The Elements of Nature, Book 2

Chapter 11, The Drill

The group finally make it to the outer limits of Ba Sing Se on their chariot, and they're excited. “We're getting closer!” Twilight excitedly said.

Rainbow Dash then said, “I can hardly wait!”

“I'm so excited, I...I feel like shouting! Woo hoo!” Fluttershy said, though she shouted in her usually quiet way.

“Whooowee! Ba Sing Se, here we come!” Applejack yelled.

“Oh, I do hope I look festive enough!” Rarity said as she has a giant Chinese like hat on that's decorated with green gems.

Pinkie then pops out of it. “There it is! Ba Sing Se!

“Oooh...” They all said as they see the outer wall that is 100 meters tall. But Fire’ isn't enjoying the sight of the wall.

Twilight is the first to notice. “Whats wrong Fire’?”

“That. That's whats wrong.” He then points to a giant cigar shape object a few miles away. It's a giant drill at least a mile or two in length.

“That thing is huge!”

“What is that thin’?” Applejack asked.

“It looks like a giant drill.” Twilight said.

“That thing can go throw the wall in no time I bet.” Blitz said.

“We need to get to the city fast.” Shining said to the pegasi who are flying the chariot they are in.

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The drill in question is moving across the ground by several sections of the drill extend forward, releasing steam as spikes are driven into the ground. Inside the drill, Princess Azula, her friends, Mai and Ty Lee, are in the control room with War Minister Qin, who has a dark red coat and a light gray mane and his cutie mark is a pistol, are with several operators of the drill. “This drill is a feat of scientific ingenuity and raw destructive power. Once it tunnels through the wall, our troops will storm their city. Geo Firma will finally fall and you can claim Ba Sing Se in the name of your father. Nothing can stop us” Qin said to the Princess and her friends.

“Hmmm, what about those muscle-y guys down there?” Ty Lee said as she aims an external camera over a monitor at several Geo Firman troops using magic to create large trenches, with Fire Nation forces following them in hot pursuit.

“Please. The drill's metal shell is impervious to any attack.” Qin said, not at all worried.

“Oh, I'm sure it is, War Minister Qin, but just to be on the safe side ... Mai and Ty Lee, take the enemy Unicorns out!” Azula sharply said.

“Finally, something to do.” Mai said, sitting in a chair and swinging a knife around her hoof. She then gets up and heads out with Ty Lee.

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The group land on the wall, but are stopped by a guard. “What are you ponies doing here? Civilians aren't allowed on the wall!” The guard said.

“I'm the Avatar of Fire. My friends here are the Avatars of Water, Earth, and Lighting. Take us to whoever is in charge.” Fire’ said to the guard, who hastily complies as he leads them to another portion of the Outer Wall where a roof rises overhead, supported by tall arches, while the Geo Firman general sits behind a desk. He’s an Earth Pony with a yellow coat, green mane, and a green circle with a square in the middle for a cutie mark.

“It is an honor to welcome you to the Outer Wall, young Avatars, but your help is not needed.” The general simply said.

“Not needed?” Blitz said in disbelief.

“Not needed. I have the situation under control” The general calmly said as he gets up. “I assure you the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall. Many have tried to break through it, but none have succeeded.”

“What about the Dragon of the West? He got in.” Terra pointed out.

Slightly taken aback, the general said, “Well ... uh, technically yes, but he was quickly expunged. Nevertheless, that is why the city is named Ba Sing Se. It's the ‘impenetrable city.’ They don't call it Na Sing Se. Ha-ha-ha. That means ‘penetrable city.’”

“Yeah, thanks for the tour, but we still got the drill problem.” Rainbow said to him.

“Not for long. To stop it, I've sent an elite platoon of Unicorns called the Magic Squad.” The general said.

“That's a good group name. Very catchy.” Pinkie said.

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Down below, the Magic Squad is launching their assault on the Fire Nation drill. They manage to overthrow one tank and get closer to the drill. “Ready ... attack!” The team leader yelled out as he and the others wedge large, metal spikes into the metal shell of the drill to halt it. However, the drill's segments separate, reducing the spikes to dust. The Magic Squad narrowly manages to conjure up shields to defend themselves against an assault of flying daggers hurled by Mai as she and Ty Lee slide down the shell of the drill. Ty Lee lands gracefully onto the ground and effortlessly manages to defeat the Unicorns through an acrobatic display, using chi-blocking.

