*Chapter 4

After the music slowly faded from the hall, the four of us were lead into a green library.

After the restraints were removed, the four of us sat in the green room, waiting. Soon enough Aang and a small animal entered the room, along with a man with a long ponytail.

He looked oddly familiar and then it hit me. "You're Long Feng!" I spoke, shock covering my voice. Katara's eyes widening, leading me to believe that this was the man from before.

Long Feng was the head of the Dai Li and someone you did NOT need as an enemy.

"Yes and I'm surprised Miss Lee, your parents wouldn't approve of your behavior would they?" he asked, an evil smirk playing across his lips. My eyes turned into slits as I glared at him. How did he know about my parents? And what did he have on them?

"Why won't you let us talk to the king? We have information that could defeat the Fire Nation!" Sokka boomed, causing the guards attention to go else where.

The Fire Nation? What was the talk of the Fire Nation? I heard about people coming in but I never knew why. My eyes widened, hoping to hear the story.

"The Earth King has no time to get involved with political squabbles and the day to day minutia of military activities." Long Feng rolled his eyes before picking at his nails.

Aang's eyes widened into large orbs, "This could be the most important thing he's ever heard."

Confusion covered my face as I tried to pick apart the story.

"What's most important to his royal majesty is maintaining the cultural heritage of Ba Sing Se. All his duties relate to issuing decrees on such matters. It's my job to oversee the rest of the city's resources, including the military." Long Feng explains, the green glow of the fire causing a glow on his face.

"So the king is just a figurehead." Katara gaps more to her herself than anyone. "He's your puppet!" Toph spits angrily, I could almost see steam pouring out her her ears.

"Oh, no, no. His Majesty is an icon, a god to his people. He can't sully his hands with the hourly change of an endless war." Long Feng explains calmly. "Our economy would be ruined, our peaceful way of life – our traditions – would disappear. In silencing talk of conflict, Ba Sing Se remains a peaceful, orderly utopia: the last one on Earth."

A look of horror covers my face and as I look at the others, equally horrified looks cover their faces. It started to make sense, secrets, they were keeping secrets from all of Ba Sing Se.

"You can't keep the truth from all these people. They have to know." Katara spits, anger covering her kind face. Aang stands up in fury and tells the man "I'll tell them! I'll make sure everyone knows!" 

  Until now, you've been treated as our honored guest. But from now on, you will be watched every moment by Dai Li agents. If you mention the War to anyone, you will be expelled from the city.  I understand you've been looking for your bison.  It would be quite a shame if you were not able to complete your quest. "

Horror and confusion still lace my face as Long Feng snaps at the group. "Well" I whisper, causing Long Feng to look at me "Make that one Ba Sing Se citizen who knows". The rest of the group look at me, looks of worry covering their expressions. 

"You didn't know?" Sokka asks, giving me a concerned gaze. I close my eyes "So there's a war?" I ask before standing up and marching towards Long Feng. 

Shock and maybe curiosity swims in his eyes but he instantly covers it with anger and charm. "Yes, there is a war going on, for about 100 years" he spits before glaring at Aang, which causes him to look down. 

"How could you do this? How could you keep this from all of Ba Sing Se?!" I screech. "They have a right to know!" I growl before clutching my fists, causing the ground to crack.

"Mika" Toph warns "Making the palace collapse on itself wont make things better".

I take in a breath before turning from Long Feng and walking towards the group. Katara instantly wrapping me into a hug. "Now, Joo Dee will show you to your home" Long Feng spits before a new woman walks into the room.

"Come with me" she smiles.

Confusin covers us "What happened to Joo Dee?"

 "I'm Joo Dee. I'll be your host as long as you're in our wonderful city." she smiled before turning around and walking out. "Oh and Miss Lee, be expecting some Dai Li agents to be around you as well" Long Feng smirks as we walk out. 

I stay clutched to Katara as Joo Dee leads us out . I should probably try to find my parents but I can't. I can't tell them or else the Dai Li will come and I will be shoved into a cell or worse.

"Mika! Mika!" I hear voices yell. It's clearly my parents.  I ignore them, I can't talk to them now, I just can't. Once we exit the palace, I remove myself from Katara, the cool air feels nice. "Hey" Sokka mumbles, staying us back from the group. "Hey" I sigh, feeling a weight pushed down onto me.

"I'm sorry, that you had to find out about the war that way" he sighs, clearly mad with what went down. "I am too" I respond "I mean how did it not get out?"

"Rules have enforcers, and they'll do anything to keep the rules and or the peace" Toph sighed before kicking a rock. 

"I only found out a few month ago" Aang sighs, clearly upset that he wasn't helping sooner. "Yeah he was too busy being an ice cube" Sokka laughs awkwardly, clearly trying to lighten the mood.

"So, the Fire Nation started the war?" I asked, still confused. "The Fire Nation wants to be the only Nation so they wiped out the Air Nation to try and stop the cycle through the Air Temples" Katara explained before wrapping an arm around Aang.

"If you want Nut Cracker" Toph jokes "You could stay with us, I know how parents can be when you're gone for too long."

"That would be great actually" I smiled weakly before following them home.