VIII: Bears, Balls, Oh Brother

Katara looked outside the next morning and saw that the paper announced that the Earth King was hosting a party for his bear!

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

"No." Katara replied.

"Skunk-bear?" Sokka asked.

"Armadillo-bear?" Zuko asked.

"Gopher-bear?" Aang asked.

"It just says 'bear'." Katara replied.

"This place is weird." Toph stated.

"Well this is a good time to sneak in the palace and see the Earth King." Sokka stated.

"Hah, the moment you guys step in, you'd be thrown right out." Zuko told them.

"What's that supposed to mean, oh great Fire Prince?" Sokka asked.

"He's actually right, the reason being is that you've got no manners. You'll be spotted as imposters or gate crashers before you can say: 'Good evening, sir'." Toph told them.

"Excuse me? I've got no manners? You're not exactly Lady Fancyfingers." Katara replied.

"I've learned proper society behavior and chose to ignore it." Toph told her.

"Hey, you said you've learned it! You could teach us, and Zuko too!" Sokka declared.

"I'm mastering all the elements, how hard can manners be?" Aang put in. He wrapped a drape around himself, and bowed to his friends, greeting them in a 'fancy' manner. Sokka joined Aang, not really realizing that Zuko was just shaking his head. Aang and Sokka started exchanging bows to each other until they bonked heads. Zuko decided to just play along with them and he called out: "Guards, we have intruder's in the palace! Seize them!" He went over to them himself and picked them up by their shirts.

"C'mon, Zuko, surely you're not that harsh! Besides, you can't throw us out of our own house!" Sokka told him, but then he saw Iroh cringe and Zuko narrowed his eyes and told him: "Just by those words alone you've challenged the power of a Prince. If you were a Firebender I'd have every right to challenge you to an Agni Kai, but in your case, it's going to be a dual!"

"Zuko!" Katara cried out.

"Relax, Katara, I'm merely going to give him another sword-fighting lesson."

"Really?" Sokka asked.

"Grab your machete and meet me in the training chamber." Zuko told him. Sokka quickly grabbed his machete and ran off after Zuko.

"That is how things are done in the Fire Nation." Iroh stated.

"Maybe we should go down to the chamber and watch… Just to make sure that they don't hurt each other." Katara stated. She was about to head out, when Toph grabbed her upper arm and told her: "Wait, we can have Aang watch over them; you're the only one here that could actually pull off the 'Fancy People' act. So I'm going to teach you how to act like a lady of high society."

"What was that about me?" Aang asked as he looked up from playing with Momo.

"You go and watch over Sokka and Zuko, make sure they don't hurt each other, maybe you can practice your Earthbending by giving our secret chamber some topography." Toph told him. Aang got up to his feet with Airbending and went off to the chamber with Momo on his shoulders, while Toph took Katara in another room to teach her how to be a sophisticated lady.

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"Aang, nice to have you here!" Sokka declared.

"Toph told me to watch over this lesson, and practice Earthbending to help you guys out."

"I think that we could use a few platforms and steps." Zuko replied. Aang raised a few platforms, and Zuko spoke: "Alright, Sokka, let's review the basics, get in your battle stance."

"BASICS?!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Yeah, we'll start with a review session, and then I'll whip your tail with intermediate forms." Zuko told him.

"Why don't we just skip the basics them?" Sokka asked.

"INSOLENCE!" Zuko, and then he threw a fireball past him.

"Zuko!" Aang exclaimed.

"Aang, I was in complete control of that blast… Sokka, Aang, do you remember Admiral Zhao?" Zuko asked. They nodded, and Zuko told them: "Not too long after I met you guys for the first time, I challenged him to an Agni Kai, and I defeated him using hardly anything out of basic Firebending forms. The basics are short and simple moves, more advanced moves have roots with the basic forms. Now, Sokka, get in your stance and let's review the basics."

On they went practicing their basic offensive and defensive moves, all basic strikes and blocks, and Sokka did well with Zuko, even when they sped up the strikes Sokka did rather well.

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"Alright, Katara, now that we've greetings, walking, and conversation down, we must now practice eating." Toph spoke.

"What's wrong with the way I eat?" Katara asked.

"Your casual eating is fine, but for formal dining you'll be called out." Toph told her. Iroh stepped into the room with a tray of food, from a small pot of hot and sour soup, to a beefy stir fry, steamed oyster-crabs on the half-shell, and a couple of cakes.

"Thanks General Iroh." Toph spoke. Iroh bowed to her and sat off to the side. Toph faced Katara and told her: "We'll start with the soup, normally the waiters would serve it to you in the bowl, but I'm going to need you to serve me mine. Simply draw out the ladle and pour it into my bowl without spilling any contents. To spill any food on the floor or table would be considered an insult to your host and cook."

Katara pulled out the ladle, filled to the rim, but she realized that the soup would dribble that way, so she poured some back.

"Good choice, to not fill your bowl to the brim would suggest that you're not a greedy glutton." Toph stated, and Katara filled her bowl. Toph nodded her head with approval, and once Katara served herself, she told her: "Now we eat. You must sit up straight with your shoulders back, do not lean forward to meet your spoon, if you must, simply to what you did with the ladle and put a bit back. Also you'll be called out if your soup spills over your chin, and if you lick your lips, you must always use your napkin."

