Avatar - The Last Airbender (Storyteller Version)

Interlude VIII

As the days passed, the Avatar and his friends stayed at Ba Sing Se, helping people in need, growing closer, and even getting involved in other misadventures. They looked in places where all sorts of animals were being sold, but still Appa was nowhere to be seen. The children didn't know it, but some other refugees had come to Ba Sing Se, too, with different intentions—a certain pair of fugitives still on the run from the Fire Nation. Having lost both his will to fight and respect for his former home, Iroh wanted nothing more than to start a new life. Shortly after arriving in the city, he and Zuko found work at a tea shop. Iroh wasn't pleased with the quality of the tea, so he decided prepare some himself. According to him, the secret ingredient for making truly great tea was love. When Iroh served his tea to customers that evening, the response was incredible. One customer in particular called it the best tea in all the city, much to the delight of the shopkeeper. A few days later, Iroh went for a walk in the city, aiding others who needed help. At sundown, he came to a hill with a large tree. He had decided to construct a memorial for his son, Lu Ten, for today was his birthday. Tearfully, Iroh set a picture of Lu Ten on a piece of cloth beside the tree, and sang a mournful ballad for his fallen son.

"Leaves from the vine,

Falling so slow,

Like fragile tiny shells.

Drifting in the foam,

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home."

Zuko, on the other hand, was having a difficult time adjusting to all this. To him, Ba Sing Se was like a prison, not an opportunity for a fresh start. And he was especially embarrassed serving tea with his uncle. Even so, Iroh, patient and wise as always, reassured his nephew that this would ultimately benefit his troubled soul... even if Zuko thought otherwise.

But Zuko and Iroh were not the only ones seeking a new life in Ba Sing Se. Having disbanded his Freedom Fighters, Jet was deeply ashamed of his past misdeeds. Together with his friends, Longshot and Smellerbee, he resolved to go straight and change for the better. During the ferry ride to Ba Sing Se, he crossed paths with Zuko, and convinced the prince to help him smuggle food for some of the other passengers. Impressed by Zuko's skills, he asked him to join his party. but the prince politely declined. At the monorail station, however, Jet spotted Zuko's uncle heating his tea using firebending, and became very suspicious of them. Obsessively, he tracked the two of them into Ba Sing Se, eager to find out if they were from the Fire Nation. No matter how much Smellerbee and Longshot begged him to put aside his thirst for vengeance, there was too much hatred in Jet's heart. That evening, Jet burst into the tea shop. Drawing his hook swords, he dared Iroh and Zuko to reveal themselves. Impulsively, Zuko drew his swords, too, and the two boys clashed. But their sword duel was cut short when the Dai Li intervened and arrested Jet for disturbing the peace. Eventually, the rebel was released — but not before being taken before Long Feng and spending a whole evening being tortured by his men....

For the past four weeks, Appa had endured nothing but turmoil. After being captured by the sandbenders, the poor bison was sold to a circus. There, Appa was locked in a cage, shackled, and forced to perform dangerous stunts before audiences. And whenever he misbehaved, the cruel animal tamer threatened Appa with both starvation and blasts of fire. All of this traumatized Appa very badly. Only one sympathetic boy, who stumbled by his cage one evening, took pity on him. With his help, Appa escaped. The desperate bison soared over the Earth Kingdom, trying to find his dearest friend, but Aang and the others were nowhere to be seen. After awhile, Appa descended safely into a forest, cold, hungry, and exhausted. But as he munched on some grass, an angry boar-q-pine charged him! It rushed, Appa pricking the bison with its quills and tearing bits of his fur! After a vicious fight, Appa finally defeated his aggressor by grabbing a tree and hurling it against the boar-q-pine, knocking it aside. The terrified beast fled. Wounded and in despair, the bison slumped into a small cave and fell asleep. For days, Appa stayed there, never once venturing out... but one day, some women discovered him. It was Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors. Tenderly, they helped restore the frightened bison back to health. They gave him food and water, unfastened his shackles, carefully removed the quills, and cleaned his wounds. Appa was so pleased he licked Suki in gratitude. But just then, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee appeared. The clumps of Appa's fur from his fight with the boar-q-pine had led them right to the bison! The Kyoshi Warriors struggled to hold off their attackers, while Suki tried to convince Appa to flee. When the bison ignored her and tried to help, Suki had no choice but to wave a torch in his face, scaring him. Feeling brokenhearted and betrayed once again, the bison soared off.

Rain poured down from the grey skies as Appa continued his journey above the ocean and over the mountains. Eventually, he spotted a huge structure in the distance. It was the Eastern Air Temple, and this was a place he remembered all too well. It was here that he met Aang for the first time years ago when he was only a cub. Back then, the boy had won over the animal's trust by offering him an apple. Ever since, he and Aang had been close friends. But this time, when Appa settled down at the Eastern Air Temple, it was deserted and eerie-looking. The only person there was a dark-skinned, wizened old man. He was a kind person, but because of his recent experiences, Appa did not trust him. With gentle patience, the old man calmed the troubled bison and won him over.

"I've been expecting you and the young Avatar for quite a long time. I had a vision many years ago of helping him. That's why I came to the Eastern Air Temple. I have prepared a message for Aang. May I attach it to your horn? You and the Avatar's energies are mixed. You have an unbreakable bond. By reading your energy, I can sense where Aang is. I'll see you again, great beast."

When the old man touched Appa's forehead, the bison saw a path of light leading to Ba Sing Se. He thanked the kindly elder and set off. After another long journey, he finally reached the massive city... unaware that Dai Li agents were watching him pass over the inner wall. Appa looked this way and that, trying to search for Aang's location, when he heard the sound of a bison whistle. Appa descended to the street, hoping to finally reunite with his beloved friend. But it wasn't Aang blowing the whistle. It was Long Feng! The treacherous man earthbended the pavement, flipping him and Appa underground. During that fight, Appa had a left a footprint in the mud. No one saw it except Momo, who happened to be searching for Appa that same evening.