Me: ok so you guys ready?

Toph: it ba sing se. no

Sokka: I guess.

Katara: I don't know.

Suki: yeah I guess.

Aang: I think so.

Zuko: no.

Me: okay well lets start.

_________

BOOK 2: EARTH

CHAPTER 14: The city of Walls and secrets

_

(Fade into a scene of fox antelopes grazing on a hill side. They look up at the monorail tracks above as a car slides past, pushed by two earthbenders. Cut to inside the car, where Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph and Momo are awaiting their arrival at Ba Sing Se. Katara looks out the window and spots the inner wall of the capital drawing closer.)

Look, the inner wall. I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece.

Hey don't jinx it! We could 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.

You been hitting the cactus juice again?

_

Suki: yeah sokka have you.

Sokka: well of course not. Where would I get cactus juice plus weird stuff happen to us.

Aang: true.

_

I'm just sayin', weird stuff happens to us.

(A very strange man with a glossy stare and a large yellow plant in his mouth takes a seat between Toph and Sokka, startling them. Weird music plays as he chews the plant.

_

Suki: like that?

Sokka: exactly.

_

Aang looks out the window then closes his eyes sadly.)

Don't worry Aang, we'll find Appa.

It's such a big city.

He's a giant bison. Where could someone possibly hide him?

_

zuko: well.....

_

Oh.

(The car passes through the inner wall and enters the vas, enormous city. Ba Sing Se stretches almost as far as the eye can see, and is riddled with many roads and buildings. Their car finally comes to a stop at the monorail station. All of them disembark and are greeted by another spectacular view of Ba Sing Se.)

_

Suki: it still shocks me how big this place is.

Aang: I know right.

_

(sighs) Back in the city. Great.

_

toph: you said it.

_

What's the problem? It's amazing!

_

sokka: well......

_

Just a bunch of walls and rules. You wait; you'll get sick of it in a couple of days.

(Aang looks at the bison whistle resting in his palm. He brings it to his lips and blows it as he looks across the city.)

I'm comin' for you buddy. He's here. I can feel it.

_

Aang: well....

_

(Behind the group, the monorail cars depart. On the other side of the track is a woman with long dark hair that billows in the wind. She approaches them with an unnatural smile on her face.)

_

suki: oh.

Zuko: she looks creepy.

_

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 ?

_

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

Great, let's begin our tour. And then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it.

_

zuko: she like completely ignored you.

Sokka: I know. -_-

_

(Joo Dee turns around and attempts 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.

You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here.

_

suki: if a huge drill from the fire nation is safe. Sure.

_

(Everyone has a confused look on their face in reaction to Joo Dee's odd statement.

Fade to an overhead shot of the area of the city near the wall. An ostrich horse is pulling a carriage containing Joo Dee, Aang and his friends through the streets. Many shops and refugees line the streets. Cut to a shot inside of the carriage.)

This is the lower ring.

What's that wall for?

Oh, Ba Sing Se has many walls. There are the ones outside protecting us, and the one's inside that help maintain order. This is where our newest arrivals live, as well as our craftsman and artisans, people that work with their hands. It's so quaint and lively.

_

zuko: trust me its not lively.

_

(Cut to a shot of two shady men conversing in an alley. One of them is holding a large sword that glistens in the light. Both glare at the carriage as it passes.)

You do want to watch your step though.

Why do they have all these poor people blocked off in one part of the city?

This is why I never came here before. I always heard it was so different from the way the monks taught us to live.

(ends 0:51)

(Shift scenes to another part of the lower ring. Cut to Zuko walking down the street. Iroh catches up to him from behind, holding a large vase with several orange flowers placed in it. Cut to a close up of Zuko staring coldly at the flora.)

_

Aang: pretty flowers.

Katara: yeah.

Zuko: their okay.

_

I just want our new place to look nice in case someone brings home a lady friend. (He gives Zuko a small nudge with his elbow.)

_

zuko: ￣へ￣

_

This city is a prison. I don't want to make a life here.

_

Aang: well life can happen wherever.

_

Life happens wherever you are, whether you make it or not.

_

aang: exactly.

_

Now come on, I found us some new jobs, and we start this afternoon.

(Cut to a shot from behind Zuko and Iroh as they walk away from the camera. Someone's feet step out in front of the camera. Cut to a close up of Jet staring hard at the two firebenders.

_

Sokka: here we go.

Katara: (¬_¬ )

_

Look at them, firebenders living right under everyone's nose. (Smellerbee and Longshot walk up to Jet from an alley.)

_

Jet, you saw a man with a hot cup of tea. It doesn't prove he's a firebender. And what if he is, are we supposed to attack them I thought we were starting over here, changing our ways.

_

Sokka: I don't think that's going too well.

Katara: haha nope.

_

We are, when I get the evidence I need, I'll report them to the police and let them handle it. Ok?

_

zuko: pfffft really?!

_

(ends 0:31)

(Shift scenes back to Joo Dee taking Aang and his friends on the tour of Ba Sing Se. Their carriage is crossing over a bridge. They are now in a much cleaner and nicer looking part of the city.)

This is 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 says this all in one breath, and leans in close to Joo Dee to emphasize his point. Joo Dee simply grins cheerfully.)

Isn't history fascinating? Look, here's one of the oldest buildings in the middle ring, Town Hall.

_

Suki: dear god this woman. ╰（‵□′）╯

Sokka: Yeah it was very very annoying.

