Book Two: Earth

Chapter Fifteen: The City of Walls and Secrets

Mist sighed as she dyed her hair. After a rather heated argument it had been decided that she would sneak into Ba Sing Se alone. Only Ty Lee would have been acrobatic enough to go with her, but Mai and Azula pointed out that she wasn't particularly silent. She frowned slightly as she finished putting the last of the dye in. When it dried it would be red brown with a single streak of blue through her bangs. The two colors made her eyes look darker. After her hair was dry she changed into the gypsy outfit that she had chosen for her disguise. The brightly colored material hung loose around her legs. Mist smiles at her reflection and spins slightly so the fabric flares out. There's a soft knock on the door before Ty Lee enters. She smiles when she sees Mist.

"Looks good," She compliments.

Mist smiles softly and turns back to the mirror.

"You remember the plan, right?"

"Keep my analytical mind to myself and act like the simple minded girl that people think I am."

"And keep my swords safe," Mist adds.

"Be careful, Zera," Ty Lee replies, seriously.

Mist meets her gaze in the mirror. It was rare for her to be called by her real name, mostly because she didn't tell anyone what it was.

"I promise," She said quietly before strapping her mother's knife to her side and leaving the room.

Ty Lee grabbed Mist's swords before heading back to her own room.

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Xena sat back against the side of the train, eyes closed. They had stayed the night in the soldier barracks on the Outer Wall and come morning had gotten on the train to enter the city itself. Aang sat next to her and Katara was on his other side. Toph and Sokka sat across from them with Momo in Toph's lap.

"Look, the Inner Wall!" Katara exclaimed. "I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece."

"Hey, don't jinx it!" Sokka said, looking away from the wall. "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."

"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph asked.

"I'm just sayin'," Sokka replied. "Weird stuff happens to us."

A large man sucking on a pineapple suddenly sat between him and Toph. Xena smiled slightly without opening her eyes.

"Don't worry, Aang," Katara said to Aang. "We'll find Appa."

"It's such a big city."

"Appa's a giant bison!" Sokka said loudly. "Where could someone possibly hide him?"

Xena frowns and sits up, pointing out the window as they pass through the Inner Wall. "See for yourself."

Sokka's eyes widened in shock. "Oh…"

The city was huge and the Lower Ring in itself stretched in all directions as far as the eye could see. There would be a lot of places to hide Appa.

"Back in the city," Toph drawled sarcastically. "Great…"

"What's the problem?" Sokka asked in confusion. "It's amazing."

"It's just a bunch of walls and rules," Toph scoffed while Xena mumbled an agreement. "You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days."

The five teens stand and leave the transportation as it slides to a stop in the station.

Momo ears suddenly perked up and Xena turned to see Aang blowing into the bison whistle. Katara placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned to face us.

"He's here I can feel it."

A heat signature catches Xena's attention on the other side of the track. Someone is staring in their direction like they can see through the train. The heat signature is slightly off though, almost too cold and flimsy and she can't figure out why.

"That's creepy," She mumbles, causing the others to look in the direction she's looking.

The train pulls away revealing a woman dressed in green robes with a large creepy smile on her face. Xena's instincts scream that something is wrong and she narrows her eyes at the woman in frustration. She hasn't even met her yet and she already hate her.

"Hello, my name is Joo Dee!" She greeted after walking over to them. "I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar and his guardian around Ba Sing Se. And you must Sokka, Katara, and Toph! Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?"

"Yes," Sokka said, holding his bag to his chest. "We have information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King, immediately."

"Great! Let's begin our tour. And then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it!" Joo Dee exclaimed, ignoring Sokka.

"Ugh!" Sokka groaned in annoyance. "Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the king about the War, it's important."

"You're in Ba Sing Se now," The woman replied blankly with a smile. "Everyone is safe here."

Xena narrowed her eyes angrily and started to step forward menacingly but Katara grabbed her arm with a slight shake of her head.

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Xena stared out the window of the carriage, ignoring Joo Dee as she talked with the others. Everything about this city was sending warning signals through her body and she just wanted to grab Aang and leave.

"This is why Xena and I never came here before," Aang stated, catching her attention; "I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught me how to live."

