Balance | Old Version

Chapter 78 (The Earth King)

Elua's POV.

We had landed on a small island in the middle of the lake, we needed to figure out what to do now.
"Look, we escaped from the Dai Lee, we got Appa back, I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll," Sokka says confidently.
"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll," Katara states.
"We can build on it," Sokka tells her. "If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we need the Earth King's support," He reminds her.
"What makes you think we'll get it? I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our little gang," Toph states.

"I know, but I've got a good feeling about this. This time will be different," Sokka tells us.
"Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city. His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. I think we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us," Katara says as she crosses her arms.
"I'm with sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se, and I can't even see!" Toph states as she throws her hands up.
"But, now we have Appa back," Aang says happily as he walks over to us.
"Yeah and there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth about the conspiracy and the war," I say, agreeing with Sokka and Aang.

"See, Aang and Elua are with me," Sokka says smiling as he puts his arm over my shoulder. "It's the whole reason we came here in the first place, we have to try," He tells the two girls in front of us.
"Well, I guess if the Earth King knew the truth, things could change," Katara says, starting to consider it.
"I don't trust the new positive Sokka," Toph says as she crosses her arms. "Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he!" She shouts as she points to Sokka.
"Toph, he's fine," I tell her as I shake my head. I look over to the lake and see three ships in the distance, obviously searching for something.

"That's probably the Dai Li searching for us," I tell the others. "So?" I ask Katara as I turn to her.
"Let's fly!" Katara says with a grin as we run over to Appa, jump on, and take off.
"Can we please buy a new saddle? Riding bareback is terrifying!" Toph shouts as she holds on to Appa's fur for dear life.
"There it is," Sokka says as he points to the palace coming into view. "That whole thing is the palace. The Earth King's chambers should be in the center," He states.
"We have to be careful. Long Feng's probably warned the King that we're coming," I tell them.
"Why would you assume that? If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in...Ahhh!" Sokka shouts as a boulder is launched at us and barely misses Appa.

"I told you!" I shout as another rock is launched at us and Appa quickly dodges it.
"Right okay, note to self: listen to girlfriend," Sokka says, not thinking before speaking.
"Girlfriend!?" The other three shout in shock. "You're dating!?" They shout again.
"Did you have to say that!?" I shout as I glare at him.
"Sorry!" Sokka shouts over the wind. "More incoming! Ahhh!" He shouts as more rocks are thrown at us. Appa continues to dodge the rocks, while Aang and I continue earthbend a few of them away. We land on the ground, Aang and I earthbend earth kingdom soldiers away from us.

We begin to run towards the stairs to the palace, but more soldiers bend at us. I send a gust of air at some of them, knocking them down and making them groan in pain.
"Sorry!" I shout to the soldiers as we start to run again. More soldiers send rocks at us from the stairs, Toph bends the stairs into a flat surface and the soldiers start to slide down. Toph bends some of the earth up and moves it up the stairs that are now a slide. When we get to the top of the stairs, we run into the palace only to be met with more soldiers attacking us. Toph bends them all up to the ceiling, trapping them there.
"Toph, which way to the Earth King?" Sokka asks.

"How should I know? I'm still voting that we leave Ba Sing Se," Toph says as she sends more soldiers flying into walls. As we continue fighting the soldiers, Sokka starts to open doors looking for the throne room. After a while, we take down all the soldiers and leave a bunch of rumble in our path. We climb over all the rocks and debris, a huge green door coming into our eyesight.
"Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere," Sokka says as we walk over to it. Sokka runs at the door, jumps into the air, and kicks it, only to fall to the floor and the door not to move. He stands up and pushes the door, trying to open it, but failing.

I bend a huge gust of air at the doors, knocking them down and sending them into the room, along with Sokka.
"A little warning next time!" Soka shouts to me as he stands up.
"Sorry," I say as we run over to the Earth King, who sits on his throne. Long Feng stands beside him and Dai Lee agents stand in bending stances, ready to attack at any moment.
"We need to talk to you!" Aang shouts to The King.
"They're here to overthrow you," Feng tells The King.
"No, we're on your side. We're here to help," I tell him calmly.

"You have to trust us," Katara says.
"You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?" The King asks with a glare.
"He has a good point," Toph says.
"If you're on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down," The King tells us. We all look at each other. If it was the only way, then we had to. I nod. We all step out of our bending stances.
"See, we're friends, your Earthiness," Aang says with a smile on his face. Suddenly, The Dai Lee agents send earth cuffs and bind our hands behind our backs as Long Feng smirks.