Author's note: glad to still have faithful readers despite the few months break I took :) Also there's more Chenlian/Zuko here, I hope you like it. In any case, MERRY CHRISTMAS and good reading! :)
Fight 38: Walls and Secrets
A train was crossing through the vast fields. Inside, Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Momo were waiting. Katara looked out the window and saw the inner wall growing closer and drew her friends' attention to it. She couldn't believe they had finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece (despite how glad she seemed). Her brother told her not to jinx it. They could still be attacked by some giant exploding Fire Nation spoon or find out the city had been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp. Toph believed he had been hitting the cactus juice again . But he pointed out that weird stuff DID happen to them. Sokka was the jinxer though as just when he said that, a very weird man with apparently a few loose screws and a glossy stare and munching on a whole ear of corn squeezed himself between him and Toph, taking a seat and startling them.
When Aang sadly gazed out the window, Katara reassured him. They were going to find Appa. He argued it was such a big city. Sokka walked to him. Appa was a giant bison. Where could someone possibly hide him ? But then the car passed through the inner wall and the sheer size of the enormous city made him eat his own words. Ba Sing Se was stretching almost as far as the eye could see. The train stopped at a station and they disembarked. Sokka found it amazing but Toph complained. A city was just a bunch of walls and rules. They were sure to get sick of it in a couple of days. The monk stared at the bison whistle in his palm and blew it. Nothing happened.
"I'm comin' for you buddy. He's here. I can feel it." He declared. Behind them, the train departed. On the other side of the track was a woman with long dark hair who approached them with an unnatural smile plastered on her face.
"Hello, my name is Joo Dee. I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se. And you must be Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started ?" She greeted.
"Yes. We have information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King immediately." Sokka affirmed.
"Great, let's begin our tour. And then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it." The guide turned around and attempted to lead Aang and his friends.
"Augh! Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the King about the war, it's important!" The warrior insisted.
"You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here." Joo Dee said. Everyone looked rather perplexed by her odd statement. Why was she ignoring them? What was with her?
The five of them rode a carriage through the streets. Joo Dee presented them the lower ring. Ba Sing Se had many walls. There were the ones outside protecting them, and the one's inside that helped maintain order. This was where the newest arrivals lived, as well as the craftsman and artisans. It was so quaint and lively. But then they spotted two shady men conversing in an alley. One of them was holding a large sword. Both glared at the carriage as it passed. The guide warned them they should watch their step though. Katara wondered why they had all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city . Indeed, the buildings were all somewhat rundown and the whole place had a slumish feel to it.
"This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live." Aang commented sadly.
In another part of the lower ring, Zuko and Chenlian were walking down a street. Iroh caught up to them, holding a large vase with orange flowers. Zuko stared coldly at them but the old man just wanted their new place to look more suitable for the prettiest of flowers always at their side and brightening their day. He grinned at Chenlian who smiled back and thanked him. He was always such a gentleman. Well, she was used to his exaggerated compliments and only half listened. But then he added that it was such a nice feeling, surely that was what fathers-in-law must feel like... which embarrassed the teenagers who replied he was going overboard.
"This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here. If that's what you must feel like, there must be better places." The prince voiced his opinion.
"Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not." His uncle replied.
"I'm not fond of walls either but I think Iroh's right. It's a matter of how you view things isn't it? It's up to us to decide if they're just enclosing us or if they're also protecting us. In any case, the Fire Nation shouldn't be able to get us so easily here, right? Well, that said, we should always work on trying to improve things." Not even in her worst nightmares could Chenlian have imagined that this city's outer wall had already been breached by Azula and the drill, or that Aang could be there too, in Ba Sing Se, looking for his lost friend, and that he had been the one to stop the invasion with Sokka, Katara, and Toph... Since she had reunited with Zuko in that ghost village, the times when she would check on the Avatar had dwindled to a stop. Last time, he was doing well in his earthbending training. Things were going well on his side, he was growing stronger, and a reliable ally had joined him. For now, they would be fine without her. But things were different for Zuko. He needed her, and she loved him. She wanted to be with him, and help him heal. She had to be by his side, give him all her love and attention.
"About work, come on. I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon." The elderly informed them. But before that, they had to drop by their new house first. It was also Iroh who had chosen it, with a room for him and one for the couple with twin beds. Normally by all rights he would have shared the room with his nephew and let the girl have her privacy... but he wanted those two to get closer, close enough so that Zuko would chose her, and a future with her, rather than being prisoner of the past, of his family... he wanted them to become inseparable, that those two's bodies and souls bind completely... he was absolutely convinced it would be for the best... and to that end, it should certainly help if those two had some intimacy. And a distance behind them, Jet came out of an alley, staring hard at them.
"Look at them, firebenders living right under everyone's nose." Jet remarked with a touch of spite. His friends joined him. Again, Smellerbee tried to talk to him. Just because this man had a hot cup of tea didn't mean he was a firebender. And even if that was true, were they supposed to attack them? She thought they were starting over here, changing their ways. "We are, when I get the evidence I need, I'll report them to the police and let them handle it. Ok?"
"So what? Are you going to report Chenlian too, even though she's an ally of the Avatar and the only one who can teach him firebending and complete his Avatar training? I thought you believed in her eye for people. Do you really think she could get tricked like that? Unless you think she's betraying the Avatar? She cares for these guys. She'll do whatever she needs to in order to protect them. Are you going to make her your enemy?" The girl questioned him. Her leader clenched his fists.