"Tami and Tamsin told me that it was a really horrible place to live," Xena says in agreement, lighting a small red flame in her hand in boredom.

"I must ask that you put that out," Joo Dee says cheerfully.

Xena narrows her eyes and glares at her. The flame turns blue now that her attention is somewhere else. Joo Dee's smile fades as she stares at the unique flame. There's a subtle shift in the air as the wave of heat that comes from her seems to become normal for a second. Xena closes her hand over her flame and it flickers back to being weird again. Toph seemed to sense the subtle shift as well because she turns to glance at her.

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Iroh appeared by Zuko's side, holding a large vase of orange flowers. Zuko glared at him as well as the flowers.

"I just want our place to look nice, in case someone brings home a lady friend!" Iroh explained. Zuko frowned slightly, forcing the sudden image of Xena from his mind.

"This city is a prison," He mumbled. "I don't want to make a life here."

"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not," Iroh replied wisely. "Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon!"

Zuko sighed as he followed his uncle.

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Mist froze on a nearby rooftop and watched in surprise as Zuko followed his uncle. What in the spirits were they doing here? She growled and slipped backwards, unaware that she was being watched.

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"This is the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se," Joo Dee stated, back to being overly optimistic. "Home to the financial district, shops, and restaurants, and the university."

"Yeah, we met a professor from the Ba Sing Se University," Sokka commented offhandedly then became impatient. "He took us to an ancient underground library where we discovered information about the war that is absolutely crucial for the Earth King to hear!"

Joo Dee merely smiled and spoke excitedly, "Isn't history fascinating? Look, here's one of the oldest towns in the middle ring, Town Hall!"

The carriage stopped and she exited. Sokka glared at her retreating back in annoyance.

"Is that woman deaf?" He demanded. "She only seems to hear every other word I say!"

"It's called 'being handled.' Get used to it," Toph said, crossing her arms.

"I'm not sure that's it. Something is definitely not right in this place," Xena says and then turns to the other four. "Whatever you do, don't trust anybody in this city."

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"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers," Pao, the owner of the small tea shop said, looking at his new employees. "How do you feel?"

Iroh struggled to tie his apron.

"Ridiculous," Zuko growled.

"Uh," Iroh asked as he continued struggling with the string. "Does this possibly come in a larger size?"

"I have extra string in the back," Pao replied lightly. "Have some tea while you wait!"

He poured some tea into cups and handed them to the two firebenders. Zuko stared at the teacup in irritation while Iroh took a small sip.

"Blech!" Iroh muttered, looking at the teacup in disgust. "This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!"

"Uncle that's what all tea is."

"How could a member of my own family say something so horrible?" Iroh demanded angrily. "We'll have to make some changes around here."

Going to the window he dumped the pot of tea out.

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"The Upper Ring is home to our most important citizens," Joo Dee said when they entered the Upper Ring. "Your house is not too far from here!"

"What's inside that wall?" Katara asked curiously.

Xena looked out the window, noticing the men wearing dark green robes and wide brim hats with yellow tassels who guarded said wall.

"And who're the mean looking guys in robes?" Sokka added.

"Inside is the Royal Palace," Joo Dee explained. "Those men are agents of the Dai Li, the cultural authority of Ba Sing Se. They are guardians of all our traditions!"

Aang stared at her in annoyance. "Can we see the king now?"

"Oh, no," Joo Dee replied hurriedly. "One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!"

"We'll see about that," Xena mumbled, to quiet for anyone else to hear.

"Here we are!" Joo Dee exclaimed suddenly. "Your new home!"

They walked up the stairs and stood near the top as a messenger ran up to Joo Dee. She read the scroll he gave her quickly then smiled up at them.

"More good news! Your request for an audience with the Earth King is being processed, and should be put through in about a month. Much more quickly than usual!"

"A month?" Sokka asked in disbelief.

Joo Dee smiled widely at them. "Six to eight weeks, actually."

She walked past them into the house and Xena scowled slightly, glancing back towards the direction of the palace. Something was wrong in this city. Biting the inside of her cheek, she heads into the house after the others.

