Binas: Nice! That many follows in faves in a little as a week is not too shabby. I am sure you caught those little tidbits last chapter. If so, I think some of you were laughing. Also my updating is messed up by the stinkin' EOCs. And I have a feeling that the Finals will do a similar thing...
And good news: I have my new hard drive now! While some of you may think it's awful but it isn't. My stories aren't saved to my old hard drive nor flash drives. Nope! They are saved to this very site. As long as I can log in or my internet doesn't give me any trouble, no progress shall be lost!
Review time!
TheMagicManWithThePlan: I can be a bit of a realist sometimes when writing. So I will take it as a compliment. Glad they aren't like a cheese grater being used on coarse granite, cause I like it when characters fit in like a correctly placed puzzle piece. I can agree, characters that are overpowered kinda ruin a good story. I sure did, not only does the age fit within the group (who has a nineteen year old in a group of twelve to sixteen year olds anyways?).
As for the sadist and spiteful attitude, I am not good at writing that. I have kinda been struggling getting that part down. If you can, you can help me get that part down. I originally intended the part where he blew up the ship to be an act of sadist behavior, but I guess that got a bit warped because one, Deidara was ticked off, and two, it was toned down. I am not really wanting an M rating on my list because that might make my parents take away fanfiction (which means no more updates period until I get my own place and computer (they say they own my computer I am just allowed to use it cause I didn't buy it) which will be a few years from now). They already spazed once when I accidentally read a story that was written by a swear happy person.
I am glad you're game. Deidara is going to be in for a dozy for sure. Some moments he rather not speak of again, like Sokka's cactus induced marriage proposal. And I think I see where you are going. I am not the best on cues unfortunetly. ^.^' And I will try to keep his power level down. One of the reasons why I took away his C4 and C0 in the first place cause those would obliterate everyone, thus ending the story in a suckish way. His C3 however, is gonna still be there with a twist... *Grins evilly*
JaDe In The NighT and Guest (Chapter 2, May 6th): Oh, that will happen and it will begin a rather explosive relationship... No, it's not a love relationship if you know what I mean. We all know Azula will just mess with him like the manipulative bad girl she is. And I think you can guess how ticked off Deidara will be at her.
As for reactions, I was stuck there... Sorry, but maybe I could do a bit of a flashback or omake later on when I get the right idea.
Guest 3 (Chapter 1, May 6th): I guess I picked the right scenario there. ^.^ I guess Deidara should be kidnapped more often. *Giggles a bit*
The King Of Pop: That's what I love to write most, people interacting in different ways and seeing what comes up as a result. As for the whole killing thing, we get the others witnessing something close but involves sculptures of a certain brainwashed lady this chapter. Let's say overly peppy ladies who are bad as Tobi and Deidara DON'T mix at all. The others will talk to him about it though since he is on the team.
Please leave your thoughts in the reviews, and I may get back to you.
FYI: Did you know that the Corncob Guy is a reference to an Invader Zim joke? I may not be a fan of IZ, but I DO at least do my research.
Also, since we don't know much about the Explosion Corps, I decided to fill in part of that myself.
.
Deidara sat in between Sokka and Toph on the train. The train was not like any form of transportation Deidara has ever rode before. While they did have some vehicles in the Shinobi Nations, none were powered by man like this. It was truly a new experience for Deidara. Too bad he wasn't allowed to blow it up.
"For the last time Deidara, you are not suppose to blow up the train!", Sokka said sternly.
"Why?", Deidara asked, looking to get a rise out of Sokka.
"Because! It is not meant to be like your art! It's to help people get from point A to point B. Transportation! Just like your birds, Appa, and Momo in the case of the Tickfleas.", Sokka said eyeing Momo, who chattered, "Yeah I know the feeling, I once fell into a colony of them. One of the many injures Katara couldn't take care of."
"Sokka, I didn't know how to heal at the time.", Katara said, "Besides, can we please drop it."
"Sure, like the time you told me to drop it when I got two fishhooks IN MY THUMB!", Sokka said.
"Don't even want to know how that happened, hm.", Deidara said sweat dropping.
"I do. It could make some good blackmail material.", Toph said with a grin.
"TOPH!", Sokka squeaked, "You wouldn't!"
At that moment they entered the inner wall of Ba Sing Se. Deidara was wondering how many walls the city even had. It took long enough to even see the inner wall.
"Look, the Inner Wall! I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece.", Katara said, diverting the topic away from Sokka's amusing injuries from over the years.
However, this spun up Sokka in another direct as well.
"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.
Deidara gave Sokka a weird look.
"How is that even possible, hm? Who the heck would even use a SPOON to blow up a CITY?", Deidara asked, slightly riled up.
