Chapter 36:
Appa had landed on a small island and both Freya and Aang were still cuddling the bison as Toph, Katara and Sokka had gotten off his back.
"I missed you more than you'll ever know, buddy." Aang admitted as he hugged the bison's forehead and the beast rumbled in response. Momo jumped forwards and hugged Appa in the same way as Freya lay on his head patting it.
"Nothing was the same without you." Freya agreed. Appa rose his head and licked Aang as he fell down and laughed.
"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." Sokka said as he got up from his spot and turned to his sister who was standing beside Toph, the younger girl sitting on the ground.
"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll." Katara believed critically.
"Actually Katara, I'm with Sokka." everyone looked at Freya surprised as she slid off of Appa's head who was being petted by Aang some more. "We beat Long Feng, but we now need to get to the Earth King before he does. If we don't go now, Long Feng can give all sorts of lies to the King to stop us convincing him of what's been going on outside his walls. There could be in increase in the guard to try and stop us as well. We need to act before that happens." Freya explained "If we talk to the King, Long Feng could loose the control he has, and he's done everything so far to stop that. That's not gonna change just because we invaded his underground fortress and took back the only thing he had over us." the others looked down and Sokka nodded as Freya pointed to Appa. "Besides, we have done great." she added grinning "Today's actually been great and I'm happy to keep that going." Sokka nodded to her
"And we can build on it. If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we need the Earth King's support." Sokka reminded them
"What makes you think we'll get it? I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our little gang." Toph admitted
"I know, but I've got a good feeling about this. This time will be different." Sokka thought
"Sokka, Long Feng has 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." Katara thought
"I'm with sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se, and I can't even see!" Toph exaggerated.
"I think we need to end this war. Besides, there's nothing to stop us now." Freya said "Long Feng stopped us by threatening Appa's return. He's got nothing and we're free to move straight to the palace. Besides, the King deserves to know what's going on outside his walls. It isn't right that he's blind to it all." Freya said. Aang leaped down beside the girl grinning.
"And now that we have Appa back, there is nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth about the conspiracy and the war." he believed
"See, Freya and Aang's with me." Sokka grinned as he put an arm around Aang's shoulder. "It's the whole reason we came here in the first place, we have to try." Sokka admitted. Katara thought.
"Well, I guess if the Earth King knew the truth, things could change." The boys smiled
"Great!" Freya grinned
"I don't trust the new positive Sokka." Toph said as she got to her feet before she pointed at the boy accusingly. "Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he!"
"How can you not be positive. Appa's back!" Freya grinned "Things are actually looking up!"
Aang ran to the bank as Freya talked and everyone followed him to see three boats moving over the lake.
"That's probably the Dai Li searching for us." Sokka thought as he Freya and Katara approached Aang. Sokka turned to his sister. "So?" Katara paused
"Let's fly!" she decided and Freya grinned
"Yes! Let's knock some heads!" she grinned before they all jumped up onto Appa.
Aang and Freya sat on the bison's head as Aang held his glider tight. Katara, Sokka and Toph laid on his back gripping his fur as the air brushed past them. The group moved over the inner wall and towards the city, past the three rings and towards the palace right in the centre.
"Can we please buy a new saddle? Riding bareback is terrifying!" Toph shouted before she buried her face in the bison's fur.
"We'll add that to the list." Frey returned.
They approached the rich red building in the centre and Sokka pointed at it.
"There it is. That whole thing is the palace. The Earth King's chambers should be in the centre." he believed
"We have to be careful. Long Feng's probably warned the King that we're coming." Katara warned
"Why would you assume that? If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in—"
"Aang!" Freya shouted and Appa moved quickly to avoid a giant boulder that came flying at them from the ground, Sokka's screaming sounding through the air from the bison's sudden movement.
"What was that?!" Toph shouted
"Surface to air rocks!" Sokka shouted. Below many people stood in small pits that held cylindrical rocks. Two more were shot up at them. "More incoming! Ahhh!" Sokka screamed as the bison moved to avoid the two more.
"They're insane." Freya said as one came shooting right up towards their side. Aang rose his hand without looking at it and it exploded into pieces, covering them in dirt and rock before the bison flew out of the dust cloud. Another shot right over their head before Freya lunched forwards. She rose her arms and her eyes flashed before another was exploded by a direct fire hit straight in the middle. Aang rose his staff and cut through another as they dove for the ground.
Freya hit the ground first and before her was a line of soldiers, with the commander on an ostrich horse at the front.
"We have an overdue meeting with your king. You better move aside and let us through!" She shouted. She threw her hands down at the ground as Aang jumped off of Appa and landed beside her. The ground kicked up in a wave and fire shot out with it from Freya. The solders were blown and thrown off of their feet as Appa landed and moved towards the commander. He growled and the ostrich horse jumped backwards, knocking the commander off and then running away. Freya ran forwards and Toph, Katara and Sokka jumped off of Appa before they and Aang followed the girl.