"...I believe she too can make mistakes... and be blinded by love."
In a forest, the Kyoshi warriors were gathering berries when one of them noticed white fur hanging from the branches of a bush. Suki recognized it... but it couldn't be... They looked up at a furrow on the hillside with broken trees and more clumps of fur... all the signs of a fight. The leader of the warriors followed the path of destruction until she discovered the ragged bison lying in the shadow of the mine entrance. She gasped, shocked, when she saw what state he was in. Roused by her voice, Appa cowered back into the mine, growling. As Suki walked closer, she saw his chains and injuries. She told him reassuringly she'd be back soon with help and left. Later, Suki returned with her warriors. Since she had seen the Avatar just a few days ago, he couldn't be far. They had to safely deliver Appa to him. They approached VERY slowly and cautiously trying to not scare him away or provoke his wrath. The beast noticed them and rose to his feet, roaring an angry warning. The warriors backed off when their chief ordered them to give him some space. Suki gained his trust back when she said they could help him find Aang.
The women were able to get Appa out in the open and removed the manacles and quills. They treated his injuries and cleaned him too. And soon, he was in a much better shape and also better disposed towards them. As he was sitting among them, he licked the face of one. Suddenly his ears twitched to approaching danger, and as he turned about, a bolt of blue fire hit the tree behind him. Azula, Mai and Ty Lee rode out of the hills on the backs of mongoose dragons, reigning to a halt before the Kyoshi warriors.
"My, my, you're easy to find. It's really astounding my brother hasn't captured you yet." Azula tossed the clump of fur she was holding. The Earth Kingdom warriors took their battle stances, unfurling their war fans and collapsible shields around Appa who reared and growled threateningly. "Who are you, the Avatar's fangirls?" The princess mocked.
"If you are looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck." Suki replied. Mai sighed despondently. She knew this was a waste of time. Azula shrugged. Any friend of the Avatar was an enemy of hers. She leaped from her saddle, sending a blast of blue fire towards the warriors who shielded the sky bison. Mai and Ty Lee also engaged the warriors in combat and quickly defeated a few of them. Suki kept protecting Appa from Azula, blocking the fire blasts with her shield. However, one ricocheted, setting fire to the tree she had felled initially. As the flames spread, Appa cowered back.
"Afraid of fire I see. That's good, you should be!" The Fire Nation princess commented. Suki drew her sword and ordered Appa to get out of here. He took off and she charged at Azula who performed an amazing horizontal mid-air spin, simultaneously avoiding her thrust and with a swat of her arm, sending her sword flying from her hands and into a tree. The warrior blocked another fire blast. Azula countered her kick and tripped Suki to the ground. Seeing her in danger, Appa came back to help. About to finish Suki, the firebender dodged beneath a pair of war-fans hurled at her back, and turned to launch a retaliatory attack. The leader of the Kyoshi Warriors rushed to the sky bison, waving a burning branch to scare him away. Again, she told him to get out of here and go find Aang. They'd be ok. Clearly torn, Appa finally flew off. Smiling in relief, Suki barely reacted in time to block a blast of blue fire with her shield. She staggered backwards and took her battle-stance, unfolding her war fan. "Don't you know that fans just make flames stronger?" Azula wondered contemptuously. The two lunged at each other.
Meanwhile, the tour of Ba Sing Se continued for Aang and his friends. Their carriage passed a wall. They were now in a much cleaner and nicer (richer) looking part of the city. The teens were all bored. This was the middle ring of Ba Sing Se, home to the financial district, shops and restaurants and the university.
"Yeah, we met a Professor from Ba Sing Se University. He took us to an ancient underground library where we discovered information about the war that is absolutely crucial for the King to hear!" Sokka said in one breath and leant in close to Joo Dee to emphasize his point. The stonewalling master simply grinned cheerfully, agreed history was fascinating, and drew their attention back to the city and its notable buildings like the Town Hall. The carriage stopped and Joo Dee climbed down. The boy stared after her, bewildered. "Is that woman deaf ? She only seems to hear every other word I say." He wondered.
"It's called 'being handled'. Get used to it." Toph replied, crossing her arms. Aang and Katara looked at Sokka helplessly.
Jet was leaning against the wall near the windows of a small tea shop. He turned around and peeked inside at the three firebenders speaking with the shop owner.
"Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel ?" The owner inquired, smiling. His three new employees had donned an apron, or at least the young ones did. The old one was still struggling to tie his behind his back.
"Ridiculous." Lee answered crossly.
"He means ready to work." Meiling smiled amiably before pinching the skin of her lover's hand. He winced and glared at her but when he saw her disapproving look that silently said 'Don't be rude to the employer, we'll be fired before we even start!' he averted his eyes. Iroh, who was still struggling with his apron, requested a larger size. The owner had extra string in the back. He poured some tea for them and went to fetch it. The old tea lover took a sip from his cup, and his face instantly contorted in disgust.
"Eeow! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!" The elder exclaimed, offended.
"Uncle, that's what all tea is." Zuko replied but although he was technically right...
"You mean there's no difference to you between that thing and your uncle's tea?" Chenlian questioned after tasting the tea and cringing.
"How can a member of my own family say something so horrible? We'll have to make some major changes around here." Iroh grabbed the tea pot and headed over to the window. Jet gasped and pulled away just in time and Iroh dumped the tea out the window. The spy slowly stalked around the corner and left.
