Brothers Avatar

The Legend of Two Avatars

Book 1 – Family

Chapter 15 – Keeping Up Appearances

In Team Avatar's sights was the White Lotus Executive Oligarchy Capital, in a sense the capital of the world. "It's grown." Ibera marveled as they stood in the outer ring.

"You've been here before?" Pio asked.

Ibera bragged, "Last year was the White Lotus's 15th anniversary. They wanted the Flying Chakras to come and provide entertainment for their party, so we flew all the way out there. It was quite the controversy considering the you-know-what." Everyone but Taresc and Xulo knew what you-know-what was, "I can't believe it's grown so much in just a year."

"Well the White Lotus Capital is a representation for Hintrichi's massive ego, It's only natural that it'd grow exponentially." Lozulia said. "Still, it's just so… big!"

The giant city was divided into three rings, one for each class of people living within the city. From outside the city, they could see the Lower Ring. The buildings were shabby and the people were shady. They saw one or two White Lotus soldiers in the whole are while they were parading the whole lower ring. They quickened their pace as ragged people looked at Woorq and Tanton with starving eyes.

Soon they were approaching the second ring, the Middle Ring. They went up some stairs and the atmosphere changed drastically. Houses didn't look like they were painted with dirt and the streets were paved with stones. Shops were actually shops and not just street vendors with rotten produce. White Lotus soldiers stood everywhere to keep order in a place where order was already attained. People smiled as you walked by and didn't look you up and down, assessing the risk-reward ratio of robbing you. The next set of stairs appeared before them, sending them to the next ring.

The Upper Ring was an even a bigger step up from the Middle Ring. People in delicate robes strolled through each city block. It was odd, the Lower and the Upper Rings had more in common than they thought. People looked you up and down in The Upper Ring too, but this time to check and see if you were of any worth and judging by Team Avatar's clothing, they were not. "Did you know that this used to belong to King Yi?" Ibera said.

Lozulia said, "Yes I do, you know-it-all!" Lozulia basked in her chance to sound smart, "Yi was one of the many Earth Kings that was kicked out of power once The White Lotus established itself. The Upper Ring used to be the only ring while King Yi was ruling, but once the Stormbenders got to terrorizing, people started flocking to the White Lotus for protection and expansion was needed." Lozulia stood with her nose held high.

"My my, you're rather knowledgeable, Lozulia." Pio was impressed.

"I was forced to be." Lozulia lowered her eyes, "World affairs were part of the job description of being a Fire Sage."

The final set of stairs stood before them, up those stairs was the Royal Palace. The team began climbing when Ibera ran in front of them and stopped the group, "Wait!"

"What!" Taresc instantly got concerned.

"What are we doing?" Ibera shook his head.

Xulo didn't even understand the question, "Seeing Hintrichi…?"

"No, no, no. What are we doing seeing Hintrichi dressed like this?" Ibera motioned up and down Xulo's body. Xulo and Taresc still wore the simple brown tunics they had at the beginning of the trip.

"Don't be ridiculous." Xulo began walking.

Pio grabbed Xulo's shoulder, "Actually, he might have a point." Xulo listened, "We are meeting THE King Hintrichi after all and if he's as sensitive as they say, coming in front of him wearing that could set him off."

"I defeated Cersiek and liberated a whole quarter of a nation." Xulo could barely believe what he was hearing, "Shouldn't he respect me enough to consider me on my talents rather than my clothes?"

Ibera laughed himself to tears, "That's rich." Ibera stopped, "Oh, you're serious?" Xulo nodded, "That's not how high society works. It works on the principle of appearances. You have to become an image that people respect, love, fear or maybe all of the above." Ibera waggled his finger, "You are what people see, Xulo."

Xulo folded his arms and stared annoyed at Ibera, "So what would you have me wear?"

Ibera chose not to explain and instead whisked Taresc away to a fancy looking shop in the Upper Ring. Ibera threw Xulo into a changing room with a piece of clothing he picked out. Ibera waited outside with the rest of Team Avatar. Xulo stepped out, "Voila! I present to you, the perfect Avatar outfit."

Xulo was dressed in a kimono with a pattern that contained all of the elements. On one sleeve was a burning inferno and other the other were crashing waves. The center of the body had a beautiful swirling sky and as you move down there was tremor-ridden earth.

"Oh wow." Lozulia said in awe, "That's… really ugly." Sadly the kimono was a clashing mess of vibrant colors and odd pattern choices.

"You don't think I know that?" Ibera said, "It's hideous, sure, but does anything represent the Avatar's devotion to world unity like this kitschy piece of fabric?"

"Lozulia?" Lozulia turned to Minege, "What are the chances of Hintrichi killing us all on the spot if we present this frumpy thing to him?"

