Legal Notice: too lazy to creatively say I don't own this :1
Chapter 17: City of Walls and Secrets (p2)
They were all walking down the street in the Lower Ring, Katara and Toph following Kana to the little dress shop she had gone to the first day she was here. Toph's arms were crossed as they made their way through the city, her chest puffed out, prepared to huff again. She thought it was a waste of time being in the lower city, but Kana already had a dress she could wear to the kings' party. There was no reason to waste money.
"The Lower Ring is so different from the others." Katara said with a sad frown.
"There's nothing wrong with different." Kana replied off handedly, taking a sharp turn down a side road. They were almost there, and once she retrieved her dress, they could go back to the Upper Ring and get the other two dresses.
"Actually, there is." Toph corrected, "If you two are going to act like proper Earth Kingdom nobles, you're going to have to get that through your heads. There is a difference, a big one, and you're obviously the better person for it."
"Toph, that's horrible!" Katara chided, angrily.
"No, that's the truth of being nobility. The only people who are worth your time are those who are either richer, or just as rich."
"She's right." Kana cut in as Katara opened her mouth to object. "You're just going to have to deal with it until after the Earth Kings party."
"That doesn't mean I have to like it." Katara huffed.
"Actually Sweetness, it does." Toph grinned, "Who wouldn't like to consider themselves better than others?"
"Well I wouldn't know about you three, but I know a certain annoying Waterbender who doesn't believe that."
"Meno!" Kana grinned, turning to see her friend. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm trying my hand at bartering, trying to fit in with the lower circle and all that." He said with a smirk, holding up one of his hands which had a bag hanging on it.
"How are you doing?" she asked with a knowing gleam in her eye.
"Horribly, actually." He chuckled, "I think it might be better if I stick to Upper Ring business."
There was a loud sound from behind, which Kana recognized as a throat being cleared in minor annoyance, making her blush before turning back to her friends. "Sorry, Katara. You remember Meno, right?"
"I certainly remember you." he purred before tugging at his collar as Kana tossed a glare his way.
"Manny, we're kind of busy here if you couldn't see." Toph said.
Meno just chuckled shaking his head in amusement, gaze traveling back to Kana's, with a curious glint in his eyes. "So what are you doing down here in the slums? Usually you'd be down at the tea shop with Lee and Mushi."
"Doing your job for you." She added for her friends benefits, but she knew her heart had thumped a little too fast when he mentioned Zuko, they couldn't find out about him. Meno just crossed his arms like she had back in the tea shop, meaning he wanted her to continue. It made her grin. "We're down here to pick up the dress I haddied."
"Why bring them?" he asked grinning at Katara.
"They're getting dresses too, the lady had very nice ones." Kana said, moving to continue her way to the shop.
"Toph willingly wearing a dress?" Meno laughed holding his belly, "I'm not stupid enough to believe that!"
"I'm not willingly doing anything, Manny, it's back to rules and being polite for me." Toph grumbled.
"And who could force my dear baby cousin back into that prison?" he snorted, trying to hold back the giggles.
"Lord Earthiness, who else?" she snapped back, crossing her arms. "We're sneaking into his party."
"Why, didn't you get his invitation?" he asked, drawing the group to a stop.
"What invitation?" Kana asked.
"This one." he said, pulling out a bright green card with the golden seal of the Bei Fongs. Kana snatched it from his fingers, scanning over it quickly, a smile lighting up her face.
"This says it's specifically from the Earth King, its an invitation for the entire Bei Fong family!" she said excitedly, eyes lighting up in delight.
"So what?" Meno snapped, grabbing it back from her, "You aren't part of the Bei Fong family."
"Oh I beg to differ, cousin. We are very much related, and you are taking us to that party."
"Why would I do that?" he asked incredulous, and all three girls put their hands on their hips, cocking a brow.
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"I think we look wonderful." Kana said as she placed a final hair piece in Katara's hair. It was a good thing Hariti had taught her how to do this.
"I think we're going to stick out like a sore thumb." Toph snorted.
"Wasn't that the point?" Katara interjected standing, and smoothing a crease out of her blue dress. It was quite pretty, but not as pretty as Kana's. "We need to get the Earth King's attention somehow, and you said that we're young enough for it to be socially acceptable to wear these."
"It is, but I'm just saying. The Earth Kingdom nobility doesn't particularly like people who stand out with clothes. They prefer names."
"Well they're just going to have to deal, aren't they?" Kana laughed.
"For being royalty, and traveling the world, you really don't have a grasp of these things, do you Water Mama?"
