Author's Note: Alternate Universe. Zuko, unaware he's a prince, was raised as Lee by his mother in Ba Sing Se. Then everything changed when the Fire Nation invaded.

Invasion

By: Pen 'n Notebook

Alternate Universe. There are no firebenders in Ba Sing Se, Lee's mother warned. Not until the Fire Nation invaded.

The day the Fire Nation invaded Ba Sing Se, Lee thought little of the marching troops. Their machines impressed him, shaking the ground with the force of an angry earthbender as hard steel carved into the street and chewed up the flattened surface carelessly. Men and women in black armor paraded past the teashop where Lee worked.

They moved with more grace than he'd ever seen from the local law enforcers in Ba Sing Se. So confident. Proud, like the Dai Li agents and just as terrifying.

All eyes (colored amber and copper) stared straight ahead. The pose spoke of their power, their ability to strike fear in the faces they conquered without looking. One polished boot after another cut through the dust of the unpaved streets. Fire Nation soldiers ignored the Lower Ring's Fourth Quarter's residents hiding behind doorways.

Across the city, fearful eyes dart back and forth between each window's wooden slats. Scared. Confused. Worried. How had the Fire Nation broken through the outer wall? Someone would have heard the fighting.

Lee watched the troops move, though he couldn't see very well through the dirt-streaked glass of the teashop's front window. A costumer, Shan who wore a robe more brown than green, brushed him aside for a better view. Lee shuffled sideways, catching himself against the wall before loosing his balance.

No one else in the dingy teashop noticed; all stared in fascination mixed with speechless horror.

Lee ground his teeth together fuming silently, but said nothing, letting the man take his place at the window.

He was not afraid. Lee knew the soldiers were moving forward. Upward. There was no honor in conquering the Lower Ring's Fourth Quarter, the poorest of the poor, while all those golden rooftops belonging the Earth Kingdom nobility in the Upper Ring waited like sat like fat turtleducks on serving platters.

The Fourth Quarter had nothing worth looting, Lee thought bitterly. The Fire Nation couldn't possible want cracked ceramic teacups, cheap textiles, or trash lined tenements. Maybe in the First Quarter, where the railway connected to the Middle and Upper Rings, the Fire Nation invaders could rob the artisans who made jewelry and painted fine china bowls. But here, nothing.

For a moment, Lee imagined himself marching like the Fire Nation soldiers. He saw himself in the Earth Kingdom's army, proud and decorated in uniform. His uniform clean, crisp with newly cut fabric fitted perfectly to his lanky size, a sharp sword or two tucked beneath the belt sash.

But Lee shook the fantasy away quickly. He was no earthbender. The army had not recruited him for the blindness in his left eye and the sickly golden color of his right one.

Mixed blood had no place in the Earth Kingdom's vision of peace.

Lee, his mother, and all the refugees in the city's small Fourth Quarter wore green robes to convince Ba Sing Se of their loyalty, as if the nationally colored garments darkened pale skin and turn muddied amber eyes hazel in the light of green glowing crystals.

Half blood citizens lived in the Fourth Quarter's confined neighborhood. Shopkeepers from the other quarters refused to hire those who might scare away customers. No Earth Kingdom landlord rented to people like them. Dirty refugees. Traitors to everyone, wanted by no one. Scum to both the world's largest and most powerful nations. Easier for the Dai Li agents to watch, too Lee suspected.

Most of the Fourth Quarter was lucky enough to be born nonbenders or earthbenders.

No one spoke about firebenders. Not behind these walls.

No firebenders lived in Ba Sing Se. His mother's voice echoed loud and clear with the lesson for as long as he could remember. No firebenders live in Ba Sing Se. Do you understand, Lee?

If Lee pretended hard enough, he belonged to the green city and tried not to feel the fire willing to spring from his untrained palms.

Mom forced Lee to carry his passport. Proof of his right to live in the Ba Sing Se unharrassed when he traveled to larger markets of the Lower Ring's Third Quarter. Twice local guard forced him to pull it out. Nearly stole it too.

