As the applause died down and the professor continued speaking his eyes grew heavier and his attention grew unfocused. The exhaustion from such a long journey from the south had finally caught up to him. Without much resistance, his head lolled forward and he drifted to sleep.
He woke up when his chair fall on the ground making him kiss the dirt.
"No, no, no! We should eat food, not food us!" Sokka squeaked while trying to stand up and looked at his surrounding as if trying to determine where the offending vegetable was lurking before it decided to attack him.
The yard was completely empty, with chairs and tables left vacant in the cool night breeze. Rubbing his eyes he turned his head to find that he wasn't entirely alone. A Joo Dee stood close by, her wide grin and bulging eyes as disturbing to him as ever.
Sokka spoke to her, clearing his throat. "Uh, sorry. The trip here was a long one. Didn't get much rest. Did I miss anything important? Oh, is there any food around here? I could use a pick-me-up."
The Joo Dee simply smiled at him. "The kitchen is in the left wing. I will be glad to accompany you there. Today's choice is grilled cabbage with a savory cabbage sauce. An assortment of cabbage flavored candy is served for dessert."
Sokka tried to fake a smile, despairing at the choice of food. "Okay, well, do you have any meat?"
"We offer a special choice called cabbage meat served with cabbage sauce. It goes particularly well with cabbage juice."
"Uh huh. Well, I was thinking maybe you had something like real meat? You know, beef, pork-chicken, seal, something like that?"
The Joo Dee giggled, beckoning him to follow her. "Oh Tribute! Everything is made of cabbage during the national cabbage holiday. Even the meat!"
The logic behind that baffled Sokka. He felt less hungry than before, unenthusiastic about the promise of cabbage-flavored food. As they made their way toward the dining hall inside the building, he had the terrible sense that he was descending further in his own personal hell.