"That," she drawled, tossing a wink at Katara since Toph was blind, "or I know how to manipulate it to a T."
"Yeah, but that would make you some sort of mad genius." Toph stated, making Kana sigh wistfully.
"Or I'd have had to learn from one." She murmured quietly, but Katara managed to hear it because of their close proximity.
"You know, Bumi?" she asked in surprise
"He and I were good friends." Kana commented matter-of-factly, moving on to her own hair. "I spent most of my time in the Earth Kingdom at Omashu, except of course when Aang had come to visit."
"I guess you and Aang have the same sort of friends." Katara noted, only managing to make Kana snort.
"You could say that, or you could say that the Air Nomads specifically put us in the same place, and introduced us to the same people."
"The Air Nomads don't sound like the kind of people to do that." Katara said with a frown.
"If it was any other nation I would say that they did it for power," Kana responded simply, "but since they weren't, it was most likely seen as 'guiding one to the right path, for the greater good'."
"Why not just let you pick your own friends, I mean, you're no Sugar Queen, but it's not like you're one to fall in with a bad crowd." Toph piped up.
"I did make my own friends; I guess you could say Aang was the one who didn't." Kana said slowly, careful of the way she worded what she was saying. "When I left, Aang was introduced to them, and you know how he is, everybody loves him."
"Except the Fire Nation, but they don't like anybody." Toph snorted, and Katara rolled her eyes.
"So Aang wasn't forced to make friends, he just did what came naturally." She said.
"You can look at it that way if you want, but who's to say they would have even met if the second Avatar didn't exist?"
"But wouldn't that mean you wouldn't exist?" Katara asked with a deep grimace.
"Water Mama not existing?" Toph sniffed, "Yeah right, she's too stubborn to not exist."
"There's not really any point thinking about it, I'm here now, and I'm going to make the most of it." Kana stated firmly.
"You sound exactly like Aang." Katara laughed.
"That's to be expected, wouldn't you say?" Kana teased jokingly, turning to the mirror to examine herself. The majority of the dress she wore was a pale icy blue, with only the trimming diverging from the solid color, lightening into a pure white. With Katara's dark blue, and Toph's yellow and orange, they were sure to stand out. "Are you two ready?"
"I suppose so," Katara said, fidgeting ever so slightly, "let's go meet the boys."
"Hold up Sweetness, noble women are suppose to be able to stop common folk like your brother and Twinkle Toes in their tracks." Toph stated, "If we can do that, it means we're ready."
"So what do you want us to do?" Katara asked, making Toph grin.
"Not us, you, Sugar Queen. Kana and I already know how to do it."
"Okay, than what do you want me to do?" she asked slightly annoyed.
"My cousin has the mentality of someone like Sokka, only trained in Earth Kingdom etiquette. Get his attention, it shouldn't be that hard if you're as pretty as they all say."
"Oh, I'm not that pretty." Katara muttered, blushing slightly.
"Don't be so modest." Kana laughed, "Spirits know I'm not!"
"Ha ha very funny, can we go know?" Toph asked, grabbing the door. When both Waterbenders nodded, they all snapped open their fans, sliding the door open.
The first thing Kana saw was Aang do a double take, before his face split up into a wide smile. "Wow Toph, you look great in Air Nomad colors!"
"Well don't get use to it Twinkle Toes, I'm only wearing this because Water Mama wants us to stand out." Toph snorted, angling her fan at him.
"Well you won't have any trouble with that, you look really nice!" he gushed, only to have Sokka flick him unexpectedly in the head. "Hey what was that for?"
"The game, remember?" Sokka snickered, making him blush slightly.
Katara opened her mouth to speak, only to have her lips covered by two fans immediately. "Don't talk to the commoners, Katara, first rule of society." Toph stated.
"We don't want you falling back into bad habits." Kana giggled, before nodding at the two boys. "We'll find a way to get you in the back."
"Good luck." Aang said in farewell, raising his hand. Katara offered a wave back as they made for the door, only to have Kana nudge her forward encouragingly. Meno was outside waiting.
"I don't think I can do this." Katara croaked, only to hear a snicker come from her two friends. It could also have been a giggle –they were acting like ladies, and ladies giggle– but when a tan hand snaked around her, sliding open the door, she froze.
Meno's head lolled up lazily, but as soon as he saw Katara, his back straightened, and he smirked. "Hey."
Kana felt a stitch form in her side, and before she knew it, she was doubled over in laughter. Sauntering over to Katara she threw an armaround her shoulder, and started to walk towards the palace. "See, we told you, you could do it!" she gasped, her friends face going red in a mixture of righteous indignation and humility.