Since he could remember, Lee's mother promised they were safe in the Lower Ring. In fact, the passport tucked in the inner pocket of his robe guaranteed it. Food filled their bellies. Though the labor was underpaid, but it was theirs –– no matter how little. They were alive (and mostly) unbullied by either the Earth Kingdom or Fire Nation.

Until now. Maybe. No one knew what changes the arrival of the Fire Nation brought.

After the soldiers passed, the owner, Jeng, called Lee back to work with several quick snaps from his fingers. Lee remembered the serving tray gripped in one hand and damp rag in the other. The patrons returned to their tables more slowly.

Luckily no one spilled tea in the commotion.

Whispers circle in the safety of the shop, both excited and nervous. Lee caught half the words as he moved back and forth between the tables.

"Just wait," Anno chittered excitedly, holding the lukewarm cup between her brittle hands. "We'll be eating as good as the Earth King soon. The Fire Nation will welcome us into the Upper Ring."

Beside her, Shan scolded her optimism. "You're a fool for thinking like that. Earth Kingdom doesn't want anything to do with us. Neither will the blasted Fire Nation. They'd rather send us into their factories than their palace. Our blood ain't pure enough for them. Just watch."

Lee kept his mouth shut, gritting his teeth once more when four of the customers asked for their tea to be reheated. Lee suspected one of the women could do it herself and save him the trouble of pacing back and forth to the kitchen like an armadillo-dog in a dead-end alley.

As long he had Mother and enough food, Lee didn't care which nation ruled him. He felt loyalty to neither.

In the late evening, when the sun set and the streets cleared –– more from fear than the late curfew –– Lee untied his stained apron and returned home to the small two room apartment he shared with his mother. Though the Fourth Quarter shops pretended nothing had happened during the daylight, crowds scampered into the safety of shelter, uncertain of a future under a black and scarlet flag.

When he opened the door, his mom rushed to hug him. She clung to his shoulders, far more upset than he expected.

Had something happened today at the herbalist stall were she worked? The threat of violence? Hate? An angry man? Prejudice against her eyes while the Fire Nation Invaded? His temper flared at the thought.

She laid her head against his, holding back tears that flowed freely early this afternoon. In the touch he felt her desperation, anxious and frightened beyond any he'd ever seen.

"Mom, what's wrong?" he asked, as she broke from the hug but still held onto his arm as if he would fade away when she let go.

She closed the front door quickly, pulling him deeper into the tiny room.

"Ba Sing Se has fallen," she whispered quickly." They are here, Lee, ready to burn and destroy. Everything has changed. We have to leave before they close the city."

She was terrified.

He had never seen her scared before.

Lee held few memories of their journey to the shelter of the Earth Kingdom capital. He was little and scared, told to hush as Mom wrapped her arms around him. The bandage over his eye rubbed painfully against the wound. She wouldn't let him take it off. Anything before –– their village or receiving his burn –– had been forgotten.

On the other hand, his mom remembered it all. Sometimes, when she didn't think Lee saw, she stared blankly into the wall, lost in her thoughts. Moments later her private horrors vanished and she composed herself. Lee wished she would tell him about their life before Ba Sing Se. He was sixteen years old. She didn't have to shield him anymore.

He had so many questions about their old home, his father, the attack that caused his burn, and their escape. All went unanswered no matter how many times or different ways he asked. Each time she gently murmured it was best he didn't know.

Clearly, the invasion stirred those barely buried emotions.

Lee felt a flame of rage roaring deep in his chest. Mother deserved to live in peace now.

"The soldiers aren't here any more," he reasoned, hoping to make her feel at ease. "The Fire Nation marched through to the Upper Ring. They aren't interested in us. The Lower Ring is safe until the Dai Li and Earth Kingdom Army aids the city."

For the first time the fear in his mother's eyes turned to anger. "That's what they want us to think! No one is coming. If they're here, it's too late. Who is going to build their machines of war and feed their troops? The nobility? No, Lee. The men and women of the Fire Nation believe their element is superior. They don't care about the Earth People. They have no ill about forcing the Lower Ring into servitude to suit their conquest. No one is safe."