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“We're doomed!” The general said as he began to flail his front legs in panic.

At this, Rainbow slaps the general.“Get a hold of yourself, man!” She said to the unstable Earth Pony.

“You're right. I'm sorry.” The general said as he regains his composure.

“Maybe you would like the 4 Avatar's help now?” Twilight said to him.

“Yes, please.” The general said as he gets down on the ground and actual begs Fire’ and the others, who are looking at the drill.

“The question is, how are we going to stop that thing?” Twilight said as she and the others turn to Fire.’

“Why are you all looking at me?” Fire’ asked

“Whenever we get into a really bad situation, you alway have a plan.” Rarity said to him.

“So ... I'm the only one who can ever come up with a plan? That's a lot of pressure.” Fire’ said.

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At the entrance to Ba Sing Se from where the ferries take the refugees, a ticket mare is inspecting Zuko and Iroh’s tickets. “So, Mr. Lee and Mr. ummm ... Mushy, is it?” She said.

“It's pronounced Mushi.” Iroh corrected.

“You telling me how to do my job?” the annoyed ticket mare said.

“Uh, no, no, no. But may I say you're like a flower in bloom. Your beauty is intoxicating.” Iroh said to the mare.

“You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself, handsome. Raorr!” The mare flirtatiously said as she stamps the two tickets. “Welcome to Ba Sing Se.”

Iroh grabs the tickets and gives Zuko his, who’s disgusted by what he just saw. “I'm going to forget I saw that.” Zuko said as he grabs his ticket and leaves along with his uncle. All the while, Zuko is being watched by Jet.

“I think Lee would make a good Freedom Fighter. He's just trying to find his way in the world, like us.” Jet said to Smellerbee and Longshot.

“You don't know anything about him, Jet.” Smellerbee said.

“I know he didn't get that scar from a Pegasus.” Jet pointed out.

“Besides, I thought we were going straight now.” Smellerbee said.

“We are ... and the new Freedom Fighters could use a guy like Lee. What do think, Longshot?” Longshot only looks over at him silently, with a meaningful look on his face. “I can respect that.”

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Meanwhile, back at the Outer Wall, Agua attempts to heal a member of the Magic Squad. “Uh, how is yo' doin' thet?” Applejack asked Agua.

“I look at some more scrolls and I found out that waterbending can also be used for healing.” Agua answered.

“Cool.” Pinkie said.

“What's wrong with him? He doesn't look injured.” The general asked.

“His chi's blocked.” Agua said as she stops healing for the moment. “Who did this to you?”

“Two mares ambushed us. One of them hit me with a bunch of quick jabs and suddenly I couldn't use my magic anymore and I could barely move. Then she cartwheeled away.” He answered.

Twilights eyes then widen in realization. “Ty Lee. She doesn't look dangerous, but she knows the pony body and its weak points. It's like she takes you down from the inside.”

“Thats it!” Fire’ said excitedly.

“Whats it?” Twilight asked.

“What you just said!” Fire’ began to say. “That's how we're going to take down the drill! The same way Ty Lee took down all those big Unicorns!”

“By hitting its pressure points!” Terra said.

Fire’ then looks out over the wall with a determined look at the drill. “We'll take it down from the inside out.”

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On the ground in front of the Fire Nation drill, Terra, Agua, Firebrand, and Blitz are waiting in a trench. “Once I whip up some cover, you're not going to be able to see so stay close to me.” Terra said to them. She steps outside the trench and with a powerful stomp of her foot, sends a mass of flying debris clouding toward the drill. “Run!” Terra yelled as the group race into the dust cloud behind Terra.

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At the command module where Ty Lee is peering at the cloud through the cameras. “Hey, look at that dust cloud. It's so ... poofy. Poof.”

“Don't worry, Princess. I'm sure it's nothing.” War Minister Qin said to the princess, who casts him a doubtful look at him.

