"Welcome, Avatar Aang! And also Fire Lord Zuko!" Kuei, the Earth king said. To him, the rest of us were not as important, so therefore not worth addressing. Plus I think he still had a problem with me and the other Kyoshi Warriors, because of Azula.
We all boarded Appa (who had apparently left for Ba Sing Se when we had boarded the ship) and flew to the Inner Ring of the city. The earth king was riding on the monorail in a compartment he had had furnished for himself… since he was the first king to have seen the outer wall, he had grown to like riding around his city, but of course, he had to do it in style.
"They still haven't abolished the ring system?" Katara asked.
"Of course not! I told you, this city is TERRIBLE." Toph replied. She was the only one of us to have been here since, which was funny since she despised this place.
"Aang, maybe you should suggest he change it?" Katara gently tried to give him the nudge in that sort of direction. Katara was definitely the woman behind Aang- she always tried to get him to use his diplomatic powers for good.
"Yeah… that's probably a good idea." He was looking down at the city below us. We had passed over the inner wall a moment ago, and were above the Lower Ring. Suddenly, Aang jumped out of the saddle, his glider in hand. He dropped a hundred feet or so and then caught the air and flew over, and we could hear the roar of the citizens. Their savior, the Avatar, had finally arrived.
"He sure loves the people, doesn't he." Sokka said matter-of-factly.
"No only that, they really love him." Katara sounded proud of him, as if his good nature was a product of her doing. Sometimes I wondered if she loved him like a girlfriend, or loved him like a mother. I didn't really think that there should be a both in that mix.
The rest of the short flight was spent watching Aang as he flew over the city, gaining the adoring shouts of the crowds. He finally landed on the steps of the capitol, and a moment later, the giant bison did as well. Katara jumped off, then gave Toph a hand by spotting her. Sokka climbed over onto Appa's head and we took off, landing Appa towards the back of the palace. Sokka was taking us to Bosco's quarters, where Appa would reside in the lap of luxury for the duration of the festival. I still had issues with the fact that the king's bear had his own quarters in the capitol of the city, while the people living in the Lower Ring had to share houses and combine their rent just to make it in the city.
I remembered when I had done my stint as a security guard for the refugees entering the city. I remembered helping these people move their possessions into the rails and helping them keep track of their kids. I didn't actually do much security, but more acted as their first friend on the way to freedom. I knew a lot of these people by name, and I hated the way they were being treated. Most of their villages were still being put back together; still others were being claimed by new provinces and they were not going to allow these people to come back to their homes. The politics of the earth kingdom had not gotten better since the war ended. For the most part, they were getting worse and becoming more corrupt. If Aang could change it, I would come back here and be happy to see the Impenetrable City.
Sokka and I helped pull the saddle off of Appa so that he could relax more comfortably, but were soon shooed away by the animal's attendants. Since we were guests, we were supposed to live the life of luxury. Neither Sokka or I were used to this, as we were people who preferred to work for what we had. For me at least, I felt more distinguished knowing that I had earned things for myself.
At the palace, all of our friends were lounging in the badger-mole themed throne room, enjoying platters of finger food. Toph played with her bracelet of meteorite while talking, or rather listening, to Katara, and Kuei, Aang and Zuko were discussing, I suppose, royal matters. It seemed like we were doing a lot of sitting around, and all I could do was hope that Aang was making progress with the abolishment of the System. Sokka went for the food and then to talk to Katara, and, instead of following like I would normally do, I decided to go and sit with the Earth King, Zuko, and the Avatar. I wanted to know what was going on.
"Sir, you've seen how your people are living. You know that it isn't right to treat these refugees like prisoners. It's true, soon, some of them will leave, but others have had their home land claimed and can't go back. The ring system traps them in this… this inhumane hole! It's impossible for them to escape!" Aang had now gotten into this argument, and I smiled. The avatar shared my perspective.
"Avatar Aang, I understand your concern, but my city is simply too full! I have thousands of these refugees living in all three of the rings! I have no room, and the provinces are still negotiating with one another. No matter how much power I might have, it is tremendously important for those provinces to decide their own fate. They cannot wage war on one another, but they still do. The wage a war borne of smite. I approve the final draft, it is true, but I can't make the corrections myself. I can only approve or disapprove, and if I disapprove, they just go back to their negotiations." Kuei looked really helpless. Aang looked annoyed. Zuko looked thoughtful. None of them had noticed me yet.