There was no war in Ba Sing, but even the children of refugees, like Lee, who only remembered the safety of the Earth Kingdom capital, knew conflict existed beyond the walls. No one spoke of it openly. Until this morning, the rumors were said as spirit stories told to scare.

None of his mother's words were possible. They were … awful.

She saw his struggle to believe.

"Lee, you don't understand. You don't remember. We are at risk more than most." She gripped his shoulders, looking him straight in the eye, begging him to come to his senses. "They will kill you." Her fingers moved upward, lightly brushed against the rough, reddened side of his face as a reminder. Someone in the Fire Nation had already tried once. It seemed she wanted to say so much more, but stopped. "We'll leave in the morning. None of the ferries cross the bay this late at night. Pack now, then rest."

Lee wanted to object. Where would they go? Neither had managed to save enough silver coins to start over again, but he held his tongue and went to fill the knapsack he carried to market.

Maybe he could sneak over to the teashop to pick up this week's pay before they left.

Late into the night, Lee rolled onto the side, shielding himself from his mother's sight across the room.

Ever so gently, he opened his palm, willing fire to appear. A whispery, little flame rose. The light bounced off the wall with no more power than a candle.

Neither had much privacy in their small single room tenement. He knew Mom would be disappointed to see him practice bending if she woke up.

Lee stared into the pale yellow flame. It felt warm against his hand, familiar, but not painful. Slowly he closed his hand, extinguishing the light, only to open his hand and bring it back.

No firebenders live in Ba Sing Se. Do you understand, Lee?

All day Lee ignored the fire deep in his chest, the part of his soul tied to his element. It felt, he imagined, like being struck by an earthbender's hammer, solid and bruising. The burning ache inside wouldn't go away, not until now when fire jumped so naturally to his hand.

He watched the flame flicker, casting shadows on the wall. It was beautiful. Lee wanted to greet the fire like familiar friend. How could anyone not see how its warmth and comforting? Instead he had been taught to treat it like an unpredictable stranger.

Lee's mind drifted to the Fire nation soldiers he saw earlier. Now there were other firebenders in the city. Real trained firebenders who never had to hide their bending. What if they could teach him?

Lee scolded himself for even hoping.

They were leaving in the morning. He extinguished the flame once more and tried to relax.

Sleep never came easily.

"Closed?"

Dread echoed through the stone walls of the city's transportation ticket office. It spread in an uneasy wave. Over one hundred of people must have been crowding the ticket booth, and another hundred more outside looking for a chance to escape the tightening grip of the Fire Nation.

"All outbound trips are closed to the public," the farmer standing beside Lee and his mother repeated sadly. Olive skin, a deep tan from working in the sun, coated his tough, wrinkled hands. "They ain't letting anyone through unless you got them Fire Nation passes. Do yah?" He seemed almost jealous when he saw Lee's mother's golden eyes.

He glanced to look at Lee's too, but quickly looked away.

"No," she answered stoically with the grace Lee had always known. Unlike last night.

While news rippled across the crowd, his mom turned casually toward Lee, "We'll have to find a different time to visit your uncle." She nodded toward the man, partially in gratitude and dismissal before they walked away.

Uncle? Lee thought. He had no uncle. They had no other family.

Minutes later as they followed the crowd of the ticket office out into the bright morning sunlight of the Lower Ring's Second Quarter, Lee felt his mother's hand rest on his arm. He felt it tremble, but her mask of calmness hid the panic well. The crowds inside the ticket office poured out around them in a violent wave.

All around people failed to hide their disappointment. Some cried. Families whispered. Others yelled obscene curses at the invading army.

As he watched, Lee understood his mother's ruse. Act normal. Pretend they weren't trying to escape. Don't let anyone see your despair.

Together they walked the familiar winding path back to the Fourth Quarter, passing various shops and stalls along the Second Quarter's crowded streets. The mid morning hour flooded with old men sitting atop crates like the Earth King on his throne and children dodging between people in their barefoot games.

Many wore beaded blue robes. Lee knew the people of water lived in the city, but he had never seen them before. Of course they lived along the Second Quarter's waterfront. They must make a living off fishing on the bay.

