Go-o-o-o-od morning Earthbending student, er, FanFictionites!

Though...technically, it isn't morning, but, hey whatever. ^_^

So, I would love to thank those who reviewed/shared my excitment for Korra: nonsence330 and, a'course, AvatarEternity! Oh, and Dakota96 for reviewing previous chapter, too.

Anywho,

Enjoy, hotman!

"Quite fidgeting," Yana Lee whispered to Ty Lee, who shifted agian. For the millionth time.

The doe-eyed beauty looked up at the vagabond.

"We're entering the city," she added.

The undesirables were instructed to sit in silence, faces forward, as they entered the great walls of Ba Sing Se, but they couldn't help but try to crane their necks to get a glimpse of the sheer height of the walls. They were truly magnificent, towering high into the sky. From the outside, it looked like the end of the world, like there was no going beyond the wall that confined the Earth.

The red-tinted train followed the green train that carried the Earth Kingdom tributes into the dark tunnel. After a second of emptiness, they were engulfed in light, gazing in awe at the vast city in splayed out before them. Green-roofed slums sat tightly nestled near the wall, growing and evolving into a grid as they met in the center.

"Here we go," Pakku said as the train car led the party of tributes into the station. The structural beauty of the city was quicky disapating, replaced by trembling fear. Katara gripped Sokka's hand as they stopped in the station, where Ba Sing Se citizens stood, cheering.

Cheering for their impending deaths.

"Remember the truce," Toph muttered as quietly as possible, once the doors of the train had been opened and the thunderous roar of the crowd filled the silent space of the train.

Aang nodded subtly as they stood, slowly filing onto the station platform.

The fourteen tributes and their mentors were led to the bottom of the steps of the platform, standing in their respective groups amongst the marble. A podium sat at the base of the steps, where Ozai himself stood, gripping the sides of the podium to speak to his subjects.

"People of Ba Sing Se," he began. He dove into his annual speech about how things came to be this way. It would be so easy, with him standing there, wrapped up in his speech. A single blow to the head with a rock or a shot of lightning would finish him. But that would cost them their lives. And wasn't that what they were supposed to be fighting for in the first place?

Toph's hand formed into a fist, trembling to keep herself from taking him out as he ranted about his own power. Aang's fingers brushed her's discreetly.

"Don't," he exhaled lightly.

With a soft, reluctant sigh, Toph relaxed her hands.

Sokka, who had been taking in the competition, quirked his eyebrow suspiciously, noticing the minute gesture between the bald kid and blind girl.

He trusted his insticts and his instincts told him something was off.

"So, citizens of Ba Sing Se," Ozai shouted, reaching the climax of his speech, "I give you your tributes."

The cheering was deafening, even as the tributes rode to the training center in ostrich-horse drawn characters.

"Alright, meal time."

The mentors dismissed their tributes for lunch, more for themselves than for anything else. Slowly, they filed out, into the massive wash room.

They dove their cupped hands into the barrels of water, washing the sweat off their brows.

"Ugh, I'm starving," Sokka whined.

"You're always starving," Katara countered.

Toph looked up at the Waterbender, water dripping from her matted bangs. "Are you two...related?"

"...Yeah," Katara said looking away, her brows furrowing as she drifted into thought.

Aang looked up from his barrel, watching Toph talk to this strange yet captivating Waterbender. His heart nearly leapt out of his chest, his legs practically metling into jelly. Why hadn't he noticed her before? Was he too captivated with his plan?...

The plan, he remembered.

He walked over to join Toph as the two engaged in talking about their home lives. Aang looked around, noticing the other tributes rushing to stuff their faces as quickly as possible. Sokka, however was busy scrubbing his face. Aang locked eyes with her, staring into her large blue eyes. Even with death at her door, her eyes were twinkling. He wanted her in his plan, on his team.

He nudged Toph. "Can I talk to you?"

She nodded, following him aside.

"I want her to join us. In the truce," Aang told her in a hushed tone.

"You sure?" Toph asked, crossing her arms. "I mean, she isn't the strongest."

"I know, I know," he said, looking at her in the periphery of her vision. "But she's string-willed. I can feel it."

"How do you know?"

"I'm the Avatar. I just know this stuff."

Toph blew a piece of hair out of her face, turning on her heel. "I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you nearly crapped your pants when you saw her," she said sarcastically.