Meantime, the Avatar and his party arrived at the Upper Ring, a beautiful area full of rolling hills and tall pagodas. Joo Dee informed them it was where their most important citizens resided. Their house was around here too. They passed by another wall with a tall gate. Behind it the roof of an enormous building could be seen. Three men wearing dark robes and wide brimmed hats were standing guard in the gateway and turned their suspicious eyes towards the group. The siblings asked what was inside that wall and who the mean looking guys in robes were.
"Inside is the Royal Palace. Those men are agents of the Dai Li, the cultural authority of Ba Sing Se. They are the guardians of all our traditions." The guide answered. Aang wanted to see the King now. "Oh, no! One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King." She smiled. The boy nodded sadly. They reached a pretty house and climbed down the carriage. "Here we are. Your new home." Then, a messenger ran up to Joo Dee and handed her a scroll. "More good news, your request for an audience with the Earth King is being processed, and should be put through in about a month. Much more quickly than usual." That stunned Sokka. A month?! "Six to eight weeks, actually." She precised, grinning. Eight weeks... wasn't it about two months?
After Joo Dee showed the nice interior of their new home, the warrior asked if they really couldn't meet the King sooner but was only met with another predefined answer: "The Earth King is very busy running the finest city in the world, but he will see you as soon as time permits." She really was just reciting a lesson learned by heart. There didn't seem to be a way around it, even for the Avatar. So Aang decided to spend their time looking for Appa if they were going to be here for a month. The woman bowed, saying she'd be happy to escort them anywhere. Toph, as she started walking to the door, replied that they didn't need a babysitter.
"Oh, I won't get in the way." The guide took a small step, blocking her path. "And to leave you alone would make me a bad host. Where shall we start ?"
Appa flew above the forest, along a river... then out into the sea, through the heavy rain... he passed above a pair of Southern Water Tribe ships sailing under the torrential rain. On the deck of one of the vessels, Hakoda stared up at the sky-bison in shock and grave wonder. The animal flew through misty peaks until he reached the ruins of the Eastern Air Temple, his birth place. This temple full of happy memories from his childhood with his family was now covered in a thick layer of dust. Appa crossed a bridge to another peak, walked around and stepped out onto a terrace. Framed against the rising sun was a bald figure sitting cross-legged at the end of the terrace. Mistaking him for Aang, the bison bounced forward and knocked the man on his back, licking his face with gusto. It was not Aang, however, but a brown skinned old man with a long snowy beard and bushy eyebrows who blinked, clearly surprised for a moment.
"Hello. I am Guru Pathik." The human quickly recovered and politely introduced himself. Realizing it was not his lifelong friend, Appa jumped away and turned to stare the stranger down. "I know I am not the person you expected. And I didn't expect to be licked by a giant tongue just now. The world is full of surprises." He raised himself and pondered good-heartedly. The buffalo growled menacingly. Seeing him so uncooperative, the old man calmly lied back down on his back closing his eyes. Throughout the day, the Guru regularly tried to raise his head or open an eye to peer at the animal, only to be growled at. Night fell, and Appa finally fell asleep. Opening his eyes, the lean old man nimbly rolled backwards to his feet, walked over to the bison and touched his neck and chest. "Oh, dear. You've been through so much recently. Hurt and betrayed, so twisted up inside." Then he ran his fingers along Appa's underside, to his belly. "You're still full of love. But fear has moved in where trust should be." He sighed. "I've been expecting you and the young Avatar for quite a long time. I had a vision many years ago of helping him. That's why I came to the Eastern Air Temple. Your emotions are so turbulent, like swirling storm clouds." He placed a hand on the animal's brow. "Let the clouds in your mind be gentle, peaceful ones." And as Pathik said this, Appa calmed into a deep pleasant sleep.
Appa woke up and noticed fruits before him that he eagerly snapped up. He followed the trail of fruits, eating his way to a peak reached by a stair curving around its side. On its top was centered a stone elevation, surrounded by a rock garden on one side and and a copse of trees on the other. The Guru was sitting cross-legged on the platform, a bird perched on his head, and surrounded by birds and small woodland creatures. He held out a handful of seeds, and another bird landed on it.
"Someone looks very well-rested, judging by your bed head." The man noted. Appa greeted him and shook his fur back into place. Time passed. At night, Pathik was meditating. The bison came, paced behind him and finally lied down next to him. The elder petted him and rose to his feet, holding a rolled and tied parchment. "I have prepared a message for Aang. May I attach it to your horn?" He politely inquired. Appa seemed to assent, and Pathik secured the message to a horn. "You and the Avatar's energies are mixed. You have an unbreakable bond. By reading your energy, I can sense where Aang is." He touched the bison's forehead and the animal generously licked his face. "Funny, what invisible strings connect us all." He closed his eyes and both seemed to focus intently. And like Aang had done at the Swamp to find Appa, the Guru followed the thread bounding these two to Aang. "I will see you again, great beast."
Aang and his party started with a pet store whose owner hadn't heard anything about a flying bison. He didn't even know there were any. The Avatar politely questioned him about where people who'd want to sell a stolen animal without anyone knowing would go ... but Sokka was downright accusing "Where's the black market?! Who runs it ?! Come on, you know!" The obviously nervous man looked at Joo Dee standing behind the group who smiled at him and slowly shook her head. The man replied it would be illegal and told them to leave now. Their lemur was harassing his sparrowkeets. And indeed, Momo was stealing their birdseed. Next, they headed to Ba Sing Se University. In the courtyard, Aang and Sokka were interrogating a student sitting at the foot of a statue's pedestal. The bespectacled student had never seen any sandbenders or nomads around here. They should ask Professor Zei who taught the class on desert cultures. He didn't seem to know that this Professor was actually forever trapped in an ancient library buried under the sand.