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Back outside, the group is standing in the midst of the dust beside the drill. Terra earthbends a hole in the ground. “Everyone into the hole!” They then jump into the hole.

“It's so dark down here, I can't see a thing.” Blitz said.

“Oh no, what a nightmare!” Terra sarcastically said.

“Sorry.” Blitz sheepishly said as they make their way to the surface underneath the drill.

“There!” Fire’ said as he spots an opening.

Agua then flies up to the a bar hanging from the opening and, dangling upside-down from her legs. She then hoists Fire’ while Blitz flies into the drill. They realizes Terra is not following them. Blitz then sticks his head out of the drill. “Terra, come on!” Blitz said to the blind Earth Pony.

“No way am I going in that metal monster. I can't bend in that thing.” Terra pointed out. “I'll try to slow it down out here.”

“Okay, good luck!” Fire’ said as they disappear, while Terra earthbends a wedge of rock into the drill, however, it is proving to be a difficult task. Inside the drill, where Fire’ is leading the others through a tunnel of valves and pipes. “Were gonna need a plan of this machine. Some schematics that show what the inside looks like. Then we can find its weak points.”

“Where are we going to get something like that?” Blitz asked, only to see Fire’ unexpectedly cut off a steam valve with his sword. “What are you doing? Someone's going to hear us!”

“That's the point.” Fire’ said to the confused Pegasus. “I figure a machine this big needs engineers to run it. And when something breaks...”

“They come to fix it!” Agua finished. Moments later, an engineer wearing a mask walks down the misty hallway to the site of the damage. He’s about to de some repairs, when Blitz appears behind him.

“Hi there.” Blitz said as he places his hoof on the engineers chest, and electrocutes him, knocking him unconscious. Fire’ then runs up and opens the engineers saddlebag and finds the schematics.

“This'll work. Thanks!” Fire’ said as the trio run off, but not before they tie the engineer upside down and gag his mouth shut.

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On the wall, Twilight is starting to get worried. A million thoughts have gone though her head about why Firebrand and the others are taking so long. Are they all right? Is he all right? Did they get captured? Are they dead? NO! Calm down, Twilight. I’m sure Firebrand is fine ... uh I mean they're all fine, I mean.

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Back in the drill, Firebrand, Agua, and Blitz are studying the schematics they stole. “It looks like the drill is made up of two main structures. There's the inner mechanism where we are now and the outer shell. The inner part and the outer part are connected by these braces. If we cut through them, the entire thing will collapse.” Fire’ said to Agua and Blitz, who nod in agreement.

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At the train station, Zuko, Iroh and the three Freedom Fighters are waiting for their train. Zuko and Iroh who sit in the waiting area. Jet approaches and sits next to Zuko. “So, you guys got plans once you're inside the city?” He asked, but before either could answer, a Unicorn pulling a cart comes up, selling tea.

“Get your hot tea here! Finest tea in Ba Sing Se!” The Unicorn said.

“Ooh! Jasmine please” Iroh said as he waves a hoof. The tea seller pours tea into a cup for Iroh, who sips the tea, but soon grimaces at both its repulsive taste and, “Blaugh! Ugh, coldest tea in Ba Sing Se is more like it! What a disgrace!”

“Hey, can I talk to you for a second, Lee.” Jet asked as he motions for Zuko to follow him. Zuko sighs and reluctantly gets up as the two walk several meters away from Iroh. “You and I have a better chance of making it in the city if we stick together. You want to join the Freedom Fighters?” Jet asked the banished prince.

“Thanks, but I don't think you want me in your gang.” Zuko said.

“Come on, we made a great team looting that captain's food. Think of all the good we could do for these refugees.” Jet tempted Zuko.

Zuko then walks away. “I said no.”

“Have it your way.” Jet said, but he then catches sight of Iroh sipping hot tea, causing his eyes to widen in shock and realization. As Zuko approaches Iroh, he glances over his shoulder at Jet, who narrows his eyes and walks away.

Angrily, Zuko knocks the teacup out of Iroh's hoof. “Hey!” Iroh cried.

“What are you doing firebending your tea?” Zuko asked. “For a wise, old stallion that's a pretty stupid move!”