"Kinda like how you do you art.", Sokka said.
"Two totally different things, Sokka! A spoon, A SPOON is NOTHING like my CLAY! Don't you even DARE try to compare the two again!", Deidara snapped.
"Sokka, have you been drinking Cactus Juice again?", Toph asked.
"I am just saying, creepy and weird stuff always happen to us.", Sokka said.
As if the world hated Toph, Sokka, and Deidara, a fat guy who was sucking on a corn cob came in. The corn cob guy sat down right on Deidara's lap, disturbing Deidara in many ways.
"GET OFF OF ME, HM!", Deidara shouted and began hitting the guy.
The corn cob guy didn't budge, he only continued to suck on his corn cob with his creepy, vacant facial expression. Deidara groaned in irritation and bit the man in the back. After what seemed forever, the corncob guy got up and sat down on the other side of Sokka and continued to suck on his corncob.
"You just had to say that creepy and weird stuff always happens to us, didn't you, hm?", Deidara asked harshly.
"Sorry.", Sokka said sheepishly.
"Don't worry, we will find Appa.", Katara said comforting Aang, who was letting his mind wonder to the thought of Appa.
"I am not sure. It's such a big city.", Aang said.
"He's a ten ton flying bison? Where could they hide him?", Sokka asked just to see the sheer size of Ba Sing Se from the inside, "Oh..."
Eventually the train arrived at their location. A train station. Deidara looked around. It was empty. Too empty. Something wasn't right.
"Great, back in the city.", Toph grumbled.
"What's you're problem! This fantastic!", Sokka said.
"It's just another dumb place with walls and rules. You'll get sick of it after a few days.", Toph said.
"It seems too quite here. When you said people use these trains, I thought this place would be pact.", Deidara said.
Aang took out his whistle and used it. He lifted his head up to the sky, wishing to be with Appa again. It jerked his heart a bit but it wasn't as unbearable as it was in the desert. It was because he had friends to help keep him going and keep his hope in sight.
The moment was busted when out of no where from behind a fast moving train, a woman with a large, unnatural, creepy smile appeared. She had long dark hair, dark eyes that held no real identity, and a long and elegant yellow and green dress. She approached them with her hands in her long sleeves.
Deidara mentally winced at the woman. This reeked of 'danger' and 'caution' from just meters away. He decided he would keep his guard up and keep his eyes on her.
"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, Toph, and Deidara! Welcome to our wonderful city.", The woman said.
"How do you know my name?!", Deidara asked spitefully, gaining looks from the others.
"I wouldn't be a good host if I didn't!", Joo Dee chirped, "Shall we get started?"
Deidara fumed at the lousy answer. People just didn't know names right off the bat.
"Yes.", Sokka said narrowing his eyes slightly as he put on a smile, "We have information on the Fire Nation that the Earth King needs to hear about-"
"Great! Let's begin the tour! After that, I will show you to your new home.", Joo Dee said, ticking off Sokka.
Sokka rushed up to Joo Dee, hoping to get his point across.
"Look! You might have missed what I said. We NEED to talk to the Earth King about the war.", Sokka said.
"You are in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is perfectly safe behind these magnificent walls.", Joo Dee said as if she had said it thousands of times before.
This didn't seem to ease Sokka at all. Joo Dee walked away, leaving a simmered Sokka. Deidara's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
'I don't like this. This doesn't seem right. No city is perfectly safe from war behind walls. I have heard of ninjas actually busting down walls stronger than these stones walls here.', Deidara thought.
Later in a carriage...
"Here is the Lower Ring.", Joo Dee said as the carriage entered the Lower Ring.
The world outside the carriage was sad and gloomy. People dressed in rags and old clothes walked among the roads. Many of them had little money to spare in the markets that were present. The markets themselves had little to offer. Some of the things on the shelves were a bit stale but still edible. Some people had weapons concealed on them in various places, which Deidara instantly noticed.
"What's that wall for?", Katara asked pointing to a wall that seemed a bit out of place.
"Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls! There are the ones outside protecting us, and the ones inside, that help maintain order and conduct.", Joo Dee said, "This is where the new arrivals, refugees, artisans and craftsman, those who work with their hands live."
Deidara frowned. This was not a very stable way for a city to be run. He knew that cause he took out several villages that were like this and they fell apart faster than he expected. Ah those good old memories where he bombed for the giggles and soiling and pleasure of 'sharing his art' before adding 'for payment' to the list of reasons to bomb things.
"You do have to watch where you step though.", Joo Dee said spotting muggers.
"Why do they have all of these people in one part of the city?", Katara asked as she sadly watched the people of the Lower Ring go on about their day.