"Right. And which of your professors could we ask about the war with the Fire Nation ?" Sokka inquired. The student, unsure of what to do, glanced at Joo Dee who, still smiling, shook her head. Sokka caught this out of the corner of his eye and turned to look at her but she didn't appear to have budged a single muscle from her initial position. And the student suddenly became very nervous, feigned ignorance, and tried to quickly get away but tripped and dropped his scrolls. He gasped and grumbled as he picked them back up and escaped. Joo Dee waved goodbye. She escorted the teens back home and suggested they got some rest. Someone would be coming over with dinner later. The carriage drove off. Then, the children noticed a man in the house across from them peeking through a window at them. Everyone followed Sokka across the street. He knocked on the door and the same man opened it, smiling. The Water Tribe boy asked their neighbor what was going on with this city and why everyone was so scared to talk about the war .
"War ? Scared? What do you mean?" The man stammered, his eyes shifting left and right. But he could not fool Toph who could feel him shaking. "Look, I'm just a minor government official. I've waited 3 years to get this house. I don't want to get into trouble." Again, he looked around to make sure no one was listening. But get in trouble with who ? "Shh, listen, you can't mention the war here, and whatever you do, stay away from the Dai Li." He advised them confidentially and shut the door.
From a balcony, hiding behind a clothesline, Jet spied on Zuko and Iroh in the apartment across from him. He could see them on both sides of the room. The elder was standing by a counter with a teapot, about to brew more tea and suggested some to his nephew who was lying on a cot.
"We've been working in a tea shop all day. I'm sick of tea!" Zuko shot back.
"Sick of tea? That's like being sick of breathing!"
"More than tea, right now, I'd like food. Why don't we save the tea for after dinner to help with digestion?" Chenlian suggested as she arrived with ingredients. Iroh agreed when his belly rumbled and he rummaged through the cupboard beneath the counter. He couldn't find the spark rocks.
"They're not there." Jet whispered from his hiding place, opening one of his palms to reveal two emerald green spark rocks. "You'll have to firebend, old man. Where are you going ?" He wondered, narrowing his eyes as the elder left and Chenlian started cutting the vegetables. She glared through the open window at the shadow looming over the apartment across them, making the freedom fighter recoil. Mushi soon returned with a pair of spark rocks that he had borrowed from their kind neighbors. He struck the rocks together, igniting a small pile of twigs beneath the pot. His ploy having failed, Jet left.
And when everyone was sleeping, Chenlian (dressed for the night, her hair down, as she had pretended to be sleeping) snuck out of the room, of the house, and into an alley.
"Jet, you're here, right? Show yourself." She demanded. And as expected, he came out.
"Those two are firebenders, aren't they? What are you doing with them? And now have you come to threaten me?" He glared at her.
"You're the only one with a threatening attitude here, aren't you? And that has nothing to do with you. They aren't going to cause trouble, so you shouldn't either, or you're going to be the one to suffer. So for your own sake, stop tailing us and leave us alone. If you want peace, you need to let go of your hatred first. That's all I came to say."
"And you think I'll just believe you? You're completely smitten with Lee! You're losing your edge, allowing him to do whatever he wants with you!" He accused her.
"I would never do anything that would cause harm to Aang, Katara and Sokka, no matter how taken with someone I can be. I'd risk my life to defend them. And I promise that if Lee or Mushi ever try to act against the people here or the Avatar and his friends, I will stop them with everything I have. I am not your enemy, and neither are they. That's why I came here, unarmed. Just to talk. If you don't believe me, if you truly see me as an enemy, then you're free to kill me or capture me or do whatever you want." She asserted strongly.
"Yeah, right, even though you're a weapon yourself." He spat.
"But I won't do anything. I won't use my abilities. I won't fight you. If you think I'm just spouting pretty words again, you can just test my resolve." The girl challenged him. There she was again, pitting her resolve against his, testing him... He gritted his teeth, trembled, strained, and suddenly charged and swung his blade. She didn't move a single muscle and he stopped it at her neck. He tried to apply more force, to really do it... he just managed to push her against a wall. His blade was trembling. All the while her clear unwavering eyes were still fixed on his. Blood trickled down her neck... but that was all he could do. He couldn't kill her. He let her go, stepped back and turned his back on her, his arms limp at his side. "Thank you, Jet. I just want to live in peace with those I love. And I want to try protecting them and that peace without fighting." Chenlian left and returned inside.
She took a cloth, soaked it, and washed the blood away before going back to her room. She closed the door but when she turned around, she faced Zuko who was sitting on the bed. He had lit the little oil lamp between their beds. He glared at her and demanded to know where she had gone... and with whom. The girl heaved a sigh and went to sit opposite him. So he had been awake after all. Well, guess it was normal for him to be angry under such circumstances.
"I haven't been cheating on you if that's what you're implying." She looked straight at him. She wasn't angry or anything. She just sounded very tired. "I don't know if you've noticed but that guy kept following us, waiting for us to slip up. So I went to ask him to stop and leave us alone. And I went now because I hoped to take care of things without you or Iroh being bothered."
