Book Two: Earth
Chapter Eighteen: The Earth King
Xena tucked the mask into her belt before joining the others next to Appa. The bison rumbles and nudges her shoulder. She placed her hand on his nose with a faint smile. She was glad that they were all back together again. Era was staring at the sky bison in awe. He had never seen a more majestic animal.
Sokka cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Look we escaped from the Dai Li. we got Appa back. I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll."
"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll," Katara said skeptically.
"We can build on it," Sokka retorted. "If we're going to invade the Fire Nation when the Eclipse happens, we'll need the Earth King's support."
"What makes you think we'll get it?" Toph asked from her spot on the ground. "I don't know if you noticed, but things don't go that smoothly for our little group."
"I know, but I got a good feeling about this," Sokka says confidently. "This time will be different."
Katara sighed. "Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city. His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. I think we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us."
"I'm with Sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se," Toph agreed, throwing her hands in the air. "And I can't even see."
"I'm with Sokka on this one," Xena says suddenly. "We need to help the refugees and citizens. They already know about the war, it's only the Earth King that doesn't."
Aang jumped down from Appa's head. "Plus we have Appa back, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth, about the conspiracy and the war."
Sokka grinned and threw his arm around Aang's shoulders. "See? Both Aang and Xena are with me. It's the whole reason we came here in the first place. We have to try."
Katara sighed and gave in. "I guess things could change if the Earth King knew the truth.'
"I don't trust the new positive Sokka," Toph began as she stood up. "Long Feng brainwashed you didn't he?"
"If we're gonna leave then we need to do so now," Era interrupted and pointed to the lake were two green ships were gliding across the water towards them.
Katara hesitated a moment and nodded her head. "Let's fly."
Era looked positively terrified when he climbed onto Appa's back. Xena grinned and sat on Appa's head next to Aang, holding onto his fur as they took off.
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Mist led the way out of the Dai Li hide out. Shun and Smellerbee followed, supporting a weakened Jet between them. A fire hawk suddenly dropped out of the sky and landed on Mist's shoulder. Mist patted the birds head, but kept moving provoking Smellerbee and Shun to exchange confused looks. The fire hawk had been a gift from her father. Its name was Zai (S-i).
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"Can we please buy a new saddle?" Toph shrieked. "Riding bareback is terrifying."
Era would have agreed with her if he wasn't afraid that he'd bite his tongue off.
"There it is," Sokka shouted. "The whole thing is the palace! The Earth King's chamber should be in the center!"
"We have to be careful," Katara advised. "Long Feng's probably warned the king that we're coming."
"Why would you assume that?" If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in and-" Sokka screamed when a rock almost hit Appa.
"What was that?" Toph demanded.
"Surface-to-air-rocks," Sokka shouted back. "And more incoming."
Appa was able to dodge most of the rocks but Aang and Xena had to destroy a few that he couldn't. Aang jumped off of Appa's head when they were close enough and used earthbending to create a shock wave that knocked earthbender's off their feet. Xena jumped off as soon as Appa touched down, rolling to her feet and pulling her swords free as she did so. She followed Aang towards the stairs and sensed the earthbenders before they popped up.
"Hit the deck!" She shouted, causing the others to drop as she bended a ring of fire out in the same move that Aang had almost completed in his training with Jeong Jeong.
The ring of fire blasted the unprepared earthbenders back.
"Sorry," Katara called as the continued forward.
She began to apologize every time they defeated a group of guards. Toph and Aang saved the group from two badgermole statues by creating a stone wall. Era cleared the bridge over the mote with a sand whip. Xena stood next to Aang when he and Toph scaled up the stairs with earthbending and earthbenders slid down on either side because of the stairs being turned into a slide. Xena leapt into action the moment the make do elevator stop. She punched a guard in the face, twisted underneath the outstretched arm of another guard, and tripped two others. Sokka's boomerang took out the one guard she missed. They kept moving forward steadily, clearing their path as they ran into the palace.
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Zuko led the way into the apartment, dragging his dao swords behind him.
"You did the right thing," Iroh declared proudly. "Letting the Avatar's bison go free."
"I don't feel right," Zuko mumbled in response and swayed on his feet before collapsing.
"Zuko," Iroh exclaimed and crouched next to his nephew's side worriedly.