"This is the reason I never came to Ba Sing Se. People have always said it was the complete opposite of how the monks told us to live.", Aang said.
Soon the carriage passed through another wall, leading to a more ornate scenery. Deidara scoffed at the 'artistic gardens' that Joo Dee called them.
'There're just stupid flowers...', Deidara thought.
"This is the Middle Ring. Home to our shops, restaurants, finances, and university.", Joo Dee said.
"Yeah, sure sounds nice.", Deidara said sarcastically.
"It sure does.", Joo Dee said.
Deidara winced in slight irritation.
'If she doesn't stop being this peppy, I WILL blow her up!', Deidara thought maliciously.
"Oh! We meet a professor from Ba Sing Se University! He brought us to an under ground spirit library where we found information that is vital for the Earth king to hear!", Sokka said, growing more and more irritated with each word.
"Isn't history magnificent? Oh look there's the oldest building in Ba Sing Se, Town Hall!", Joo Dee said pointing to an old ornate building.
The carriage came to a halt and Joo Dee stepped out for a moment. Sokka then let his fumes loose.
"Is that woman DEAF!? She misses almost every single word I say!", Sokka shouted.
"It's called being handled. Get used to it.", Toph said as she crossed her arms.
Aang and Katara gave sad glares to Sokka. Deidara on the other hand was pondering. He hadn't said a word since his last sarcastic comment.
"What's on your mind, Deidara?", Sokka asked, noticing the intense thinking Deidara was doing.
"Something's not right about her. It's as if she was placed in a Genjutsu and thus being controlled into saying and doing what she does.", Deidara said.
Everyone sat in silence for a moment, wondering if what Deidara said could be plausible. However, one question broke the silence.
"What's Genjutsu?"
Deidara sighed. He looked at Sokka, who asked the question, and thought out a way to explain it easily.
"Genjutsu is illusionary techniques. They are used to distract and or trap your opponents. It can also be used to brainwash people into doing your bidding.", Deidara said and noticed Sokka was opening his mouth to say something, "And no, I don't specialize in those cheap Jutsus. It's disgraceful to me as an artist."
That got Sokka to shut up. By this time, Joo Dee had returned to the carriage. The carriage began to move again.
"I hope I wasn't gone too long.", Joo Dee said.
"Not long enough, hm...", Deidara said spitefully under his breath as he gave the peppy woman a small, unnoticeable glare.
Joo Dee, thankfully, didn't hear the comment. With Deidara's suspicions of her being under Genjutsu being silently thought out, they all decided to keep their eyes open for anymore abnormalities. And that feeling of something dark was going on in the background of the seemingly normal city sent shivers down Deidara's back like ice cold water was running down it. If there was something not right, then the feeling was correct.
Eventually the Upper Ring came into view. It was by far, the most ornate part of all of Ba Sing Se.
"This is the Upper Ring. It is home to the most important citizens and officials in Ba Sing Se. Your home is not to far from our current location.", Joo Dee said.
The 'eternal beauty', as Joo Dee called it unfortunetly, of this part of the city made Deidara gag. He wondered what Ninjutsu made them dub this part of the city as 'eternal beauty'.
"Just being in this part of town makes me sick now, hm!", Deidara said with a purely disgusted look.
Joo Dee surprisingly, ignored the awful comment. But that didn't mean the others didn't. Katara whacked Deidara in the back of the head and shot him a glare. Deidara returned it in full. Katara ignored him and took a look outside the carriage. There was a very peculiar wall there and it gave off a bad vibe.
Sokka took a look himself and saw men in dark green and gray uniforms. They had dark green brimmed hats that obscured their lowered faces. They too gave off bad vibes.
"What's inside that wall?", Katara asked.
"Talk about over protection.", Deidara said as he glared at the wall.
"Who are those weird looking mean guys in the dark robes?", Sokka asked.
"Inside that wall is the Royal Palace. And those men are the Dai Li, the cultural authority. They protect all of our traditions.", Joo Dee said.
"Do they include being overly peppy and suspicious, hm?", Deidara asked showing slight irritation.
"Don't be silly! They make sure everyone has the freedom to enjoy society and the peace that reigns in Ba Sing Se.", Joo Dee said, chuckling a bit at Deidara's rather souring attitude.
"I wasn't being silly...", Deidara whispered to himself and crossed his arms.
"Can we see the Earth King now?", Aang said with boredom lacing his voice.
"Oh no! One doesn't just pop in on the Earth king.", Joo Dee said.
This made groans spread through out Team Avatar. And one voice became rather irritated rather quickly.
"When we get to our 'home', can I blow SOMETHING up?!", Deidara shouted.