Blue banners hung proudly beside most of the doorways. Lee stopped walking, shocked by the sight of boys and girls practicing waterbending katas beside a fountain.

A familiar spark of jealousy tugged at Lee's chest.

They splashed and laughed freely, not even trying to hide their abilities.

It wasn't fair.

Lee looked away and caught up with his mother's stride before she noticed the glint of longing in his eye.

Blue gave way to green again as they passed further into the city.

He wanted to reassure his mom they were still safe. The Fire Nation hadn't come knocking on their door. After the initial fear went away, Lee was sure, the ferries out of the city would open again. The Fire Nation was keeping citizens from acting rashly.

Somehow he knew she wouldn't find that comforting.

"We'll find another way." His mother's words sounded cryptic, but meaningful. Lee didn't know if she had another plan yet or relied on optimism in the wake of her fear. How else could they leave Ba Sing Se?

Eventually they crossed under the Fourth Quarter's earthstone arch, Lee said goodbye and headed ten streets north until he saw from a distance the familiar dull green awning of the teashop. Unless the Fire Nation declared otherwise, they still needed money for rent. Lee headed to work, three hours late.

The building lay tucked between a textile shop full of moderately friendly weavers and their younger apprentices. Walking past the window, Lee often saw two young women, hair pulled back elegantly into buns and braids, standing beside their looms. He blushed thinking about their beauty, color tinting his good cheek. Each of their practiced movements looked like a dance, a bending art.

The girls fell from his mind as Lee stepped over the threshold of the teashop, noting three full tables and one very angry owner.

Jeng appeared in front of him as if spirit summoned. He glared at Lee, hissing under his breath about the city going mad after the invasion yesterday, and viciously threw an apron at the boy's head.

Quick reflexes caught the offending cloth, snapping it like a whip to his side. "I had a family emergency," Lee spat in irritation.

"You're lucky to still have a job," the owner barked, roughly brushing past him to speak to a regular patron. "Get in the back and start scrubbing."

Lee took a deep, irritated breath. Heat rose from his fists. He had no desire to wash cracked teacups, but stalked to the back of the shop anyway. Jeng was right. Dozens of people looking for work could have easily replaced him as a server. He didn't need to make his mother more upset by getting fired.

At least in the back he didn't have to deal with nosy customers.

Despite his frown, Jia Ming, the tea maker, smiled as she saw him enter the tiny kitchen area. Her small, but weathered frame hunched over a counter measuring different leaves and placing them in small piles. None of the leaves looked fresh or suitably aged –– just cheap.

"Finish these," She nodded the pile of cups sitting in lukewarm water beneath the pump. "You put Jeng in a fit this morning, making him cover for you."

Lee plunged his hands in the water, hiding both his annoyance and any steam rising from his fists by splashing.

"My mother needed me," he growled, though he knew it wasn't fair to take his impatience out on the older women. "I couldn't leave. The invasion … upset her."

Jia Ming nodded, sympathetic. "Understandably. Many carry painful memories."

She said no more on the subject, letting Lee clear his mind in the dull repetition of scrubbing and drying. Yet, the building frustration burrowing into his chest refused to leave.

After a few minutes the tea maker's easy chatter started again. She animatedly told stories about her pekinese-bunny, the old woman's favorite topic.

Lee let his mind drift –– he heard all the tales before. Still, he appreciated the well-intended distraction.

"Don't let Jeng bully you," she continued. Lee snapped back to attention at the change of topic. "He knows he needs another server, but of course he insists on doing all the work himself. He likes it, no matter what he says. If he could brew tea well, you know he'd do that too."

Lee nodded, finished wiping down the last of the cups. He began to stack them neatly on a shelf beneath the counter.

"We need more sugar. When the place quiets down can run to the Third Quarter's market? It gets a fair price there. Far better than here, spirits know. Then you can see that girlfriend of yours."

Lee's right cheek reddened in embarrassment. "She's not my girlfriend."

Girls didn't look at Lee. In fact, they tried very hard not to look at him. The scar he couldn't even remember getting covered a third of his face. In his reflection he saw the angry dead flesh twist from his nose to his ear, forcing the eyelid closed into a thin slit, but not enough to hide the nearly useless eye behind it.