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Aang and Toph opened the large door with earthbending after Sokka failed to open it.
"A little warning next time," He glowered at them.
Xena moved past him, taking point. They stopped several feet in front of the throne where six Dai Li agents and Long Feng stood in front a scrawny dude with glasses who sat on the throne.
"We need to talk to you," Aang stated firmly.
His staff was at the ready and everyone else was in a fighting stance as well.
"They're here to overthrow you," Long Feng told the Earth King.
"No we're on your side; we're here to help," Sokka protests.
"You have to trust us," Katara added.
The Earth King stood from his throne. "You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?"
"He has a point," Toph agreed.
"If you're on my side then drop your weapons and stand down."
Aang straightened and dropped his staff and the others followed his example, except for Xena who just sheathed her swords.
"See?" Aang asked. "We're you friends, Your Earthiness."
Long Feng smirked. "detain the assailants."
The agents did as they were told, pulling the teens arms behind their backs. Xena didn't struggle as they thought she would of.
"But we dropped our weapons," Sokka protested. "We're your allies."
"Sokka," Xena warned quietly.
Long Feng smirked triumphantly. "Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again."
"The Avatar?" The Earth King gasped and then pointed at Xena, who had been the last to speak. "You're the Avatar."
"No, I'm his Guardian," She answered with a nod in Aang's direction.
"What does it matter, Your Highness? They're enemies of the state," Long Feng said with a frown.
"Perhaps you're right," The king smiled when he saw his bear licking Aang. "Bosco seems to like him. I will hear what he has to say."
Long Feng glared as Aang stepped forward.
"Well, sir, there's a war going on right now, for the past hundred years in fact. The Dai Li kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you."
"A secret war? That's crazy," The Earth King shook his head.
"Completely," Long Feng agreed.
"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our sky bison to blackmail us," Aang continued, "and blackmail is the least of his crimes. He brainwashed our friend!"
"All lies," Long Feng lied. "I've never seen a sky bison, Your Majesty. Frankly, I thought they were extinct."
"Your claim is difficult to believe," The King said as he sat on his throne. "Even from the Avatar."
Long Feng leaned over and began whispering in his ear, "These hooligans are part of-"
"Your Majesty," Era interrupted. "You may not believe the Avatar, but would you be willing to believe one of your own citizens."
"Who did you have in mind?" The king asked curiously while Long Feng shot Era a heated glare.
"Myself, sir. My name is Era Hi Nori, son of General Quon."
"General Quon?" The king sounded surprised.
"Yes, sir."
"Then this matter is something I should look into."
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Zuko groaned, opening his eyes to see his worried Uncle leaning over him with a wet wash cloth.
"You're burning up. You have an intense fever." Iroh placed the cloth on his forehead. "This will help cool you down."
"So thirsty," He rasped quietly.
"Here's some clean water to drink." Iroh held the ladle to his mouth. "Stay under the blankets and sweat this out."
Zuko sloppily drank the water from the ladle and the grabbed the entire bucket, throwing it against the wall when he was done. He then lay back down and pulled the blanket up.
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"So this is what a train is like?" The Earth King asked uncomfortably. "I didn't realize it would be this … public."
"So you've never beside the Upper Ring before?" Katara asked in surprise.
"I've never been outside the palace," He replied cheerfully, missing Katara and Sokka's surprised expression when he noticed Aang on Appa. "Now that's the way to travel."
Xena looked out the window, hands tightening on the edge of her seat. She had a bad feeling about the lake. Era placed her hand on top of hers in reassurance.
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Toph earthbent the secret tunnel out of the water, revealing it to be destroyed. "It's gone.'
"The Dai Li must have gotten here before us." Xena stepped to the shore with a scowl.
"That seems awfully convenient, " Kuei mused suspiciously.
"Hey if anything this proves it even more," Sokka protested weakly.
"Long Feng was right. This was a waste of time," He stated and started walking away. "I'm going back to the palace.
"Wait there's one more thing we can show you as proof," Xena called confidently. "But you have to come to the Outer Wall with us."
"No, Earth King had ever been to the Outer Wall," He said pausing in his walking. "I don't have any more time for this nonsense.
Sokka smiled widely. "If you come with us, you can ride on Appa."
Kuei turned, eyes wide.
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Iroh watched Zuko worriedly as he slept.