"Kuei, would it help if we could somehow move a certain amount of families out of Ba Sing Se?" Zuko asked.
" If we could do that, our city would be indescribably more healthy for our people." I finally just sat down where I was, content enough with my listening quality.
"Well… If they would agree to it, my nation has some land that we could spare. We could probably move maybe ten thousand or so people out, give them homes and jobs." Zuko proposed. At that moment, Zuko became my temporary hero. He had suggested a solution that all of these poor people would benefit from- they would have homes, room enough for their families, and jobs. There was only one problem…
"Zuko, most of them probably still don't trust you. It would take a lot to convince them." Exactly. They had been spurned by the fire nation once, and they knew all about his past. It was like when Katara had held a grudge against him while the rest of us had accepted the fact that he had seriously come to our side. But he had gotten even her to trust him, especially after his first betrayal. Plus, he had been the reason that the Earth Kingdom wasn't a field of ashes. He had been pretty useful. I stood up again and ventured slowly towards them, an idea forming in my mind.
"Well… Maybe Zuko could…" Aang began, dropping the thought.
"You could give a highly inspirational speech!" The Earth King said.
"That would never work." I began. All three of them looked up at me. Aang looked a little abashed that he hadn't sensed me moving close and listening to them.
"Why not?" Kuei questioned, his tone telling how insulted he was. He didn't really understand the people's thoughts.
"Those people are sick and tired of hearing words. They are done listening to people saying things. What they want is for people to show them that they are actually doing something. So if you can demonstrate successfully and convince them of your desire to really help them, they would have a higher possibility of trusting you." Zuko looked at me expressionlessly. I could see in his eyes that he was thinking, calculating my words. He was deciding if I was right, or if he could do this before the festival was up. Though spirits would be high, many people would be reminded that they didn't live as well as the other people in their cities. If they would find out that they would have another chance to start over, really start over, this would be a remarkable thing.
"Suki's right." I smiled. " But if we really tried to convince them, what would it take?" Zuko looked at me. OF all of them, Zuko and I were the ones who would have the most experience.
"Firstly, we'd have to be positive that we had the land and that it was fertile and could also be developed. We would have to build houses- decent homes- and then we would need to take the families there and let them move in. we'd have to have jobs and allow for settlement. It would take a while, but if we went about it well and decently, then we could begin setting more up, or expanding these little colonies." Zuko smiled.
"Exactly what I was thinking." As we continued making plans and discussing, Aang and the Earth King left us and were soon replaced by some of Zuko's servants, who took dictation and brought us maps of the unused land and yet others of the under populated cities and villages. We began to fill both, and found room for at least ten thousand people to live comfortably, and all while keeping the families together. There would be jobs and food and homes and money, so it seemed, in theory, like an excellent plan. Zuko took up his belongings to his room, thanking me for my help. Zuko was going to begin writing letters and sending hawks to his generals and governors so they could begin the preparations. He also told me that, if I wanted to, I could help to oversee the villages and growth. I replied that I would think about it- I might have prior engagements on Kyoshi or in other places, but I definitely wanted to do it.
After Zuko left, I realized that I was exhausted. Everyone else had already gone to sleep while I was plotting and planning.
I asked a servant to show me to my room, and also to tell me where the bath house was. She was a young girl, and she was very nice. Her name was Xu.
"Okay. Thank you!" I entered my room, and before I even looked around, I opened my door again. "Um, Xu? Do you think you could show me where Sokka's room is?" She giggled and blushed, nodding. Just from her reaction, I blushed. I guess I wasn't acting like a proper lady, but I was a warrior. Prim and proper and society was not my thing.
We walked down a few hallways and she finally stopped outside of a door that had green glowing light emanating from below the door.
"This is master Sokka's room." She blushed a little more, then scurried away. I took a deep breath, then knocked.
"Sokka?" I said softly when there was no answer. I quietly pushed the door opened, and I saw Sokka laying on the ground, his blankets twisted all around him. He cradled his pillow in his arms.