"You still should have told me."
"With your habit of flipping out for the smallest things? That was exactly what he wanted. I just went to talk to solve things peacefully."
"And this was the result?" He lightly parted her hair with the back of his hand and touched the wound at her neck. He was gentle with her but his eyes were seething with rage.
"It's just a scratch. His hate runs so deep it could have been worse. But I didn't want to fight. It was the only way I could think of to prove him we're not his enemies and he had no reason to be wary of us. Can't say if I succeeded or not though. No... actually, I can't feel I did..." Chenlian chuckled in self-derision before looking up at him with sadness and earnestness. "Zuko, I'm sorry for having worried you." She was silently asking for forgiveness. And she was feeling down. The young man instantly felt his anger abating, and the urge to comfort her rising. He placed his other hand on her cheek and kissed her with tender love before kissing the scar on her neck.
"Still, I want you to tell me such things... I want you to trust me, and rely on me... I want to protect my girlfriend..." He whispered, hugging her tight.
At night, Appa arrived at Ba Sing Se, watched from a roof by a pair of Dai Li agents, who slid down after he passed. Appa hovered over the city, looking about for signs of Aang. Suddenly his eyes snapped wide in excitement as he heard the familiar sound of the bison whistle. He descended rapidly, landing in an open square in the city's lower circle. However, it wasn't Aang calling him but a man he didn't know holding a different whistle. Long Feng revealed himself and lowered his whistle. The bison stepped back, leaving a footprint in the mud. With an earthbending gesture, Long Feng caused the entire street section to revolve like a trap door, dropping Appa into a passage beneath the city. The dust settled like nothing had happened. All that was left was the footprint, the last trace of Appa.
Morning came. Katara walked out from the front door, stretching and yawning. She grabbed a roll of papers sticking out of a mail slot attached to the wall, read it briefly and ran back inside, excited. She had found a way to meet the Earth King! The others were all lounging around the upper part of the living room. The King was having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear. The place was going to be packed. They could sneak in with the crowd.
"Won't work." Toph said bluntly. Katara wanted to know why not. "Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd would spot you from a mile away. You've got no manners." She took a pastry from a bowl next to her and started eating it.
"Excuse me, I've got no manners? " The waterbender retorted, her hands on her hips. "You're not exactly lady fancy fingers." She crossed her arms. Toph burped.
"I learned proper society behavior and chose to leave it." Just like she threw the half eaten pastry off to the side. "You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late." The little noblewoman explained as she picked her nose and flicked the snot off her finger. Sokka pointed out that since she had learned it, she could teach them. Aang agreed. He was mastering every element. How hard could manners be ? The boys (Momo included) started mimicking nobles... or rather high class snobs... they only looked as if they were fooling around though... and ended seriously butting heads when trying to bow at the same time. They fell backwards, holding their painful forehead. "Katara might be able to pull it off, but you two would be lucky to pass as busboys." Toph stood up. Even though Sokka was feeling so fancy...
Toph and Katara spent the day doing shopping for the necessary things and preparing for the party. At dusk, Aang and Sokka were playing when the girls came out of their room wearing exquisite Earth Kingdom dresses and holding a fan. Their hair was tied around headdresses decorated with a red or pink peony flower, and both of them had makeup on. Toph and Katara stared at the boys calmly before giving into a fit of giggles. Aang blushed and gazed dreamily.
"Wow, you look beautiful." He complimented them. Sokka flicked his forehead. Katara was about to say something when the earthbender placed her fan in front of her mouth.
"Don't talk to the commoners, Katara. First rule of society." The blind noblewoman admonished her. They started leaving. Katara said they'd find a way to let them in through the side gate once they'd got into the party.
In the lower ring, an officer entered the tea shop. Again, Jet was spying on it from an alley when his companions walked up behind him. They needed to talk. He was happy they were here since he could use some help with the surveillance here. But actually, Smellerbee and Longshot had been talking... and come to the conclusion that he was becoming obsessed with this. It was not healthy. They had come here to make a fresh start, but he wouldn't let this go. Even though there was no real proof!
"Well, maybe if you'd help me." He retorted, growing angry.
"Jet, you've gotta stop this."
"Maybe you've forgotten why we need to start over. Maybe you've forgotten about how the Fire Nation left us all homeless , how they wiped out all the people we loved. If you don't want to help me, I'll get the evidence on my own."
"And Chenlian? She's Fire Nation too, and she went through the same things we did, her family was wiped out, she was left homeless, hunted down... no, it was even worse for her because she was betrayed, and unlike us, because of what she was, the whole world saw her as an enemy! And she had at least as much hatred as you in her, and yet, you can't sense any hate or resentment from her anymore. She has changed! You can see that she's opening to those around her, trying to gain new things, to learn about peace. She's trying to move forward! You said that was what you wanted. Surely you can do it too. If you understand that, if you have even the slightest bit of consideration for her, why don't you stop bothering her and the people she loves?"
"You're right, she has changed. She's no longer single-mindedly trying to help the Avatar. She's become soft. I acknowledge her efforts and resolve. But I don't think she's moving forward. I think she's trying to run away from reality, or rather to turn her wishful thinking into reality. And the one who changed her was that guy. But she isn't allowed to be weak, to run away, to bend to other's will. She's a firebender. I'll only acknowledge her if she dedicates her life to the Avatar. I'll remind her of her purpose. I'll wake her up from that dream." Jet stalked off towards the shop.
