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Fandom Legend of Korra 1x1 (jaydude x Necroknight)

jaydude

Five Thousand Club
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OOC


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Travelling to Ba Sing Se to celebrate her uncle's birthday was always an experience Xiao Dongmei and her family enjoyed, not least because it gave them an opportunity to spend a few days at his estate in the Upper Ring.


They'd gotten off the airship this morning, and had since made their way through the streets of the Upper Ring to the estate, and wished the man, Liang Dongmei, a happy birthday. That had been hours ago, and as the afternoon sun started to set, the birthday banquet was in full swing, as men and women in extravagant tunics, dresses and other such attire - either friends or associates of Liang's - mingled with one another in the estate's main hall and the large, adjacent garden, discussing the latest news and gossip. Tables laden with food and drinks, from which the guests helped themselves, lined the hall. Numerous servants moved throughout the estate, tending to the needs of the guests, but otherwise going unnoticed by them.


Again, Xiao examined her appearance, this time looking at her reflection in the pond of the estate's garden. Her jet-black hair had been done up in two neat buns, and eyeliner and pale blue eyeshadow had been expertly applied to her face. She wore a floor length dress of fine green silk, with long, wide sleeves and gold lining around the sleeves, hem and neckline. Both her makeup and the making of her dress had been expertly done, and given that she was a young female nearing maturity, she had earned a number of admiring comments from the other guests as she went about socialising with them.


Turning away from the pool, she returned to the main hall.
 
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@jaydude


"Your Grace. You look as lovely as always," spoke Li, namely her hand-maiden. Around the age of twenty, despite being four years her elder and servant - she mostly treated Xiao, like a younger sister at that. Her own family, having been servants for the Dongmei family for years at that. Li made it her personal mission, upon first meeting eachother, roughly six years ago - to train Xiao in the arts of being a lady.


She didn't look much different than Xiao at that. She lacked access to the fancy make-ups and eyeshadows that Xiao used - but that didn't deterr Li from looking pretty; since she had a more natural look going to her. Her own black hair, was wrapped up in a ponytail, so it wouldn't get in the way of her duties. While she wore a green-white robe - good on the eye and practical in terms of usage. The most humorous part about their relationship, was that most people did indeed mistake the two for sisters - only when they wore different clothing, showing their status were the nobles able to tell the difference. 


But, whenever they were at home or out on the streets, in their regular clothing it was a different take at that. As they always considered Li the eldest and Xiao the youngest - to the point, that Li had to repeat it many times, in fear of somebody...or namely one youngest, trying to make a habit of humoring the less knowledgeable with it. Or layman terms, pulling the switcher-o too many to times for fun.


"There were also, many boys whom had asked for you to dance. And asked me to pass that information onto you."
 
@NecroKnight


"Thank you, Li." Xiao said, smiling warmly at her handmaiden.


She couldn't help but raise her eyebrows upon hearing Li ask her to dance on behalf of several boys. What was it with teenagers and an inability to ask a pretty girl to dance? Nevertheless, she kept a polite smile on her face.


"Please tell them that if they are willing to ask me in person, I would be more than happy to dance, and that they can find me near the buffet tables at the western end of the hall."


Saying that, she walked over to the western end of the hall, quickly stopping to exchange pleasantries with her uncle's elderly mother, to find said uncle telling a story of an eventful past caravan trip to a nearby crowd.


"... and don't ask how we got rid of the spiders and the badgermole. You either wouldn't believe me, or the truth would disgust you." Liang said, earning several laughs from the listeners, before he was approached by one of the doormen who had earlier been stood outside the estate's entrance.


Xiao saw the doorman whisper something into Liang's ear, causing a small look of alarm to appear on her uncle's face, before he politely excused himself from the people he was talking to and headed in the direction of the estate's front door, accompanied by the doorman. Xiao looked at him with concer, her happy and peaceful mood beginning to evaporate. Whatever the doorman had told her uncle, it didn't sound good.
 
@jaydude


Li looked worried as well, since there wasn't much that could make an Earth Kingdom noble worried, especially since they were in the Upper Ring of Ba Sing Se. You couldn't get much safer here than anywhere else. Unless of course it was something internal or external. So in this situation, it was likely some political rival or something that threatened the City of Ba Sing Se itself.


