"Water Bending Bomb!" Katara cheered as she leapt from the waterfall cliff, crashing into the pond below with a tremendous splash that soaked everyone...
It had been a few days since the Sand Benders had fearfully escorted us out of the desert, and we were taking a well-earned break after everything that had happened. Meanwhile, Sokka was busy studying the route ahead.
Holding up the drenched map, he sighed. "Sure, five-thousand-year-old maps from the spirit library. Just splash some water on 'em."
Wringing the water from her hair, Katara gave him an apologetic smile before Bending the moisture off the map.
Leaning forward, Aang watched as Sokka spread it across the ground.
"So, did you figure out what route we're going to take?"
"Something like that." Sokka pointed to a spot on the map. "Okay, we just got out of the desert, so we're somewhere around here. And Ba Sing Se is here."
His finger traced a narrow strip of land.
"Looks like the only passage connecting the south to the north is this sliver called the Serpent's Pass."
Toph folded her arms. "You're sure that's the best route?"
"It's the only route," Sokka replied absentmindedly. "I mean, it's not like we have Appa to fly us there—"
I cleared my throat.
Sokka immediately caught himself as Katara quietly shot him a glare.
"Don't mention Appa. Can't you at least try to be a little more sensitive?"
Everyone instinctively looked toward Aang, who curled up, silent for a moment.
"... Katara, it's okay. I know I was upset about losing Appa before, but I just want to focus on getting to Ba Sing Se and telling the Earth King about the solar eclipse."
... That was very mature of him. I quietly flipped another page of the journal I'd taken from Wan Shi Tong's library.
"Oh, well okay."
A relieved smile spread across her face.
"I'm glad you're doing better, Aang."
Seeing everyone nod in agreement, Sokka rolled the map back up.
"Then it's settled. To Ba Sing Se. No more distractions—"
Toph suddenly dropped into a fighting stance, her head snapping toward a nearby thicket. Instantly, the rest of us followed suit as the sound of approaching footsteps rustled through the bushes.
A moment later, three figures emerged wearing Earth Kingdom clothing.
"Ah! Hello there, fellow refugees!" The male of the group announced with a smile.
"... Refugees?" I echoed.
My eyes swept over the trio, instinctively assessing them for weapons and intent. Then they settled on the woman's swollen stomach.
"Yes!" the man beamed. "I'm Than." He then introduced his very pregnant wife, Ying, and his younger sister, Weng.
After a bit of small talk, Aang smiled at them.
"So, you guys are headed to Ba Sing Se too?"
"Sure are," Than replied. "We're trying to get there before Ying has the baby."
"Great!" Katara exclaimed. "We're planning to travel through the Serpent's Pass together."
The three of them stared at us in disbelief.
"The Serpent's Pass?" Weng gasps. "Only the truly desperate take that deadly route!"
"Hmm, deadly route," Toph repeated dryly before punching Sokka in the arm. "Great pick, Sokka!"
"Well, we are desperate." Sokka rubbed his sore arm as he justified his point.
"You should come with us to Full Moon Bay," Ying suggested gently. "Ferries take refugees across the lake. It's the fastest way to Ba Sing Se."
"And it's hidden," Than added. "So the Fire Nation can't find it."
"Hmm ... peaceful ferry ride or deadly pass?"
Katara looked to each of us, waiting to hear what everyone thought.
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Through an entrance that could only be discovered and opened by an Earth Bender, we stepped into a massive hidden cavern. Inside was a secluded cove, housing the secret ferry station that transported refugees toward Ba Sing Se.
"... I can't believe how many people's lives have been uprooted by the Fire Nation." Katara said quietly as we passed by countless Earth Kingdom civilians who looked like they had seen better days.
"We're all just looking for a better life," Than said with a sad smile. "Somewhere safe behind the walls of Ba Sing Se."
Following the instructions of one of the guards, we joined one of the many lines leading toward the ticket station.
Unfortunately, it didn't take long before chaos broke out.
"I told you already... no vegetables on the ferry!" the ticket woman shouted. "One cabbage slug could destroy the entire ecosystem of Ba Sing Se! Security!"
Before the old man in front of us could react, a platypus bear marched over to his cabbage cart and promptly destroyed it.
"Ahhh! My cabbages!" The merchant cried out in despair as he was dragged away.
"So that's where the meme came from?" I muttered to myself as the ticket woman waved us forward.
"Next!"
Taking a step toward the counter, Aang—standing at the front—gave her an awkward smile.
"Um, five tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please."
Her eyebrows raised.
She glanced over each of us.
Then her eyes lingered on me longer than the others.
"... Passports?"
They were on Appa...
"Uh... no one told us we had to have passports."
"Don't you know who this is?" Sokka stepped forward, gesturing toward Aang. "He's the Avatar!"
The woman stared blankly.
"And I see fifty Avatars a day and, by the way, not a very impressive costume." She mocked as she pointed behind us.
Following her gesture, we looked over.
Several refugees were wearing fake Air Nomad robes, pretending to be the Avatar.
She then turned her attention to Momo.
"And no animals allowed. Do I need to call security?"
Alright.
Looks like I have to bring this out.
I reached into my tunic and hesitated for a moment before pulling out a small necklace.
Placing it on the counter, I met her eyes.
"Miss."
My voice shifted to a more formal tone.
"My name is Renji. I am a servant of the Beifong family. I require five tickets."
The woman's expression changed drastically as I opened the necklace, revealing the token inside that signified my honorary title as Huan of the Beifongs.
I glanced back toward Toph, who had been waiting patiently.
"My lady, Toph Beifong, has been standing in this line for several minutes, following every procedure required to enter Ba Sing Se, the famed capital of the Earth Kingdom."
I leaned slightly forward with a blank face.
"So please, let us complete this transaction now. Do not force me to escalate this matter by requesting your supervisor due to... questionable service."
"Y-Yes, of course! It is my pleasure to help anyone of the Beifong family." The ticket woman bowed almost instantly, stamping and preparing five tickets at record time.
Toph stepped forward and took them.
"It is your pleasure." She said with a regal, noble tone. "As you can see, I am blind and these three imbeciles are my valets. And you've already met my butler."
The woman's eyes flicked to Momo. "But, the animal—"
"Is there a problem?" I pressed with a cold voice.
The woman immediately stiffened.
"N-No! None at all!"
Satisfied, I placed a few silver coins into her hand.
"For your services, no matter how... suboptimal, the Beifong family remains generous."
"Yes! Thank you for enduring my lowly presence!"
She bowed repeatedly as we walked away from the station and toward the waiting area where the ferries would arrive.
"... That was just as uncomfortable as I remembered," I whispered to the group as Toph grinned.
"It's fun pretending to be an arrogant noble again," she admitted. "Never thought I'd say that!"
Suddenly, Sokka yelped as a security guard grabbed him from behind.
"Tickets and passports, please."
Confused, Sokka pointed at himself.
"Is... there a problem?"
"Yeah, I've got a problem with you!"
The guard pushes their finger at his chest, glaring at him.
"I've seen your type before. Probably sarcastic, think you're hilarious, and let me guess—you're traveling with the Avatar."
"I—Do I know you?"
The guard's expression darkened.
"You mean you don't remember?"
They leaned closer.
"Maybe you'll remember this!"
And then she kissed him on the cheek.
Sokka froze, his eyes widening.
"SUKI!"
He immediately pulled her into a hug.
Giggling, she hugged him back.
"Sokka, it's good to see you!"
...
Since when did Sokka have game?
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NEXT UPDATE: 29 July, Wednesday
A/N: First Bonus Chapter, done!
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