Inside the tea house, Iroh was pouring a cup of tea for the officer that had walked in earlier. The patrolman exclaimed this was the best tea in the city. Obviously pleased, the old man replied that the secret ingredient was love. Zuko, who was clearing a table close to the counter, stared at him weirdly. His uncle could be so over the top. The shop owner stared at the basically full room and was joined by Mushi. At this time, almost half of the clients were officers. Chenlian was serving other officers close to the door and chatting with them with a charming smile.
"I think you and Meiling are due for a raise." The boss smiled. A delicious tea was even more delectable when served by such a charming young lady. Lee disliked the fact that she could smile so sweetly and chat so easily though, as well as the fact that it was sometimes hard to tell whether some people came for the tea or for her, so he usually wore a sour expression. Not a second later, Jet slammed the door open and stepped inside.
"I'm tired of waiting. These two men are firebenders!" He pointed an accusing finger at Zuko and Iroh before unsheathing his hook swords and preparing to fight. Because Chenlian was a friend of the Avatar and meant to teach him, he could not accuse her... but those men... they were in the way! They shouldn't be here! They shouldn't exist! The two guys quickly exchanged a look, unsure of what to do. Everyone stared at him weirdly. "I know they're firebenders! I saw the old man heating his tea!"
"He works in a tea shop." An officer replied, an eyebrow raised, after having glanced at his pair. The meaning of their expression couldn't be clearer... what was wrong with this kid saying such obvious things? Wasn't a teamaker supposed to heat his tea?
"He's a firebender, I'm telling you!" The teen insisted.
"Drop your swords boy, nice and easy." The patrolman warned as he stood up, glaring and gripping the sheath at his waist.
"You'll have to defend yourself. Then everyone will know. Go ahead, show them what you can do." The Freedom fighter defied the firebenders and approached menacingly. Chenlian stepped in between the men.
"That's enough! Will you please stop? You can't just barge in and accuse and threaten people. I've told you to leave us alone. Why can't you just let go and start anew? Don't you want peace?" She was trying to sound firm but her tone was seeped with sadness. He had never seen such imploring eyes. They made him tremble. She slowly approached him. But then he attacked. Before the officer could unsheathe his weapon, Zuko grabbed the hilt and took out the double broadswords and blocked the blades, protecting Chenlian.
"You want a show? I'll give you a show." He accepted the challenge. He applied so much force that Jet was pushed back. The former prince then pulled a table in front of him with his foot and kicked it at Jet who sliced it and jumped over it. As he landed, Jet swung both hook swords down at his opponent who deflected the blow and jumped backward onto another table. The attacker cut that second table in half. Zuko balanced himself on one foot on one half of the table. The freedom fighter sliced it again and the defender quickly hopped and swung both broadswords at Jet's feet as he landed. Jet avoided with a somersault to the back and charged. Chenlian could only watch helplessly as their blades clashed. Why?! Why won't he understand?! Why can't he let go?!
At the palace gate, a line of high class citizens were waiting to be admitted inside by a guard. He was checking out the invitation before letting them pass. But when it was Toph's and Katara's turn he refused to let them in and he made them step out of line. And even the Beifong family crest was not enough to sway him. The young ladies were walking off disappointedly when they spotted a high ranking government official stepping out of a carriage. Two guards bowed to him. Katara smiled and she and Toph went to the official so they could request his help. The older girl said her blind cousin had lost their invitations and their family was already inside, surely very worried. The man with the braid smiled and bowed and told them to come with him. They followed him inside where many guests were conversing around a long dining table with an assortment of foods. At one end of the table was the Earth King's bear, dressed in a yellow shirt and a green hat, gorging on the meat, even if it meant stealing from other guests.
"It's beautiful, isn't it? By the way, I'm Long Feng. I'm a cultural minister to the king." The official introduced himself to the two ladies he had helped.
"I'm Kwa Mai, and this is Dung." Katara took care of the presentations. Toph frowned and tugged at a string hanging from her friend's headdress, making her yelp in pain as tugging at the headdress meant tugging at her hair. But now Long Feng was insisting to meet their family. "Um... I don't see them right now. But I'm sure we'll find them soon. Thanks for all your help." She attempted to politely tell him he was no longer needed. The girls walked away but he suddenly and mysteriously reappeared in front of them.
"Don't worry, as your escort it would be dishonorable to abandon you ladies without finding your families first. We'll keep looking." Long Feng turned around and began leading Toph and Katara.
Outside the palace, Aang and Sokka were peeking around the pedestal of a statue of a lion at the gate but couldn't see their female companions. They ducked back behind it. Momo was with them. Sokka wanted to dress Momo like a ghost, and while he distracted the guards, they'd blast a hole in the wall. Aang had the much better idea to go in with the busboys who were currently unloading a cart at the gate. Toph had said they could. Sokka reluctantly agreed.
Zuko burst through the door of the tea shop and tumbled into the street. Jet ran after him and struck but his swords were blocked. The freedom fighter challenged him to go ahead and firebend at him since he must be getting tired of using those swords. They both struggled to gain control and walk off to the side. Iroh and Chenlian were worriedly watching from the doorway.
"Please son, you're confused. You don't know what you're doing!" He pleaded with Jet who ignored him. The girl was trembling... her words... hadn't reached him after all... she didn't know what to say, she didn't know what to do... even if she wanted to help him so much... They kept slashing, countering, and deflecting each other's attacks with fluid circular movements. Zuko had to back a few steps to avoid the bladed hilt.
