Author's Notes: I wanted to get this chapter out sooner but where I'm in the process of training for my new job, I sadly wasn't able to meet my schedule. I wanted to get this chapter out before my trip this weekend so for those following along, the next chapter may take some time to come out.

I do hope everyone who has read both chapters is enjoying this story so far, any feedback is welcomed! Please enjoy!

The following is a fan-based story. Avatar The Last Airbender and The Ledgend of Korra are owned by Nickelodeon, Michael DiMartion, Bryan Konietzko, Paramount Media Network, and MTV Networks. Please support the official release.

[Chapter Rated M for use of adult language and instances of violence.]

Chapter Two: An Invitation

The shaking of the cart along with the clanking of the wheels provided little to no enjoyment as I sat outside the prisoner's cart. It had been roughly four hours since the attempted robbery but it's felt like an eternity. I'm drowning in my own boredom at this point, seemingly regretting not taking the offer to go back and rest. Even though I had done so little in effort to take down Li, the numerous nights of little sleep were finally catching up to me. I can feel my eyes being weighed down every passing second but I know I can't just take a quick nap. If I were and something were to happen, I would be the one responsible for any outcome. To be honest if I did fall asleep, it wouldn't be anywhere near a quick nap. I've experienced first hand just how many times I told myself it would be a quick nap to wake up four hours later. The amount of water I've had poured on me kept my eyelids from completely shutting. A lesson that was burned into me as my will won't falter no matter how hard my body calls for it.

Tapping my foot against the metal floor, I would recall the last time I ever set foot in my home city. I had just turned seventeen a week prior before I was called to have a word with the Chief of Police. At the time I thought it was for a promotion as word had been circulating that either my partner or I would receive it. To no surprise as soon as I walked through the door, it seemed they were waiting on me. The position was offered to us both yet I was the only one to accept. There was little to no hesitation in my decision. It was almost immediate even though I knew the stipulation. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and it was a fit for me. From my ambitions to my goals, I let my decision guide me. My partner on the other hand declined before leaving without saying a word to anyone. At the time I was so focused on only myself it never occurred to me why she would react like that. I remember immediately going home after turning in my badge and equipment that I never went to and said goodbye to her. What a fool I was back then..

"Are you sure, Goh?" The Chief would peer toward me with an eyebrow raised.

"Yes ma'am." I would confidently reply, a wide grin plastered on my face. I was excited and could barely contain myself.

With a nod, she would hand me over the paper for me to sign. Quill would meet paper as I would hastily sign away to begin a new life. A world of opportunity would lie in wait. Whatever journey I would take, I would make the most of it.

"You'll be leaving by train tonight at nine sharp. You know where Yunyi station is, it'll be platform seven. In the envelope I'll give you will be your ticket and where you'll need to head next, do not lose this under any circumstances. Do you understand?" Out of everyone I had ever met, few I could say ever intimidated me. The Chief was definitely one of them as just from the look she would give me made me shudder.

"Yes ma'am." I would nod in agreement before she would hand over the envelope.

"Best of luck to you then. Thank you for your service." Standing, she would outreach her hand towards me. Grabbing hold firmly I would shake it, nodding with a smile.

Rapidly I would knock on my parent's door, not even knowing if they were home or not. My father called out from just the other side to give him a few seconds. My smile was wide with a gleam of hope in my eyes, proud of just how far I had come. It had been a rough couple of years but after joining the Ba Sing Se Police, my life had turned around for the better. My reputation among the community had turned a new cheek as I was recognized for my service to the great city. I couldn't take all the praise for myself. With T-

My thought was cut short as my father had opened the door, a warming and welcoming smile would form at the sight of who it was. Immediately welcoming me in as he patted me on the back. "Well look who it is, how are you? What brings you here?" It had only been a week since I last saw my folks but it always felt like forever.

"Hey pops, I'm doing well. Is mom home yet?" I would as I stepped inside, kicking off my sandals and neatly placing them by the door. The familiar smell of lavender hit my nose as I could hear my mom calling out to ask who was at the door. The sound of the evening news broadcast would play through the radio from the corner as I would hug my dad.

"It's just me mom!" I would call back as I would head towards our kitchen. No matter how rough of a day she had, the first thing she would do once she was home was cook. And cook she did. Honestly if she wasn't so attached to her shop, she could be a world famous cook. The days after I came home beat and dragged in the mud, her food always cheered me up. A bad day would turn good and I always went to bed happy and full.

