꧁ chapter thirteen ꧂
the city of ba sing se

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"LOOK, THE INNER Wall!" Katara pointed excitedly out the window of the monorail, "I can't believe we made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece"

"Hey, don't jinx it! We can still be attacked by some giant exploding Fire Nation spoon. Or find out the city's been submerged in an ocean full of killer shrimp" Sokka replied skeptically.

"You're the one jinxing it now!" Meiluna shook her head.

"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph asked jokingly.

"I'm just saying, weird stuff happens to us" Sokka shrugged when a man with a corn plant in his mouth, took a seat between him and Toph.

Sokka quickly scooted over, squishing Meiluna into the side of the seat.

"Don't worry Aang, we'll find Appa" Katara spoke sympathetically.

"It's such a big city" Aang replied doubtfully.

"He's a giant bison! Where could someone possibly hide him?" Sokka spoke optimistically as the monorail entered the city, revealing how truly vast Ba Sing Se was,

"Oh"

The train entered a station, opening the doors to allow the five to disembark.

"Back in the city," Toph sighed, "Great"

"What's the problem?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah, it looks amazing" Meiluna added as she admired the city.

"It's just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days" Toph warned.

Meiluna looked up and noticed a dark haired women approaching them with a strange smile.

"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, Princess Meiluna and Toph! Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?" Joo dee greeted excitedly.

"Yes. We have information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King immediately" Sokka spoke urgently.

"Great! Let's begin our tour. And then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it!" She responded, seemingly ignoring Sokka.

"Ugh," Sokka groaned in annoyance before walking closer to Joo Dee, "Maybe you missed what I said. We need to talk to the king about the war, it's important"

"You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here" Joo Dee replied, her smile unwavering.

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"This is the Lower Ring" Joo Dee showcased.

Meiluna watched from the carriage, the many shops and refugees that lined the streets passing them by.

"What's that wall for?" Katara asked.

"Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls! There are the ones outside protecting us, and the ones inside, that help maintain order. This is where our newest arrivals live, as well as our craftsmen and artisans, people that work with their hands. It's so quaint and lovely!" Joo Dee told them.

Meiluna continued gazing out the carriage when she noticed two men conversing in an alley, one holding a large sword. Both glared as the carriage passed them, making Meiluna shrink back into her seat, feeling unnerved.

"You do want to watch your step though" Joo Dee added nervously.

"Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?" Meiluna asked, a slight sadness in her tone, never having seen such a divide in the North Pole.

"This is why I never came here before," Aang spoke, looking upset, "I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live"

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"This is the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se, home to the financial district, shops and restaurants, and the university" Joo Dee continued the tour.

"Yeah, we met a professor from the 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 Earth King to hear!" Sokka emphasised, facing the woman.

"Isn't history fascinating? Look, here's one of the oldest buildings in the Middle Ring, Town Hall!" Joo Dee smiled widely, stepping out of the carriage.

"Is that woman deaf? She only seems to hear every other word I say" Sokka asked, giving Meiluna a strange look.

She simply shrugged before narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the woman,

"Something's not right with her"

"It's called being handled. Get used to it" Toph explained, crossing her arms.

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"The Upper Ring is home to our most important citizens. Your house is not too far from here!" Joo Dee announced happily.

"What's inside that wall?" Katara asked, pointing to a wall with a tall gate that concealed a large building.

Three men stood at the entrance, staring at the group with menacing looks.

"And who're the mean looking guys in robes?" Sokka asked nervously.

"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!" Joo Dee explained further.

"Can we see the king now?" Aang asked in a bored tone.

"Oh no, one doesn't just pop in on the Earth King," Joo Dee's eyes widened as the carriage approached a small house,

"Here we are! Your new home!"

A messenger approached the woman, handing her a scroll.

"More good news! Your request for an audience with the Earth Kingdom is being processed, and should be put through in about a month," Joo Dee explained, still wearing her strange smile, "Much more quickly than usual!"

"A month?" Sokka repeated in shock.

"Six to eight weeks actually" She clarified, making her way into the house, followed by the five,

"Isn't it nice? I think you'll really enjoy it here"

Meiluna had to admit, the house was very nice.

"I think we would enjoy it more if we weren't staying for so long. Can't we see the Earth King any sooner?" Sokka complained.

"The Earth King is very busy running the finest city in the world! But he will see you as soon as time permits" The woman replied almost robotically.

"If we're going to be here for a month, we should spend our time looking for Appa" Aang spoke up as he gazed out the window.

"I'd like to escort you anywhere you'd like to go" Joo Dee smiled.

"We don't need a babysitter" Toph snapped, walking towards the door.

"Oh, I won't get in the way," Joo Dee spoke politely as she took a step to block Toph from leaving, "And to leave you alone would make me a bad host! Where shall we start?"

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"I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything about a flying bison. I didn't even know there were any" The pet store owner told everyone.

Meiluna noticed Joo Dee lurking around behind them. She was starting to get a bit freaked out by her.

"If someone wanted to sell a stolen animal without anyone knowing, where would they go?" Aang questioned.

