AN: This one is Azula-heavy instead of relatively split evenly like the previous chapters. This is due to the fact that the show never explored what happened between the fight with Suki to showing up in Ba Sing Se.
Chapter 5: Lakes and Lies
At the Avatar's house in Ba Sing Se, Azula was sitting back against the wall watching Sokka draw pictures of Appa. While she had never gotten a good look at the sky bison up close, even she could tell he was doing a horrible job. Toph was lying on the floor, just as bored as Azula. Then Aang came through the front door, carrying a bag full of posters.
"I'm back from the printer" Aang said. He held up one of the posters, which had a near perfect rendition of Appa.
"Hey, I thought designing the Lost-Appa poster was my job" Sokka complained. "I've been working all day on my Appa." Then he held up one of his drawings, which was simply crude in comparison to the professional version.
"Sokka, the arrow goes on Appa's head" Aang said.
"Alright, so I haven't seen him in a while" Sokka admitted.
"It looks just like him to me" Toph said.
"Thank you, I worked really… Why do you feel the need to do that?" Sokka said.
"Come on, let's get busy" Aang said.
Immediately they left the house in the upper ring and started putting up posters in the middle ring. When Sokka suggested they split up to cover more ground, but also suggested that Toph stick with him. Naturally Toph was annoyed and tried to prove that she could work on her own. When she ended up applying a poster backwards, she admitted that Sokka had a point.
Azula walked down a separate street on her own, taking her time putting up posters. Why am I bothering with this grunt work? Azula wondered. I should be coming up with a plan to kill those fools all at once, not helping them find their lost pet…
"Katara" a new voice said. Azula turned around and saw a boy with brown hair in a strange outfit standing there. She noticed that he was armed with hook-swords.
Who is this boy? Azula wondered. "What do you want?"
"I think I can help you" the boy said.
"Do I look like I need help?" Azula asked.
"Well I found this" the boy said and held up a small leaflet, one of which that Aang had scattered over the city. "I think I can help you find Appa."
"Really, and what do you have to prove it?" Azula said.
"I think I know where you can find him" the boy said. "Please let me help you."
"Fine, the others are nearby" Azula said.
OOOOOOOOOO
Meanwhile, Katara, Ty Lee and Mai walked towards the hidden port in Full Moon Bay. They were dressed as Kyoshi Warriors, complete with the makeup. Katara found the uniform bulky, but was able to tolerate it. The three girls were near the hidden entrance, which Katara knew where it was, having been there before.
There was a pair of earthbenders guarding the entrance. One of them spotted the girls coming, and opened the door for them. As far as the earthbender was concerned all of the Kyoshi Warriors looked the same, and didn't bother checking their identities.
"This plan is working great" Ty Lee said.
"Shut up!" Mai whispered. "Don't jinx it!"
"Oh, sorry" Ty Lee said. "How did you know about this place anyway Azula?"
"A little birdie told me" Katara said.
Within minutes they reached the main area for the refugees. Several ferries were docked and waiting for passengers to Ba Sing Se. Looking around Katara found the same ugly woman demanding passports from the first time she was here. Katara walked up to the woman's station.
"Three for Ba Sing Se" Katara said.
"Aren't you supposed to be providing security here?" the woman asked.
"Well yes, but there are other matters that need my attention" Katara said. "The rest of the Warriors will be back shortly for your security."
"I shouldn't let you onto the ferries without passports" the woman said. "But your order has helped a lot here… so I'll let this one time pass."
"Thank you" Katara said.
OOOOOOOOOO
Entirely by accident, the street Sokka and Toph decided to cover intersected with Aang's choice. They had bumped into each other just in time for Azula to meet them with the stranger behind her. Azula wasn't sure how to introduce him, since he appeared to already know 'Katara' but Azula didn't know his name.
"Hey, uh, look who I found" Azula said. She saw Aang and Sokka stare at the boy for a moment, before rushing in between him and Azula.
"Jet!" Sokka yelled. "What are you doing here?"
"I want to help find Appa" Jet said, showing Sokka the leaflet he still had.
"How can we trust you after what you did!" Sokka yelled.
"Sokka, I've changed" Jet said. "I was a troubled person and I let my anger get out of control. But I don't even have the gang now. I've put all that behind me."
"I'm not buying it" Sokka said.
"Katara's forgiven me, she's not angry at all" Jet said.