"Isn't it nice?" Joo Dee asked. "I think you'll really enjoy it here."

"I think we would enjoy it more if we weren't staying for so long," Sokka snarled. "Can't we see the Earth King any sooner?"

"The Earth King is very busy running the finest city in the world, but he will see you as soon as time permits."

Aang turned to look out the window. "If we're going to be here for a month, we should spend our time looking for Appa."

"I'll be happy to escort you anywhere you'd like to go," Joo Dee stated as she bowed to Aang.

"We don't need a babysitter," Toph snapped.

"Oh, I won't get in the way," Joo Dee said quickly. "And to leave you alone would make me a bad host! Where shall we start?"

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"I'm sorry," The owner of the pet shop said with a frown. "But I haven't heard anything about a flying bison. I didn't even know there were any left."

Aang leaned forward. "If someone wanted to sell a stolen animal without anyone knowing, where would they go?"

"Where's the black market? Who runs it?" Sokka demanded. "Come on, you know!"

"Uh…" The pet store owner stuttered nervously and glanced past them. Xena didn't need to turn around to know Joo Dee was shaking her head slowly.

The owner cleared his throat and said carefully, "That would be illegal. You'll have to leave now; your lemur is harassing my sparrowkeets."

Xena grabbed Momo and shot a glare at Joo Dee.

"You sensed it too," Toph whispered as they left.

"Yeah."

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The university student thought for a moment before answering, "I've never seen any sandbenders or nomads around here. You should ask Professor Zei, he teaches the class on desert cultures."

"Right," Sokka replied sarcastically. "And which of your professors could we ask about the war with the Fire Nation?"

Once again Joo Dee shook her head, this time Sokka caught a glimpse of it as well

"I don't know," The university student said quickly. "I'm not a political science student. I've got to get to class," He tripped and dropped his scrolls but quickly regathered them and ran off.

"I swear I'm this close to murdering her," Xena whispers to Toph, who mumbles an agreement.

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"Well, I'm sorry no one has seen your bison," Joo Dee said, not sounding sorry at all. "Why don't you get some rest? Someone will be over with dinner, later."

"It would help if you stopped scaring off our leads," Xena growled after the carriage left.

"What do you mean?" Aang asked in confusion.

"Hey," Sokka interrupted. "Follow me."

Xena frowns but follow him across the street anyways to another house. Sokka knocked lightly on the front door and stepped back. A man opened the door and smiled as he glanced around us nervously.

"You're the Avatar!" He exclaimed after he was sure no one else was around. "I heard you were in town. I'm Pong."

Aang smiled. "Nice to meet you, Pong."

"So, Pong, what's goin' on with this city?" Sokka asked casually. "Why is everyone here so scared here to talk about the war?"

Pong's eyes started shifting from side-to-side nervously. "War? Scared? What do you mean?"

"I can feel you shaking," Toph commented in annoyance.

"Look, I'm just a minor government official," Pong said hurriedly, looking around again. "I've waited three years to get this house. I don't want to get into trouble."

"Get in trouble with who?" Katara asked.

"Shh!" Pong whispered. "Listen, you can't mention the war here. And whatever you do, stay away from the Dai Li."

He closed the door quickly after he finished speaking.

What do the Dai Li have to do with all of this?

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"Would you like a pot of tea?" Iroh asked as they walked into their new apartment.

"We've been working in a tea shop all day!" Zuko snapped, dropping onto the futon. "I'm sick of tea!"

"Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!" Iroh squawked indignantly, rummaging through the cabinet under the sink. "Have you seen the spark rocks to heat up the water?"

"No," Zuko grumbled in irritation.

Iroh left the apartment and came back a few moments later with a pair of light green spark rocks.

"I borrowed our neighbors'. Such kind people," Zuko ignored his uncle and leaned back slightly, closing his eyes with a sigh.

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Xena sat on the window sill, staring into the backyard. This city was starting to piss her off. The way they separated the poor from the rich and the fact that people were acting like the war didn't exist. Sighing, she pinched the bridge of her nose before pulling her legs up to her chest.

"I got it! I know how we're going to see the Earth King!" Katara suddenly exclaimed, running into the living room with a rolled up scroll.