Lozulia calculated in her head, "100% to be precise."

"Oh shut up." Ibera got defensive of his choice, "What does Hintrichi care about style?"

"Too much, Ibera, he cares too much!" Lozulia yelled and turned to Xulo, "Get out of that and come with me, I think I have a better outfit for you."

The team migrated down to the Middle Ring where Lozulia tossed a peeved Xulo with some clothing and awaited the results. Once Xulo emerged Lozulia began her catcalls, "Oh I can see this stud walking into the throne room already." She began narrating her outfit, "Look at those beautiful scarlet sleeves, perfectly enlarging Xulo's already bulging biceps. And look how the garment flows, showing that this Avatar is as elegant as he is deadly. And the red!" Lozulia gawked, "Scarlet, ruby, crimson, maroon, burgundy, cherry, blood? What word could possibly describe that fierce, threatening and overall blazing color?" Lozulia rested her case, "No attire could possibly describe the Avatar better."

"Lozulia…" Minege said, "Those are literally just Fire Sage robes."

Xulo examined himself. "Wait, are these just your father's?"

"Wonderful, nothing says solidarity like a clear bias to one nation." Pio said. "Would like to explain yourself?"

Lozulia looked down guiltily, "I really care about my nation…" She kicked up some dust, "I wanted a little representation that's all… I thought I was sneaky enough to dress you in it without anyone noticing."

"Well I'm not wearing Fire Sage robes to see King Hintrichi." Xulo said. Taresc raised his hand meekly, "Yes, Taresc?"

"I think I might have an idea for an outfit." Taresc took Xulo inside the shop and gave Xulo the clothing and directed him to the changing room. Xulo got changed and stepped out to the courtyard where Team Avatar waited. Everyone looked at Taresc when his choice of clothing walked out. "Taresc did you give him normal clothing by accident?" Lozulia said, "Silly Taresc as always."

Xulo stood in front of them, dressed in his regular clothing, "No, I think Xulo should wear what he usually wears." Taresc went up to Xulo and pointed to a brooch pinned into his brother's tunic, "But I added this White Lotus brooch to show Hintrichi that there was effort here."

Ibera rolled his eyes, "Did you miss my speech about how you are what you wear?"

"No… I heard it." Taresc modestly defended his choice, "I just think that we shouldn't be trying to project something that Xulo isn't. This is Avatar Xulo, not Fire Sage robes or Quadra-elemental robes." Xulo looked appreciatively at Taresc.

"Way to sucker punch the opposition, Taresc." Pio spouted, "Going all saccharine while the rest of us are trying to think practical and get Xulo through this safely."

"Saccharine?" Ibera said looking to Lozulia, "Do you know what this means, Zules?"

"We might have a contender for our Pio's Fanciest Word Contest!" Pio glowered at the laughing Ibera and Lozulia from the corner of his eye.

Xulo sighed and Minege stepped up, "If we're pitching outfit ideas, I'd like to be next." She linked arms with a perpetually-bothered Xulo, "Come my way, sweetie." She took him inside and took clothing out of her bag and handed it to Xulo. Like the times before, he headed to the changing room and the costumier went out to wait for their outfit to be displayed. Xulo went out again and Taresc said, "Isn't that the White Lotus soldier armor?"

Taresc was right, Xulo sported the normal White Lotus armor, a white collar that resembled a white lotus and blue draping robes; a pair of ornate gauntlets and regulation boots. "Yes it is."

"Oh right, I forgot that this was an espionage mission." Ibera said sarcastically, "Oh wait it isn't. Why do we want Hintrichi to mistake Xulo for one of his lackeys?"

"I wanna know why Minege has White Lotus armor handy." Lozulia said.

Minege explained, "Well in my personal mission, I just happened upon it and decided to pick it up just in case we might need it for one reason or another. As for why this particular choice, I want Hintrichi to know that we are here to serve him and what better way to show that than to dress the Avatar as one of his servants."

"As his lowest servant?" Taresc asked.

Ibera continued, "I also feel like there's something really creepy about this." Ibera scrunched his face, "It's sort of like showing up to your first date in a wedding kimono."

"Wait." Pio stopped the criticism, "While Minege's idea was deluded. I think there's merit to the idea of flattering the Lotus King. Come with me." Pio led them back to the Upper Ring and into a shop even fancier than the one Ibera took them to. Pio picked out his choice and sent the frustrated Xulo into the changing room. After what seemed like a lifetime of dressing, Xulo walked out into the garden terrace. "If this isn't the greatest White Lotus effigy, I don't know what is."

Xulo was dressed in the most decadent of vestments. His whole entire body was covered in these silky and lacey cream robes. Every detail on the robes was precise and extravagant. He had a giant collar that look like a giant lotus was sheltered his head. He was covered in layers up layers of cream fabric, meant only for royal officers. Every inch of him was covered in little lotus details and it was finished off with a gorgeous cape.