“I know you're not supposed to cry over spilled tea, but ...” Iroh began to say with a sniff, “It's just so sad!”

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Inside the drill, Fire’ is leading the others through a door onto a massive steel beam. “Wow, it looks a lot thicker in real life than it does in the plans.” Fire’ said as they see the huge scale of the beam.

“We're going to have to work pretty hard to cut through that.” Blitz said.

“What's this ‘we’ stuff? I have to do all the work.” Agua said.

“Look, Agua. Out of all of us, you're the only one who can control water. All you have to do is cut through this beam while me and Blitz keep any curious Fire Nation ponies from seeing what were doing.” Fire’ said to the Pegasus princess.

“He’s right, and together, we're Team Avatar!” Blitz said, getting some glares from the other two before giving in. She then begins to use her waterbending to slice through the metal sharply. When the brace is sliced halfway through, she nearly collapses from exhaustion.

“Come on Agua. You’re almost there.” Blitz encouraged.

“If it help, I’l heat the brace up.” Fire’ said as he begins to superheat the metal that hasn't been cut as Agua resumes her work slicing the brace. With every lash of her water whip and his superheating, they cut through the brace, which enlarges as Blitz grows increasingly eager. At last, a cut is made clean through the brace, however, to their disappointment, the brace budges mere centimeters from its position.

Agua then begins to pant due to exhaustion. “At this rate, we won't do enough damage before the drill reaches the wall.” Agua said as she takes some of her own water. “I don't know how many more of those I have in me.” Suddenly, the drill begins to creak.

“Do you hear that?” Blitz said. “We took it down! We better get out of here fast!” Blitz said as he makes a run for the door. But he halts when an announcement begins on the speakers.

“Congratulations, crew. The drill has reached the wall of Ba Sing Se.”

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“Start the countdown to victory!” Qin said in the command module. Cheers erupt from the crew. Azula has a threatening look of determination on her face.

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Firebrand, Agua and Blitz all look at each other in shock and dismay as the drill begins hammering through the wall, sending loose boulders in every direction. One of the streams of a saturated rock and water solution travel through tubes and makes its way through the back entrance of the drill in the room the group is in, where Blitz begins to desperately attempt to move the brace. “C'mon brace ... budge!”

“This is bad, really bad.” Fire’ said.

“I’ve been putting everything I've got into busting these braces, but it's taking too long!” Agua said.

“Maybe we don't need to cut all the way through. Terra told me that you shouldn't give one hundred percent of your energy into any one strike. Blitz, take a fighting stance” Fire’ asked the Pegasus, who takes on a fighting position. “You've got to be quick and accurate. Hit a series of points and break your opponent's stance” Fire’ said as he demonstrated by striking Blitz several times, “and when he's reeling back, you deliver the final blow” Fire’ said as he hits Blitz softly on the head, causing the Pegasus to fall over. “His own weight becomes his downfall, literally.”

“So we just need to weaken the braces, instead of cutting all the way through.” Agua said.

“Then I'll go to the top of this thing to deliver the final blow.” Fire’ added.

“And boom! It all comes crashing down!” Blitz finished.

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Meanwhile under the drill, Terra is putting all her strength into keeping a rock column stable as she is slowly pushed back by the force of the drill. “C'mon guys, hurry up!” Terra said.

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Inside, Agua and Fire’ are making rapid progress, slicing through several braces halfway to weaken them, this time with Fire’ heating his sword so he can cut the steel with ease. “That's enough! We need to get to the next one!” Blitz said to the two.

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Outside on the wall, guards are sending boulders down at the drill from the wall. “They sure are taking their time.” Twilight said.

“Don’t worry, Twilight. I’m sure Agua, Blitz, Terra, and your boyfriend can stop that thing.” Rainbow teased the purple Alicorn.

“Rainbow! Firebrand is not my boyfriend!” Twilight said to the multicolored mare.

“Not yet.” Rainbow whispered to Applejack.

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At the command module of the drill, the war minister is just happily staring at he wall as it’s drilled through, when ... “War Minister, an engineer was ambushed! His schematics were stolen!” An engineer cried over the intercom, shocking the...

“War Minister, a brace on the starboard side has been cut clean through! It's sabotage, sir!” Another engineer said.