"How are we supposed to do that?" Toph asked flatly then she mimicked Joo Dee. "'One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!'"

Katara smiled as she read from the paper, "The king is having a party tonight for his pet bear."

"You mean platypus-bear?" Aang asked curiously.

"No, it just says 'bear.'"

"Certainly you mean his pet skunk-bear."

"Or his armadillo-bear," Toph added idly.

"Gopher-bear?" Aang asked.

"Just…bear." Katara replied with a shrug.

"This place…" Toph began flatly,."Is weird."

"I'm surprised that you've guys have never heard of a plain old bear," Xena remarks, swinging her legs off the side of the window sill. "Not everything is a mix between two or more animals."

"That's great, Xena. Really," Sokka said sarcastically.

Katara shook her head before she could retort. "The palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd."

Toph lied back down and tucked her hands behind her head. "Won't work."

"Why not?" Katara asked in confusion.

"Well, no offense to you simply country folk, but a real society crowd will spot you a mile away," Toph replied idly without lifting her head. "The only one with any manners is Xena."

She grabbed a pastry from a nearby bowl and took a large bite.

"Excuse me?" Katara demanded feeling insulted. "I've got no manners? You're not exactly 'lady fancy fingers!'"

Toph burped loudly. "I learned proper society behavior and chose to leave it. You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late."

"Aha, but you learned it!" Sokka exclaimed excitedly. "You could teach us."

"Yeah, I'm mastering the elements," Aang piped in with a grin. "How hard could manners be?"

The young monk jumped off the railing and he grabbed a nearby curtain, putting it around himself like a noble's robe.

"Good evening, Mr. Sokka Water Tribe, Ms. Katara Water Tribe, Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty, Your Momoness," Aang said in a very sophisticated manner.

Sokka did the same thing with another curtain. "Avatar Aang, how do you do? Go on." He stuck his nose in the air snootily.

Xena rolled her eyes as they started bowing to each other trying to outdo the other. They slammed foreheads against each other and fell down.

"Katara might be able to pull it off," Toph said. "But you two would be lucky to pass as busboys!"

"But I feel so fancy!" Sokka protested.

Xena sighe and pushed off the window sill.

"Toph's right," She says and then smiled. "You two just don't have the eloquence that is required to pull off being an Upper Class man."

They both pouted at her words and collapsed back onto the floor.

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Xena held the hair pin in her mouth as she pulled part of her hair back behind my ear. She took the pin and slid it in before backing up and turning to look in the full length mirror. She looked like a completely different person. She wore a one shoulder green dress that swept the ground around her feet and a lighter green sash was tied around her waist. Her hair fell freely around har face except for the part that she had pinned back with a green and blue dragonfly pin. The crescent moon tattoo on her forehead as well as the scars on her arms had been covered in a paint that matched her skin tone and she had applied a little makeup that made the silver in her eyes less notable.

She sighed in irritation before turning to the side to see if the knife strapped to her leg was noticeable. Unfortunately she wouldn't be able to take her swords with them, so she had to use the long knife that she had gotten from Korra on her thirteenth birthday, the same knife that was usually tucked in her boot. She placed her hand on the doorknob to leave the room but stopped short. She took several deep breaths to steady myself.

"Where's Xena?" She heard Sokka ask.

Setting her face, she stepped out into the living room, forcing her nervousness down. Everyone except for Toph gaped at her in surprise. Xena forced herself to stay still.

"Wow," Katara said finally. "You're beautiful Xena. Totally gorgeous."

"You look so different," Aang said happily.

She blushed and looked down at her feet.

"She looks human," Sokka comments.

Xena scowl at him in irritation. He yelps and hides behind his sister.

"But still scary," He adds.

"We'll get in the party, and then find a way to let you in through the side gate," Katara told the boys, pushing her brother away.

"Probably best if the three of us split up," Xena says once they're out of the house. "They might be expecting us to sneak into the party."

'Good idea," Toph agrees. "Me and Sugar Queen will stay together."