After a very long and irritating tour ride through the city, Joo Dee finally took them to their 'home'. It was a bit spacious but not too much, and like all buildings in the Upper Ring, was very ornate. It had hedges all around it's green foundation and yellow walls. Some flower beds were placed nearby in patterns to attract attention.
"Here it is, your new home!", Joo Dee said as Momo flew around the ornate house, checking it out from different views.
A messenger ran up to Joo Dee and gave her a scroll. Joo Dee read it as Team Avatar walked up the steps to enter their 'new home'.
"More good news! Your request for an audience with the Earth King is being looked over and should be put together in about a month!", Joo Dee said cheerfully.
Deidara's eyes went completely blank as he face faulted into the ground at the news as a vein popped up from his forehead. Everyone else was rather surprised at the sudden news.
"HOW THE HECK IS THAT GOOD NEWS, HM?!", Deidara shouted, royally ticked off.
"A MONTH?!", Sokka shouted in in surprise.
"Six to eight weeks for accuracy.", Joo Dee said and put on a poker face.
Deidara moaned in irritation from the ground.
'What did I do to deserve THIS?!', Deidara thought.'
Everyone entered the house. Well in Deidara's case, he was dragged in by Toph, who rolled her unseeing eyes at how Deidara was behaving.
"You know, you are just like Sokka in some ways.", Toph said, "Minus the obsession with blowing up everything in sight, tendencies to be a bit of a sadist, the spiteful comments, and shorter fuse."
"Just get that brainwashed woman OUT OF HERE or I will MAKE her go!", Deidara said clawing the floor board.
"Who knew you had a lot of different fuses that could be set off, Hot Fuse.", Toph mused, "Some of them are quite entertaining."
Deidara moaned as Toph continued to drag Deidara into the house. Joo Dee failed to notice his beyond irked expression. That didn't mean the others didn't notice his irritation at Joo Dee.
"Isn't it nice? I believe you will really enjoy your stay here.", Joo Dee said.
"I think we would be enjoying the stay a little more if we weren't waiting so long.", Sokka said, "Can't we see the Earth King any sooner?"
"Sorry but the Earth King is really busy managing Ba Sing Se. He will see you when time allows him to.", Joo Dee said.
"If we are going to be here for a month, we might as well look for Appa.", Aang said looking out a window with Momo.
Joo Dee gave a small bow to Aang.
"It would be my honor escort you anywhere you need to go.", Joo Dee said.
"We don't need a babysitter.", Toph said finally getting Deidara to the center of the room, "Okay, maybe Deidara, but most certainly not the rest of us."
"I DON'T NEED A BABYSITTER EITHER!", Deidara snapped.
"Then start acting like it, Hot Fuse. You make two year olds look like model citizens.", Toph remarked.
"I just want Joo Dee to leave us alone!", Deidara said.
Toph grabbed Deidara by the ear and began to whisper into it. After Toph finished whispering into his ear, Deidara grumbled as he turned away. His own words turned against him.
"If I leave you guys alone then that would make me a bad hostess. Where shall we start?", Joo Dee said.
Deidara groaned, he was so not looking forward to this mess. Not one little bit. However, this was not the real Deidara, because 'Deidara' went with a puff of smoke, startling everyone.
"Where did he go?", Katara asked.
*KABOOM!*
"I think I know where he went.", Toph said and pointed to the window.
Everyone crowed around the window that Toph pointed to. She crossed her arms and continued to use her Earthbending to feel what the real Deidara was doing.
Outside in the backyard, the real Deidara was making well detailed clay sculptures of Joo Dee, which confused everyone. However, Joo Dee seemed pleased with how the sculptures looked, not knowing what Deidara was trying to do.
"Why the heck would he make sculptures at a time like this?", Sokka asked.
"Let's say I told him to take his anger outside after reminding him what he said in the carriage.", Toph said.
At that moment, the Joo Dee sculpture blew up. Joo Dee blinked for a bit, not knowing what to think of the situation. Deidara stood outside laughing and howling at the excitement of what he was doing. He made another sculpture of Joo Dee and proceeded to blow that one up too.
"TAKE THAT WENCH!", Deidara shouted, letting all of Ba Sing Se know he was enjoying the fun involved in his art.
"Don't ask. He's just crazy...", Sokka said.
Hours went by and the entire backyard was black and ashes. Very few plants were spared from Deidara's clay bombs. Many neighbors were directing their children away from the house, not wanting the kids to be near the mad bomber. They all hoped that the Avatar was alright and not killed by Deidara.
In the backyard, Deidara laid on the ground from Chakra exhaustion. His clay was all over him and the backyard. From head to toe, he was covered in scorch marks himself. He took deep breaths, trying to clear his head from the headache that was brought on from overexerting his Chakra and energy into blowing up the Joo Dee sculptures.