Zuko sat on the Fire Lord's throne, his scar gone. A red and a blue dragon circled the two pillars on either side of the throne.
"It's getting late," The blue dragon said with Azula's voice. "Are you planning on retiring soon, my Lord?"
"I'm not tired."
"Relax Fire Lord Zuko," The blue dragon whispered. "Just let go, give into it. Shut your eyes for a while."
"No Fire Lord Zuko!" The red dragon roared in Iroh's voice. "Don't listen to the blue dragon. You should get out of here right now. Go before it's too late."
"Sleep now, Fire Lord Zuko." The throne room and red dragon vanished. "Sleep, just like mother!"
The blue dragon charged at him mouth wide open. The floor suddenly begins to fall out from below him. He's falling. A white and blue dragon suddenly exploded between Zuko and the dragon as a hand grabs his wrist. Xena had caught him.
"Trust me?" She asks quietly.
He looks into her eyes before grasping her forearm. "Yeah."
A small smile graces her lips before she vanishes and the scene reforms. Zuko looks around the unfamiliar garden. Cherry blossom trees are planted next to a small pond, the ground was covered in soft green grass and small white star-shaped flowers. A stone bench sat near the ponds edge and a path led out of the garden.
"I proposed to her at that bench."
Zuko spun around in surprise. A young man around his age was leaning against a tree, staring at the bench with a forlorn expression. He held a familiar mask in his hands.
"Who are you?" Zuko demanded warily.
The man looked at him, gold eyes sparkling.
"Take a guess," He replied.
Zuko frowned and glanced back at the bench. Was it possible?"
"Drake?"
He smiled. "Hello, Zuko."
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"It's still there," Aang shouted, pointing at the drill.
Walls of earth had been erected around it to keep it safe and the Fire Nation symbol stood out boldly.
"What is that?" King Kuei asked in shock.
'It's the drill the Fire nation made to break through the wall," Xena answered quietly.
Aang landed Appa on the wall to the surprise of the guards stationed there. The king slid down and looked down at the drill.
"I can't believe I never knew."
Long Feng approached, flanked by two Dai Li agents. Xena stepped to Aang's side defensively.
"I can explain this, Your Majesty. This is nothing more than … a construction project."
"Really?" Katara asked sarcastically. "Then perhaps you can explain why there's a Fire Nation insignia on your construction project."
"Well, it's imported of course. You know you can't trust domestic machinery," Long Feng lied easily.
Xena snorted softly. "And how do you explain all the men in the infirmary?"
"There was a mechanical failure with the drill, several men were hurt. Your Majesty, surely you don't believe these children instead of your most loyal servant."
King Kuei looked at Long Feng and then at the said children, his mouth pressed into a thin line. "Dai Li arrest Long Feng for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."
The Dai Li agents shared a quick glance before cuffing Long Feng's hands.
Long Feng protested loudly as they began to drag him away, "You can't arrest me."
"Thank you for listening to us," Xena said formally, smiling slightly.
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"Come sit with me."
Drake moved to the stone bench. Zuko followed numbly. This man was his grandfather, his mother's father, not to mention he had been engaged to Xena. It was weird to say the least.
"Why did you release the Avatar's bison?"
Zuko looked at the pond. He had no reason to lie.
"I did it for her."
"Why?"
"Because she is like me."
Drake nodded in understanding, twisting the Blue Spirit mask between his hands. He sighed and stopped the movement. "She is a lot like you. She can't figure out her own emotions concerning you; ever since you two kissed she's been struggling to figure it out. Every spirit knows the truth though and three have already tried to help make things move along."
"When she hugged me in that lightning storm," Zuko guessed, thinking back to her sudden appearance and the color of her eyes.
"And the storm that stopped you from escaping in the North Pole," Drake added with a faint nod. He stood up and turned to face Zuko, who hastily stood up as well. Drake was silent for a moment staring at his grandson before finally speaking.
"I want to show you something; something about Xena, but before I do I have to explain the rules."
"Okay."
Drake cleared his throat. "I'm not like the other spirits; I can't show you the past in dreams. I have to actually take you to the past which means you have to be careful with what you do. You could literally make it so that you never existed if you're not. You won't appear the same to the people there, they'll see you as someone different. Also you can't give you real name to anyone and you can't bend. Got that."