"Bet you wish he'd help you out with a little fire blast right now. Unless you want your girl to save you..." Jet taunted, trying to swipe his opponent's feet, but the exiled prince stabbed one of his broad swords through the hilt, pinning it to the ground. The nonbender looked at it with annoyance before focusing back on Lee.
"You're the one who needs help." The scarred young man replied. Now both combattants were down to one sword each. Jet let go of his pinned hook sword, retreated a step and spun but his attack couldn't go through as, faster, Zuko quickly advanced and swung his sword horizontally. The freedom fighter bent backward just in time and the broadsword only cut the wheat straw, then he regained balance and jumped backward onto the edge of a well. Meantime, people had gathered in the street to watch the fight.
"You see that? The Fire Nation is trying to silence me! It'll never happen!" Jet addressed them before hooking his sword on to a wooden beam above the well and swinging forward at Lee, attacking him with a flying kick.
Inside the palace, Aang (Momo's tail sticking out from under his hat) and Sokka were dressed as busboys and serving guests. The airbender couldn't see Toph and Katara but his comrade told him to forget about them and keep an eye out for the King. The child argued he didn't know what he looked like. He just needed to look out for 'royal', flowing robe, fancy jewelry... although everyone here wore rich flowing robes and fancy jewelry... could be anyone. Toph found them a second later and requested a crab puff. She could recognize Twinkletoes's little footsteps anywhere. Sokka smiled and presented his tray to the female earthbender who grabbed a puff and nibbled on it. Katara joined the group. The Avatar blushed when he saw her.
"Thanks for letting us in." The teen warrior said sarcastically.
"Sorry, but the guy who escorted us in won't let us out of his sight." His sister apologized. Her older sibling peered behind her but couldn't see anyone. What guy? Joo Dee quickly approached them.
"What are you doing here ? You have to leave immediately, or we'll all be in terrible trouble." Anxiety had completely replaced her usually cheerful demeanor. She tried to usher them away but Sokka blocked her with his tray. They wouldn't leave until they saw the King. "You don't understand. You must go." She looked so panicky as she shoved Sokka into Aang causing him to spill the contents of the pitcher he is holding onto a female guest who screamed. He apologized and bended a gale to dry her but it also totally messed her hair, clothes, and makeup. His hat and Momo had left too. The boy smiled sheepishly. The lady was briefly shocked, but then smiled in amazement.
"The Avatar. Ooh, I didn't know the Avatar would be here." She muttered in awe. All the guests' attention focused on Aang. Joo Dee's large, fake smile quickly turned upside down into a look of pure dread. Hidden under the hat, Momo slinked away. Aang blushed and nervously waved at the crowd. Sokka leaned in towards him and asked him to keep their attention while he looked for the King.
"Watch this everybody!" The airbender leaped out of his busboy clothes and onto the long dining table. He bended the liquid from the cups, balanced on top of a pitcher and entertained the guests by swirling a multicolored ball of liquid above his head. The crowd and bear voiced their amazement and delight at the show.
Zuko growled as he swung his broadsword at Jet who parried and stepped to his side and the two ended up back to back. They attempted to strike at the opponent behind them, but neither could get past the other's defense. It was then two Dai Li arrived and ordered them to drop their weapons. The combatants stepped away and faced each other. Zuko lowered his swords and Jet pointed at him and Iroh.
"Arrest them! They're firebenders!" The freedom fighter demanded.
"This poor boy is confused! We're just simple refugees!" Iroh pleaded.
"This young man wrecked my tea shop and assaulted my employees!" The tea shop owner accusingly pointed at Jet. The officer who had had his swords taken by Zuko confirmed. They had seen the whole thing. This crazy kid had attacked the finest tea maker in the city.
"Oh ho ho. That's very sweet." Iroh blushed. The two Dai Li walked up behind Jet and told him to come with them. The boy glared at them and swung but the agent caught the blade with his stone-covered hand and disarmed him. The two guards pulled his arms behind his back, binding his wrists together using the stones of their gloves. They dragged Jet away towards a wagon. Chenlian reached out, her mouth open. She wanted to go, to say something, although she didn't know what... For things to end like this... she just hated it. But Zuko extended his arm, blocking her path.
"You don't understand! They're Fire Nation! You have to believe me!" Jet insisted with a note of desperation as they locked him inside the wagon that drove away. The crowd dispersed. Among them, Longshot and Smellerbee looked on, and silently walked away.
Two lines of guards walked into the banquet hall. Eight of them were carrying a curtained palanquin where the Earth King was sitting quietly. Although veiled from view, one could tell he had a young, pointed face with narrow eyes and round spectacles. While the crowd was marvelling in the presence of their host and ruler, Sokka snuck through them, trying to get a better view. The guards put the platform down and faced the guests. Sokka alerted Aang of the Earth King's presence. The child whisked down the table on his air scooter. The palanquin was carried off while a line of guards walked up to the long dining table. Sokka left the crowd and tries to follow the king, but two Dai Li grabbed him and took him away, his arms behind his back while other agents captured Toph and Katara... and even Momo. The monk reached the end of the table, he dismounted and his scooter disappeared. He held his arms up in triumph. Long Feng walked up to Aang from behind the line of guards and addressed him.