"I am sure its nothing to worry about," spoke Li, gently padding Xiao' shoulder, smiling at the girl. "Come on now, let's hit the buffee table and eat some of those delicious tiger-shrimps."


She gently soon escorted Xiao over to the buffee table, where she started to politely engorge herself on the shrimp. Or namely in her case, simply slipping one after the other of shrimp into her mouth - when nobody was looking at that. She had learned a certain skill of getting things for her Mistress, whenever it was needed or wasn't allowed in certain areas. Despite what people said about nobility, they were often as cut-throat as any army or thug with a sword.
 
@NecroKnight


Xiao was still a bit worried about the situation with her uncle, but she put on a smile and allowed Li to guide her over to the buffet table. Both women began to help themselves to the tiger-shrimps, Xiao occasionally glancing in the direction her uncle had disappeared in.


Get over it, she told herself. Nothing's going to happen. Just relax and enjoy the party. Putting that thought into action, she wandered over to the drinks table of the buffet area, where a couple of pretty female servants were serving tea to the attendees from a variety of teapots, each one containing a different brew. Xiao got a cup of jasmine tea poured for her, thinking it would help soothe her nerves. Taking a sip from the cup, and feeling herself start to relax slightly as the tea went down her throat, she walked back over to Li, only to hear part of a nearby conversation between a palace scribe and an army officer soon after she rejoined her handmaiden.


"Didn't you hear? Apparently, the Earth Queen has captured the Avatar!" The scribe whispered.


It would appear that politics was determined to rear its ugly head here.
 
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@jaydude


"You okay?" asked Li, touching her shoulder - she still had that look on her face, or namely her eyes that something was wrong at that. "Ignore those gossipers. They like to make a big deal about everything that comes out of the palace in general."


Li at that point had increased her consumption of shrimp, and added a cup of sauce to that. Li worked well at that, quickly dipping the shrimp into her sauce and into her mouth - before any could be the wiser. "You should try it with this. Tastes very good," she spoke, quickly flipping a slice of tuna into her mouth and quickly slurped it down. Despite being a hand-maiden, she often ate like a common pig at that.
 
@NecroKnight


Xiao found herself enjoying the feel of Li's hand on her shoulder as she continued to drink her tea. She gave a small grin as her handmaiden slurped down the tuna slice - wondering if it had been done for her benefit - but nevertheless glanced round to see if anyone else had noticed. If they had, they didn't visibly react to it, and in any case the two people closest to her - the officer and the scribe - were absorbed in their conversation.


"How do you know that?" The officer asked.


"One of the palace servants overheard the Grand Secretariat talking with Her Majesty in the throne room, informing her that the Avatar is being taken here by our forces as we speak." The scribe replied.


"If that's true, I'm glad. Both the current Avatar and her predecessor have caused trouble for the Earth Kingdom long enough. It's about time she gets what's coming to her."


"You can't be serious!" The scribe exclaimed in a horrified whisper. "Surely you know what would happen if we did anything to harm her! All the other nations would be at our throats!"


"I think that's quite enough of that." A deep voice spoke in a calm, yet firm tone. The scribe and the officer turned around to see a tall man dressed in a formal tunic, with streaks of grey running through his black hair and beard. "I am sure my son would not wish for such controversial subjects to be publicly discussed at his birthday."


The scribe and officer bowed to the elderly man and took their leave, while said elderly man turned to look at Xiao, the severe expression on his face changing to a warm smile.


"Xiao. It has been too long since we last talked." He said in that deep rumbling voice of his "And who is this beautiful young woman accompanying you?" His gaze had turned to Li, and Xiao made the introductions.


"Great Uncle, this is Li, my handmaiden of six years. Li, this is Tien Dongmei, my uncle's father."
 
@jaydude


"A pleasure to meet you, Sir," she replied, bowing before the Great Uncle. Her appearance not looking much different than once they came here.


Li had a knack for appearing civil and graceful, even if she was caught eating shrimp with her Mistress. "And I thank you for the compliment. My duty has been to serve and protect Xiao with my life."
 
@NecroKnight


"And for that, you have my gratitude." Tien said to Li once the handmaiden had finished speaking, before turning to Xiao. The two of them engaged in a bit of small talk, before Tien had a look around the crowded hall.


"Xiao," he said, turning back to look at her "I don't suppose you know where my son is? I've been meaning to talk with him."