Zuko nodded, unable to respond. Drake smiled and lifted the mask to his face without a word. The garden disappeared and was replaced with a familiar white tundra.
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"I want to thank you, young heroes, for opening my eyes. All this time what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools and that makes me the king of fools. We're at war with the Fire Nation."
"That's why we came to Ba Sing Se, Your Highness," Sokka stated. "Decause we think we can end this war now."
"We don't have much time," Aang explained. "There's a comet coming this summer. Its energy will give the firebender's unbelievable strength. They'll be unstoppable."
"But there is hope," Sokka added. "Before the comet comes we have a small window of opportunity, a solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be completely blocked by the moon and the firebenders will be helpless.
King Kuei looked confused. "What are you suggesting, Sokka?"
"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation, the Day of Black Sun," Sokka declared seriously.
"I don't know," Kuei replied uncertainly. "That would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable."
"You're already vulnerable." Xena crossed her arms. "The Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Sing Se has fallen and even with all your soldiers you wouldn't be able to stop a full frontal attack. In fact if it wasn't for us Ba Sing Se would've already fallen to the Fire Nation's drill.
Kuei thought for a minute before nodding. "Very well, you have my support."
Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph cheered loudly. Era smiled widely and Xena bowed respectfully to the King, eyes shining. The cheering stopped when a man in a general's uniform entered the room.
"Your Majesty." The man bowed respectfully. "I apologize for the interruption.
"This is General How. He's the leader of the Council of Five, my highest ranking generals."
"We've searched long Feng's office," General How stated. "I think we have something that will interest everybody."
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"There are secret files on everyone in Ba Sing Se," General How explained as a soldier set a wooden chest on the desk. "Including you kids."
"Secret files?"
Xena and Era stood near the back of the group as the general passed out letters to Aang and Toph and an intelligence report to Sokka and Katara. Neither expected anything and weren't surprised when they received nothing. They both watched as the other four got excited over the information.
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He was in the Northern Water Tribe standing on an ice bridge, facing a group of children playing a game below. A six year old girl stood on the outskirts of the game, watching quietly. One of the kids stopped the ball with his foot on seeing her.
"What do you want?"
"Nothing," the girl answers meekly.
"Then go away," the boy snaps. The girl steps back in surprise before turning and running. Zuko finds himself following her to a small alcove next to the walls that surround the city. She can't see him because her knees are pulled to her chest and her face is buried in them. Something warm brushes Zuko's leg. The snow lion kitten mewled softly before heading over to the girl. The girl lifts her head and gasps on seeing Zuko. He considers leaving but as soon as he sees the girl's eyes he changes his mind. They're brown with silver flecks.
"I saw what happened."
She gave him a miserable look, lowering her head back to her knees and ignoring the kitten as it rubs against her. He remembers Drake's warning about changing things and decides to risk it anyways. He crouches down in front of her.
"You can play with them if you really want to."
"I don't want to play with them." She lifts her head to look at him.
"Then why were you watching?"
"I like watching them bend," She explained.
"Can you bend?"
She nods and then pulls a stream of water from the ice. He watches as a faint sense of bliss settles on her face and she uncurls to sit cross-legged. There's no sign of the cool confidence or fiery pride that he is used to seeing, but the smile is the same one that he had been lucky enough to see on rare occasions. It's gentle and warm like fire. Not the burning hateful kind that he has seen too much of, but the passionate kind. And suddenly he realizes why her fire changed color.
"You're really good," He says quietly as she lets her control of the element go.
She continues to smile as she pulls the kitten into her lap. "Can you bend?"
"No," He lies remembering Drake's rule. "But I wish I could."
The girl tilts her head to the side and brushes her hair out of her face, revealing the silver crescent moon. "I'm Xena."
"My name's Svar."
"Svar," She repeats the name with a giggle prompting a laugh from him.
"Can you promise me something?" He asks after they both stop laughing. "Promise to never stop fighting."
"Okay," She agreed meekly and promptly jumped to her feet. "I have to go home now."
"Of course we wouldn't want your mother to worry."
Xena bit her lip thoughtfully and tipped her head to the side before handing him the kitten. "This is Kina, I want you to have her."
Zuko didn't have time to protest because Xena was already running off. What was he supposed to do with a kitten? The North Pole terrain vanished suddenly.