“Let's go, ladies!” Azula sharply said to Mai and Ty Lee.

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The trio continue to slice through the braces. “Good work, Team Avatar!” Blitz said. “Now we just need to...” Blitz began to say as he glances up, when he sees something that horrifies him, “...duck!” Blitz screamed as he and the other two duck just in time to evade some fire blasts sent by Azula, who runs out and stands on another brace followed by her friends.

“Wow, Azula, you were right! It is the Avatars!” Ty Lee said as she smiles flirtatiously at Blitz “...and friends.”

At this, Blitz smiles, waves and says, “Hey” a clearly annoyed Agua then grabs Blitz and drags him away while Ty Lee swings herself forward toward Fire’ who quickly turns into fire and she passes throw him. The trio escape and race through the drill's hallways. They soon come to an intersection.

“Guys, get out of here. I know what I need to do.” Fire’ said to the pegasi as they spit up, with Azula and her team arriving at the intersection.

“You go after the Water Avatar and the American! The Fire Avatar's mine!” Azula ordered, which Mai and Ty Lee obey as the chase Agua and Blitz while Azula chases after Firebrand. Meanwhile, the Avatars of Water and Lighting arrive at the end of the hallway and find a closed hatch. Blitz tries to open the hatch, while Agua reads a nearby sign.

“Slurry pipeline? What does that mean?” Agua asked as Blitz opens the hatch.

“It's rock and water mixed together. It means our way out!” Blitz said as he descends into the canal of channeling slurry. He’s followed by a somewhat reluctant Agua, when Mai and Ty Lee arrive. She manages to escape into the canal just as a flurry of daggers is sent their way. Mai and Ty Lee then run over and peer into the pipeline, which disgusts Mai. “Ugh, disgusting!” She said as she tries to hold her lunch.

“C'mon! You heard Azula, Mai. We have to follow them!” Ty Lee said as she climbs down the ladder.

“She can shoot all the lightning she wants at me. I'm not going in that wall sludge juice.” Mai said as Ty Lee drops into the pipeline and in the slurry. Mai shudders as she closes the hatch.

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At the rear end of the drill, a flood of slurry is continually being released out of the pipeline, along with Agua and Blitz slide through the slurry onto the ground with Ty Lee following them in hot pursuit. Agua then quickly uses her waterbending to stop the flow of slurry and plug up the back entrance of the drill, thus trapping Ty Lee. “Why don't you try blocking my chi now, circus freak?” Agua taunted the pinky Fire Nation pony.

“Agua, keep that up. The pressure will build up in the drill. Then when Fire’ delivers the final blow, it'll be ready to pop!” Blitz said.

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On top of the drill, Firebrand finally makes it to the top and finds ... “This looks like a good spot as any” Fire’ said as he looks up, only to see boulders being hurtled down the wall, nearly crushing him. “General Sung, tell your soldiers to stop shooting rocks down here!” Fire’ yelled to the paranoid general.

“Soldiers, whatever you do, don't stop shooting rocks down there!” General Sung frantically ordered. The soldiers nod and fire another round of rocks toward the drill. Fire’ leaps out-of-the-way of the oncoming boulders and begins slicing at the hull of the metal using his sword.

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Meanwhile, Agua continues to hold Ty Lee captive in the slurry. “Good technique, sister! Keep it up! Don't forget to breathe!” Blitz said, not at all helping.

“You know, I'm just about sick and tired of you telling me what to do all day, Blitz! You're like a chattering monkey!” Agua nearly yelled.

“Just bend the slurry, mare!” Blitz yelled, only to get a frustrated Agua to bend a wave of slurry onto Blitz, knocking him down.

Just then, Terra shows up. “You guys need some help?” She asked.

“Yeah” Agua said to the earthbender. “Terra, help me plug up this drain” The two cooperate with each other to bend the slurry, sending Ty Lee farther into the drill and causing the pipes to begin to expand under the pressure.