"I saw my uncle heading over to the estate's entrance with one of the doormen a few moments ago, but I don't know any more than that. And judging from the look on his face, a major issue was brought to his attention." Xiao replied.


"I see. In that case I will have a look around for him. Would you like to accompany me?"


Xiao glanced at Li. She could politely decline Tien's offer and continue to enjoy the party without getting involved in this ominous political business, as her handmaiden had been trying to help her do, but she could not bring herself to do so. The look of unease on her uncle's face, and the snippet of overheard conversation about the Earth Queen capturing the Avatar had infected her mind with curiosity and worry. She needed answers.


Suppressing the look of worry on her face as best as she could, she smiled at Tien and said "Of course, great uncle. I would be more than happy to do so." She turned to look at Li, her smile disappearing to be replaced with an apologetic look. She knew that her handmaiden wanted only the best for her, and wasn't proud about ignoring all her efforts in this venture.


"I'm sorry, but I need to know what's going on." She whispered in a low voice, before turning away from her and walking off with Tien.
 
@jaydude


Li sighed at that, rubbing her face - before she returned to her eating. However, during that time she kept her ears open for any more possible gossip at that. It felt strange, that suddenly several many nobles and military people were talking about this. Plus what was the Earth Queen thinking, when she captured the Avatar? One had to only look at the Fire Nation - to understand how badly something can end, if you tried to threaten the Master of all Four Elements.


As a note of caution, Li gently padded herself down - and then calmed down when she confirmed, that everything that needed to be secure was secure. Incase she and Xiao needed to make a quick escape. She hoped it didn't devolve that far and that badly. However, being her hand-maiden she had to usually think about the worst - since beside hiring to teach and care for their daughter; she had been also trained to defend her, incase something or someone tried to hurt her.
 
@NecroKnight


Xiao and Tien both made their way up to the second floor of the estate, and it wasn't long before they both heard the sound of Liang's voice coming from behind his office door. It was a lot less jovial than it had been a few minutes ago.


"...you're telling me that these four people waltzed into the throne room, took out a whole squad of Dai Li agents, and killed the Earth Queen by bending the air out of her lungs? Do you have any idea how hard that is to believe?"


Tien and Xiao turned to look at one another nervously. Surely such a story couldn't be true? If the Earth Queen were to be assassinated, whatever followed would not be good.


"I'm not making this up, okay?!" The other speaker's tone was belligerent, and it sounded like it belonged to a teenage boy only a few years older than Xiao.


"I'll admit that you seem to have felt the need to abandon your servant duties in the royal palace in order to gatecrash my party..." Liang said, before being cut off.


"In case you forgot what I said to your doorman, I'm trying to find my father!"


"I have not forgotten, and might I suggest that you not speak to me in such a tone? It will do you no favours."


There was silence for a few seconds. Xiao could almost picture her uncle pacing around the office, deep in thought, before she heard him speak again.


"I will have someone head over to the palace to find out if you're telling the truth. As for you, I expect you out of my home within the minute. Head straight for the door, don't talk to anyone. I will inform your father of your behaviour. And I warn you now that if it turns out you're lying, and this is just some stupid prank, you will hear from me."


The door then burst open, and an agitated looking young man in servant's attire came storming out, brushing past Xiao and Tien as if they weren't there. They glanced at him, before turning back to look at the other man in the office.


"Ah, father! I was wondering when you would show up!" Liang exclaimed, a smile on his face. "Sorry you had to hear that, it was just some idiot who thought he'd have a laugh at my expense."


"I hope so." Tien replied, his expression somber. "I do not even wish to comprehend what would happen to the Earth Kingdom if our monarchy were to fall."


"That would be dreadful." Liang said, his smile disappearing as he contemplated what he'd heard, before it quickly reappeared. "Come on, let's head back to the party. I imagine the guests will be wondering where I've gone."


So the three of them went downstairs and re-entered the main hall. Xiao had on a carefree smile, but it was just masking her uncertainty at this point.
 
(Doing this, since we have a lack of action going. If it's too soon, then we can retcon. Plus, you seem to advance the plot, I will try as well. I imagine anarchy devolving like this. Especially in the Earth Kingdom and the fracturing that happened)


Li as usual was spotted near the food-table, eating usually more than was warranted for a handmaiden - yet before she could be chastised, the sounds of horses galloping through the streets was heard. "THE QUEEN IS DEAD! LONG LIVE KING JIN!" yelled a runner, riding on his horse - followed by several other horses galloping past them. That got everybody worried suddenly, namely because the Earth Queen didn't possess any heirs and the only famous Jin that was known of - had been a General at that.