There were a couple mistakes this time. Katara spilt a spoonful of soup early on, and a little later the soup spilled over her chin. Toph shook her head, and made her try another full bowl, and that round she ate it without error.

"Well done, now onto the main course." Toph told her.

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"Well, Sokka, you've got your basics down, and I hope that now you understand the importance of them. Now, to teach you something more advanced, you'll have to do everything I say and follow my moves." Zuko stated. Sokka nodded and readied himself, and Zuko started barking out: "Triple-jab, down-slash, cross-slash, back-dodge, left-dodge, step-spin-cross-slash…"

He continued on in the same pattern until they were moving too fast for Zuko to speak, and Sokka's forms were looking almost as good as his own. So Zuko paused to tell Sokka: "I can see that you train with much determination, keep this up, you'd might actually make for a good Fire Nation soldier."

"I know you're trying to be nice, but given the current state of the world, I'd have to take that 'Fire Nation soldier' statement as an insult." Sokka stated.

"Right… Well, I am teaching you a Fire Nation way of sword-fighting… Now, up with your sword, Sokka, you're ready for a practice-duel."

They took their stances, facing each other, and on Aang's mark, they clashed swords in a ferocious duel!

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Katara and Toph dressed up, prepared to attend a party at the Earth Palace, but as it was nearing dusk, and the boys were still in the chamber, they decided to check up on them with Iroh close behind,

Upon entry, they found Sokka and Zuko tangled up in twisted holds on the ground, with Aang trying desperately, but failing, in separating them! They could probably barely hear him between their shouting. So Iroh intervened and with some help from Aang, they managed to pull them apart.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Iroh exclaimed.

"I was trying to make the sword-fighting lesson by having Sokka duel me, and he goes off and cheats by knocking me in the head with a boomerang!" Zuko exclaimed.

"You said to be resourceful and to use my surroundings! Among my resources was my boomerang!"

"True, but I meant resourceful with your sword! Using your boomerang would've been like my using my Firebending on you!"

"Now that's quite enough out of the both of you! Sokka, you must show respect to your teacher! Prince Zuko, as his teacher, you must give out clear instructions, and make sure that your pupil understands what you expect of him! Now what do the two of you have to say to each other?" Iroh said.

The two lads bowed their heads to each other and apologized; Sokka for hitting him with his boomerang, and Zuko for giving him unclear instructions. Then, Iroh smiled, and just about laughed.

"What's so funny, Uncle?" Zuko asked.

"You might not believe this, but you two are becoming brothers." Iroh told them, looking between Sokka and Zuko. They looked at him as if he'd gone crazy. Finally, Iroh told them: "Brotherhood can come from being a part of the same family or another close bond. You are both young and honorable warriors seeking to better yourselves by helping each other."

Zuko thought about it for a moment and then told Sokka: "You know what, he might actually be right… It's been years since I've had a sense of joy."

"I don't need some heartfelt speech…" He replied. It seemed that he wanted to add on to that, but he just trailed off.

"Well, if everything's alright now, Katara and I've better get going. We have a party to attend. Aang, Sokka, you guys might want to come too. We'll find a way to sneak you in." Toph stated.

"Zuko, we should return to the tea shop and bring in some extra change." Iroh stated.

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Toph couldn't get inside using her family name, but Katara managed to fool a man, Long Feng, into thinking that they had parents inside, waiting for them, but her 'blind cousin' lost their invitations. He escorted them inside, the problem was shaking him off. He refused to leave them alone until they found their parents, making it impossible for them to sneak Aang and Sokka in.

So Aang and Sokka had to improvise, and they ended up dressing as busboys and snuck inside. Soon enough, they met up with Toph and Katara. Toph found Aang with ease because she recognized his footsteps.

They wandered about the party in search for the Earth King, but it was hard to distinguish one fancy person from another. They did get a nice look at the bear.

At some point, Joo Dee discovered them and told them that they had to go, otherwise they'd put her in big trouble… as if they cared. She tried to push them out of the palace but the force made Aang spill the contents on a lady. He told her not to shout, and he air-blasted her dry. She looked like a wreck, but she wasn't upset about it at all; rather, she simply said: "Oh, I didn't know that the Avatar would be here!"

Joo Dee realized that this was a problem beyond her now and ran off, while Sokka told Aang to keep the others occupied. So Aang happily gave a bending performance, one that pleased everyone and Bosco the Bear!

When the Earth King showed up, Aang rode his air scooter to meet him, but he didn't realize that the Dai Li agents had captured his friends. Long Feng met with Aang, and told him to come with him to the library where his friends were awaiting him.

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Jet entered the tea shop with a vase of a small bouquet of flowers in it and put it on his table. When Zuko came up to him to take his order, he asked Jet: "Are you expecting someone?"

"Actually, I brought it as a little gesture of thanks to you. Since you haven't ratted me out about my nightly activities, I've since managed to bring warm blankets, fresh food, medicine, and new clothes to about thirty houses by now. I've seen those families since and they're looking much better now. Also, apart from Kai Li and my Freedom Fighters, you're the only one that I'd really consider a friend."

