Avatar - The Last Airbender (Storyteller Version)

Chapter 18: Lake Laogai

Weeks had passed since the Avatar and his friends came to Ba Sing Se, and still they hadn't found Appa. Fortunately, they came up with a plan to find their missing friend. If they could distribute fliers, posters, and pamphlets around the city, surely someone would take notice. Sokka tried drawing a picture of Momo for the fliers, but he didn't quite get it right. Luckily, Katara and Aang produced far more satisfying results, and even found a printer to produce their fliers. Aang and Momo got to work right away, spreading leaflets all over Ba Sing Se. After finishing, Aang returned to their house, asking if anyone had news about Appa, but to his disappointment, there was none. Aang was getting more and more worried.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door. It was Joo Dee. Aang and the others hadn't seen her for quite some time.

SOKKA: What happened to you? Did the Dai Li throw you in jail?

JOO DEE: What?! Jail? Of course not. The Dai Li are the protectors of our cultural heritage.

TOPH: But you disappeared at the Earth King's party.

JOO DEE: Oh, I simply took a short vacation to Lake Laogai, out in the country. It was quite relaxing.

KATARA: But then they replaced you with some other woman who also said her name was Joo Dee.

JOO DEE: I'm Joo Dee.

AANG: Why are you here?

JOO DEE: Dropping fliers and putting up posters isn't permitted within the city. Not without proper clearance.

SOKKA: We can't wait around to get permission for everything.

JOO DEE: You are absolutely forbidden by the rules of the city to continue putting up posters.

This time Aang had had quite enough.

AANG: We don't care about the rules, and we're NOT asking permission! We're finding Appa on our own, and you should just stay out of our way!

He slammed the door in her face.

SOKKA: That might come back to bite us in the blubber.

AANG: I don't care! From now on, we do whatever it takes to find Appa!

TOPH: Yeah! Let's break some rules!

The children didn't know it, but the woman who called herself Joo Dee had to returned to the royal palace, speaking with Long Feng.

LONG FENG: I'm very disappointed in your work with the Avatar and his friends, Joo Dee. I had hoped that you would be able to control this situation.

JOO DEE: I am so sorry, but they don't trust me anymore. I don't think I can keep working like this! (Sobbing)

LONG FENG: Joo Dee, the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai.

As Long Feng spoke, Joo Dee's eyes dilated. He was putting her in a trance!

JOO DEE: I am honored to accept his invitation.

LONG FENG: Good. Now go await further orders.

Meanwhile, Aang and the others were busy putting up fliers everywhere they could around the city. The children took off in different directions to cover as much ground as possible. As Katara set up a poster by a water stream, someone strode toward her. It was Jet. She whirled around in shock.

JET: I think I can help you.

Angrily, Katara waterbended the stream and blasted Jet with it, backing the rebel into an alley.