"oh Sokka…" I sighed and sat beside his sleeping form. " Are you proud of me? I helped my people. I came up with the idea that will save this city. I channeled you. I was thinking about how you always try to come up with creative solutions to big problems… I hope you think I did a good job." He kept sleeping. I sat, watching him. The window was open, and the moon shone through, bright and crescent shaped. How long had we been talking? It must have been forever. I looked at the green crystals lit at the writing desk, but I saw no paper, no ink, and no brushes. I could only wonder what he was doing.
I left the room as quietly as I had entered and went back to my room. I changed my clothes and washed up, then sat on my bed.
I did not want to sleep alone tonight.
I took the foot blanket off the end of my bed and wrapped it around me. Barefoot, I crept through the corridors quietly.
As I was about to turn into Sokka's hallway, I stopped. Zuko stood at the end of it, talking to, of all people, Katara.
"- And Pakku and I began to rebuild the homes and the defense wall. So anyway, what have you been doing?" He and Katara seemed completely at ease- there was nothing awkward about their conversation, which struck me as strange.
"Well, Aang and I have been making visits all around the world doing treaties and all sorts of things. And Suki and I hatched this plan to move some of the people out of the over populated areas and into the unused land in the Fire Nation. I already sent out plans." He sounded happy.
"That's great!" She hugged him. All of us wanted to help the world, and this was only the beginning. He hugged her back, burying his head in her shoulder. As the hug continued, they began whispering. Their heads pulled back and I blushed… Was this really happening? I cowered behind the corner pillar, looking through the smallest crack.
Their foreheads came together, and Katara was blushing. I'm sure my eyes were crazy wide. Katara was with Aang, and Zuko was with Mai. Mai was even supposed to be arriving tomorrow.
Zuko leaned in and closed their distance, his lips touching hers briefly. He pulled away a fraction, but she went back to his lips, and then they dashed apart.
"Wh- what are we doing?" Katara asked. Both of them were blushing, both looked shocked, but at the same time… They both looked like they wanted to go back.
"I have no idea…" Zuko whispered, taking a step back.
"We can't do this!" Katara said, backing down the hall towards me. I pulled myself into the shadows, listening to her light foot steps run down the hall right past me. After I was sure she was clear, I peeked through the crack again.
Zuko was still standing, a blush full no his cheeks. He ran a hang through his hair and then touched his lips. He grasped behind him, pulling his door open. He shut it quietly after retreating into the room.
I waited a moment, then tip toed down to Sokka's room. He was still fully asleep, and the moon was still not even in the center of the sky. I had a good few hours left before I would have to wake up.
I crawled into Sokka's bed and snuggled beneath my blanket. There were a few pillows still on the bed, and I grabbed one. I laid for a moment in peace, but then I realized the sun would hit me in the butt really early, which would suck. There were curtains all around the bed, so I shut three of them. I left the one that opened to Sokka open. The moon light still filtered gently through the semi- sheer fabric, soothing me. Even if the Moon Spirit hated me, I was still soothed by the light.
In the morning, I woke up much later than I would normally, but not as late as I could have. Sokka still laid on the floor, snoring away. I rolled over and watched him for a while, smiling. I didn't want the day to begin. I would rather lay here all day in this huge comfortable bed, going in and out of a state of sleep. I rolled over again onto my pillow and pulled the blankets up to my shoulders, relishing the soft fabric and the light, clean smell. In moments I was drifting back to sleep.
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About a half hour later, Sokka woke up.
"Suki?" He asked, standing over me. He still sounded sleepy I rolled over and looked up at him, smiling.
"Hi." He smiled back at me and sat on the bed besides me.
"Hi." We sat staring at one another for a little while. He had the funniest bed hair and sleep in his eyes still, and I'm sure I didn't look too much better.
"I missed you last night." He said, laying back against the head board and yanking his blanket onto the bed again. He pet my head as I moved closer to his side.
"I was changing the world." Sokka looked at me curiously.
"What could you and Scarface talk about that would change the world?" I smiled.
"Well… I came up with a plan to move all of the people out of here who are being oppressed. We're going to transport them to the under populated cities and the unused country land and help them live comfortably and prosperously."
"Suki! That's great!" He leaned down and kissed me. "I'm so proud."
"I was trying to think like you…" I whispered, blushing. He stood up.
"This is gonna be great! How many people will you be able to move?" I smiled and sat up, swinging my feet over the edge of the bed. I stretched my arms up and yawned.