"How are you dear?" Luckily she had just started dinner and I caught her at the right moment. She was preparing one of my favorite dishes of turtle duck stew as she just finished cracking open the shell. "What's the occasion, you seem happier than usual?" I guess I wasn't holding in my excitement as well as I thought. I would take a seat at the table facing her as my dad sat opposite from me, his legs outstretched to get comfortable.

Taking a deep breath in, I would prepare myself to give the news. Other than my stint with a juvenile detention center, I hadn't been away from my parents for an extensive period of time. Even when I was detained they would visit quite often. After what the Chief had told me, this promotion of sorts would have me away for an extended period of time. I hated the thought but I knew this wasn't something I should pass up. "I was offered a new position today actually and, well..."

"That's great dear! What is it? When do you start?" My mom would happily ask as she began the plucking portion of prep.

"Technically...Technically I've already started." Even through my joyous exterior, there was waver in my voice.

"Oh, well that's good then. What will you be doing?" Her words were sincere, filled with pride for her son.

"They finally wise up and make you Chief or something?" My father would sit up to lean closer to the table. My father had always been one of my biggest supporters when I first started out. Every sort of promotion or raise he'd always ask this sort of thing. It was a way to look at a bigger picture but it could get repetitive at points, but that's ok.

"I can't say much but from what I can tell you, I'll be away for quite some time…..I'm leaving tonight actually and I wanted you all to know." I would say as confident as I could, trying my best to keep my spirits high. Actually saying it out loud to my parents hurt more than I wanted to admit. Just knowing how far I would be and for how long, it stung actually being face to face. It's not like I haven't been on my own before but this was different. On the way over I had read the set of instructions given to me. The train would take me to a station just south west of Qiang Pass where I would then travel three and a half miles on foot to a small mining town known as Bautou. I was only given till sunrise to make it to the gates but I knew it wouldn't be a difficult journey. From there I would meet with a Monk from the Eastern Air Temple known as Sumtai who would take me on the next leg of my journey.

The smile quickly turned to confused glances. Glances would turn to a heavy sigh before my mother would set down the turtle duck. My father would only shake his head as the smile quickly faded. I was the only one to smile. Their gaze cast a large shadow of doubt over me, a familiar feeling. I knew what was coming yet I didn't want it to happen. I was expecting a better evening than this. My excitement turned dread as I could feel it all leading downhill from here. "Are...are you sure you want to do this?"

Of course I did. Of course I wanted to. This was everything I had worked for and this is an outstanding opportunity. I would lose the smile and nod. "I want to."

"Goh, I'm proud of you. We both are but," My mother would exhale before looking over at pops, then back to me. Her face was puzzled, trying to find anything to say." You just can't jump quickly into things like this. This is a huge decision, you know this."

"I know, I know but I can't just pass this up." There was a lot I couldn't tell them but from what I was told, this isn't something to let sit for a while.

"Did you even talk this over with Toph, dear?" She would place her hands on her hips as her tone became ever increasingly frustrated.

"She was offered the same position, but she declined." I would answer back quickly as I would begin to feel frustrated as well.

"Why didn't you then?" I could feel the tension between the two of us begin to flare with each passing second. Both clearly irritated but neither wanted things to escalate further.

"Because this is something that would benefit me. This is a great opportunity for me." I would say, letting out a quick exasperated breath. "If she wanted to join, she would have."

"That's not the point," My mother would lean against the counter, her nails taping furiously as her volume raised ever so slightly, "Did you even talk to her about it?"

"No, I didn't. She made her decision and I made mine." Sitting up straighter in my chair I would place both of my hands over my chest as I spoke, emphasizing who's decision this was.

"You can't pick something that quick and not think about it!" I could see the red in my mother's face as she tried her best to hold back the anger swelling inside. "You need to think and talk these things through!"

"I did." I would say through my teeth.

"Clearly you didn't. How long are you going to be gone?" Her volume raised once more.

"It could be months, it could be a year. I couldn't tell you." I would follow suit.

"And what are you going to do with them?"

"I can't tell you."

"You can't tell me because you don't know or you can't tell me just cause?"

"I can't tell you, like I said."

"So you can't tell me because you didn't ask what you'll be doing?"

"No, I can-"

"You can't what? Think before you act?" She was furious, tears would slowly begin to trickle down her cheeks. She wouldn't handle the frustration anymore as she completely lost her temper.