"Wipe that dumb look off your face and come on, Manny," Toph yelled, "you have the invitation!"
"He's making an angry face, Toph." Kana said, with a grin.
"Still though, he's has our ticket in, SO HURRY UP!" she shouted back to her cousin, who just gave her a dirty look as he jogged to catch up.
"Not cool." He growled, making Kana stick her tongue out at him.
"I thought it was amusing." She laughed.
"Well I guess the surprise at the Earth Kings party will be rather amusing, too." He snorted.
"Surprise?" Kana asked, coming to a stop. "Meno, it's of vital importance that nothing goes wrong."
"Don't worry," he grinned, squeezing between Katara and her, slinging his own arm around the both of them. "Nothings going to happen to you ladies as long as I'm here."
"Yes, well while I'm certain you're eager to show us your mightiness, the only use we have for you is your invitation, not your surprises." Kana snapped.
"Oh, the cold ice of your words wounds me!" he cried dramatically, releasing both of the girls, and clutching at his heart.
"Stop being such a drama king, Manny," Toph commanded, "We're here."
The others automatically straightened at her words, stepping away from each other until they were an appropriate distance away. The moment they turned the corner, the palace lights shown as bright as a star, making all of them – except Toph – cover their eyes. They immediately got in line, she noticed Katara's overly stiff posture. The realization that out of all of them, only Katara never had to deal with the pressures of nobility, hit Kana like a raindrop of guilt. It was unfair of them to think she'd be fine in this environment.
"It makes me sick," Katara whispered after Kana had pressed the backs of their hands together in a comforting gesture, "how could people throw a partly like this when others are out there starving?"
"People want to be ignorant, otherwise they have to admit the nightmare is real."
"They only care about their happiness." She spat.
"Perhaps, but you have to remember there are more who don't." Kana murmured, entwining their fingers just long enough to give them a squeeze. Katara smiled gratefully before they reached the front of the line, where the guard demanded to see their invitations. Meno handed over a piece of paper, and the guard examined it carefully.
"An invitation from the Earth King himself allowing ant Bei Fong to pass," he growled, "do you have any proof of who you are?"
"I think this will be enough." Toph stated, nose in the air, as she pulled out the golden insignia of the Bei Fong house.
"And these two?" he asked, nodding at Katara and Kana.
"These are our cousins from the Water Tribe, they're visiting Ba Sing Se to see about good trading opportunities."
"It is not our custom to question our guests," a smooth voice said from behind them, "please allow me to apologize for this rudeness." Kana – and everyone else – turned to see who was addressing them. It was a man with black hair, hands folded in his sleeves that had spoken. She gave him a brilliant smile, seeing as the guard bowed before him, before speaking.
"There is no need, this is the Earth Kings party after all."
"I am glad you understand." He said with a slight bow, "My name is Long Feng, grand secretariat of Ba Sing Se. I did not know we would be entertaining foreign dignitaries from the Water Tribes."
"We're just traders," Katara jumped in quickly with a wide grin, "since our people have decided to join the war effort, open trade will soon commence. Our family believed we should get a head start."
"I see," Long Feng said blankly, "Come, we should not hold up the line anymore than we already have." Without another word, he turned away, and began to walk towards the sounds of the party. Everyone shared a glance before following him, quickly. When they entered the party, the loud music, and even brighter lights hammered on their senses.
"It has been an honor to meet the four of you, however I must see about business." Long Feng said, "Please excuse my presence, and not mention the war anymore, we do not the festivities to be soured by unpleasant talk."
"Of course, our apologies." Kana smiled, bowing. She waited until Long Feng was out of hearing distance before turning back to everyone.
"Toph and I'll let the boys in through the back," Katara whispered, "You two look for the Earth King."
"Keep a look out for your surprise." Meno breathed into Kana's ear, before stalking over to a group of unsuspecting girls.
"I swear to every spirit in the sky that your cousins end will be caused by a girl." She scowled, walking in the opposite direction. To be honest, she was looking more for her 'surprise', than the Earth King. Whatever it was, it could interfere with their plans.
It was sheer luck that she found her surprise rather than her friends. When she spotted it, all thoughts about why she was here in the first place vanished in a puff of smoke, her heart stopping. Her feet carried her towards it faster than a proper lady had any right going, forcing her into the shadows so no one would spot her. When she was behind her gift, she did a quick scan around to make sure nothing would spot her, before reaching out, and grabbing it by the collar.