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Mist almost passed her. The Avatar's Guardian looked like she was going to a party, wearing a dress in fact. She walked by herself, glancing in Mist's direction once before shaking her head and walking faster. Mist smiled and sat back on her heels. The girl looked like a sophisticated noblewoman until she tripped over the loose fabric of her dress. Mist had to put a hand to her mouth to stifle a giggle. The girl cussed violently in an unladylike way as she regained her balance, looking even less like a noblewoman.

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Zuko heard the praise one of the customers gave Iroh and scowled at his uncle's cheesy remark.

"The secret ingredient is love."

Zuko shook his head and grabbed a rag to go clean one of the tables when Jet suddenly slammed open the door. Zuko carefully placed the rag back on the countertop, straightening as Jet stormed farther into the tea shop.

"I'm tired of waiting," Jet growled furiously before pointing at the two firebenders. "These two men are firebenders."

Zuko glanced at his uncle as Jet slid into a stance, continuing his accusations. "I know they're firebenders. I saw the old man heating his tea!"

"He works in a tea shop," One of the customers commented.

"He's a firebender!" Jet roared. "I'm telling you!"

"Drop your swords, boy," One of the customers, a soldier, stood up slowly. "Nice and easy."

"You'll have to defend yourself," The hook sword wielder taunted, ignoring the soldier. "Then everyone will know. Go ahead; show them what you can do."

The soldier moved to draw his dao swords but Zuko was faster, grabbing them instead, wishing that he had the swords he left in the apartment.

"You want a show? I'll give you a show!"

He slid into a stance, kicking a table at Jet. The Freedom Fighter sliced the table in half before jumping over them and attacking him. Zuko deflected the attack and jumped back onto another table which Jet promptly sliced through. Zuko balanced on one of the halves as Jet cut the legs out from under it. He jumped and swung at Jet's feet but the other boy flipped back lithely. Jet charged at Zuko again and the two sets of swords rang together in a flurry of sparks.

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Xena tripped over her dress again, this time colliding with a guest.

"I'm sorry sir," Xena says after he helps her keep her balance. "It's just this dress…"

"That's quite alright dear, no harm done," The young man around Sokka's age said pleasantly.

Xena smiled and bowed politely before straightening up. She pats the side of her sash and frowns.

"Oh dear, it seems I lost my invitation in that little tumble."

"Ah," The man looked around on the ground for a few minutes with her doing the same, he smiled at her when they didn't find the nonexistent invitation. "Why don't I tell the guard that you're with me since it was an accident."

"I wouldn't want to impose."

"Nonsense," He says, waving a hand. "It would be quite an honor to escort a young and beautiful woman such as yourself."

She blushes at the compliment and looks down at her feet and then looks up at him underneath her lashes shyly. "Well, if you insist."

"I do," He says determinedly and holds out his arm in a gentlemanly manner.

Xena smiles and curtsies slightly before taking his proffered arm.

"Invitation please," The guard requested as they approached.

"Here you go sir," The young man said, holding out his fancy slip of paper.

The guard took it and motioned for them to go inside. Using her heat vision, Xena was able to sense Katara and Toph towards the back of the group of people waiting to head inside.

"Would you consider it rude if I were to ask you name?" He asked after they walked through the other guests.

"Not at all," Xena answers, smiling. "My name is Hazuki Lin Fae."

"A beautiful name for a beautiful lady," He compliments.

"I'm flattered," Xena says, blushing again.

"I'm Era Hi Nori."

"That's an … interesting name."

He laughed. "Tell me about it."

Xena of course finds that the perfect opportunity to trip over her dress again. The shy awkward girl was just an act, but unfortunately the clumsiness was not. Dresses and her never got a long which is why in the past she had always worn nice dress pants to a party instead,

"Careful there," He says, steadying her and causing a deeper blush to spread across her face.

"Thank you," She smooth out her dress and then laughs slightly. "I'm usually not this graceless."

"Well, I must admit it's not every day I have young woman tripping over themselves for me."

Her level of humiliation and embarrassment practically shoots through the roof and if it wasn't for Toph catching her sleeve she probably would have said something stupid.

"We can't get to the boys," She hissed softly.

Xena noticed several things at once. That Era is watching them in confusion and a man in dark green is standing next to Katara, watching them.