Aang tensed up before she laughed, slapping him on the back.

"I'm joking," she said, only half-serious.

"Oh, right," he gulped nervously. "I'm still getting used to your sense of humor."

"Hey, Sugar Queen," Toph called. The Waterbender responded, her head snapping up from the barrel. "My friend and I have a proposition for you."

"Not interested," she said instantly.

"No, you don't understand," Aang began.

"I just said I wasn't interested. I don't need to tangle myself with groups and alliances. We'll only end up having to turn on one another and I'd rather not participate in that," Katara insisted.

"Wait," Toph saidm holding up a hand. "Just listen. It wouldn't hurt to hear us out."

After a moment of contemplation, Katara nodded. "Fine."

"My friend here, he's the Avatar," Toph began.

Both Katara and Sokka, who had been listening in, tensed up. Bingo.

"We're formulating a plan," Aang continued, dropping the volume of his voice once everyone had pulled closer together. "One that'll save our lives and end the Games. For good."

"That's impossible," Sokka said, cynically. "Ozai owns the world, and us, too. If we're going into that arena, only one of us will come out. Come on, Katara. Let's get out of he- "

"Sokka wait," Katara said, resting a hand on her brother's shoulder. "We have a chance to maybe get out of this together. Don't you think we should take it?"

"Katara, if there's any chance one of us gets out of this, it'll be a miracle. Why would we endanger ourselves?"

"We're already in danger," she told him angrily. "We'll die and you know it." Sokka's eyes widdened at the severity of her words. "They're giving us an opportunity." The girl turned to the duo. "I'm in."

"Good," Aang sighed, relieved.

"If she's in, I am, too," Sokka said, though his tone indicated resistance and uncertainty.

"Sokka..."

He rested a hand on her shoulder protectively. "If you're in, I'm in. I won't let anything happen to you. I promised Dad."

"Welcome to the gang," Toph said, grinning.

Zuko lifted his head from his bowl of rice, scanning the dining room. Already, he could see the alliances forming, teenagers bonding while out of sight from the mentors.

Ty Lee was chatting quickly with (or rather at) Yana Lee, who nodded passively, listening.

A dark woman named Jun sipped tea with a small group consisting of a shaggy haired boy named Jet, a cocky Watertribe male named Hanh, and Chan from the Fire Nation. Their similar personalities- cocky, strong, fierce competitiors- drew them into a tight knit group.

The banished prince noticed the blind girl and bald boy emerging from the wash room in front of the Watertribe siblings.

A child in a wheel chair was conversing with a moustached teen. The supposed Northern Watertribe princess sat alone, focused on her food jsut as intently as he had been. A slovenly Earth Kingdom child in pink was busy sniveling to herself.

Assessing the competition was getting tedious, though. The tributes weren't black and white, like he had seen them portrayed on the TV. They were leveled and he figured the majority of them were fierce. Fighting wouldn't be easy, but then again, he wasn't sure if he wanted to battle for his life. What was it worth anyways? He was banished and scarred, a pariah in his own home.

"Hey."

Zuko's head snapped to the left, finding that the tight alliance was staring at him. The hook-sword boy plucked the hay out of his lips.

"What's your deal?"

"No deal," Zuko replied, turning back to his food.

He lifted himself out of his seat, positioning himself across the table from Zuko.

"I hear you can bend lightning," the kid said quietly.

Zuko nodded.

"My group and I could use someone like yourself." After not recieving a response, he stuck out a hand. "I'm Jet."

The prince shook his hand.

"Zuko."

"So, whad'ya say?" Jet asked.

"I'm not sure you want me in your group," Zuko said, looking away.

"I know you can bend lightning and I know you've got a serious beef against your old man," Jet retorted. "Just think, wouldn't reaching the end, or, hell, even winning, really stick it to him?"

Zuko nodded and a smile played on Jet's lips.

"So whad'ya say then?" he repeated.

His eyes swept over the room again, evaluating his competition and the other alliances being formed.

"I'm in," he finally said.

So, pretty brief but hey, I'm attempting to get to the interviews next so you'll get the background on the OC's and everyone else. Plus, I'm admittedly looking forward to describing outfits (sigh...)

Not much to talk about, but I'd love to hear opinions on the groups forming. ^_^

PEace, L.