424. Ba Sing Se

Alexander and the whole group were sitting on Appa's back. Iroh was enjoying the scenery around him. It was his first time sitting on the back of a Flying bison.

It was Toph who was speaking to everyone, "If we want to be taken seriously, then we need to enter the Earth Kingdom from the official channel. If we barge into the royal palace then they will most likely see us as the enemy."

"Little Toph is right," Iroh spoke.

"Remember how I told you that in Ba Sing Se, the real ruler is not the king but the Dai Li. And its leader enjoys a very high level of freedom. He will most likely try to do something stupid." He added.

Alexander had to agree. Iroh also knew these local things better. After all, it was he who had laid a siege to Ba Sing Se, years ago.

"Hmm, then the only place still letting people go to the capital is Full Moon Bay. It is a secluded cove in the East Lake, located just south of Ba Sing Se. It is a hidden ferry station that refugees from all over the southern portion of the Earth Kingdom come to on their way to Ba Sing Se." Alexander suggested.

"But what about passports?" Katara asked.

"Haha, I will solve that problem. No need to worry." Alexander laughed.

Ragnarok patted Katara's head, "Child, these small problems are not something that can stop us anymore."

"Hey, where is Amy?" Sokka asked, seeing that everyone was being nice.

But then suddenly the atmosphere turned serious. Ragnarok patted Sokka's shoulder, "She didn't come back because a certain creep was creeping her out."

*Pat* *Pat*

Ragnarok patted too hard and Sokka ended up falling on the furry back of Appa, face first.

While still down, he blinked his eyes multiple times and looked at Alexander, "Why are you flying when Appa is flying?"

"Oh, that, well, kid, I am more than five thousand kilos heavy. If I put my weight on Appa, he will probably get injured." He explained, though except Sokka not many heard them due to the air around them.

"Yes, G-Chan is big and thick," Chomei said innocently.

It made Alexander laugh, "Haha, let's not add thick, Chomei."

...

They crossed the desert and finally came to the Full Moon Bay. It was heavily crowded and there were lines everywhere.

They all also stood in one and waited for their turn. No matter if you are a god or the avatar, you don't jump lines.

"How are we going to take Appa?" Aang asked.

"Oh, he will just fly along with us, for now, he will have to wait," Alexander said.

Soon their turn came and Aang was the one to talk to the passport attendant. "7 tickets for the ferry to Ba Sing Se, please"

"Passports." The woman irritably asked.

"Umm... sorry, we don't have passports," Aang replied.

"No passport, no ticket. Next" She hushed him.

"Don't you see, this is the Avatar," Sokka said, showing Aang's face like an exhibition art.

"Ah, I see fifty Avatars a day. By the way, not a very impressive costume and you have another Avatar in your group." She said and pointed at multiple Avatar cosplayers at the side.

"This lady is mean," Chomei exclaimed.

"Also, no animals allowed." She added.

"Hey, I'm not an animal. I am Lucky Seven Chomei," Chomei refuted her.

Alexander had enough and walked forward. "Tell me, what kind of people do these ferries help?"

"Refugees," the woman answered.

"Then, what if a refugee lost his house in a fire caused by an attack by fire nation, and they lost everything along with all their belongings. Then how will he show you a passport?" Alexander asked.

"That is not my problem, no passport, no ticket." She repeated.

*Sigh*

Alexander took out his cloud seal. "You lack empathy for the job you are meant to do. Instead of helping the troubled people, you are putting their lives in danger by not allowing them to reach safety. You are fired and fined a hundred gold coins."

The woman saw the golden cloud seal and straightened her back, "Oh, I didn't know it was Lord Universe. Please forgive my manners, I will immediately give you the tickets."

"No, you are still fired." Alexander persisted.

Just then a huge ship entered the full moon bay, "That is my ship and I will be helping the refugees from now on. No need for you here."

Alexander then looked at a saddened man on the side, "You can bring your cabbages too."

So, after that, Alexander set up some of his men to help the refugees. They would also keep an eye on Fire nation spies and not let them enter.

"Let's go, our ship is here." He said.

Everyone got on the ship, along with lots of genuine refugees. Alexander's huge battleship easily sailed to the port of Ba Sing Se. A few fire nation ships saw their big ship but they were dealt with modern artillery.

They came to the port from where a man-powered train was connected into the city. They all got on it and smoothly entered the city.

The city was by far the largest in the world he had seen, essentially being more of a small country than a mere city. Ba Sing Se meant "Impenetrable City", it was so named for its world-famous walls, the gates of which had no hinges or other hardware and were opened by the use of earthbending. Within the Outer Wall lay a large expanse of farmland and several mountains. The Inner Wall enclosed the city itself.

Ba Sing Se was divided into several major districts, with inhabitants sorted in various walled "rings" based on economic and social class. These ranged from the Lower Ring, a place of ghettos inhabited by refugees and the poor, to the Upper Ring, home of the kingdom's ruling classes, and the rich.

During Chin the Conqueror's largely successful campaign to unite the Earth Kingdom under his control, Ba Sing Se was the only territory to remain unconquered besides the peninsula where Avatar Kyoshi lived. Apparently, Chin would rather face the Avatar herself than try his luck at the Great Walls of Ba Sing Se.

The city was also involved in many problems over the years. There were many secretive wars going on, there was also a peasant uprising. But by far the most destructive was the Dai Li, which was now out of control and acted like moral police rather than protectors of the king and city.

The last time he was in the city was when Kyoshi was alive and it had not changed much, instead, it had gotten worse.

No one even asked them anything which Alexander found suspicious and predicted that they already knew they were coming.

Then as expected, a woman appeared in the station inside the second wall.

"Hello, I am Joo Dee, it is a great honor to show the great Avatar around the city of Ba Sing Se. And you must be Sokka, Katara, and Toph. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?" She asked.

"Girl, no need, I am with them." Alexander voiced and showed her his identification.

Her smile changed to a frown for a second and she deeply bowed, "I did not know Lord Universe was with them. It has been a long time since someone from your family came here. I am sure the King will be very happy to hear this."

"Good, I will guide Avatar, you can go," Alexander said and shooed her. He didn't feel she was simply there to guide them but instead to keep an eye on them.

"But, I was ordered to take the Avatar to his residence in the inner city. I am sure you will go there too, to your house." She said.

"Yes, I will but no need for your guidance. I know the way and the Avatar will be staying in my home. thank you." Alexander uninterestingly responded and started walking away. This time the woman didn't disturb them.

"Ah, what a creepy woman," Ragnarok commented.

"My friend, I would like to go on my own way now. I need to find a job and make a new life here. Thank you for letting me accompany you on this great journey." Iroh said, stopping them all.

"Are you sure, Iroh?" Alexander asked, he had grown fond of his new friend.

"Yes, maybe I will try to open my own tea shop," Iroh thought loudly.

Alexander took out a money pouch, "Then consider this my investment in your shop."

Iroh saw the gold coins in the pouch, "Ah, thank you, my friend. You won a lifetime's free supply of tea, haha..."

"Zuko, are you coming with me?" Iroh asked.

Zuko didn't hesitate and followed Iroh. He knew who his real family was now and who he should give more importance to.

[You can see Full Moon Bay, Ticket, Cabbage Man, Ba Sing Se and Joo Dee on my Discord - https://discord.gg/DgHkrAn OR see them on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mister_immortal_novel]

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