"I guess... I... Over... Did it... hm...", Deidara panted.
A shadow loomed over Deidara. It was Katara, who did not look very pleased at the mess that was around her.
"Alright, what got into you?", Katara asked.
Deidara smiled sheepishly. If he wasn't in such an exhausted state, he would be trying to back away from Katara.
"I... Kinda over... Did it...", Deidara said between breaths.
"Kinda? This looks like you went beyond that. Look, I understand that Joo Dee ticks you off, but that doesn't mean that you have to blow up a bunch of dummies of her.", Katara said.
"But-", Deidara started.
"But nothing. Listen, you just can't do this everywhere you go. I understand when we have to fight but just for the heck of it, that is another story altogether. Now come on, dinner is going to be here shortly and it's getting late. So come on.", Katara said.
Deidara was surprised Katara was able to lift him up and carry him inside. He would have argued with Katara, but he didn't have the energy to fight at the moment. In his head, he was mocking her words, not giving any mind to them.
'I can do whatever I want and you can't stop me.', Deidara thought.
The next morning...
Deidara woke up and found himself on something similar to the futons at home. He stretched a bit with a yawn. He got up, rolled up his futon and placed it in a corner. He walked into the living room. Aang was lounging on a railing, Sokka was lying on the floor with his feet on the wall, and Toph was lying on a pill of pillows picking her nose.
"Looks like someone recovered from their wild behavior.", Sokka said, "I was beginning to think you'd never wake up."
"Can it.", Deidara said.
"Okay, okay. No need to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.", Sokka said and began the count the boards on the ceiling.
At that moment, Katara rushed in with a large packet. Most likely this world's form of a news paper. It was rolled up like a traditional newspaper but looked to be handmade.
"I got it! I know how we will get to see the Earth King!", Katara said.
"How are we going to to do that, Sugar Queen?", Toph asked then began mimicking Joo Dee, "One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!"
"The king is having a gala for his pet bear this evening.", Katara said.
"Who in their right frame of mind keeps a bear as a pet?", Deidara asked.
A break of silence dawned the room until Aang, of course, broke it.
"You men, Platypus Bear?", Aang asked.
"A what, hm?", Deidara asked.
"No, it just says bear.", Katara said.
Sokka waved his hand in the air in dismissal.
"Surely they mean his pet Skunk Bear.", Sokka said, holding his nose for emphasis.
Deidara gave a look at Sokka, not sure of what to make of the 'game' everyone was playing.
"Or Armadillo Bear.", Toph said.
"Gopher Bear?", Aang asked.
"It just says... Bear.", Katara said, causing another break of silence.
"This place is weird...", Toph said.
"How the heck is a plain old bear weird? These bear hybrids are weird.", Deidara said.
"Then your from a weird place.", Toph said flicking snot at Deidara's forehead and proceed to pick her nose again.
Deidara frowned and flicked the snot off his forehead. This was not amusing him at all.
"My point is, the palace will be pack, we could sneak in as guests!", Katara said.
"That's a plausible idea.", Deidara said, thinking out the idea out in his head in both success and failure situations.
"Won't work at all.", Toph said.
Everyone looked at Toph. Katara gave Toph a confused look.
"Why not?", Katara asked.
"No offence to you simple country folk, a high society crowd will spot you from long ways away. You've got no manners!", Toph said and flicked her snot to the ceiling.
"Excuse me? I have no manners? You're not exactly 'miss fancy fingers' ", Katara said just for Toph to burp at her.
"Look. I learned proper society behavior but choose to abandon it. You, however, never learned it. Also, it's a bit too late as well.", Toph said.
"But you did learn it! You could teach us!", Sokka said.
"My parents tried to forced it on to me before I became a ninja.", Deidara said as if it was like foul tasting rice, "Not really sure if I even remember them, hm."
"I'm mastering every element. How hard can manners be?", Aang asked and wrapped himself up with a curtain and began bowing at everyone, "Good evening, Mr. Sokka Water Tribe, Ms. Katara Water Tribe, Deidara of the Stone, and Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty, your Momo-ness!"
Sokka got a cocky smirk and he too wrapped himself up with the same curtain. He then used challenging voice at Aang.
"Oh Avatar Aang! How do you do? Please, go on!", Sokka said and gave a bow.
Aang, seeing the challenge, bowed a little deeper than Sokka. Sokka then took a deeper bow. That was when the bowing got taken to a ridiculous level. Deidara raised an eyebrow at how stupid Aang and Sokka looked. After a few minutes, both Sokka and Aang bashed each other's foreheads together and fell over, becomign tangled up in the curtain.