It didn't take long, before a similar group pass-by, declaring support for another candidate. Then it was followed by three more, all shouting some other famous noble, general or administrator. With such many claims being thrown around - it didn't take long for the first blow to be struck. Namely in the form of some dead earthbender being thrown through their window - his face smashed in at that.


That ended with the entire party devolving into complete chaos at that. Everybody suddenly screaming and making their way, trying to get out of the estate. Li sprung into action as well, abandoning her place near the snack table - and quickly dashing over to Xiao' side at that. "If the Monarch is dead. We need to get to safety! This might get ugly really fast!" spoke Li, quickly standing next to Xiao, incase it got bloody in here as well.


@jaydude
 
@NecroKnight


(Fine by me, I was planning on getting to the anarchy myself. Though you might want to change "horses" to "ostrich horses", given the fauna of the Avatarverse.)


"I think it's already gotten ugly. And yes, it looks like that kid was actually telling the truth." Liang said to Li, looking around at the chaos his party had devolved into, and listening to the sounds of fighting going on outside. Xiao, for her part, stayed close to Li.


"Just stay inside, people! If you leave, you'll only get caught in the crossfire!" Liang shouted, for many of his guests were running from the estate, and judging from the fresh screams outside, either being attacked or getting hit by a stray projectile. A few of them however chose to remain, along with most of Liang's servants. "Xiao, where are your parents?" He asked, turning to her with an expression of urgency.


"I last saw them out in the garden!" Xiao said, almost shouting to make herself heard over the din. At her words, Liang and Tien turned and strided in the direction of the garden, Xiao trying to keep up, when an unfamiliar voice boomed out over Ba Sing Se's city wide radio announcement system.


"Attention citizens of Ba Sing Se. I have an important announcement to make. Moments ago, the Earth Queen was brought down by the hands of revolutionaries, including myself. I'm not going to tell you my name, because my identity is not important. I'm not here to take over the Earth Kingdom. I think you've had enough of leaders telling you what to do. It's time for you to find your own path. No longer will you be oppressed by tyrants. From now on, you are free! I deliver Ba Sing Se into the hands of the people!"


There was both a visible and audible increase in the panic levels, and from somewhere, the sound of an impossibly large stone structure being bought down. Somehow, it was the most chilling sound Xiao had heard this evening.


Leaving her uncle's side, Xiao ran over to the wall surrounding the estate, in the direction the sound had come from. At the wall, she crouched down and raised both her arms, causing a pillar of earth to slowly rise from the ground under where she was stood. Xiao had been taught in Earthbending since she was eight. It went up to the top of the wall, allowing her to see over it, and what she saw bought a fresh look of terror to her face.


A section of the inner wall had been collapsed.


Xiao jumped down from the pillar, wincing slightly from the landing and ran over to her uncle and Tien, who were both stood with her parents. Upon seeing Xiao, Huang and Diao Dongmei pulled their daughter into a tight embrace, before Xiao revealed to them what she had just seen.


"No..." Tien gasped in horror, while Liang turned to Huang.


"Please tell me your airship's still near Ba Sing Se."


"It left as soon as we departed this morning. By now it'll be back in Qutong. It'll be hours before it can get back here." Huang said with a grimace, still holding onto Xiao. Everyone looked crestfallen, having no idea of what to do.
 
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@jaydude


"Everybody, calm down!" spoke Li, calming the panic to come. She soon removed her outfit, revealing the array of throwing knives and daggers that she kept underneath the robes.


She soon pulled on a pair of spiked gloves, that would help with her climbing later. "Okay, now pay attention, since you paid good money for my service. And I ain't in the mood to let you die on my behalf," she said, adjusting her gloves.


"First of all. Get undressed and loose those fancy clothing. Those clothes mark you easily as rich and a target. Pull on some servant's attires. And cover the head with some scarf or rag."


"Next, any jewelry or rings or anything. Take them off. It ain't worth your life. If you want, gather the valuable and hide them in the basement under a slab of rock. Quickly now."


"Also, if you lack a weapon. Get a knife or something and hide them in your sleeve or robes. We are going to make our way to the old earth way," she spoke. Meaning the old system of transportation, that used earthbender to push the train forward. "It's the only thing that connect to all of the rings. We're going to get out of here."


