Chapter 5

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Chapter 5 We made our way to the boat dock, then, using our fake passports, boarded the ferry to Ba Sing Se. "Who would have thought that after all these years I'd return to the scene of my greatest military disgrace… as a tourist!" Uncle said, putting on a silly hat and laughing. How can he joke about our utter defeat? Here we are, a great general and a prince, running away to hide in the stronghold of our enemy. At this point, I am doubtful that we'll ever see our home again. We'll be prisoners within a walled city, afraid to venture out for fear of encountering Azula. What exactly is there to joke about? I find no humor in shame. "Look around, Uncle. We're not tourists, we're refugees." I slurped down a sip of the slop they fed us and quickly spat it overboard. "Ugh. I'm sick of eating rotten food, sleeping in the dirt. I'm tired of living like this!" "Aren't we all?" said a soft voice from behind me. I turned to see three guys—refugees, judging by their looks. "My name's Jet," one of them said. "And these are my freedom fighters, Smellerbee and Longshot.

"Hey," Smellerbee said. Longshot just nodded. "Hello," I said cautiously. Freedom fighters? What do these guys want from me? "Here's the deal," Jet began. "I hear the captain's eating like a king while us refugees have to feed off the scraps. Doesn't seem fair, does it?" He stared at me as he asked, "You want to help us liberate some food?" I like the sound of that. I'm ready to eat like a king. And I'm sure Uncle is, too. "I'm in," I replied, tossing the bowl of swill overboard. That night, Jet, Smellerbee, and I made our way up to the captain's quarters. Through the window I saw a huge amount of food spread out on a big table. It looked like someone was about to have a feast. And that someone is me. Jet popped open the lock with his sword. He and I slipped in while Smellerbee stood guard. I cut down some roast ducks, then gathered up boxes of food with my swords, stacking and tying them in one swift motion. Just like old times—only without the blue mask. "Guards coming!" Smellerbee called out. That was our signal to leave. We grabbed a few more items, then ducked back out and headed down

to the lower deck with our feast. Uncle, Smellerbee, Longshot, and I dug into the delicious food while Jet handed some out to the other refugees. I like this guy. He has an idea, makes a plan, and takes action. And because of that, we refugees have the food we deserve. "From what I heard, people eat like this every night in Ba Sing Se," Jet said, sitting down and joining us. "I can't wait to set my eyes on that giant wall." "It's a magnificent sight," Uncle said. "So you've been there before?" Jet asked. I stiffened slightly, not sure how Uncle was going to handle this. He can't let on that we're Fire Nation. "Once," he replied. "When I was a… different man." Okay, I hope Jet doesn't ask Uncle to elaborate. And he didn't. Jet nodded as if he understood. "I've done some things in my past that I'm not proud of. But that's why I'm going to Ba Sing Se—for a new beginning, a second chance." "That's very noble of you," Uncle said. Then he looked right at me as he added, "I believe people can change their lives if they want to. I believe in second chances."

Is that what this is about? A second chance rather than a failure? A chance to leave my old life behind once and for all? A chance to start over in a place where no one knows me? Forget who I am… who I was? Maybe this is an opportunity rather than a defeat. I'm just not sure. The following morning as I stood at the ferry's railing, watching the ship approach the great wall of Ba Sing Se, Jet stepped up beside me. "You know, as soon as I saw your scar, I knew exactly who you were," he said. What—he knows I'm Fire Nation? That I'm a prince in exile? How can he? "You're an outcast, like me," Jet continued. Oh, okay. He has no idea. I was relieved. "And us outcasts have to stick together. We have to watch each other's backs. Because no one else will." I understood what he was telling me. "I've realized lately that being on your own isn't always the best path," I replied. Maybe I've met another "outcast" who thinks like I do. Maybe things in Ba Sing Se won't be so bad after all. Maybe. We arrived at Ba Sing Se's outer wall and, with the

fake passports Uncle's friends at the White Lotus club had given us, easily passed through the processing center. Now that we were in, we waited for the monorail to take us into the city itself so we could start our new lives. I'm still not sure what that means, but I can't stop thinking about Uncle speaking of a second chance. Jet came over. "So, you guys got plans once you're in the city?" he asked. Before I could reply, a tea salesman came by. "Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se." "Ohh!" Uncle cried. "Jasmine, please!" But he took one sip and spat it out. "Ugh. Coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it!" As Uncle scowled and stared at his cold cup of tea, I got up and walked away, hoping to avoid Jet's questions. But he kept after me. "You and I have a much better chance of making it in the city if we stick together," Jet said. "You want to join my freedom fighters?" I'm not surprised that Jet asked me to join his gang. It might be a good idea, part of my second chance. They can help me create my new destiny away from the Fire Nation, and forge a new path. But is that what I really want to be doing? I don't