Toph walked over in disapproval.
"Katara and Deidara maybe able to pull it off, you two however would be just lucky to get in as busboys!", Toph said.
"But we feel so fancy!", Sokka whined, just for Toph's snot to fall off the ceiling and land on Sokka, making him frown.
"But your not.", Deidara said.
Later...
Aang and Sokka played a small game against each other. Aang was the victory of the game they were playing and flicked Sokka in the forehead with a devious grin, bruising Sokka's pride. Sokka rubbed his head where Aang flicked him.
Toph and Katara came out of the dressing, all dressed up in fancy dresses and make up. They held fans wide open close to their chests. Aang blushed as he looked at Katara.
"Wow... You look beautiful...", Aang said.
Sokka's hand inched closer to Aang's forehead and flicked said forehead. Aang winced in pain as Sokka snickered at his revenge. Katara opened her mouth to reply, but Toph stopped her.
"Rule number one in high society: No speaking to commoners.", Toph said and turned to the dressing room, "Come out Deidara!"
"No! I won't!", Deidara said.
"You look fine! Just come on out!", Katara said.
"I look completely ridiculous, hm!", Deidara shouted.
"I feel ridiculous myself. So come out you big wuss!", Toph said.
"I SAID NO!", Deidara shouted.
Toph stomped the floor lightly, launching Deidara out of the dressing room. That was when Sokka began snickering.
"Wow... Who knew he could actually look like one of the nobles.", Sokka snickered.
Aang gave a chuckle himself. He covered his mouth to keep it from getting out of hand.
"Reminds me of you, Sokka.", Aang said.
"At least I looked more manly than this!", Sokka laughed.
There on the floor, dressed in high society drag and make up, laid Deidara. He was both ticked off and embarrassed. He got up and hobbled a bit in the feminine shoes that he wore. He groaned in frustration.
"We tried to get him to fit into the men's clothing but he was way too small for them, so we went for the next best thing.", Toph said with a grin, "I think it worked out nicely."
"By nicely, you mean shredding my dignity, hm!", Deidara said glaring at Toph.
Toph waved Deidara's clay bags in front of Deidara. Deidara desperately tried to grab it, just for Toph to tease him. This ticked off Deidara more, but Toph enjoyed the frustration Deidara displayed. She eventually let him have the clay bags back.
"Just make sure no one sees it.", Toph said.
"Be lucky I am not blowing you up, hm...", Deidara said in a very quiet, annoyed tone and placed his clay bags back where they belonged.
Katara and Toph grabbed Deidara by the wrists and dragged him behind them.
"We will get into the party, and then find away to get two in through the side.", Katara said.
"You better behave, Deidara. That talk about so called 'expert infiltration' better not be boasting.", Toph said.
Later at the palace...
Katara, Deidara, and Toph approached the long line. Deidara scanned the line with his eye scope, which he refused to take off. He saw they all had one thing in common, a paper that looked like an invitation. Deidara quickly and covertly took three small chunks of clay, let his hand mouths do their thing, and made three clay balls into sheets that felt like paper. The sheets then began to ink themselves with the correct information that Deidara spotted. He handed two of them to Toph and Katara.
"Show these to the guard. If I got them right, we should be let in.", Deidara whispered.
Katara and Toph nodded and the trio stepped into the line. Deidara didn't mind the long wait because it gave him time to think of some new ideas for his Jutsus. Before he knew it, people were asking him to move up in line. Soon the trio were in the front.
"Invitations please.", The guard said.
Toph, Katara, and Deidara handed their 'invitations' to the guard. The guard over looked them and nodded in approval.
"Enjoy the party.", The guard said.
Katara, Toph, and Deidara grinned and rushed inside, gaining a look from the guard.
"Kids these days.", The guard said, "Next."
The party was extravagant. People in ornate gowns and robes were in high numbers. People ate, drunk, chatted, etc. Decorations hung from the ceiling, giving some life and light to the room. At the other side of the room sat a bear, who was eating all the meat present at the table it was at.
"I'm gonna go check things out around here for a bit, okay, hm?", Deidara whispered and left.
Deidara walked around, being careful to not let anything reveal he was just a boy in a dress. Some boys were hitting on him, but he returned it by slapping the offenders in the back of the head into some food or drink bowls. That got them to shut up.
He kept walking around and before he knew it, he bumped into someone. The man had a long braid and extremely elegant dark green robes.
"Sorry sir.", Deidara said, doing his best to mimic a girl voice.
"No harm done, young lady. Are you lost?", The man asked.
"Well, yes. I am looking for my mom and sister, hm.", Deidara said, accidentally making a crack in his faux girl voice, "Can you help me find them?"