_

(The carriage stops and Joo Dee exits. Sokka stares after her, bewildered.)

Is that woman deaf She only seems to hear every other word I say.

It's called "being handled". Get used to it.

_

suki: well that sucks.

Zuko: yeah.

_

(Toph crosses her arms and Aang and Katara look at Sokka hopelessly.

(starts 0:51)

Change scenes to a small tea shop in the lower ring. Jet is leaning against the shop's wall near the window. He turns around and peeks inside, spotting Zuko and Iroh speaking with the tea shop owner.)

Well, you certainly look like official tea servers. How do you feel?

Ridiculous.

_

they all chuckle.

Zuko: what!? I felt ridiculous.

_

(Zuko and Iroh are both wearing aprons. Iroh desperately attempts to tie the string behind his back, but his effort is in vain.)

Uh, Does this possibly come in a larger size?

I have extra string in the back. Have some tea while you wait.

(The owner pours two cups of tea and hands them to his new employees before heading to the back of the shop. Iroh takes a sip from his cup, but quickly pulls it away, his face contorted in disgust.)

Eeow! This tea is nothing more than hot leaf juice!

Uncle, that's what all tea is.

: How can a member of my own family say something so horrible?

We'll have to make some major changes around here.

_

sokka: wait look!

Aang: what?

Sokka: the string. replay it.

I replay it.

Katara: what about the string?

Sokka: its there.

Toph: what do you mean it's there?

Sokka: iroh needed extra string right?

Suki: yeah.

Aang: Oh my gosh your right.

Sokka: see aang sees it.

Zuko: sees what?

Sokka: I can't belive you can't see it.

Katara: oh my gosh sokka just say it.

Sokka: I already told you the string.

Zuko: what about the string???!

Aang: iroh needed the string but the tea owner shop has not come back yet and iroh all of a sudden has the extra string.

Toph: oooh I see it now.

Katara suki and zuko look closer.

Katara suki and zuko:ooooh.

Sokka: see.

Zuko: how come I didn't notice that before.

Sokka: oh my gosh.

Katara: what?

Sokka: this can mean one thing.

Katara: which is.

Aang gasps.

Aang: it means...

Sokka: Iroh is magic!!!!

everyone else: ಠ_ಠ 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♂️

_

(Iroh grabs the tea pot and heads over to the window Jet is spying through. Jet gasps and pulls away just in time and Iroh dumps the tea out the window. Jet slowly stalks around the corner of the shop and leaves.

_

(starts 0:31)

Shift scenes to Aang and his party. Their tour has come to the Upper Ring, a beautiful area full of rolling hills. Tall pagodas are seen sitting atop of these hills.)

The Upper Ring is home to our most important citizens. Your house is not too far from here.

_

Suki: that house is nice.

Toph: eh.

_

(Fade to the carriage passing by another wall with a tall gate. Behind it the roof of an enormous building can be seen. Three men standing in the gateway, wearing dark robes and wide brimmed hats turn their eyes towards the group.)

What's inside that wall?

And who are the mean looking guys in robes?

_

everyone but suki: the Dai Li. (* ￣︿￣)

_

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.

Can we see the King now?

_

Toph: nope

_

Oh, no! One doesn't just pop in on the Earth King.

(Aang nods his head sadly. Fade to a shot of the sky. Momo flies in a circle before descending and landing on the roof of a small but very lovely house.)

Here we are. Your new home. (A messenger runs up to Joo Dee and hands 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.

(stunned) A month!

_

Suki: a month!

Sokka: yup...

_

Six to eight weeks, actually.

_

Suki: that's still alot.

_

(Joo Dee grins at them.

(The episode returns with a brief shot of the new house before cutting to a panning right shot of the living room. There are lit lamps hanging from the ceiling. Katara and Toph are sitting on square mats in the middle of the room. Behind them are some steps leading to a slightly elevated portion of the room.)

Isn't it nice? I think you will really enjoy it here.

_

Sokka: well....

_

I think we'd enjoy it more if we weren't staying so long. Can't we see the King any sooner?

The Earth King is very busy running the finest city in the world, but he will see you as soon as time permits.

_

Suki: that finest city!? oh please.

_

If we are going to be here for a month, we should spend our time looking for Appa.

_

Zuko: or...

_

(Momo perks up at the mention of Appa.)

(bowing) I'll be happy to escort you anywhere you would like to go.

_

Suki: at this rate you're not going to get anything.

Sokka: tell me about it.

_

We don't need a babysitter. (Toph stands up and begins heading for the door.)

Oh, I won't get in the way. (takes a small step into Toph's path) And to leave you alone would make me a bad host. Where shall we start?

_

Zuko: well you got in the way the whole day.

_

(Cut to a brief overhead shot of the outer ring before changing to a shot of a bowl of birdseed connected to a pole. Momo jumps on to the bowl and begins eating the birdseed but is quickly scared off by a cat owl as it screeches at him. Cut to a wider shot of the room. Aang and his party are in a pet store and are speaking with the owner at the counter.)

I'm sorry, but I haven't heard anything about a flying bison. I didn't even know there were any.

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

(agitated)Where's the black market? Who runs it? Come on, you know! (points an accusing finger at the owner)

(nervous and perspiring) Uh... (looks at Joo Dee standing behind Aang and Sokka. She smiles at him and slowly shakes her head) That would be illegal. You'll have to leave now. Your lemur is harassing my sparrowkeets.