"I never said that" Azula said. "I just don't hold a grudge on insignificant nobodies."
"Close enough" Aang said. "So Jet, you think you can help?"
"How do we know Jet isn't lying?" Sokka questioned.
"He's not lying" Toph said.
"And you can tell that because…" Azula said.
"I can feel his breathing and heartbeat, when people lie there's a physical reaction" Toph explained. "He's telling the truth."
Wait a minute, if she can do that how did she not notice me? Azula wondered. "That can't be foolproof, what if you met a really good liar?"
"Please… no one lies well enough to fool me" Toph bragged.
"I am a four hundred foot tall purple platypus-bear with pink horns and silver wings" Azula said.
Everyone stared at Azula, wondering if she had just gone crazy. Even Toph turned to face Azula, a blank expression on her face. For a moment Azula wondered if she had just given herself away, but she had to test the limits of Toph's ability to detect lies. Her little charade depended on it.
"Okay, you're good I admit it" Toph said.
OOOOOOOOOO
Katara leaned over the railing of a ferry, trying to relax. The ferry was on its way to the port in Ba Sing Se, and keeping its distance from the Serpent's Pass and the titular serpent. It felt strange trying to act like Azula acting like Suki.
Maybe the spirits like messing with me Katara wondered. Then she saw Mai and Ty Lee walk up to her, carrying food from the ship's galley.
"I'd hold your nose while eating this" Mai suggested. "This gruel is horrible."
Katara took a bowl from Ty Lee, and noticed that the contents looked only half cooked. "I'm not hungry" she said and threw it overboard.
"Well once we get to Ba Sing Se we can make something better" Ty Lee said.
"Anything would be better than this slop" Mai said.
"Hey, what's that on the water?" Ty Lee asked, pointing to the distance.
Katara looked out to where Ty Lee was pointing, and spotted the vague outline of a boat. It sailed across the water in a path that would take it past the ferry. As it came closer Katara could make out the blue sails and wooden hull. In minutes the boat got close enough for Katara to see the dark skinned people manning it, including one with brown hair and a short beard.
Dad? Katara thought, wondering if it really was him. The boat's course was taking it towards Chameleon Bay, a key position in the defense of Ba Sing Se. While Katara watched the ship move it changed course, heading towards the ferry. It moved into position alongside the ferry, and the men on the boat threw a rope latter up to the ferry.
Several Water Tribe men climbed up the rope latter, boarding the ferry. Some of them brought fresh fruits and blankets for the refugees, trying to help the people. Katara watched her father board the ship as well, and she couldn't help but walk towards him.
"Hakoda of the Water Tribe?" Katara asked.
"Yes that's me" Hakoda said. "You must be one of those Kyoshi Warriors that Bato's told me about. He said that you're friends of my daughter Katara."
"You could say that" Katara said. For a moment Katara seriously considered letting her charade fall apart, just to be with her dad again.
"You're going to Ba Sing Se, correct?" Hakoda asked. "I've heard that the Avatar is in the city, and I know that Katara is with him. If you see them, please tell Katara that her father is very proud of her."
A single tear ran down Katara's face, leaving a line in her makeup. "I think she already knows."
OOOOOOOOOO
Jet led Azula and the others to a warehouse in the lower ring. It could have been a possible hiding place for a sky bison, having far more than enough room to contain it. But aside from dirty hay and an old man using a broom, the warehouse was completely empty.
"This is the place I heard about" Jet said as they walked inside the warehouse.
"There's nothing here" Aang observed.
"This better not be some kind of trick" Azula said.
"I work nearby" Jet said. "Two guys were talking about some giant furry creature they had. I figured it must be Appa."
"He was here" Toph shouted, holding up a piece of white fur. She gave it to Aang, who held it as though it could bring back his lifelong friend.
"We missed him" Aang said.
The old man with the broom decided to pitch in with the conversation. "They took that big thing yesterday, shipped him out to some island" he said. "About time, I've been cleaning up fur and various leaving all day."
"What island? Where's Appa?" Aang asked.
"Foreman said some rich royal type on Whale Tail Island bought him up, guess for a zoo or such" the old man said. "Though could be the meat would be good."
Azula was immediately suspicious. The only thing on Whale Tail Island is a base for the Southern Raiders she thought to herself.
"We've gotta get to Whale Tail Island" Aang said. Then he asked "Where's Whale Tail Island?"