Soldiers lined up on either side of them and blocks of earth were risen and shot at them from both sides. Aang moved and bashed the rocks with his glider as Toph swung pieces of earth to act as shields as they rose from the ground and fell back down again. Freya pulled water from her pouch and it hardened to ice in which the rocks smashed into and crumbled to pieces.
Katara whipped at the men with her water and Freya jumped and dodged the blocks before she kicked the men off their feet with her fire blasts. The younger girl was apologising to all the soldiers as she struck.
More came running towards them and Freya jumped backwards to land behind Toph. The girl rose her hands, pulled them back and shoved them forwards. The tiles the soldiers stood on shot up and turned over like dominoes, trapping the men between the pieces.
"Sorry! We just need to get through to see the Earth King." Katara explained
"We promise not to assassinate him!" Freya shouted back as they ran towards the steps and up towards the palace. A bridge sat before them moving over a river in which the other side was lined with soldiers, more standing at the top of the first set of stairs.
The earth benders lifted up the two giant statues of badger moles and threw them at the group. Freya launched herself upward with a burst of fire and with the graceful waved of her arms two giant blasts of water shot of up from the river and blasted them further into the air so they landed far beyond the group.
Freya landed down and Katara ran up beside her before the two water benders ran forwards and Freya launched over the river on one side of the bridge while Katara created an ice ramp and drew more water from the river on the other. Both girls knocked the men into the river before Katara drew it around her arms defensively as tentacles. Freya had the water launch her into the air beefier forming a large wave behind her. She waved it over her head and it crashed behind the next line of soldiers. With a pull on her arms the water was drawn back towards Freya, who landed, moved past her, around the two girls and crashed into the river again, taking the soldiers with it.
Aang jumped over and froze the water with a wave of his staff before Toph, Sokka and Appa followed the avatar.
Rocks began to rain down, one landing with a crash beside Appa as the large line of steps lay before them. More soldiers were running out and down towards them as they sent rocks flying their way.
Toph stepped forwards and rose her arms for the ground began to shake. A rock slammed down beside her before the girl yanked her hands down. One by one from the bottom to the top, the stairs began to turn and soon instead of stairs, before them was a slide. The earth benders began to slide downwards with a cry.
Aang and Toph stood beside one another and a crack ran around them, the other three and Appa before with a wave of the two's arms a platform rose out and they began to slide up the now useless stairs. The earth benders slid down on either side of them as Appa beat his tail over the edge of their platform.
"Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side." Sokka shouted at the sliding soldiers as Katara looked worried. "Sorry." he said before they reached the top of the stairs.
More soldiers waited for them and the five ran off the platform before Toph and Aang lunged on either side of one another and two sheets of earth rose up either side and pushed the benders all back, blocking them from the group. They ran towards the opening into the palace and Appa ran after them with a growl.
"In there!" Sokka instructed.
They came to a square room with three other hallways leading off it and more soldiers ran out towards them. Toph stomped her foot and half of the soldiers were sent into the air as columns rose up and pinned them to the celling.
"Toph, which way to the Earth King?" Sokka asked looking around.
"How should I know? I'm still voting that we leave Ba Sing Se." Toph admitted before she shoved her hands forwards and earth went tunnelling towards two more benders who were thrown off their feet with a cry.
Freya moved forwards and water rushed in behind them and she surfed it around the room to freeze the other benders in place. Sokka moved around the room and began opening doors as water, air and earth went flying all around the room. He opened doors looked around and closed them again until he opened the door on a women who cried out.
"Burglar!" as she tried to run in her gown though she ended up face planting on the floor.
"Sorry. Wrong door." and Sokka closed the door behind him.
Eventually the room was a mess and the soldiers were defeated before Sokka climbed up a load of rocks to look down one of the corridors. Beyond it was a very tall door with gold and green on it and knockers that were far too high or too large for anyone to use them.
"Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere." Sokka thought and he ran towards the door before he jumped and kicked his foot out shouting. Sokka slammed into the door before he fell to the ground and nothing happened. It didn't deter him and he began to push on the door.
Aang, Toph and Freya landed behind him and slammed their hands forwards. Earth, air and fire smashed into the doors and both were blown off it's hinges as Sokka was thrown forwards with it. He went sliding along the ground as the doors landed with a giant crash.
"A little warning next time!" Sokka complained as he got to his hands and knees and rubbed his head, turning to look at the three.
Katara, Toph, Aang and Freya ran forwards as Sokka got to his feet and turned around. There was a throne before them, five Dai Li agents at the base of the small set of steps, Long Feng stood there and stared at the five incredulously and behind him sat a man in yellow with a green cape around his neck, a large set of jade beads and a head ornament that held the Earth Kingdom symbol in the centre. He was rather young and had specs sitting on his nose. His bear was to his left and the Dai Li agents ran to block the King and protect him. Katara, Aang and Toph took a bending stance, Toph raising a rock and Katara with water by her head as Sokka raised his machete.