"Avatar, it is a great honor to meet you. I am Long Feng, Grand Secretary of Ba Sing Se and head of the Dai Li. I'd like to talk to you. Your friends will be waiting for us in the library." He gestured for the child to follow him and headed toward the library. After a moment of hesitation, Aang went after him. The room was really dark. The Avatar and his friends were facing Long Feng, who was sitting in front of a hearth that illuminated the area with an eery green flame.
"Why won't you let us talk to the King?! We have information that could defeat the Fire Nation!" Sokka snapped.
"The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day to day minutia of military activities." He replied like an adult dismissing pesky children. "What's most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It's my job to oversea the rest of the city's resources, including the military." He explained. Katara and Toph were furious. So the King was just a figurehead, his puppet! "Oh, no, no! His majesty is an icon, a god to his people. He can't sully his hands with the hourly change of an endless war." He sugarcoated his words.
"But we found out about a solar eclipse that will leave the Fire Nation defenseless. You could lead an invasion..." Sokka intervened, stepping forth... only to be harshly rebuked.
"Enough! I don't want to hear your ridiculous plan!" Long Feng shouted, standing up. Sokka stepped back to his place, taken aback, hurt, confused. "It is the strict policy of Ba Sing Se that the war not be mentioned within the walls. Constant news of an escalating war will throw the citizens of Ba Sing Se into a state of panic. Our economy would be ruined. Our peaceful way of life, our traditions would disappear."
Somewhere, Jet was taken into a dark, stone room and bound to a chair. The boy was still pleading his captors to believe him. Those guys were firebenders! They weren't going to stop until they won the war! Small stones circled his head and clamped down on his skull, holding it in place.
"Calm down, you're safe now." The Dai Li said reassuringly. He was standing in front of Jet, surrounded by a metal track. From behind him appeared a small orange lantern attached to the track and travelling around it. "There's no war in Ba Sing Se."
"What are you talking about?! Where do you think all the refugees come from?! You can't hide it." The freedom fighter shot back. He could only watch as the lamp passed by his face. A circle of stones covered his mouth, muffling his protests. The lamp passed by his eyes again
"There is no war within the walls. Here we are safe. Here we are free." The 'cultural' agent repeated monotonously. Jet's eyes widened and he quieted down as the hypnosis began to affect him.
"In silencing talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia. The last one on Earth." Long Feng continued. Aang and his friends stared at the de facto most powerful man in Ba Sing Se with a mix of shock and horror at this revelation.
"You can't keep the truth from all these people. They have to know." Katara argued. Aang stepped forward and pointed a finger at Long Feng.
"I'll tell them. I'll make sure everyone knows!" The Avatar defied him.
"Until now, you've been treated as our honored guest." The Grand Secretary walked over to Aang and bent down to look at him in the eye. The airbender stared back with loathing. "But from now on, you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. If you mention the war to anyone, you will be expelled from the city." He warned and turned around and went to the hearth. "I understand you've been looking for your bison. It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest." He threatened. Aang appeared frightened for a moment, but his expression changed into one of silent anger. "Now Joo Dee will show you home." The minister concluded, sitting back down as the library doors opened and Joo Dee walked in. They were stunned to see it was a completely different woman, not the one who had previously guided them.
"Come with me, please." She requested.
"What happened to Joo Dee ?!" The waterbender could not help but ask.
"I'm Joo Dee. I'll be your host as long as you're in our wonderful city." She smiled in the exact same artificially cheerful way as her predecessor.
Chenlian was changing into her dark maroon outfit used for covert operations. She recalled how Jet was being taken away... and how he had previously let her go. Even though she had warned him... why was she surrounded by idiots who never listened to her?! Aang had been the same for firebending and lack of caution... and of course Zuko... And yet she still believed in them, in everyone, that one day, they'd come to understand each other. That was why 'giving up' was something she was unable to do. She couldn't abandon these people. Jet wasn't bad, he just needed more time. And surely, he didn't deserve his punishment, whatever it could be. She didn't want to believe that he was a lost cause. That was why she was going to save him... She took her sheathed sword and walked to the door. She should at least say a word to those guys. But right when she opened the door, Zuko was there.
"You're going?"
"Yes." The girl answered and tried to pass him by but again, he stopped her, an arm around her waist.
"That man attacked us. It makes no sense to free him. You already tried to help him, and it didn't work. It's enough, right? What you should be protecting right now, isn't it the peace we have? Are you going to choose that man over me?"
"It's nothing like that! I just-"
"Then stay with me." Zuko pushed her backwards until she was in front of him and his hands clamped her arms, right below her shoulders. "If you love me then stay with me. I love you. I want to be with you, stay with you. And I'm sure you feel the same way towards me. We're together now. You're my girlfriend. So don't go save some other guy who attacked us... who attacked you! You owe him nothing! I know you like saving people, but don't you think that now, your duty is first towards me?"
He's right... but it's different... I just don't want to give up on someone that can be saved... and Zuko too had attacked me and hurt me in the past... but considering things from his point of view...
And as she didn't reply, he kissed her... lovingly, tenderly... so much that mesmerized, she started melting. It was like his love was resonating inside her and rousing her own feelings. Right, she loved him... she loved him so much... and as she felt his hands on her, as he pulled her to him and tightened his hold on her, she trembled before letting go of her sword that fell with a 'clang' and wrapping her arms around him. The kiss deepened and grew intense and their embrace more passionate as he pushed her back into the room and locked the door behind him.