ATLA: Azlua

Phoenix city part 2

The dungeons beneath Phoenix City were dim and damp, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the narrow stone corridors. The air was thick, carrying the musty scent of mildew and iron. Ty Lee stepped carefully, her delicate footsteps muffled by the layers of dust and grime that had accumulated over the years. Zira followed close behind, her armor gleaming faintly in the low torchlight, while Commander Kaida trailed silently, her hands clasped behind her back.

The cells came into view, rows of iron bars standing as grim reminders of the city's troubled state. Inside, a small group of rebels sat or leaned against the walls. Their expressions ranged from defiant glares to wary curiosity as they noticed Ty Lee's approach.

She paused in front of the first cell, her eyes scanning the occupants. Two older men sat cross-legged on the floor, their faces hardened with the wear of time and rebellion. In the corner, a young woman no older than Ty Lee herself sat quietly, her eyes darting nervously toward the guards. A teenage boy stood at the bars, his hands gripping the metal tightly, his expression a mix of fear and confusion.

"Good afternoon," Ty Lee said, her voice warm but tinged with the authority she was still learning to wield. "I'm Ty Lee, the new overseer of Phoenix City."

The older men scoffed in unison, their disdain clear. One of them, his grizzled beard flecked with gray, spat on the floor. "Another puppet of the Fire Nation. Makes no difference who you are. You're just another oppressor."

Ty Lee didn't flinch, though the venom in his tone stung. "I'm not here to oppress anyone," she replied calmly. "I'm here to understand why this keeps happening. Why there's so much anger and unrest."

The second man leaned forward, his sharp eyes narrowing. "You want to know why? Look around you, girl. Look at what your people have done to this land. You call it Phoenix City, but this is our home, not yours. You take, and you take, and when we resist, you call us criminals."

Ty Lee's gaze softened, though her resolve didn't waver. "I hear you," she said gently. "I won't pretend to understand all of it, but I want to help make things better. That's why I'm here."

The younger rebels stirred, their reactions more subdued. The teenage boy at the bars shifted uncomfortably. "We just want to eat," he muttered, his voice barely audible. "We didn't ask for any of this. They said there'd be food if we joined."

Ty Lee's heart ached at his words. She turned to face him fully, her expression earnest. "What's your name?"

He hesitated before answering, "Shen."

"Shen," Ty Lee said softly, "I'm sorry you've been caught up in this. I'm here to change things, but I need your help. I need all of you to give me a chance."

The young woman in the corner spoke up, her voice trembling. "How do we know you're not just like the last one? He said he'd help too, but all he did was hurt us."

Ty Lee took a deep breath, stepping closer to the bars. "I'm not him. I promise you that. Things will be different. But I can't do it alone. If you give me time, if you let me try, we can fix this city together."

The teenage boy nodded hesitantly, his grip on the bars loosening. "What do you want us to do?"

Ty Lee smiled faintly. "Just talk. Spread the word that I want to listen, that I want to make things better. Tell people to come forward so we can start fixing what's broken."

The older men exchanged skeptical glances, but neither spoke. The younger rebels, however, murmured among themselves, their guarded expressions softening.

"I'll do it," Shen said finally. "I'll tell people."

"Thank you," Ty Lee said, her voice warm with gratitude. "You're free to go."