Sokka looked at a map. "Far, very far" he said. He set the map down on the floor for everyone to see, and pointed out the location. "It's near the South Pole, almost all the way back home."
"Don't you think it's just a little bit suspicious that our only lead takes us weeks out of our way?" Azula asked.
"I don't care" Aang said. "We have a chance to find Appa, we have to try."
"Let's get moving" Sokka said.
"I'll come with you" Jet offered.
"Did someone ask you to come along?" Azula asked.
"So you still don't trust me?" Jet asked.
"I don't have a reason to" Azula said.
"Was this guy your boyfriend?" Toph asked.
"Of course not" Azula said.
"Okay, I believe you" Toph said.
Immediately Azula and the others left the warehouse and started walking down the streets of Ba Sing Se, heading towards the inner wall. Along the way Azula wondered what her next move would be, now that they were apparently going to leave the city.
"We can take the train to the outer wall, but then we'll have to walk" Sokka said.
"Don't worry, on the way back we'll be flying" Aang said
"We're finally leaving Ba Sing Se" Toph said. "Worst! City! Ever!"
From behind a side alley, a boy and a girl saw them pass by. "Jet!" the girl shouted.
More people I'm supposed to know but don't? Azula wondered. She watched the new girl run up to Jet and hug him.
"We were so worried" the girl said. "How did you get away from the Dai Li?"
"The Dai Li?" Azula questioned.
"I don't know what she's talking about" Jet said.
"He got arrested by the Dai Li a few weeks ago" the girl said. "We saw them drag him away."
"Why would I be arrested?" Jet asked. "I've been living peacefully in the city."
"This doesn't make any sense" Toph said. "They're both telling the truth."
"Simple, they both think they're telling the truth" Azula said.
"Jet's been brainwashed" Sokka said.
"That's crazy" Jet shouted.
OOOOOOOOOO
After the Water Tribe men returned to their boat they set sail for Chameleon Bay. Katara watched them leave, praying for a safe journey. Once the boat was out of sight Katara walked below deck, shutting herself in a small room. She wanted to be alone, away from the other girls. While trying to shut everything out, Katara heard someone knocking on the door.
"Can I come in?" Ty Lee asked from the other side of the door.
"Go away" Katara said.
"Is something wrong?" Ty Lee asked. "It might help to talk about it."
"Fine" Katara said.
Ty Lee opened the door and walked inside, closing the door behind her. She sat down next to Katara, wondering what had upset her. "Was it that man from earlier?" she asked.
I see Dad for the first time in two years, and he doesn't recognize me Katara thought. "It's complicated" she said.
"You can tell me about it" Ty Lee said.
"I miss my dad" Katara admitted.
"The Fire Lord…" Ty Lee muttered. "It must be tough with him as your dad."
Katara couldn't help but picture Hakoda in Fire Nation colors, then shuddered at the image. That'll probably be in my next nightmare… she thought. "He's been… kind of distant."
"I suppose he has responsibilities to deal with" Ty Lee said.
"Ty Lee, what if you met your dad and he didn't know it was you?" Katara asked.
"That's actually why I ran away from home" Ty Lee admitted. "My sisters and I were all the same to my dad, just part of a matched set."
A circus freak is part of a set? Katara thought. "I don't believe that" Katara said. "You're the most unique person I know."
Ty Lee smiled. "Thanks Azula, that means a lot to me" she said. "I worked really hard to become who I am, and when people call me a circus freak, I take it as a complement."
"Well then 'circus freak' I'm feeling a lot better" Katara said. "Hey, do you think we can get Mai to smile for once?"
"That sounds like a challenge" Ty Lee said, a wide smile on her face. "And it sounds like a lot of fun."
She's not so bad… Katara thought as she walked out of the room with Ty Lee. How in the world did such a kind girl end up working for Azula?
OOOOOOOOOO
After spending five minutes alone with and interrogating Jet, Azula forced him to remember where the Dai Li took him after being arrested for assaulting tea makers. Apparently the Dai Li had a hidden base between the inner and outer walls, at Lake Laogai. Azula couldn't help but wonder how Jet had been brainwashed, since she could think of countless ways to abuse it.
After breaking free of the brainwashing, Jet wanted to get back at the man responsible, Long Feng. He led the way to Lake Laogai, reintroducing Smellerbee and Longshot along the way. The seven kids and teens reached the lake, but there was no entrance in sight.