"Where's the black market? Who runs it?" Sokka interrogated, beginning to get frustrated,

"Come on, you know!"

Meiluna noticed the man instantly became more nervous, slightly perspiring at the inquiry.

"Uh," The shop owner seemed to avoid eye contact, "That would be illegal, you'll have to leave now, your lemur is harassing my sparrowkeets"

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"Hm, I've never seen any sandbenders or nomads around here. You should ask Professor Zei, he teaches the class on desert cultures" The university student answered.

Meiluna pursed her lips. It seemed like no one could give them a straight answer.

"Right," Sokka looked skeptically at the boy, "And which of your professors could we ask about the war with the Fire Nation?"

"Um," The boy shrunk under Sokka's gaze, "I don't know. I'm not a political science student, I've got to get to class"

The boy rushed to stand up but ended up tripping and dropping all of his scrolls. He scrambled to pick his belongings up before scurrying away.

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"Well, I'm sorry no one has seen your bison. Why don't you go get some rest?" Joo Dee smiled, "Someone will be over with dinner later"

She stepped back into the carriage, driving off when Sokka noticed a man peeking through a window, looking at them.

"Hey, come with me" He gestured for the others to follow his lead, walking across the street.

He approached a house and knocked at the door. A moment passed before the door opened to reveal a man smiling at them,

"You're the Avatar! I heard you were in town, I'm Pong" He introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you Pong" Aang replied kindly.

"So, Pong, what's going on with this city? Why is everyone here so scared to talk about the war?" Sokka started asking, immediately getting to the point.

"War? Scared? What do you mean?" The man shifted nervously in his spot.

"I can feel you shaking" Toph said, getting slightly annoyed.

"Look, I'm just a minor government official," Pong started before glancing around to confirm no one else was in the vicinity, "I've waited three years to get this house, I don't want to get into trouble"

"Get in trouble with who?" Katara asked loudly.

"Shh!" Pong placed a finger to his lips before whispering, "Listen, you can't mention the war here. And whatever you do, stay away from the Dai Li"

He then slammed the door in their faces.

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Meiluna heard the blue birds chirping from outside their window as she lay on one of the lounge seats, resting her feet on Sokka's lap.

Katara then burst into the room, excitement all over her face,

"I've got it! I know how we're going to see the Earth King!"

"How are we supposed to do that?" Meiluna asked curiously as she sat up.

"One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King!" Toph mimicked Joo Dee.

"The king is having a party at the palace tonight for his pet bear" She answered, waving the paper in her hand.

"You mean platypus bear?" Aang asked.

"No, it just says bear" Katara said, rereading the notice.

"Certainly you mean his pet skunk bear" Sokka insisted.

"Or his armadillo bear" Toph added.

"Gopher bear?" Meiluna asked, facing Katara.

"Just bear" She spoke.

"This place is weird" Toph mumbled.

"The Palace will be packed. We can sneak in with the crowd!" Katara said, growing excited again.

"Won't work" Toph dismissed immediately.

"Why not?" Katara asked, slightly confused, as her shoulders fell.

"Well, no offense to you simple country folk, but a real society crowd will spot you a mile away! Meiluna knows what I'm talking about!" Toph explained as she grabbed a pastry.

Katara's mouth fell open as an offended look crossed her face, she turned to look at Meiluna.

"Sorry, but Toph's right" She laughed awkwardly.

"You've got no manners!" Toph interjected.

"Excuse me? I've got no manners? You're not exactly lady fancy fingers!" Katara blurted out.

Toph let out a loud burp before speaking,

"I learned proper society behaviour and chose to leave," She threw her half eaten pastry to the side, "You never learned anything. And frankly, it's a little too late"

"Aha, but you learned it! You could teach us!" Sokka replied excitedly as he stood up, gently placing Meiluna's legs on to the spot he was previously seated on.

"Yeah, I'm mastering every element. How hard could manners be?" Aang asked as he grabbed  a nearby curtain, wrapping it around himself like a robe,

"Good evening, Mr. Sokka Water Tribe, Ms Katara Water Tribe, Lord Momo of the Momo Dynasty. Your Momo-ness" He spoke in a sophisticated manner, bowing in front of Sokka, who had also managed to create his own curtain robe.

"Avatar Aang, how do you do? Go on" He mimicked a high class person, as he tried to outdo Aang's bow.

Aang returned it with an even deeper bow, when both of them bowed at the same time, knocking each other's foreheads and falling down.

Meiluna laughed watching the two boys collapse to the ground.

"Well, Katara might be able to pull it off" She told them.

"You two would be lucky to pass as busboys!" Toph pointed at Aang and Sokka.

"But I feel so fancy!" Sokka whined.

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"Ok, I think we've got everything we need" Katara said, checking the bags of clothes, makeup and accessories in her hands.

The girls began making their way back to their home when Meiluna abruptly stopped,

"Oh! We need fans!" She realised, "You guys head back, I'll just quickly go buy them"

"Are you sure Luna?" Katara asked.

