Avatar: The Flames of Kaiya

Late afternoon light fell across the outer walls of Ba Sing Se. Two Fire Nation guards escorted a teenage girl through the city's quiet corridors, their armor reflecting the muted gold of the waning sun. She wore plain Earth Kingdom robes, head bowed, hands folded at her waist. Her pace was measured, almost timid, as though each step felt heavier than it should. There was no familiar knot of crimson silk in her hair—no Fire Nation emblem to hint at her origins—only dark locks styled like any local girl's might be. Still, her amber eyes betrayed something more watchful and contained.

The guards led her into a throne hall layered in subdued greens. Pale columns rose toward a high ceiling, while Earth Kingdom aristocrats hovered near the dais, whispering amongst themselves in guarded tones. Fire Nation guards stood sentry with silent vigilance, their presence a reminder of who truly held power here. A hush lingered in the chamber, as though everyone waited for a signal they could not name.

Near the throne stood Joo Dee, her robes carefully chosen, her posture precise. She spoke to the aristocrats with halting words, each sentence like an uneasy compromise between politeness and duty.

"Please not worry. Situation delicate. We do best to keep peace," Joo Dee said, voice low, her accent thick. "Fire Nation has needs. We follow. Better not cause trouble."

The aristocrats murmured, casting sidelong glances at the newcomer. The girl might have passed for any servant caught in the current of these unfamiliar halls. The tension in the room shifted ever so slightly as Joo Dee addressed her without ceremony.

"You Fire Nation girl from colony, yes?" She beckoned a servant overseer forward, an older Earth Kingdom woman who approached with thinly veiled irritation. "Head servant come. Show her what to do."

The head servant eyed the girl's distinctive eyes and foreign bearing with open suspicion. The girl's downcast stance invited no challenge, no argument—just a quiet acceptance of whatever menial tasks awaited.

"Come," said the head servant, tone clipped. "Plenty of work. You learn quickly or find yourself replaced."

The girl followed, shoulders bent, as though shrinking into a role beneath her true nature. The aristocrats watched her departure, then turned their mutterings toward Joo Dee.

"Another Fire Nation presence," one murmured. "They say just a servant, but we know how these changes creep in. Our ways slip through their fingers."

Joo Dee managed a strained smile. "Please. We adapt or risk anger. Occupation not kind. Calm heads, yes?" She tried to soothe them, though her words rang hollow in the large hall. Gradually, they drifted away, their worries like an unsettled dust cloud never quite clearing.

Later, in a modest chamber far from the prying eyes of guards and aristocrats, Joo Dee and the girl stood alone. When the door shut, the girl lifted her head and straightened, the meekness fading like a discarded cloak. She settled into a small chair, spine tall, eyes sharp. She spoke in a measured tone, each word polished and certain.

"Joo Dee, I trust my letter delivered by messenger hawk has reached you."

Joo Dee bowed her head slightly, the authority she had shown earlier disappearing in the girl's presence. "Yes. I understand. You Azula's choice," she said, stumbling over the foreign name. "You lead here. But why pretend servant? Why not show who you are?"

The girl tilted her head just enough to suggest quiet amusement. "Dear Joo Dee, I prefer to observe unburdened by title. I must understand these people's grievances and desires as they truly are. I will not repeat past mistakes by ignoring the pulse of this city."

Joo Dee's knuckles tightened at her sides. "They treat you poor. You accept this?"

A faint curve touched the girl's lips. "For now. Let them believe I am a simple attendant. While they underestimate me, I will learn what must be done. Only then shall I act with full authority." She ran a finger along the chair's wooden arm. "I have overseen a colony before and erred by failing to ask the right questions. This time, I intend to know their complaints firsthand."

Joo Dee nodded reluctantly. "Aristocrats gather soon. They complain always. You hear them yourself. Better that way."

The girl inclined her head gracefully. "Good. I shall be present, dressed as their servant. Do not treat me differently, no matter what they say. Let them speak freely, and do not break this façade. It is crucial that they remain unaware of my true role."

Joo Dee's breath caught, but she said nothing more, only offering a slight bow. "Yes. I do as told."

Outside, the day's light softened. Footsteps and hushed voices drifted through corridors. Servants hurried along, oblivious to the quiet schemes that now held Ba Sing Se in their silent grip. Within these ancient walls, this girl—no longer meek, no longer anonymous—prepared to shape the destiny of a city too large to guard all its secrets.