"I would be honored.", The man said, "I am Long Feng, the cultural minster for the king."
"I am Dei.", Deidara said.
'Stupid! You just gave away half of your actual name!', Deidara thought.
"Let's go find your mother and sister.", Long Feng said.
Deidara followed Long Feng, keeping his guard up. Something was off about Long Feng, and he didn't like it.
Soon Katara and Toph came into view. Deidara placed a fake smile of gratitude on his face.
"Thank you Long Feng. I see them right now, hm.", Deidara said in his fake girly voice.
"The pleasure is mine.", Long Feng said with a slight bow.
Deidara rushed to Katara and Toph, who now were joined by Aang and Sokka.
"I'm here.", Deidara said, dropping the fake girl voice.
"Good. Now we can start searching for the Earth King more effectively.", Sokka said.
At that moment, Joo Dee rushed in and up to Team Avatar. She had an over exaggerated look of fear on her face.
"What are you doing here? You have to leave immediately, or we will be in terrible trouble!", Joo Dee said.
Joo Dee began trying to push Sokka, but Sokka effectively blocked her efforts with one of the platters.
"Not until we see the king.", Sokka said.
"You don't understand. You need to go!", Joo Dee said.
Joo Dee eventually won in knocking Sokka back a bit, but at the price of Aang spilling tea on one of the party guests and Deidara. Deidara frowned as the woman, who got hit by some of the tea, shrieked.
"Sorry! Don't scream!", Aang said and sent a large blast of Airbending at the two.
There went Aang and Deidara's disguises. Aang's hat got messed up, and the make up flew right off of Deidara. The worst part, his dress was caught in the breeze, exposing his capris to the world. One glance there, despite the very outlandish pants, they could tell that he was a boy in drag. Much to Deidara's relief, they were more focused on Aang than the gender reveal.
A long pregnant silence spread across the room. It was broken by the female guest, whom Aang just dried with Airbending.
"I had no idea the Avatar would be here!", The woman said in delight.
Joo Dee's face fell into the classic 'oh snap' expression. She had failed to get them away from the party.
"Keep everyone busy, I will look for the king.", Sokka whispered and dashed off.
Aang thought briefly and had an idea. He leaped into the air, abandoning the disguise in the process. He began putting on arrays of Waterbending and Airbending, gaining cheers from the crowd, and the bear too.
Deidara thought a bit himself. He examined the room. He couldn't use his bombs in here without causing mass panic, and he was sure that was not what Sokka meant by' keep everyone busy' judging by the tone of whisper he used. He then thought back to his first month in the Explosion Corps. While they were mostly used for fighting and demolition, they had a test to pass just to get in. It was basic, yet tricky due to how much Chakra Control you needed to have. Thank goodness it didn't require as much control required for being a medical ninja. It was being able to make fireworks. Deidara could remember how they needed to repair the testing room due to the extensive damages he caused back then.
"Hey! Look at this, hm!", Deidara said and instantly began to make some rather impressive fireworks by ripping his dress to shreds and using it to channel his explosive Chakra into.
'Good thing I kept my actual clothes underneath this awful dress!', Deidara thought as he continued to tear and ignite the pieces of said dress into fireworks.
That gathered a large crowd too. Everyone applauded as Deidara and Aang showed off their stuff. Unknown to them, one by one, Katara, Toph, and Momo were being dragged away silently by hidden Dai Li Agents.
Sokka then spotted the Earth King being carried by. He quickly turned to Aang and whispered the loudest he could to get the young Avatar's attention.
"Aang! The Earth King! He's here!", Sokka whispered but was then too taken away by two Dai Li Agents, "HEY! Let me go!"
Aang immediately rushed to the Earth King on an Air Scooter across the table, causing people to lift their plates up in response.
Deidara felt something off. He turned around and saw a pair of rock hands flying at him. He dodged them with ease. The hands came back around. Deidara quickly pulled out some clay, made a pair of spiders, and threw them at the rock hands.
"Katsu!", Deidara whispered.
The rock hand blew up, but to Deidara's shock, pulled themselves back together and grabbed the little bomber. By the unknown force that controlled the rock hands, Deidara was dragged away by them. He struggled against the earthen bonds. After the rock hands stopped pulling him back, he realized that the Dai Li captured him. Deidara quickly formed a hand sign and a puff of smoke surrounded him. When the smoke cleared, all that was left behind was a pail full of dung. The two Dai Li Agents were confused then angered by the trick. Across the room, they spotted Deidara, who was giving a very cheeky grin and ran outside.
The two Dai Li Agents tailed Deidara as fast as they could, having a hard time deciphering Deidara's movements. They never seen a person move so fast nor jump as high without the aid of bending.