"Diao. Xiao. Get some backpacks and back them with food. One that doesn't spoil fast. Move it! Now!"
 
@NecroKnight


Xiao was looking at her handmaiden in disbelief. She knew that Li had enough of certain skills and knowledge to qualify as her bodyguard, but not to this extent. Her parents weren't surprised at all, but Liang and Tien were visibly surprised.


"Do as she says! Trust me, she knows what she's doing!" Huang shouted to his brother-in-law, as he, Diao, Xiao and Tien ran off to the servants' quarters. Fortunately, his shout seemed to rally Liang to action, as he turned to address his servants, ten of whom remained. These were his permanent household staff: a butler, a steward, four maids and four gardeners. Those who had fled had been hired to help with the party.


"That goes for you lot as well! Anyone who can earthbend, get ready to fight, and don't be afraid to damage the house! Anyone who can't, keep an eye out for anyone approaching! And everyone be on your guard, and be ready!" He shouted, before turning to Li. "They're not entirely defenseless; the majority of them know how to deal with burglars and the like. But yeah, we're dealing with more than just a few burglars."


Xiao and the others emerged from the servants' quarters during this time, dressed in the typical attire of Liang's servants: light brown long-sleeved shirts, dark brown pants and black shoes, all of which were well-made, but lacking in the fancy decorations, embroidery and gold lining typical of Upper Ring residents. Xiao felt a pang of regret for her formal dress, now lying discarded in the servants' quarters. It had been a present for her own birthday, and her family and friends had been overjoyed when she wore it in front of them for the first time. But Li's instructions would be resolute, and Xiao understood the point of them. In addition, all of them had some sort of headscarf covering their head, though keeping their face unobscured.


They had barely rejoined Liang and Li, before they heard something crash to the floor nearby, one of the maids came running down the stairs. "The gate's been broken down!" She shouted. Seconds later, a section of wall near the front door was blasted into the building, forming a large hole in the wall, through which came two angry looking residents of Ba Sing Se's middle ring, one of whom was carrying a large wooden stick.


The other was unarmed, but that didn't seem to concern him much, given how he used earthbending to pull a chunk of earth out from the floor and launch it at Liang, only to gasp in shock when the merchant knocked it right back at him. It struck him in the head, taking him out, but the other looter was still running towards the family, his stick raised.
 
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@jaydude


"I am sorry, for what I must to," spoke Li, dashing forward and with four strikes into his various limbs - he collapsed onto the ground. Alive but unable to move or speak at that, namely Li had simply struck at his pressure points and left him unable to do anything for a good amount of minutes. It was one of the many things, that had been taught to her - it was a tough and long expense, but it gave her another weapon to be used. In the case, that her knives or daggers couldn't handle what was brought against her.


"Okay. We got to move quickly. No doubt more would be on their way," urged Li, commanding them forward. "We can't stay around here anymore. The Upper Ring doesn't have much in the way of guards, that aren't guarding the wall. And likely those soldiers would be split between the various Generals whom are trying to take power."


She soon pointed to the old monorail system, that had been used - before the modernization of the world. It was still held intact and often used for tourism or a cultural learning. Right now, it was their ticket out of here. "It is the only thing, not working on fuel and only earthbending. Plus it can quickly get us outside several walls and out of Ba Sing Se. Now everybody, let's go!"
 
@NecroKnight


"Couldn't we take an airship? We'd be able to get out of the city and head straight to Qutong!" Diao asked, as she, Xiao and four of the servants returned from the kitchen, each carrying a sackful of uncooked rice over their shoulders.


"There's no-one here who can pilot an airship!" Liang replied, moments before a group of looters forced their way into the house, generally by smashing through the walls with Earthbending.


"In any case, let's get out of the house! It's drawing everyone's attention!" Huang shouted, ducking a chunk of the street that had been aimed at his head, before punching the floor and causing it to crack and collapse right underneath a charging group of looters. With screams, they fell into the the estate's basement.


"This way!" Huang yelled, and with him leading, the Dongmei family and the estate staff ran for the front door of the estate, Huang, Liang and Tien occasionally Earthbending bits of the wall, floor and ceiling at any looters in their way. Twice, Xiao was forced to defend against the Earthbending of the looters, pulling off part of the wall with her own Earthbending and using it to ward off bits of earth thrown her way. The elderly butler even joined in on the action, braining three of the rabble with a large silver plate that had been used to serve the roast cowpig only a few minutes ago.