Naturally my reaction would be to raise my voice in response. I know she means well but she had no rhyme or reason to speak to me that way. Why was it such a big deal I was moving on with my life? "This is what I want to do! I made this decision! I can't tell you anything other than what I've already said, so just be happy for me!"

"I am happy for you, I'm proud of what you're doing but you just don't think!" She was wrong.

"I do and I'm going through with this." And I was.

"What about your partner?" This had nothing to do with her. She made her decision and it was perfectly fine. Yet why was mine so wrong?

"What about her? She didn't want to take the offer." I would stand from my chair, anger flared from my voice as I spoke. She just didn't understand.

"You never talked to her about it!" What if I didn't? What does this have to do with anything? "You never talked to us about this. You made that decision! You didn't ask anyone but yourself!" She would step closer to me, only a foot away from my face.

"Because this isn't something I want to pass up on. Everything I' v e done, I' v e accomplished, I made this decision because I' v e earned it." I was practically screaming at this point as my father would jump in, his finger pointed at me.

"Don't you yell at your mother. Remember whose house this is boy.''His words only made me want to yell more.

"And what if you don't like this? Then what? Then what are you going to decide?" It was as if she was mocking me as she screamed. I was quick to bite my tongue and only stare. The hypocrisy of the situation baffled me.

"Then what? What are you going to do, Goh? You can't keep making these decisions on your own. You should know this by now, this is just like when you were younger." No. No it is not like when I was younger and she knows it. They both do. This isn't the occasion to compare it to. This is what I've worked so hard for. "You don't think and then you end up hurting yourself more."

"THIS is what I'm doing with my life. This position? This is something I've worked for. Much like how I worked to fix my reputation. Much how I worked to stop being picked on. Much how I worked to stand up for everyone else when no one else WOULD!" I couldn't hold it in anymore as my anger got the best of me. "I'm tired of it. I'm tired of everyone telling me that my decisions aren't go-" A slap would interrupt my thought process. My emotions boiled over as tears would stream down my face in frustration..

The last words I could remember before slamming the door behind me were my father telling me to come back and apologize. It took me months even just to reach out to my parents to let them know what was going on and where I was. I've yet to ever see them face to face after that day. Even talking over the phone, I can barely hold back tears. To this very day I regret storming out and raising my voice towards my mother like that. I've apologized numerous times and even after they have told me they forgive me, I can't shake the shame. A noose that has yet to loosen itself from around my neck. I don't regret my decision to take the offer, never will I. I can tell how much it's improved my life for the better, I just should have left on a better note. If only I would've taken the time to listen and explain myself. The moments after I had stormed out, I had run back home. My home. Just a few blocks from my folks place I had gotten a small apartment for myself. Nothing too fancy as I didn't need much. Frankly, I didn't have much of anything. Everything of value I had to take would be thrown into an old canvas kit bag my father had lent to me. I wasn't a material person and the apartment would be taken care of by the Chief and turned into my family so I would only take clothes and some pictures I would have hanging around the place. I didn't eat anything as I had lost my appetite. I wasn't even there long enough to soak in the fact I would be leaving it behind. I just remember I was so infatuated with leaving it all behind me. I had no care and was so caught up with the argument I just had, I let my anger escalate when I accidentally dropped a picture of me graduating from the academy. I don't think I ever lashed out in quite the way I did again, and I hope I never would.

It's been over ten years since I've been in Ba Sing Se, almost eleven at this point. Wondering exactly what could have changed in just a decade, what advancements could be made. Being one of, if not, Earth Kingdom's finest city, it's not hard to imagine what secrets could be kept. Everything is new, everything is fresh, everything is now until it's not. Such is the way of the world. If I wasn't so sworn to my duty, I definitely would take Azula's offer to show her around. One of my favorite places to visit was a weekly market held every weekend. The sights of familiar and new faces offering their wares, the smells of exotic foods, the feeling of being at home all jammed packed into one place. Every good memory and bad of what I called home meant a lot to me and to finally be back, I wanted to make it right.

"Sir, it's time." I would look up to the guard and only nod in response.

Typically unless I would have to step in, my position would still be that to remain a butler. To the people who know not what I do, that would remain. Only few outside of my job knew just what I did and even then they were sworn to secrecy. Bound to never speak on the matter unless they were to face the consequences of their actions. That would go for the guards and they knew this well. Typically whenever a member of the Fire Nation's family would travel along with one of the many Watchful eyes, they would be assigned a handful of trusted guards. Each and every single one hand picked by me or my colleagues. I've hand picked every single one of these guards for my unit out of many personal experiences. The one speaking to me right now was the very first guard I had ever hand picked for my specific unit. They were young and showed a lot of potential. Fully disciplined in their craft with a good head on their shoulders. I have yet to be disappointed by them.