"Flashy." Lozulia said.

"Of course." Pio said, "We are meeting with the White Lotus King after all."

Minege winced, "A cape though?"

"Hey hey hey… don't disrespect the capes." Ibera said. "However—and I cannot believe I'm saying this—but there is such a thing as too glitzy."

Pio barked back, "So you recommend we go back to that prismatic disgorgement you call a kimono?!"

Ibera stood up, "You did not just say that!" Ibera whispered to Lozulia, "also add prismatic disgorgement to the list of fancy Pio words."

"I refuse!" Lozulia joined the fight, "Not until Xulo wears the Fire Sage robes!"

"Zules, do not even test me!" Ibera yelled.

Minege got in the middle, "Oh no, honey, don't you yell at her!" Minege said, "I vote we go back to the nice and simple White Lotus armor I brought."

"The one you slept with a Lotus soldier to attain, hm?" Pio remarked.

Lozulia went right up to Pio, "Swampy! Behave your nasty mouth!"

The fight continued on and Xulo only got more irritated as his team squabbled. He noticed that not one of them really asked what he wanted to wear or how he felt. His irritation peaked as his eyes began to softy glow and he rushed out of the shop, robes and all. The team noticed and rushed after him, the boutique owner yelled that they hadn't paid but Lozulia yelled back, "Sorry ma'am, Hintrichi will pay for it!"

The team yelled for Xulo to stop, but Xulo was dipping into the Avatar State and heard none of their requests. He ran up the steps to the Royal Palace, its oriental massiveness towering over the team. A soldier attempted to stop Xulo, but immediately recognized him by his glowing eyes. Once at the entrance of the palace, Xulo made a beeline for the throne room. Whenever met with humungous doors, Xulo simply crushed them to the ground with his earthbending.

The team yelled for Xulo to stop but didn't dare get in his way. They were at the door to the throne room and Xulo tore it down just like the rest. They were about to enter with Xulo when Lozulia held them back, "I don't think that Xulo's going in to have a nice chat with Hintrichi, maybe we should be back here for the blowback…" Lozulia warned.

The team peered over the wreckage as the walking white lotus approached a line of chairs that seemed to be the 'oligarchy' and behind them was the White Lotus Throne with The White Lotus King sitting atop it. "HINTRICHI!" Xulo's voice boomed with the strength of the past Avatars.

The king did not answer, only tapping his fingers on his throne, "Here I stand before you! I will not filter tongue, nor will I change myself to be fit of your preferred visage!" As Xulo spoke the atmosphere got more and more tense, "You are a mere man and I am Avatar Xulo! For you I will not bow and for you I will not cower!" Xulo had to take a few breaths, "These proclamations I will not withdraw. Accept them or you shall fall!" As soon as his eyes lit up, they were back to their normal brown hue. Xulo only had the faintest idea of what he had said, but he knew what he did say, wasn't good.

King Hintrichi rose to his feet and descended down the stairs, "You storm into my throne room." His robes were white and blue and trumped even Xulo's, "You raise your voice and proclaim you will never bow." His white and well-groomed hair pointed through his hat, "You make it clear you will never reclaim these words you said in this fit of rage!" He screamed with already stern features become all the more severe, "You threaten me!" Wrinkles appeared among the already abundant wrinkles, "And most of all you call me a MERE MAN!" He shrieked at the very top of his lungs. The guards stood all around the room, unsure to surround the Avatar. "Guards, seize this heretic!"

With hesitation the soldiers of the room jumped to action and surrounded Xulo, pointing their spears at him. Xulo decided to not make matters worse and surrendered peacefully, "Take him to the dungeon and make sure he is watched with the highest security." One of the oligarchy members said as Xulo was toted away.

Outside the throne room, Team Avatar spiraled into panic, "Great, just great!" Ibera said fuming at the mouth, "Our Avatar has just been incarcerated."

"What a vile speech." Pio said, "I'm honestly impressed at the courage it took to declare such things."

"I'm guessing when you have 100 plus Avatar spirits running through your system, you tend to feel a little gutsy." Minege said.

"Well I think we've all learned something," The team turned to Lozulia, "Even though Xulo was dressed lavishly, he was still taken away." Lozulia nodded, "Maybe appearances matter less than we all thought."

The team all looked at Lozulia look at Lozulia with most incredulously amazed looks, "Yeah look at that." Taresc humored her.

"It also would have helped if—I don't know—HE DIDN'T DECIDE TO SLANDER HIM RIGHT TO HIS FACE?!" Pio screamed.

Team Avatar waved as Xulo was toted off right by them. Taresc whimpered as things only got more desperate and dismal. "At least he looks good?"