"Keep her," Drake said behind him.
Zuko turned quickly to face him. Kina was looking around the garden with interest.
"What-"
"Kina, is Xena's animal guide," Drake interrupted. "She is different from Appa though. She is part spirit and can pass through the veil of the worlds easily which is why you were able to bring her back with you."
"But if she's Xena's animal guide then why do I have to keep her."
Drake smiled. "Because you're in need of guidance more than Xena was then or now. Anyways I have to wake you up now.'
"What?"
Zuko woke up with a gasp. He sat up and looked around the apartment. His uncle wasn't there but Kina lay underneath the blanket on his left fast asleep. He sighed and gently petted her silky white fur.
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"I can't believe it," Aang exclaimed, rereading the scroll in his hand. "There's a man living at the Eastern Air Temple. He says he's a guru."
"What's a guru?" Sokka tapped his chin. "Some kind of poisonous blowfish?"
"It's a spiritual expert," Xena corrected.
"And he says he can teach me to control the Avatar State," Aang added.
"And I can't believe we know where our dad is now," Katara said just as excitedly.
"I know what you mean. My mom's in the city and from her letter it sounds like she finally understands me."
"This is such big news. Where do we start?"
"I hate to suggest it, but we have to split up," Katara said with a small frown.
Xena turned to the fireplace in Long Feng's office. Katara was right no matter how much she didn't want to admit it.
"Split up?" Aang asked worriedly. "We just found Appa and now you want us to separate again."
"We don't have a choice." Xena sighed and pushed away from the wall to sit next to Aang.
Aang nodded. "Well, If Xena and I are going to the Eastern Air Temple, Appa and I can drop you off at Chameleon Bay to see your dad."
"Someone has to stay here with the Earth King and help him plan the invasion," Sokka stated with a small sigh. "I guess that's me."
"No Sokka." Katara shook her head. "I know how badly you wanna help dad. You go to Chameleon Bay. I'll stay here with the king.
"You are the nicest sister ever," Sokka squealed, leaning forward to hug her.
"Easy there big brother." Katara pushed him away. "Though you're right, I am."
Xena ducked her head, hating herself for what she was about to say. "I'm staying behind as well."
"What? Why?" Aang asked in surprise.
"Katara is going to need a guard," She started to explain. "Even though Long Feng is locked up he might have some influence and I'm sure he'll try to get revenge."
"I can guard Katara then." Era stepped forward.
Xena shook her head. "No offense, but I've been trained for this kind of thing."
"I gotta agree with Sky Dragon on this one," Toph piped up. "It would be best if she did it."
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Xena crossed her arms over her chest, watching Aang nervously approach Katara. Looks like he finally had the courage to ask her out. Sokka suddenly threw his arm around the younger boy's shoulders interrupting him mid sentence.
"Alright," He shouted joyfully. "Who's ready to go on our little men-only man trip."
"Aang and Sokka," King Kuei called out approaching their little group. "I wish you a good journey. Ba Sing Se owes you its thanks. We look forward to your safe return."
They all bowed respectfully before getting ready to depart. Sokka hugged his sister briefly and began to climb onto Appa's back. Xena pulled Aang into a hug and gave him a sad smile when she pulled back. A guard came running into the courtyard and approached the king.
"Your Majesty, there are three female warriors to see you. They're from the island of Kyoshi."
"That's Suki," Sokka exclaimed falling off Appa.
"You know these warriors."
"The Kyoshi Warriors are a skilled group of fighters. They're good friends of ours," Xena explained,helping Sokka to his feet.
"Then we shall welcome them as honored guests."
He left the small group to say goodbye. Xena and Sokka were both wary about getting involved in the group hug, but the others didn't give them much of a choice. They broke apart to head their separate ways. Xena reached out to touch Aang's mind. He was happy and nervous at the same time, not knowing what to expect of the guru.
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Mist carefully unrolled the scroll and read it. She sighed and shook her head. Leave it to Azula to break into Ba Sing Se under the guise of Kyoshi Warriors. Zai screeched a warning and she rerolled the scroll before Shun could see it.
I've noticed that a lot of you are upset that there hasn't been much to Xena and Zuko's relationship and I would apologize if it weren't for the fact that I have a plan for how this turns out. Hope you like this chapter.
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