Eventually, everyone emerged into an Upper Ring that had been turned into a warzone. Several other estates had been plundered or set on fire. There were dozens of holes, cracks and pieces of rubble in the street; the result of numerous Earthbending battles. Many people, from army officers, Upper Ring citizens and Dai Li agents, to rioters and other miscreants could be seen either running for their lives or fighting with one another, whether to get the best loot, restore some form of order, or simply to survive.


"Take it! It's all yours!" An irritated-sounding Liang yelled to the first group of looters they encountered, pointing with his thumb at the estate, as he, his family and his household ran in the direction Li had specified. The looters glanced at them, shrugged, and ran towards the estate. No-one in the group paid them any mind. By this time, Liang had discarded his gold-lined tunic, leaving him in just a long-sleeved white undershirt, green pants and a pair of black shoes.
 
@jaydude


They all soon enough reached the old system railway. The one that used earthbending to proppel people forward, instead of the modern way of using steam and coal. Li quickly tapping it to test its strength and was for a moment glad - that it was made of actual stone instead of some wooden replica.


"Okay, everybody inside. I need the strongest earthbenders I can pushing this cart forward," she spoke. "We got a good amount of distance between us, and I wager we might even have to raise our speed a few times to ward off anybody, who might try to stop us."


Li at that climbed ontop of the cart at that, gesturing everybody inside. "Okay inside, and let's hope we can get out of this mad-house," spoke Li, keeping an eye out for them as they soon all boarded the earth-cart. "Okay. Everybody is onboard, lets get out of here," spoke Li, as their earthbenders, started pushing them forward, via the old monorail system.


(Could you say who is what? I am confused with who is Liang, Huang and Ting)
 
@NecroKnight


Everyone crowded into the cart - which was thankfully big enough to accommodate the whole group - with the exception of Huang and Liang, who stayed outside to push it along the tracks. They soon left the Upper Ring behind, heading into a tunnel within the inner wall.


When they emerged into the Middle Ring, the sight was little better. Citizens from the Lower Ring were fighting and looting everywhere Xiao looked, and several buildings were either on fire or in varying degrees of collapse. Two airships had managed to launch from the Upper Ring, but one of them - which appeared to be loaded with people - had taken some serious engine damage and was now descending towards the streets. The subsequent crash utterly destroyed the cockpit and demolished several buildings, before the whole aircraft went up in a series of explosions as its fuel lines ruptured and the fuel ignited.


"Do you really think we'll make it out of this?" Xiao asked, fear and uncertainty on her face as she looked at Diao.


"Of course we will. Your father, your uncle and Li will keep us safe. But we have to stay strong, and not give in to despair." Diao said, holding her daughter close, but with a very similar expression of uncertainty.


"That's...not going to be easy." Xiao said, as she watched Ba Sing Se continue to tear itself apart.


(Huang is Xiao's father, Liang is her uncle, and Tien is Liang's father. Hope that clears things up.)
 
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@jaydude


Li looked away at that moment - when she saw an airship crash and likely kill a good number of untold people. Bloody revolutionaries and their bloody ideals. Why couldn't they just leave people alone at that. No. They had to throughout time and decades - be war in this forsaken world at that.


Fighting around the Middle Ring was expected - since chances were without order - everybody was likely to try and move themselves up in the social pole at that. One good thing about this, was that due to the fighting - when their arrived in the Lower Ring of Ba Sing Se. There wasn't enough fighting happening in the Lower Ring at that, likely chances were that most of them quickly made a bee-line for the more wealthier sections of the City.


If she remembred her history, after this ring - the next one to come was the Agricultural one. Then the cart would arrive in the outer-most ring, and if her memory recalled - it once housed an old receptionary. And also if it had not been sealed shut, was an old shipyard - having been used as a way for refugees to gain entrance into Ba Sing Se. When they had been fleeing the Fire Nation during the Hundred-Year War. She soon sighed in relief, once they also passed through the Lower Ring and into the vast and green lands of the Agricultural Ring.