"I'll keep an eye out for them, cousin," Xena says and she nods catching on.

"I'm sorry if I interrupted," She said and then held a hand several inches away from where Era was actually standing. "I'm Dum."

"Ugh," Era says and Xena barely stops from smiling.

"She means her name is Dum," She explains for the blind girl.

"Oh," He rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry that was rude of me."

"I'm used to it," She shrugs and drops her hand and then turned back to Xena.

"I better rejoin Kwa Mai," She says, telling her Katara's code name. "Tell me if you see our parents."

They watch as she walks back to Katara and the man, occasionally bumping into people before Katara runs forward to help her.

"So that was your…"

"Cousin, from my mother's side," Xena says in way of explanation.

He nods and then gestures towards the refreshment table.

"Would you like a drink?"

"I don't know," She began in an uncertain tone. "I'm afraid that if I try to walk I'll trip and hurt someone."

"I'll make sure you don't," Era says kindly, offering his arm again. Xena smiles and takes it.

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Zuko was knocked through the door of the tea shop. He flipped back to his feet and locked swords with Jet again.

"You must be getting tired of using those swords," Jet taunted. "Why don't you go ahead and firebend at me?"

Zuko saw his uncle step into the doorway of the tea shop.

"Please son, you're confused. You don't know what you're doing."

They ignored him and Zuko swung at Jet. The Freedom Fighter deflected them and spun behind the scarred firebender. Jet hooked his swords together and began spinning them in a circular motion, causing Zuko to retreat defensively.

"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a fire blast right now," Jet mocked, swinging his swords at Zuko's feet.

Zuko pinned one of Jet's sword by stabbing one of his blades through the hilt. Jet growled in annoyance.

"You're the one who needs help," He snapped and they began fighting with their remaining swords.

Zuko sword swings over Jet's head as the Freedom Fighter bends backwards to dodge. The wheat straw is cut in half. Jet jumps back onto edge of a well.

"You see that! The Fire Nation is trying to silence me!" He shouts at the crowd "It'll never happen."

He jumped off the well hooking his sword into the top covering as he kicked out at Zuko.

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Toph was right when she said the boys could pull off being busboys. Xena had spotted them a few minutes ago as they stood back to back talking. Toph had noticed them as well and quickly made her way over to them with Katara in tow.

"So how long are you in Ba Sing Se for?" Era asked, pulling her attention to him.

"A few more days," Xena answers truthfully, turning to face him fully.

Using her heat vision, she notices when Joo Dee discovers the others. She just hopes that she doesn't notice her as well anytime soon.

"Oh well we should make the most-"

A sudden commotion cuts him off. Xena turns and barely hold back a curse after noticing Aang using airbending and losing his busboy cap.

"The Avatar!" The woman he had used his airbending on gasped. "I didn't know the Avatar would be here."

All of the guests' attention was drawn to Aang and Sokka leaned over to whisper something in his ear.

Aang nodded at whatever he said before calling to the crowd, "Watch this, everybody!"

Xena closed her eyes and inhale softly to calm myself as he begins showing off and doing tricks. This was not keeping a low profile. When she reopened her eyes, she noticed Era watching him along with all the other guests.

"If the Avatar is here I wonder where his Guardian is," He mused thoughtfully, glancing back towards her.

She sigh after he turns back to watching Aang. She swears one of these days She'll kill Aang.

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Zuko and Jet stood back to back, trying to strike each other from behind. Two Dai Li agents began pushing through the crowd towards the two boys. Zuko pulled away from Jet and slid into a stance.

"Drop your weapons," One of the Dai Li agents orders.

Zuko's eyes narrow at the other boy as he lowers his sword. Jet scowled and pointed towards him and Iroh.

"Arrest them. They're firebenders."

"This poor boy is confused," Iroh says stepping up to Zuko's side. "We're just simple refugees."

Pao stepped forward as well, pointing at Jet, "This young man wrecked my tea shop, and assaulted my employees!"

"Its true sir we saw the whole thing," One of the customers defended. "This crazy kid attacked the finest tea maker in the city."

"That's very sweet," Iroh chuckled at the compliment.