They tailed Deidara all the way to a park within the city. It was empty, thankfully. Deidara then stopped and turned around, and gave them a look.
"So you do want a fight, hm.", Deidara said.
"Stand down right now. We are trying to escort you to where Long Feng can talk to you and your friends in private.", One of the Dai Li Agents said firmly.
"Is that so? Then what was with the rock hands?", Deidara argued.
"To make sure you came with us without causing an uproar. None of the civilians needed to know where you were going."
"What happened to tapping people on the shoulders, hm?", Deidara asked just to get several rock hands thrown at him, this time they effectively covered his hands.
Deidara frowned and gave an angry groan. He was not amused at getting captured a second time.
'If I get captured one more time, I am gonna brutally kill whoever tries to do so...' Deidara thought.
Later in the Royal Library...
The Dai Li Agents pushed Deidara into the room and removed the rock hands from him. They closed the door behind them before standing guard outside. The room was dimly lit by a fireplace that had a large burning emerald crystal that gave of the same color of flames. He looked to one side and saw that Katara, Momo, Aang, Sokka, and Toph were indeed there. So that part was not a lie. On the other side of the room was Long Feng, and he looked faintly annoyed.
"Why won't you let us speak to the king?! We have information that could help defeat the Fire Nation!", Sokka said in annoyance.
"The Earth King has no time to become involved with the political squabbles and the non stop minutia of military activities.", Long Feng said.
Deidara frowned, even he knew that was not how governments worked, and he was a terrorist for hire who took down and crushed governments.
"This maybe the most important thing he has ever heard in his life!", Aang said.
"What kind of leader is not involved, hm? Last time I checked, they are. Heck, the old art hating fart of a Kage in my old village could single handedly wipe the floor with the backsides of dozens ninjas!", Deidara said.
Aang, Sokka, and Katara all sweat dropped, not sure if they should be impressed or scold Deidara for his lack of respect. Long Feng frowned at Deidara, not liking the boy's spiteful attitude.
"I suggest you be quiet right now, Deidara.", Long Feng said and returned his attention to Aang, "What matters most right now to the Earth King is maintaining the cultural aspects and heritage of Ba Sing Se. Every single duty he has to Ba Sing Se relates to declaring decrees in such matters only."
"So he's just a figure head.", Katara said in realization.
"HE'S JUST YOUR PUPPET!", Toph shouted in anger.
"YOUR PERSONAL FOOL!", Deidara added.
"Oh good heavens no, his majesty is an icon, an idol to his people.", Long Feng said, obviously faking the shock, "He can't sully his hands with the constant changes in the war!"
"But we found out a Solar Eclipse that will leave all Firebenders in the Fire Nation powerless and defenseless! You could lead an invasion!", Sokka said.
Long Feng stood up and approached Sokka, irked at the attempts of getting around his final answer.
"Enough! I have no desire to hear your ridiculous plan! It's a strict policy that the war may never be mentioned within the walls. Constant news on the war will throw the entire population into panic. The economy would suffer, our peaceful way of life would be corrupted, and our traditions would disappear forever.", Long Feng said, "By silencing the talk of the war, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful and well governed utopia. The last one on Earth."
"Utopia my butt, hm!", Deidara spat spitefully.
'THANK YOU for reminding me why I became a terrorist!', Deidara thought sarcastically.
Long Feng brought himself to Aang's level and looked him in the eyes. Aang glared at Long Feng with anger.
"Until now you all have been honored guests, from now on you all will be watched by Dai Li Agents. Any mention of the war to anyone, you will be exiled from the city.", Long Feng said and walked to the fiery crystal, "I understand you are trying to find your bison. It would be a shame if you were unable to complete your quest."
Aang wasn't the only one who was angry at Long Feng. Deidara was beyond ticked off at this point. He covertly made dozens of large clay spiders and hid them all over the room. Sokka spotted a few of the spiders scurry around and grasped Deidara's shoulder, giving him a look. Deidara grumbled in annoyance and summoned his clay spiders back into the clay pouches where they became regular old clay again.
"Now, Joo Dee will show you your way out.", Long Feng said as a woman with short hair entered the room.
Everyone was disturbed by the woman. She had a completely different face than Joo Dee but she gave the same creepy exaggerated smile.
"Come with me please.", Joo Dee #2 said.
"What happened to Joo Dee?", Katara asked in disturbed surprise.
"I'm Joo Dee and I will be your host for as long as you are in Ba Sing Se.", Joo Dee #2 said, unfazed by Katara's question.
'I KNEW something was not right about this city!', Deidara thought as his eyes widened at the sight of the brainwashed woman.