At that point, Li climbed down from her porch ontop of the cart and inside - so she could explain her plan more. "Okay. If you know your histroy. This should end at an old receptionary. And from there should be an old shipyard. It had been used during the Hundred-Year War. And with luck, it is our way out of here. Let's hope they still kept some old ferries there as museum props or something along that line," she spoke, before turning to Diao. "My Lady. How far is the nearest friend, family, sibling or trusted individual from Ba Sing Se? We need a destination at that."
 
@NecroKnight


"Danzou is the nearest city. It's a day or two's westward sailing from here, on the northern shore of the inland sea." Diao replied.


"But once we get there, we can radio Qutong and get them to send the airship to pick us all up." Huang added.


"But on the other hand." Liang said "...it might be safer to go to Mianrao, if we don't mind an extra day's sailing. It's where I keep part of my accumulated wealth." He explained. "I've got friends there. We can find a place to stay and a radio there much more easily."


"The Earth Queen is dead. The Earth Kingdom is going to be in chaos. I need to get back to my state as soon as possible." Huang responded.
 
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@jaydude


(Shit. Sorry. Forgot totally this)


"Okay enough. We can't keep arguing," she spoke at that - she didn't have much of a mind for politics at that. But she did know what mostly would happen later at that.


"The issue here is the Earth Queen is dead. Now, I don't remember much about our history. But as I recall, she wasn't very popular at that. Not to mention, that her rule was not well met by many others. We had bandits on the outskirts, and as I recall many others refusing to pay taxes. Now, if you ask me. That isn't the best combination of a stable government."


"We can expect chaos and anarchy to be a likely scenario. It was already in that state," added Ly. "As such, I suggest we got Liang. As he has wealth and friends in Mianrao. Compared to Danzou, which might be unwelcoming or in chaos themselves. Let's go with the longer but safer route at that. We don't know what might happen, so in these sorts of situations - it would be best, if we took the safe route."
 
@NecroKnight


"You'll forgive me if I don't want to get back to guiding my state through what's sure to be a chaotic time as soon as..." Huang began to exclaim, before he was cut off by Diao.


"Enough! We'll save our arguing for when we actually get out of the city! Is that too much to wish for?!"


Both men went silent, and before long, the group entered the old shipyard Li had referred to. Sure enough, there was a single small ship there, and the group wasted no time rushing aboard it. There was no-one else aboard.


Once aboard the ship, Xiao dropped the huge bag of rice she had been carrying, and sat down on the floor, exhausted. Other members of the group also did the same, while Huang and Liang looked around at the vessel.


"I once had a luxury yacht like this myself." Huang muttered, taking note of the onboard canopy on the deck, under which the ship's owners would have relaxed during pleasure cruises on the river, when the glare of the sun became too much to bear. "I wonder who this belongs to."


"Whoever owned it is probably dead by now." Liang muttered. There were no sails on the ship and so he and Huang went belowdecks to look for the engine. Everything was quiet; most of the fighting and chaos was still confined to the urban part of Ba Sing Se.
 
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@jaydude


Li sighed at that and walked over to Xiao. Sitting down next to her at that. "Hey. You doing alright?" she asked, rolling her arm over Xiao' shoulder and pulling her closer at that. They always acted like sisters at that, almost. So there was no reason not to be at the moment.


"I know things look bad and gone into a pit. But its going to be okay, well....okay, that is a wrong thing to say. But we will make it," she spoke, changing her tone at that. "How are you holding up?"
 
@NecroKnight


"All things considered, I think I could be doing worse." Xiao replied, looking at Li with a small grin, before looking away. It was an attempt to conceal her worry. She was scared and uncertain of what the future held, given everything that had happened recently. What was going to happen to the Earth Kingdom? How far would the chaos spread from Ba Sing Se? How many people were going to lose their lives before this was over?


There was a faint rumbling from beneath them as the others in the group managed to get the engine started. Cabbage Corp had done a decent enough job installing it on the ship and getting it working, and now Huang took up the ship's wheel, and the ship set off, out of the harbour and into the inland sea.


As the ship began its journey west, Xiao made a resolution. She wasn't going to dwell on issues she couldn't solve, or let herself be overwhelmed by despair over what had happened. It wouldn't do anyone any good. Until they were safely back home, she was going to be as strong as she could, for everyone's sakes as well as her own.


Turning back to Li, Xiao gave another smile, and said "You have to admit, everything that's happened - us escaping from a burning city, stealing a ship and setting sail, it's like one of those adventure stories you used to read to me when I was a girl."
 

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