"We need to talk to you!" Aang admitted as Freya stood looking at the King seriously.
"They're here to overthrow you." Long Feng said pointing to the five and turning to the king.
"No, we're on your side. We're here to help." Sokka contradicted
"You have to trust us." Katara said appealing to the man
"You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?" the King demanded as he got to his feet.
"He has a good point." Toph admitted
"We had no other choice. Long Feng has been refusing to let us talk to you so breaking in was sort of the only option we had." Freya confessed
"If you're own my side, then drop your weapons and stand down." the King ordered. Freya glanced at the four on either side of her as she was the only one not prepared to attack. The four shared a look before Aang dropped his staff, Katara pulled her water back into her pouch, Sokka dropped his machete reluctantly and Toph let her rock fall with a crash.
"See, we're friends, your Earthiness." Aang grinned. He blushed as the Earth King glared at him and Long Feng rose his arm.
The five had their arms grabbed by earth hands and locked behind their backs as if in cuffs by the Dai Li. Freya glanced over her shoulder as Aang wriggled slightly before Long Feng grinned at them.
"Detain the assailants." Long Feng ordered and the Dai Li skated towards the five.
"But we dropped our weapons. We're your allies." Sokka said confused as the Dai Li moved behind the group.
"You lock us up I promise we'll all be back." Freya warned.
"Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again." Long Feng decided and Freya hissed at the man angrily. The Earth King however was surprised by this.
"The Avatar? You're the Avatar?" he pointed to Sokka.
"Uh, no, him." Sokka pointed his head to Aang on Freya's other side.
"Over here." the rock bonds over his wrists broke and the rocks hovered in the air as Aang waved before he put his hands back and the earth returned to binding him.
"What does it matter Your Highness? They're enemies of the state." Long Feng said
"And why are we enemies Long Feng?" Freya demanded
"Perhaps you're right." the King ignored Freya but was looking uncertain.
The bear had moved down from beside the King and over to Aang with a groan, he smelled and then licked Aang's face causing the boy to laugh.
"Though Bosco seems to like him." The King smiled. He looked determined again and his tone changed as he became serious. "I'll hear what he has to say."
Long Feng's eyes narrowed as Aang stepped forwards.
"Well, sir, there is a war going on right now. For the past 100 years, in fact. The Dai Li's kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you." Aang explained
"A secret war? That's crazy!" the king thought
"Completely!" Long Feng agreed though his tone was flat.
"It's not a secret Your Majesty." Freya spoke up. "Your inner wall is filled with refugees as people have come to the protection of Ba Sing Se as their homes have all been destroyed by the Fire Nation." she admitted
"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our Sky Bison to blackmail us. And blackmail is the least of his crimes, he brain washed our friend!" Aang accused
"All lies. I've never even seen a Sky Bison, Your Majesty." the man said to the King before looking away. "Frankly, I thought they were extinct."
"Your claim is difficult to believe, even from an Avatar." the King thought as he sat back down.
"These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction." Long Feng whispered.
"Into Long Feng's destruction. What do we have to gain by over throwing the Earth King?" Freya questioned. The Earth King however seemed resigned.
"I have to trust my advisor." he thought. Aang looked at him shocked as everyone's mouths fell open and Freya sighed and shook her head. One of the Dai Li agents ran forwards to grab Aang and the five began to be pulled away and from the room.
"Wait!" Sokka suddenly said, turning back to the king and surprising the agents holding him. "I can prove he's lying. Long Feng said he's never seen a Sky Bison, ask him to lift his robe.
"What?! I am not disrobing!" the man said appalled. The King looked thoughtful and confused as Sokka and Aang shared a smirk and a nod. Aang took a deep breath and blew at the man. His robe was blown up over his face and his legs were exposed as the King held up a hand to block the wind from his face.
"Right there! Appa bit him." Aang called as on Long Feng's left leg were red rectangular marks.
"Never met a Sky Bison, huh?" Sokka asked smugly.
Long Feng pushed his robe back down over his legs and feigned embarrassment. "That happens to be a large birthmark. Thanks for showing everyone."
"Well, I suppose there's no way to prove where those marks came from." the King believed
"Of course there is!" Sokka admitted.
"We just compare it to Appa's teeth." Freya shrugged "May we?" The King looked at Long Feng who shook his head before he agreed.
The five were released from their bonds and Appa was collected to the room were the King, Long Feng and the agents stood at the foot of the throne steps. Long Feng was forced to lift his robe again as Appa opened his mouth to expose his teeth.
Aang pointed at Appa's teeth and then to Long Feng's bite mark.
"Yup, that pretty much proves it." The King agreed and the four cheered, their fists in the air as Freya grinned.
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory." the King thought and the four groaned as Freya huffed. "Though, I suppose this matter is worth looking into." he decided
"Really!?" Freya asked excitedly as the others all mumbled around her.
"Uh, ok, we'll take it. Yeah."
Long Feng stalked off to the side and his Dai Li agents followed him silently.