"Yeah, besides Toph has a lot to teach you about high society" She teased with a small smile.

"She's right Katara, you have a lot of learning to do" Toph said.

"Okay, fine!" Katara rolled her eyes, "We'll see you back home" She waved goodbye.

Meiluna turned back, wandering the streets for a while when she came across a small shop, with quaint items on display. She entered the store, smiling at the owner, who returned the gesture.

She browsed the store for a while when she came across a beautiful green fan, with a cream outline. She grabbed 3 before paying the store owner and heading back home.

Meiluna loved to buy clothes and accessories for herself. She especially loved it when her sister joined her. Even if Yue didn't love it as much, she definitely loved spending time with Meiluna, and that was all that really mattered to her.

Meiluna continued her journey back to her house, eyeing all the stores she passed with an adoring glint in her eyes when she noticed a tea shop.

The Pao Family Tea Shop.

Meiluna did feel a bit cold. She decided a few minutes to drink some tea wouldn't hurt anybody so she made her way inside.

"How can I help you?" The man at the front of the store smiled at Meiluna.

"Can I just have a jasmine tea please?" Meiluna asked politely.

"Of course, please take a seat" He gestured to a nearby table.

She gratefully sat down at the table, finally getting the chance to rest her legs.

Meiluna had been walking around almost for the entire day with Katara and Toph and she loved every second of it. Not only was she doing something she loved, buying clothes, but she got to share it with the two people who she could probably consider her closest, and only girl friends.

Lost in her daydreams, she almost didn't notice someone approach the table with her order. She looked up hearing the rattles of the tray getting closer when she looked up and saw her waiter.

Her eyes widened as she stood up instantly, backing away.

Prince Zuko.

He looked equally as shocked to see Meiluna in front of him. She felt her mouth become dry, she couldn't get any words out and her mind was going a million miles an hour.

Prince Zuko stood frozen, her tea in his hand.

"What are you doing here?" Her voice barely above a whisper, making sure not to attract any attention.

He continued to stare at her for a moment before setting her tea down and rushing to the back of the store.

Meiluna watched in disbelief, her lips still slightly parted from the shock.

Where did his ponytail go?

She slowly sat back down, sipping on her tea. Her mind raced with possibilities of what she should do in the moment. Should she alert everyone of his presence? Would that then lead to more destruction and harm? She could go and tell Aang, but Zuko could have already fled by then. Should Meiluna handle it herself?

She downed the last sip, leaving a couple of coins at her table and took a deep breath to calm herself down.

She then tried to organise her thoughts. Why would Prince Zuko come to Ba Sing Se? If he had already known that the Avatar was coming here, he shouldn't have been so surprised to see her there. She was at a dead end, thinking of any possible reason the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation would be working in a small tea shop.

Before she knew what she was doing, her legs took her behind the counter, where she saw Zuko disappear off to before.

She burst through the door, her heart beating loudly against her chest as she moved quickly towards the Prince. She firmly pushed him up against the wall with her forearm against his neck, using the water boiling on the nearby stove to freeze his hands to the wall behind him all in a matter of seconds, before the Prince could even blink.

He didn't seem to make any effort to fight back, making Meiluna feel even more confused than she already was. His eyes still showed the surprise he felt upon seeing the Princess before him again.

"Why are you here?" She questioned him.

"It's none of your concern" He replied coldly.

"I think it is my concern since you've been trying to kidnap my friend" Her eyes narrowed.

"I'm-" Zuko hesitated, looking away from the girls intense stare, "Just unfreeze me and leave"

Meiluna looked at him strangely, releasing her hold on him,

"Did you forget how to firebend or something?"

Prince Zuko glared at the girl, still refusing to melt the ice away himself.

As much as her brain nagged her, telling her the enemy was right in front of her, she couldn't hurt him. He didn't attack her even though he could've easily overpowered her. She watched his angry eyes refuse to leave her own.

"Lee! Table four is ready to order" A voice called out.

"Give me a minute!" Zuko gritted through his teeth, still struggling against the ice.

Meiluna gnawed at her bottom lip, trying to make sense of what she was witnessing. Prince Zuko assuming a false identity to work in a tea shop in the Earth Kingdom seemed much too absurd to her, but that was what she saw.

She placed her hands over the ice that covered Zuko's, melting it away, leaving two small puddles on either side of him. Apart from him bringing his hands up to rub his sore wrists, Prince Zuko didn't move from his spot.

"The tea was really good"

And with that Meiluna swiftly turned away and rushed out of the shop.

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"Wow, you look beautiful" Aang breathed out, looking stunned as he stared at Katara.

Sokka turned to flick his forehead when Katara opened her mouth to reply to Aang's compliment.

"Don't talk to the commoners, Katara" Toph instructed as she placed a fan in front of her mouth.

Meiluna did the same before adding,
"It's the first rule of society"

The three girls made their way out of the room, heading straight for the Earth King's party.

A long line could be seen flowing out of the Palace gates as Toph, Katara and Meiluna approached.

"Invitation please" The guard ordered.

"I