Jia Ming hid her smile. "Don't let a little thing like that stop you from visiting her."

Nearly two hours later the teashop continued a steady stream of business without a lull of activity. After the invasion the discreteness of the teashop allowed all types a hushed words without fear of repercussion. Speculations drifted on half formed rumors.

His favorite included the noble tale of the Earth King luring the entire Fire Nation army inside the walls to slaughter them singlehandedly with earthbending. That and the one about the Fire Nation army being led to capital by a teenager girl. Yeah right.

Lee pocketed three copper coins from Jeng before heading to the Third Quarter for sugar. Still in a mood, the man grumbled it was more than enough for a large bag.

"Don't disappear again," he warned.

Lee resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

It took him a little over a half hour's walk before he entered the Third Quarter and the largest market in the Lower Ring. Street after street gave way to venders selling food, spices, rocks, clothes, leather, animals, and crafts made by the artisans in the First Quarter.

Unlike the Fourth Quarter, it had wide streets and alleys due to the sheer number of earthbenders densely packed into every available space. Green laundry strung between buildings waved like proud flags.

Strong, yet distant rumbles vibrated beneath his feet. Lee ducked his head and wove into the outdoor crowds until he found one of the half-dozen spice venders.

His jaw dropped at the price. "Four coppers!"

The man behind the counter shrugged in indifference. "Demand's high. Everyone's stocking up."

"But why?"

Than man in a green jade robe shrugged again dismissively. "The invasion. I Dunno. You want it or not?"

What kind of lazy reason was that? If the Third Quarter were charging this much he should have stayed in the Fourth Quarter. "I only have three coppers," Lee said bluntly.

"Price is four."

"Fine, then I'll go somewhere else." He turned and walked away back into the rhythm of the street, passing every type of booth and shop front possible. The Earthbenders loved their rocks. Lee couldn't fathom why anyone in their right mind would buy rocks, but stones of various sizes lined half the stalls. He was not surprised most of them were green.

The second spice vendor asked the same absurd price, making Lee bite his tongue to not say anything stupid to the woman's face.

At the third stall Lee gave up.

"You're not going to find a better deal." The old man explained, rolling two smooth black stones between his hands.

"Prove it," Lee tested. "What can I get for three coppers?"

The man looked him over once more; deciding any amount of money was better than none. "Not a full price, but we can make an arrangement." He put down the rocks.

The three coins rattled against the wooden stall counter while the old man scooped two loads of sugar into a sack before tying it.

Lee's good eye narrowed in annoyance. "That's half. I paid for three fourth of a bag."

The merchant gave him a fake ear splitting smile, wagging his finger toward the young man. "You're a smart one." He untied the knot and adding one last scoop.

The compliment went unappreciated as Lee waited until the sack was thrust in his arms.

As Lee turned to disappear back into the crowded street, a flash a green robes toppled into him, knocking Lee to the ground. He landed on his back and the boy that landed on top of him scrambled to get up, sharp elbows and knees poking painfully into his ribs and legs.

"Sorry," the kid muttered quickly ready to scamper away, not sorry at all.

"Watch it!" Lee snapped, sitting up and pulling the heavy sack of sugar toward him. Luckily, the knot at the top of the bag kept any from spilling. Jeng might actually fire him if he knew food this expensive was wasted in the street.

The kid looked over at Lee and froze as if he had been touched by a waterbender's icy grip, eyes widening in horror.

Lee stood and brushed of earthbent dust off as the kid started spewing apologies.

"Sorry!" he gushed, rambling quickly. "Honest, I didn't mean it," he laughed nervously. "Just playing. I'm sorry, really. Please don't hurt me! It didn't see you!"

Confusion forced Lee to look over at the little street rat cowering at the sight of his scar. No, not his scar, Lee realized. People looked away from the scar. The kid was staring at him, at his eyes. Golden Fire Nation eyes the same color as the soldiers that invaded.

A wave of heat rose from his core with anger. He was not one of them!

"Get out of here!" Lee snapped and the kid sprinted off.

