𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒎𝒆𝒆𝒕

𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔

Chapter twenty six
Elora

As we boarded the bus, relief washed over us—we were finally en route to Ba Sing Se via their bustling public transportation system. The bus was packed to the brim, and I found myself squeezed between Toph and Sokka, who was always good for some lively conversation.

"Look, the inner wall! I can't believe we finally made it to Ba Sing Se in one piece," Katara exclaimed, her eyes scanning the horizon.

"Hey, don't jinx it," Sokka cautioned, leaning forward with a hint of apprehension.

"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," he added, his imagination running wild with possibilities.

"You been hitting the cactus juice again?" Toph quipped, raising an eyebrow at Sokka's wild theories.

"I'm just saying, weird stuff happens to us," he defended, a playful glint in his eyes.

Out of nowhere, a man sucking on corn plopped himself down next to Toph, inadvertently squishing me into Sokka's lap. My eyes widened in surprise, and a blush crept up my cheeks as Sokka instinctively wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me closer.

"I think being on a bus just became one of my favorite things," he whispered with a snicker.

"Shut up," I muttered, trying to suppress my own laughter at the absurdity of the situation.

"Don't worry, Aang. We'll find Appa," Katara consoles, her voice gentle and reassuring. I turn my head to look at him, realizing I'd been so preoccupied with everything else that I hadn't paid much attention to my brother's struggles. My heart aches for him as I see the worry etched on his face.

"It's such a big city," Aang sighs, his shoulders slumping with the weight of his concern.

"And we'll spend all our time looking for him until we find him. He's just as much of a priority as talking to the king," I assure him, trying to inject some optimism into the situation. Aang's smile, though faint, is a small ray of hope.

Sokka and I join them by the window, peering out at the sprawling metropolis before us. My eyes widen in disbelief at the sheer size of Ba Sing Se. Houses and buildings crowd together, towering over one another in a maze of structures. It dawns on me just how challenging our search for Appa might be in this vast and bustling city.

"Oh," I manage to utter, overwhelmed by the daunting task ahead.

The bus grinds to a halt as we reach the station, and we file out onto the bustling streets of Ba Sing Se. Toph's disdain for the city is palpable as she scoffs, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

"Back in the city. Great."

"Do you not like the city?" I inquire, curious about her perspective.

"Just a bunch of walls and rules," she retorts dismissively, her disdain evident in her voice. "You wait, you'll get sick of it in a couple of days."

Before we can dwell on Toph's cynicism, a lady with an overly enthusiastic smile approaches us. Her name, she informs us, is Joo Dee.

"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, Aang, Katara, and Toph. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?" she chirps, her smile never faltering.

"Yes," Sokka says "We have crucial information about the Fire Nation army that we need to deliver to the Earth King immediately."

However, Joo Dee remains unfazed, her smile unwavering. "Great, let's begin our tour, and then I'll show you to your new home here. I think you'll like it."