Zuko looked at the arrangement, it was mostly made up of orange and yellow lilies and some bamboo shoots.

"Thanks." He stated.

"So, may I have some of your uncle's famous tea? I'm in the mood for something on the sweeter side tonight."

"You just leave it to me, young man!" Iroh called out from the kitchen.

Another moment later, a young lady walked in and locked eyes with Zuko for a moment and smiled. With Jet being the only other customer for the moment, he approached her and asked: "Are you ready to order?"

"I'd like some jasmine tea, please" She replied. Zuko nodded and brought the order to his uncle and took Jet's order to his table.

"Hey, Li, would you mind if I asked you how you got that scar?" Jet asked.

"You just did." Zuko replied.

"So, what happened?" Jet asked.

"I got into a fight with a Firebender and I lost, but I managed to get away, giving a nice scar on the cheek just before I turned and left." Zuko replied.

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So, based on what Long Feng was saying, the Earth King was more of a figurehead or a puppet to Long Feng, and the only concerns Ba Sing Se had was the preservation of their cultural heritage, and that it was forbidden to mention the war, or anything connected to it for that matter. Aang then threatened that he'll make sure that everyone would know about the war, but then Long Feng told them that because of that, they'll be put under constant surveillance by the Dai Li.

"If you mention the war to anyone, you'll be expelled from the city. I understand that you're looking for your Bison, it would be a shame if you were not able to compete your quest. Now Joo Dee will escort you home."

A woman came in and said that she was Joo Dee, but even Toph could tell by the vibrations alone that this was not the same woman. Although she seemed to act like her.

"Hello, I am Joo Dee, I'll be your host as long as you are in our wonderful city."

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Zuko and Iroh were already waiting for them when the others returned, and they told them everything that they found out about Long Feng and the Dai Li.

"Something's amiss for sure in this city. This sounds like you're on the verge on discovering a conspiracy." Iroh stated.

Zuko looked to Sokka, and asked to speak with him alone. Sokka glanced to Katara and Aang and shrugged his shoulders, he got up and followed Zuko, not to another room, but to their secret chamber.

"What's on your mind?" Sokka asked as they sat down on the ground.

"I've been doing a bit of thinking since you guys took on the drill at the Outer Wall. Given those who are after you and the Avatar, there'll come a time when I must fight with you. However, should Azula be present, I'll have to make a choice. If I decide to fight against the Fire Nation, I'll be marked a traitor."

"Aren't you that already?" Sokka asked.

"Well, we know that, but the Fire Nation doesn't! Now, if I choose to fight with Azula, at the right time, then I might be welcomed back home, and should that happen, I might be able to send you guys some inside information." Zuko told him. Sokka's eyes went wide, but his face gradually turned to that of someone plotting a big surprise attack.

"I don't like the idea of you turning against us, but if you're willing to risk yourself to help us out, then I can see things working out. If you do have to turn on us during a fight, it would be best if you started fighting against us for real, don't hold anything back. If we get burned, then that's on both of us. However, you should come up with a signal, something that'll warn the rest of us that you've switched sides.

"I'll come up with something…. A new Firebending form, something a bit over-the-top so you'll notice it." Zuko replied.

"Good, should we tell the others?" Sokka asked.

"Everyone but my uncle. If I could convince Iroh that I've betrayed everyone, Azula would be fully convinced that I'm on her side. When I've returned to the Fire Nation, we'll use messenger hawks for correspondence."

"I like the way you think. Now, how're we going to meet up again?"

"You plan on invading the Fire Nation on the eclipse, so I'll escape then." Zuko replied.

"Provided if you even have to, remember." Sokka told him.

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After telling Aang, Toph, and Katara about their new plan, they found that they didn't like the idea of Zuko turning on them, but they agreed that it was a good idea to have an inside man.

Late in the night, Zuko heard the sound of footsteps in the house, and they didn't sound like those of his friends. There where multiple pairs of feet and they moved all sneaky-like. Zuko got up and lit an oil lamp and stepped out of his room, his dual swords in hand.

He saw the intruders and raised his lamp, and was ready for a fight, when he told them: "Stop right there!"

They froze.

Zuko step towards them, and saw their faces.

"Jet, what are you doing?" Zuko asked.

"We were trying to find some loot to bring back to the Lower Ring. I didn't know that this place was yours! Please, Lee, I am so sorry!" He replied, looking over to Smellerbee and Longshot.

"When you travel with the Avatar as honored guests, they see to it that you're treated well… There's not much in the way of blankets and clothes for you to take here, but I can give you a sack of food." Zuko told him.

"You're not upset?" Jet asked.

"Oh, I am, I was having a good night's sleep until you came in, but I'm not going to call the guards on you." Zuko told him as he put together a sack of food to spare. He passed it off to Jet and told him: "Now get out before the others wake up!"

"Thanks, Lee, I owe you one!" Jet told him. Then he and his friends took off into the night.

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Are you excited? I'm curious to know what you guys are looking forward to, because the next chapter will be based on the episode 'Tales of Ba Sing Se'.