With the urchin gone, Lee walked away, holding the bag tighter than necessary. He lowered his head, and wished his hair were short enough to pull in front of his face like a shield. The little buffoon couldn't see the difference between a soldier and citizen. He wore green like everyone else. What more did they want?

The flame in his chest crackled in a fit of sparks waiting to be released.

What if he did? Casting the fire in his palm would be as easy as picking up spark rocks. The idea teased images of him holding the flickering light without any rockbender looking at him twice, sending a thrill down his spine.

Even if the street reacted in fear, they would be watching him, recognizing, him. Respecting his element for the first time ever.

There are no firebenders in Ba Sing Se.

Not anymore.

He walked faster until he heard his name called out above the din of the outdoor market. There must be dozens of Lees in the lower ring, but he still turned to look.

"Lee!" The female voice called again excitedly.

Jin sat, waving him over from behind her family's vegetable stall. She stood, shielded her eyes from the afternoon sun, and beckoned him over again. For all the time he spent in the thirds quarter, Jin was the only one to ever talk to him.

At first he tried to ignore her, unsure about the attention. (Girls never looked at him without cringing. Why was she talking to him –– he just wanted vegetables.) Her friendliness persisted, smoothing away his awkward words and easing into a comfortable companionship whenever he found himself on this side of the city.

Jin's bright smile probably made her dozens of friends throughout the Lower Ring. More customers too.

"I thought I'd see you today, the entire city is here. It's great for business."

Sure enough, a few carrot-chokes and other plants remained, revealing most of the stand's the empty wooden frame. Bought by desperate and fearful hands. He hoped her family hadn't raised their prices too, but didn't blame them if they did.

"The city's going mad," he agreed less enthusiastically.

Jin nodded in agreement, eyes saying more than her mouth dared.

"Did you see them?" she whispered.

He knew whom she meant. "Yeah. "

"Me too. I made a delivery for Papa while he ran the stand. Everyone got quiet and separated into two sides like a fault line in the street. They just walked through the market, didn't take anything, didn't touch anyone," Jin's eyes swept across street before she leaned towards him to whisper. "The Di Li stood there and let them."

An uncontrolled shiver shot down Lee's spine.

The Fire Nation army was here only because Ba Sing Se's secret police opened the wall and let them enter.

He also glanced around, checking for benders with green uniforms and cone hats.

For the first time since the invasion, a seed of fear rooted itself in his thought. No one said their names, much less spoke openly about the city's peace keepers.

He remembered his mother's clipped warning, "Treat them with respect. Don't ever look at them. Don't let them notice you." There are no firebenders in Ba Sing Se. Do you understand, Lee?

No. The Dai Li agents protected the city. They would never allow it to fall so easily. It was just a trap to lull the Fire Nation into security, the promise of cooperation. Then the Dai Li would strike. Silent as always when no one looked.

Jin read his concern. "Are you okay?"

He brushed aside the thoughts. Another customer approached the vegetable stand. "Yeah. I've got to get back to work. I'll see you later."

Because she was Jin, she understood.

"Here, take this." She handed him one of the last heads of ginger-broccoli and brushed off his refusal to take it because he didn't have any coins left. Rather than argue he tucked what he could fit into the pocket of his robe.

"Thanks."

She waved goodbye over the shoulder of the woman trying to haggle with her. Lee hefted the heavy sack of sugar and trudged back to the Fourth Quarter more paranoid than before.

As predicted, Jeng threw a fit over the price of sugar.

Lee ignored the rant –– it wasn't his fault the merchant's raised their prices –– and headed to the peace of the back kitchen.

Tension wound tight around his shoulders, like a coiled spring waiting to burst loose. The Fire Nation and Dai Li weren't about to run through the door. Why did he feel so anxious?

Jia Ming offered to make a blend of relaxing tea for him. It only made him more annoyed.

If the Fire Nation wanted to conquer Ba Sing Se, they should get it over with and let everyone move on with their day.

Two weeks later, Lee watched from behind the stained teashop window as dozens of soldiers in red uniforms march into the Fourth Quarter again. This time they don't leave.