Kana slammed him against a pillar out of sight with a snarl. "What are you doing here, Zuko?"
"Me, why are you here?" he growled back, smacking her hand away.
"I'm the Avatar, this is the Earth Kings party, I'm suppose to be here!" she hissed quietly, "You're the prince of the Fire Nation, the third most hated person in the world!"
"No, I'm Lee of the Earth Kingdom." He spat; shoving the metal tray she hadn't noticed him carrying into her stomach. "Lowly servant whose uncle just so happens to make the best tea in all of Ba Sing Se."
"You shouldn't be here, Zuko." She whispered.
"Why, because I have to tiptoe around, and do what you want?" he growled, and she took a step back, unable to hide the hurt look on her face fast enough.
"I have never given you a reason to feel that way, at least not why you were doing things that didn't involve, thievery or hunting a thirteen year old boy." She bit out harshly, "And the reason youshouldn't be here is because-"
A high pitch scream echoed throughout the banquet hall, making Kana blink in surprise. A low whisper started up in the crowd, growing in volume until it reached Zuko's and her ears. "The Avatar is here."
Zuko's face twisted, and he stepped purposefully out of the shadows, until dragged back by Kana. "Please, don't." she begged.
He stared down at her for a moment, before jerking his face away. "I'm going back to the kitchens to help Uncle with the tea." He said gruffly, turning and walking away. She watched him go, running a hand across her face. She let out a sigh, twirling around, and slamming her foot into a pair of rock gloves soaring straight at her.
"Long Feng wishes to speak to you about your presence here, Miss Bei Fong." A voice droned from the shadows, "You can either come by your own volition, or we can take you."
"You should be more polite," she laughed, giving a feral grin, lips picking up and exposing the canine teeth that all Water Tribe people had from the centuries of eating hard meat. "And not pick fights against your betters."
Four men stepped from the shadows, forming a box around her. "I don't believe you should be making threats Miss Bei Fong." The same man said.
"Or what?" she challenged, and she heard them snicker.
"That boy you were talking too, how would you like it if he was no longer allowed inside Ba Sing Se's walls, safe from the war?"
She shrugged indifferently; it would probably be best if he did leave. Safer too, for the both of them. "Anything else to bargain with?"
"We have the Avatar." Another person said, and her eyes focused on him. She stared at him, unblinking, a cold darkness resting over her face.
"I will kill all of you." She stated blandly, and a bead of sweat formed over the man's brow, before she turned back to the person who had originally spoken. "Take me to him, now."
"Right this way Miss Bei Fong." He said bowing, and walking away, Kana following closely. She was led towards the corner of the dining hall, where she noted Dai Lee agents surrounded her friends.
"You okay, Water Mama?" Toph asked, and she nodded. "Great, now I don't get to crush anyone."
"I'm glad my well being means so much to you." Kana draws sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"No problem." Toph grinned, shrugging her shoulders before a man cleared his throat. Not just any man though, Long Feng.
"If you would please follow me, a private conversation in my office will not be over heard." Everyone glanced at each other, wary of this man they barely knew, and his oily voice. With every second that ticked pass, the Dai Lee agents in her closer, ready for a struggle. Katara let out a sigh, nodding.
"We'll go with you."
"Very good, please follow me." They did, the Dai Lee boxing them in as they walked down a long hall, coming to an end at a semi impressive door. Long Feng opened it, and ushered them inside, the guards taking positions outside before it was shut.
The first thing Kana saw was the green glow of the fire, and she was suddenly back in the desert reading. She could feel the soft pressure in her robe from the book that Wan Shi Tong had given to her, and mentally flipped through the pages. Green fire meant greed.
As Kana's eyes roved over the fine silks of Long Fengs cloths, the golden buttons on his robes, and the mahogany wood work of his desk, that was the most adequate fire he could have burning. He attempted to justify what he had done, practically brain washing the Earth King, but they were only excuses for the obvious power grab. Everyone garages him with questions and accusations, but she just stayed silent while taking in his words.
When Joo Dee was brought in, a new face with an old name, her friends reacted with horror. Kana's nose simply flared, but she was certain nothing bad had happened to the other woman. She quietly left when escorted out, one thought on her mind. Both Long Feng, and the Dai Lee had to go.
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I'm so sorry that it took me this long to update, but this came from the fact that I had to redo the chapter, upon the fact that I shall be rewriting chapters 1, 2, and 10. You don't have to reread them neccesarily, because only chapter 10 changes the story line. It basically is just that Kana arrives AFTER the Gaang, so the dam has been blown. Therefore, they know who Jet is.