"So where's this secret headquarters?" Sokka asked.
"Under the water I think" Jet said.
"There's a tunnel right over there near the shore" Toph said, feeling the vibrations coming from it. She walked up to it and earthbended a small path to a hidden hatch. She opened the hatch, revealing a long tunnel straight down with a ladder on it.
Once everyone made it down, they started moving through the base as quietly as they could. "It's all starting to come back to me" Jet said, remembering the base from his last visit.
Along the way they passed by a room filled with dozens of women, all chanting "I am Joo Dee, welcome to Ba Sing Se." Azula peeked inside, wondering what was going on. "We are so lucky to have our walls to create order." Azula found the effect rather creepy, as an unnatural way to control others. Using brainwashing for herself quickly became an idea she didn't want to use.
"I think there might be a cell big enough to hold Appa up ahead" Jet said. He stopped at a door halfway through a corridor. "I think it's through here" he said. He opened the door, revealing a large empty cavern.
Just after everyone stepped inside the cavern the door slammed shut and was sealed with earthbending. Several chains hang from the room, each with Dai Li agents clinging to them. At the other end of the cavern were Long Feng and more agents.
"Well that's something different" Sokka observed, looking up.
"You have made yourselves enemies of the state" Long Feng said. To his men he said "Take them into custody."
Several agents fell from the ceiling to attack. They launched their rock gloves, which Toph was able to destroy with earthbending. Toph defeated most of the agents by herself, taking them out with columns of earth. While Toph fought the agents, Long Feng stepped through a door in the cavern, which Aang and Jet chased him through it.
Azula spotted a small creek running along the edge of the cavern. She pulled water from it and threw it at the Dai Li. When the water made contact she froze it into ice, trapping the agents. One by one she froze the agents in place, quickly ending the fight while Toph blocked their earthbending.
"Are there anymore of them?" Azula asked.
"I think that's it Icequeen" Toph said.
"What happened to Sugarqueen?" Sokka asked.
"That can wait" Azula said. "Where did Long Feng go?"
Everyone ran in the direction that Aang and Jet had chased Long Feng, with Toph leading the way to remove earthbended obstacles. When they arrived in a side room they found Aang standing over Jet, who was lying on the floor.
Everyone looked at Azula, as though expecting her to do something. It took a second, but then she remembered that she could heal with waterbending. She kneeled at Jet's side and attempted to heal him, but that wasn't enough to save Jet.
"Well this isn't good" Azula said.
"You guys go and find Appa" Smellerbee said. "We'll take care of Jet."
"Okay" Azula said.
"Just go" Longshot said. "We'll take care of him, he's our leader."
"Don't worry" Jet said. "I'll be fine."
Everyone but Smellerbee and Longshot walked away from Jet. "He's lying" Toph whispered.
Moving through the base, Azula noticed that the Dai Li had evacuated it. They met no resistance and found one room big enough to hold Appa. But when they were inside they noticed that only chains remained inside.
"Appa's gone" Aang said. "Long Feng beat us here."
"If we keep moving we may be able to catch up with them" Sokka suggested.
Everyone quickly ran for one of the exits, reaching it within minutes. Toph opened the exit with earthbending and everyone rushed out. They came out on a strip of land between the lake's shore and a cliff side, forcing them to pick one of two directions to move it. As they ran some Dai Li agents showed up behind them and started a chase.
"Think we can outrun them?" Sokka asked.
"I don't think it's going to matter" Aang said.
Ahead of them were Long Feng and more Dai Li. The agents earthbended a wall behind them, and the agents behind the children created another wall, boxing them inside. Everyone prepared for another fight, but to their surprise they heard a distant roar from above.
"Look up in the sky!" Azula yelled.
"Is it a bird?" Toph asked.
"Maybe a glider?" Sokka said.
"No, it's APPA!" Aang yelled.
The large sky bison dropped down from above, slamming into both walls and demolishing them. It came back around and landed right in front of Long Feng. When Long Feng tried to attack Appa bit his leg, and then threw him towards the lake, skipping across the surface. Then Appa spit out Long Feng's shoe.
Aang ran up to Appa and jumped onto his head. "I've missed you buddy."
AN: Come on, the scene where Appa showed up was BEGGING for someone to use the classic Superman line. And since I've written for Superman before, I just had to put it in there.