With the turn of the key and several steps to unlock the heavily secured door, I would step door automatically locking behind me. Each prisoner would have their hands cuffed behind their back with a mesh head cover secured over their head to impair their vision. Shackles adorned their ankles which would put them in a sitting position with their legs out in front of them. From both their shackles and cuffs a chain would be attached, one sprouting from the floor, the other the wall hanging above them. The chain coming from the floor would barely have any slack causing those shorter than others to sit in uncomfortable positions. There was little to no comfort as they deserved none.

Some of their heads would turn towards the noise, some called out obscenities, the rest accepted their circumstances. The journey wasn't over but it was soon coming to a close yet before then I would prep for the prisoner's next step. Still standing near the door I would open a panel found just shoulder height on the left side. Opening it, I would insert the key and turn which in turn would cause a small light to turn on, indicating I could access the next step. Flipping the switch directly under then turning a knob to the left, the chain attached to their cuffs would begin to retract into the wall. This would loosen the shackle chain to allow them to stand which they would need to do unless they faced a quite uncomfortable experience.

"Wake up, we're almost there." I would call out loudly as I was met with more obscenities. Saying how they were so unfairly kept in such harsh conditions. As if they had the right at the moment to be treated so delicately. Some would even begin to thrash as a way to try and escape which only made it worse for them. They were in no position to keep this up as I kept the knob turned. The thrashing continued until they slowly realized the chain would continue to be wound upward. With their hands behind their back, surely they realized what sort of position they were in? "I would settle down if I were you." My voice was commanding as slowly but surely they would stop their struggling before it got any worse.

With that I would let go and walk towards the center of the cart, surveying those around me. In total there were eight prisoners, four on each side. Three female and five male. Their leader was currently being treated the best he could for his infection. From what I was told earlier, he had a high fever and they were trying to reduce it. Li was lucky enough to have gotten care before it got worse. "Once we arrive, you all will be transported to an undisclosed location and be put on trial. Try to escape in any form or fashion, you will be executed on the spot."

Heavy dread filled the air as they tried to understand the situation. Each major city within the nation housed an Ever Watchful headquarters. Any information would be sent out directly from that location and that location only. Unless called to do so, no one except those authorized would be allowed to enter and even then, you would be brought there blindfolded. Contacting was a bit in of itself a hassle to do as you are required to call a specific floral shop and recite a message as if you were ordering a bouquet for a loved one who was deathly ill. After being patched through and requesting prisoner transport, you would need to authenticate your position by relaying a set of code words, forty in total. Just to think that they were the ones confused. Ever Watchful as a secret organization were precise and methodical in their approach. Even when I was offered the job by the Chief, I thought right away I had been accepted. That in and of itself was a whole different test.

"What kind of fucked up system is that?" A gruff and graveled voice would speak from the opposite end of the cart. His temper clearly flaring.

"This system is necessary as you have threatened the livelihood of a Fire Nation Royal family member." I spoke with little hesitation with a clear tone. "For that, you'll be dealt with accordingly."

"Yeah, like the Ba Sing Police would actually do that." This was a normal reaction and one I've experienced a plethora of times. First would come the confusion saying this was just a form of some sick joke. Usually followed by some form of anger or out lash. It was all so predictable at his point. "Quit fucking playing around asshole. Walking in here with some sort of chip on his shoulder, you're not going to scare us."

They could believe what they wanted, I was only a messenger. "Do you honestly think you'll be under police custody? Do you think you'll have it this easy?" I would soften my voice as I walked over to them. I would grasp hold of the mesh and hold his head up. He would try to jerk his head away but to no avail. Cursing as if that would do anything. There was always one. With a thunderous thud, I would forcefully knee him in the chest. He would gasp for air as he slumped over, struggling to get to his feet quickly as the only keeping him up at this point would be the chain attached to his cuffs.