"Well, we're thinking around ten thousand…" He kissed me again, then picked me up and swirled me around. He was supremely happy. Just then, Xu walked in, bearing a new set of Water Tribe robes for Sokka. She blushed- Sokka was only wearing his under garments. I blushed.
"Hey, thanks!" Sokka didn't even realize what he was wearing, but only acted out of the good news his day had began with. He accepted the robes, and Xu looked at me. I waved, and so did she. Then she bowed and exited.
"Do you know her?" Sokka asked. I nodded.
"She showed me here last night." I stood and went to Sokka's bag and took out his comb. "Sit." I gestured to the floor beneath the bed, and he obliged. As I did his hair, he told me of the dreams he had had the night previously- he always shared them with me, and together we came up with nonsense meanings for them. I noticed that he had stopped shaving the hair around his wolf tail, favoring the easier to maintain shortness. I ran my fingers through it. Sokka leaned back and smiled, and we began to play our little meanings game. I tossed around the idea of telling him about what I had witnessed the night before, but decided it would be better left secret. If it was supposed to be known about, it would be.
When Sokka stood to get dressed, I decided to do the same. In my room, a gorgeous silken robe bearing a design of flowers and tiny fans awaited me. Pots of make up had been set out for me to apply at my will, as well as an array of hair accessories and jewels. Deep emerald green slippers had been laid out for me as well. I was suddenly very, very excited to girl up.
Katara burst into my room after I had dressed, wearing her new robe. She was ecstatic. Katara enjoyed getting girl once in a while as well, and neither of us had had a real opportunity to in quite a while.
"Oh Suki! aren't these gorgeous!" I agreed- Katara wore yet another symbolic robe, but this one was more ornate… more classic. She had a traditional robe, but this one had a large tie around the waist, and her hair was already styled, the top half pulled back. She had her beads in, holding blue ribbons in that went back and wove into a long, thin braid that wrapped around her bun. The rest of her hair was loose and curly, but it was more tame than usual.
She instantly decided to attack my hair, still in its normal bedraggled and messy bed head style. She wanted to put in the biggest, craziest hair piece she could, but my hair was thankfully too short for that.
Instead, she opted to put a straightening balm in and tug it all back, taking a miniature of my normal headpiece and sticking it on top. She put a light stain on my lips and a pinkish powder on my face. Katara topped off the make up with a thin line of kohl outlining my eyes. Finally, she let me look in the mirror.
My hair looked surprisingly great; a demure bun that had two small braids coming out of it, then tucked up into the back. Two golden hair sticks held them and the tiny golden miniature in place. I wasn't wearing an inordinate amount of make up, so I was satisfied.
Katara cleaned the brushes and then gave her face the same treatment, and then looked at me.
"You look stunning." I told her, slipping on my boots.
"You're not going to wear your new slippers?" She seemed shocked that I wouldn't.
"I don't trust this city. I'd rather be able to run and fight." She observed me as I slipped on my loose pants that I had worn in the Fire Nation and then slip my fans into my belt. Here, I would be permitted to carry them. I was a warrior, and I knew Sokka would have Space sword. I could tell Katara had her water skin on her, and Toph was surrounded by her element. Everyone would have a means of protecting themselves.
After observing myself in the mirror, I decided that the robes were long enough to hide the large square boots. I nodded, and turned to Katara.
We both went out into the hall, and I sealed my room. We walked down the hall arm in arm, chatting about the festivities.
Author's note: My, my, look at that! I would say that that is compensation for the last chapter.
So… here's my commentary! In the beginning, you see Suki agreeing with Toph on the dislike of Ba Sing Se. All of the refugees are still there, since I decided it would probably take a while to rebuild hundreds of homes and villages. She wants to make a change.
Also, we see Aang fail to be the one who actually comes up with the good solution. Suki originated the idea, and she came up with the solution. I wanted to separate her from Sokka in this chapter so we could see her B.A. skills. I wanted also to give her and Sokka another thing in common, just to make the bond seem stronger. There's also a little fluff, but not a lot. I kinda hope that the amount in the last chapter can compensate for this.
Last but not least… ZUTARA DRAMA! Yep, I am a Zutarian to the core- they are one of my favorite couples. I actually only like one, possibly two cannon couples, so expect things to get mixed up.
Hope you enjoyed!PLEASE REVIEW!
