Mako
The airship touched down in Ba Sing Se, and Mako stood in front of the hatch nervously.
"It'll be fine!" Jinora said from next to him encouragingly.
"I hope so," Mako replied. "Thanks for the lift."
"Don't mention it!" Asami shouted back from the pilot's seat. "And good luck!"
With that, the hatch opened, and Mako stepped out on to the paved landing area.
After finding out that he had been volunteered for the Earth King's personal guard, Mako had decided to hitch a ride with Asami's expedition to find Korra. Asami didn't mind, and it saved money on making his own way there. The expedition had in the end been stocked with enough supplies to last five people a week, and even a reasonably large Satomobile in the back. The journey so far had mostly been spent making sure the Airbender children didn't argue with each other too much or break the Satomobile, and he didn't envy Asami that task now.
Since the invention of airships, a section of the city's upper ring had been flattened and converted into an airport to accommodate them. Several Airships manufactured by the Cabbage Corp for the Royal Earth Air Fleet stood a few hundred metres away, and beyond them was the huge shape of Wu's palace. As he watched, a door opened, and a Satomobile drove towards him. This one was bright green, and bore the symbol of the Earth Kingdom on its doors. Its driver was dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Guard, and he gestured for Mako to get in.
As they drove away, he heard Asami's airship fire up its engines again and turned around in time to see it lift itself up into the sky, off on its great quest. Mako wished he was still on board.
The Satomobile drove through a large door in the side of the palace, and stopped in front of a large man with a stern look on his face.
"Mako, I assume?" He asked as soon as he had exited the vehicle, not even bothering with a hello.
Mako nodded.
"Excellent. My name is Chan. I am the head of His Majesty's Palace Guard, and I understand you have been invited to join us."
"Yes sir," Mako replied. "Kuvira asked me herself."
"She did. She was rather persistent, from what I've seen. I understand why, you are, or were, a companion of the Avatar and your credentials are impressive."
"Thank you sir."
"There is one small matter though." The man suddenly became even more serious.
"I understand you are a Firebender."
"That is correct."
"Far be it from me to question the Great Uniter's judgement, but why did she want a Firebender to guard the King?"
Mako tried not to feel insulted. He mostly succeeded.
"I don't know, but for what it's worth I am half Earth Kingdom."
The man grunted, looking him up and down.
"Then channel that half. I am a tolerant man, so I will allow you to do this, Firebender nor not- but step out of line and I will consult the Historians in the Ba Sing Se University to find the most painful way to execute you. Am I understood?"
Mako nodded vigorously.
"Good. I'm glad we are on the same page."
With that, the conversation seemed to be over. Mako was taken to his quarters, given time to wash, and presented with a new uniform. He looked at himself in the mirror and shivered, seeing the green uniform he was wearing. Kuvira had abolished the Dai Li as one of the first things she had done upon becoming Regent, but they still cast a long shadow- and she hadn't changed the uniforms much. Mako felt fundamentally uncomfortable in the Earth King's green, and wanted his own nation's red clothes back.
Feeling uncomfortable, he stepped out of his room, and reported to Chan to receive his assignment.
"Your job is to keep a close eye on the King," Chan told him. "You're his babysitter."
Perfect, Mako thought.
"Would you like to meet him?"
Mako nodded. He honestly didn't know what to expect. He knew the Earth King was young, but all the decisions were made by Kuvira so he had no clear picture of his personality or style of ruling.
"Just be warned, he's very enthusiastic. Also, we have a Royal procession in half an hour, he should be getting ready."
Chan led him up a flight of stairs, and into a wide hallway. At one end an enormous and imposing set of doors stood. Mako imagined that those led into the throne room. Instead, Chan led him down a side passage and after a few more turns, arrived in front of a door with two guards posted in front of it and very loud music blaring from within.
Chan knocked on the door, and the music suddenly stopped.
"That means we can go in," Chan told him. Mako steeled himself, and entered.
The room was large, and covered in green and yellow tapestries depicting scenes from the history of the Earth Kingdom. Two more guards stood in front of pillars directly in front of Mako, and behind them a man about five years younger than Mako suddenly stopped fiddling about with his robe and stared at him.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"My name is Mako, your highness," Mako replied deferentially.
"Mako? Oh, Mako! The Firebender Kuvira mentioned!" The boy suddenly moved towards Mako and stuck out his hand expectantly.
"My name is Wu," he declared. "That's Earth King Wu to you. Aren't you going to shake my hand?"
Mako hesitated for a second- he wasn't sure if this was proper protocol- but eventually he shook Wu's hand. This delighted the King.
"Glad to have you on board!" He said. "Do you want to listen to my new song?"
"What?"
"My new song! A King has to have a hobby, you know. I write songs. I dance, as well. Do you dance?"
Mako managed to recover.
"Uh... no, not usually. Aren't we supposed to be getting ready?"
"Oh, that." Wu replied. "We'll be there in plenty of time. Can you help me?" He indicated a strap, and Mako moved to shift it.
"Thank you," Wu replied.
"What does this parade involve?"
"Just a simple ride through the streets," Wu replied. "It's very easy, and the people love it."
"How long does it normally take?"
"Not long."
There was a knock on the door.
"Your Majesty, we're waiting!" A voice came from the other side.
"Excellent," Wu said. "Shall we?"
The parade was, just as Wu had promised, very uneventful. Wu was sat on a Satomobile, that cruised very slowly through the upper and middle rings before making a quick pass through some of the safer areas of the lower ring. Mako sat next to him as he waved to the assembled crowds, many of whom responded by chanting his name. Surrounding them, a cordon of Royal Guards kept people away using earthbending.
"It's good, isn't it?" Wu asked as they passed through the Middle Ring.
"It's alright, I suppose," Mako said uncomfortably.
"Where are you from?"
"I didn't know you took an interest in that sort of thing."
"I try my best," Wu replied, looking at him expectantly.
"I come from Republic City."
"Oh good! I've never met someone from there before." He leaned in conspiratorially. "Kuvira tells me that people there are basically from the Earth Kingdom already."
"Does she now?" Mako raised an eyebrow.
"Oh yes! That was one of the arguments she used to bring you on board. Plus, apparently you're good."
"I suppose."
"Not good at taking compliments though. Or dancing, apparently."
"What gave you that idea?" Mako asked.
"You didn't seem enthusiastic about it."
"I'm on the clock. I don't have time for dancing."
Wu gasped. "No time for dancing? What kind of priorities are those?"
"I have your safety to look out for, Your Majesty."
"Yes, but there's always time for-"
"Oi!"
Wu's point became a yelp as a woman broke through the crowd and threw herself at the Satomobile.
"Where's my husband, you silver-spooned-"
"What?" the King asked, baffled.
"Don't encourage the madwoman!" A guard admonished him. More of them had grabbed the woman and were pulling her back towards the crowd.
"Madwoman?! You took my husband, you pricks! You showed up in the middle of the night and vanished him! Where is he? I demand to know?"
Mako looked up and just for a moment he met her eyes. She scowled at him. And then she was gone.
"Well, that was odd," Wu tried to brush the situation off, but Mako could see that the woman had unnerved him. The King wasn't alone in that.
Mako vowed to attempt to get to the bottom of the situation. Something was clearly wrong.