"Come with us son," One of the agents instructed Jet.

He scowled and swung his sword, but was quickly disarmed and his arms were pulled behind his back.

"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!" Jet shouts as they began dragging him away.

Everyone heads back to what they were doing after the Dai Li have taken Jet away. Zuko hands the dao swords back to the soldier he took them from.

"That was mighty fine sword work there," The soldier says, sheathing his swords.

Zuko just nods before joining his uncle.

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Xena leaned against a nearby pillar, watching Aang's performance. She was first to notice when the Earth King was carried in on a palanquin. Era looked away from Aang towards the Earth King.

"Aang!" Sokka shouted. "The Earth King."

Aang looked up and stopped entertaining the bear. He created an air scooter and rode it across the table towards the King. Xena pushed off the pillar, silently praying that this would work.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!" Aang exclaimed when he was closer.

Suddenly the palanquin was carried away and line of Dai Li agents appeared at the end of the table. Xena shifts silently, crouching down to pull her dagger. She holds it flat against her arm as she straightens up. Era glances back at her, noticing the movement but not the dagger. She gives him a small smile before glaring as the man in green robes that had been with Katara and Toph earlier stopped in front of Aang. Sokka tried to follow the king but was grabbed by two Dai Li agents.

"Hey! Let me go!" Sokka shouted, struggling.

Xena grit her teeth and tightens her grip on the whale bone knife. She sensed when Katara and Toph were pulled away as well and it took all her self-control to stay where she was. The man in front of Aang talked quietly to him and led him away. Aang glanced in her direction, his mind brushing against hers.

"Wait, Xena. Let's just see what he wants."

"Be careful," She answers, relaxing and nodding slightly.

She notices the man trying to follow his gaze but he passes right over Xena not recognizing her due to the absence of a crescent moon tattoo.

"Hazuki, are you okay?" Era asks.

"I have to go," She answers, stepping back and carefully making her way towards the entrance, irritation and anger keeping her from tripping over her dress hem. Era catches up to her quickly.

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sorry, Era but something came up," She answered.

"Well, at least let me escort you home?"

Xena stops and glances at him for a second. The decision is easy to make when she senses all of the Dai Li in the area, no doubt looking for her.

"Fine."

lxxxXXXxxxl

Xena hadn't told Era who she was yet. After they had got to the house that the GAang was staying at, she had gone straight to the bathroom to change back into her usual clothes. Even then she stayed there longer than was necessary to repaint her other tattoos.

Era was looking into the back yard when she came back into the room and she watched him quietly for a few minutes trying to think of an explanation. There was a dull crunch of gravel as a carriage rolled to a stop in front of the house and she moved quickly, grabbing her swords before opening the door.

She sighed in relief when she saw that the four teens were alright, only to frown when another woman stepped out after them. Her heat signature was just as messed up as Joo Dee's was. Era stood slightly behind the door, unable to see or be seen.

"Who's this?" Xenas ask sharply.

"I'm Joo Dee," The woman answers, smiling widely.

Xena clenches her swords in surprise.

Finally got this chapter done. The next chapter is The Tales of Ba Sing Se it contains the tales of Zuko, Xena, and Mist.

-Wolf

Ch16: Tales of Ba Sing Se

Book Two

Chapter Sixteen: Tales of Ba Sing Se

The Tale of Zuko

Zuko noticed the girl watching him. After what happened with Jet he had gotten even more paranoid than he already was. He walked towards his the back of the shop where his uncle was stacking things on a shelf behind the counter.

"Uncle, we have a problem," he hissed quietly, "One of the customers is on to us. Don't look now, but there's a girl over there at the corner table. She knows we're Fire Nation."

"You're right, Zuko. I've seen that girl in here quite a lot," Iroh agreed before giving him a sly smile, "Seems to me she has quite a little crush on you."

Zuko started in surprise, "What?"

"Thank you for the tea." It was the girl coming to pay for her tea. Zuko took the coins from her his head ducked slightly as he turned to place them on the counter behind him.

"What's your name?" The girl asked sweetly and Zuko tensed.

"My name's Lee," Zuko replied slowly as he looked at her, "My uncle and I just moved here."