"Why would someone associated with the police ever allow someone like you a second chance? I gave you an opportunity and you decided to stick around. I don't think you understand who I truly am." Tightening my grip, I would forcefully pull upward on the mesh causing it to choke him. His already jagged breaths and stumbled movements would change to panic as I leaned closer to him. His entire body jerked and thrashed, trying to get any semblance of air. Any attempt to stand taller, I would only lift higher. I wanted him to understand the severity. Any doubt that I was joking would be cast out. "It's hard to breathe isn't it? The pain of suffocation, the tightening of your chest, mesh pulling against your trachea. If you still think for once that this is some sort of joke or that I'm trying to scare you, you're sadly mistaken…." Letting go of the mesh, the prisoner would suck in his precious air before coughing. "Be thankful for the pain, you'll pray to experience it again."

The cabin grew silent as I would step away, looking at everyone else. They would need to understand their situation. This wasn't a typical trip to the station. "Follow in his footsteps and I'll make it a lot worse for you. It's best you shut up and listen because I will not repeat myself. Once you are being taken into custody, they expect complete silence. You will listen to their commands and do as they say or you will be harshly punished. You will not be given any sort of plea deal so enjoy your last bit of freedom."

The rest of the time before we stopped would be filled with little to no talking. The silence being broken by the prisoners cough periodically. They all would settle down after my actions so as to not be made an example of. I would kneel in the center of the room to prepare for the exchange. No one in the outside world would know of the attempted robbery as I would lift one of the metal panels up from the floor. I would have to work fast once stopped to open this hatch. I would not be allowed to see the process and only had a small window to exit the room. The platform we were scheduled to stop at had a series of secret tunnels from my understanding which allowed a discrete exchange with no one having to know. Each segment of the cart had its own ease of access that would line up above the tracks. As the train would begin its process of coming to a stop, I would quickly work to get the hatch open. The hatch would be adorned with a keypad and five spoke handle in the center. The system was automatically timed from when I would input the code to the train stopping. Once the train would stop, the hatch would lift open and allow whomever to escort the prisoners out of the cabin. The chains attached to their cuffs would be taken care of by their escort.

The mechanical whir of gears and the hissing of the breaks would start the imaginary timer. Calmly walking to the door I would undo the process and take out the key. I would have to guess only half a minute would be left as I would work on unlocking the door. This oddly wasn't the part to stress me out as I had done this thousands of times, even under tight circumstances. As I would open the door, I would quickly shut the door behind me making sure not to peer inside as I could hear the hatch open. Using the door to hide myself as I shut it, I would make sure not to be seen. This was the protocol I stressed relentlessly about. I always found it odd that not only could you not see what was going on but those moving the prisoners could not see the one to exit. I've heard many horror stories on the disciplinary actions that were taken because of this, I would not be facing them today.

As for the process of the medical cart, they were to put Li Jiang under anesthesia and have members of the Ba Sing Se police escort him to the nearest hospital. There he would be under constant surveillance until medically cleared to be transferred under our guise. The public would be given a simple story to not raise any suspicion as I would simply walk cart to cart back to my own. By this time Azula would be greeting members of the press and King Zhou, surely loathing every second trying to save face. I would gather her belongings that she had packed and meet with her once wrapped up. I would pray the process of traveling wouldn't take long as there would still be a full day ahead of us.

I would grab hold of her handcrafted suitcases and walk out of her room, sighing as I thought about the Gala we were to attend later in the evening. After a full night of no rest, the last thing I would want to do would attend an event like that. Just as I would tell Azula, I would have to tell myself. If there truly was a way around it, we both would know it by now. Truly was it a shame Mai nor Ty Lee could attend. After a few minutes of hauling the luggage to the designated car, I would catch up to Azula who was swarmed by reporters. The constant clicking of cameras, the yelling from the press trying to get any statement they could, King Zhou awkwardly telling jokes, I'm surprised she hasn't snapped yet. Stepping in I would announce to the crowd there would be no further questions as I, along with four other guards, would escort her to the car. The swarm of lowlifes trying their best to push their way forward and follow as members of the Ba Sing Se Police would have to step in to help form an impromptu blockaded escort. If it wasn't the dread of life criminals, it was the soul sucking media. I could tell just by her twitching brow she had the same hatred as I did. Though I was lucky enough to be the one not to talk.

"Sleep well?" I would say to try and lighten the mood as I would get the door for her. Azula would choose to ignore me completely as she got into the car, the door slamming in my face.

Author's Notes: I wanted to dive a little deeper into Goh's personality with this chapter. Giving a small insight to his life before being apart of the Ever Watchful with small hints sprinkled here and there about the organization and how it operates. The work and personal life easily switch on a dime with Goh as he takes his position very seriously which hopefully is showcased within the chapter.