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Back at where Fire’ is at, he continues to slice the metal of the drill. “What I'd give to be a metalbender” Fire’ began to say, only to hear a gun clank and jumps out-of-the-way just in time as a lightning bolt passes by. Fire’ turns around and sees the source of the lightning: Azula. Fire’ quickly assumes a fighting stance as a battle ensues between the two, with Azula shooting blue fire blasts at Fire,’ who manages to block them using firebending. She continues the fire attacks only to have each one of her strikes deterred by fire whips.

The two narrowly dodge the several boulders that are hurtled toward them at that moment. Fire’ turns into his elemental form and fires blue fire balls at Azula who manages to avoid them all. Azula sends a karate assault that slams Fire’ into the Outer Wall, leaving him unconscious. On the other side of the Outer Wall, the front of the drill has completely bored its way through. Azula walks over to Fire’ and prepares to deal a deadly final strike, but Fire’ awakens and sends her skidding back using magic. A flood of slurry is released as the drill bores deeper into the wall, coating the two.

Azula slides toward a helpless Firebrand, attempting to halt herself by making a magic bubble, only to collide with Azula. The force of the collision sends both sliding off the opposite sides of the drill. Azula is able to stop her descent by grinding her hoofs into the drill's side while Rainbow shows up and drags Fire’ up to the top. “Thanks, Rainbow. I owe you one.”

“Hey, I never leave my friends hangin.’” Rainbow said as they run over to the wedge Fire’ sliced in the drill. “Anything else you need.”

“Yeah, two things. First I need...” Just then, a large boulder lands in front of them. “Actually, that is what I need for once. Second, I need...” He then whispers something in Rainbow’s ear.

“Firebrand, your insane. But I like it” Rainbow said as she flies up. “I can see why Twilight likes him” She said to herself when she was out of earshot of both Firebrand and Twilight. When Rainbow reaches a good hight, she drops down and drops right toward the wedge. Azula catches sight of her and fires, but she misses by mere seconds and is sent back forcefully as Rainbow slams down on the wedge, creating a Sonic Rainboom, but Fire’ manages to stay put due to him creating a bubble around him right when Rainbow hit the wedge. The impact of the blow causes the sliced braces inside the drill to collapse and the pipes to burst, releasing a torrent of slurry, which begins to seep from the drill.

At the back of the drill, Agua and Terra are still doing their bending stances when they hear the noise. “Here it comes!” Terra said as she earthbends Agua, Blitz and herself onto a rock pillar. Slurry gushes out from the rear of the drill, with Ty Lee slamming into the rock wall as she is forcefully pushed by the flood. The drill begins to release steam and its segments begin to collapse. On the other side of the wall, the drill stops in its tracks.

On the top of the destroyed drill, Fire’ is now covered in slurry. He wipes away some near his face, showing a huge smile across his face, while Rainbow pops out. “I really need a shower now.”

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Inside, War Minister Qin stares at the slurry from inside the command module, completely shocked.

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General Sung and the others on top of the Outer Wall, are also covered in the muck. “Ah. My hair!” Rarity cried.

“Not the time, Rarity” Applejack said to her.

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On one side of the drill, Ty Lee attempts to clear away the mess. Azula is skidding down the drill, also covered in slurry. She lands by Ty Lee, getting more slurry on her pink friend. Azula then hears a hatch opening, and sees Mai, completely clean. “We lost,” Mai dryly said.

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At a train station, a conductor yells, “Last call for Ba Sing Se!” In the crowd, Jet is talking to his two companions, as he glares at Zuko and Iroh as they board a train.

“Jet, relax. So the old guy had some hot tea. Big deal.” Smellerbee said.

“He heated it himself! Those guys are Fire Nation!” Jet nearly yelled.

“How do you know? Maybe he got new tea.” Smellerbee pointed out.

“I know what I saw!” Jet yelled. “Theres no way he got a new tea because the tea pony already left. He had to used a small heater or a mini-flamethrower. Those guys are Fire Nation”

“Calm down Jet.”

“I am calm! Look, all I'm saying is that the only ways I can possibly think of that he heated that teacup is by a mini-flamethrower or a small heater. How many ponies do you know have either of those who are not from the Fire Nation?” Jet asked.

“Now I know why that mare left you when you lived in Canterlot 5 years ago.” Smellerbee said as she and Longshot board their train.

“You promised never to mention that.” Jet said as he follows them.