Aang sighed and hugged Appa's face happily, "I missed you more than you'll ever know, buddy. Now all we need is Xia and our family will be back together again."

Momo chittered happily as he flew into the side of Appa's head, clinging to the sky bison as if his life depended on it. Appa rumbled and licked Aang affectionately as the young Airbender let go of his head, causing Aang to laugh gleefully as the sky bison began nuzzling him.

Sokka looked over at the reunited friends then stood and walked over to where Toph was sitting on the ground with Katara standing beside her.

"Look, we escaped from the Dai Li. We got Appa back." The Water Tribe warrior said emphatically as he gestured with his arms, "I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll. Who knows, maybe we'll even find Xia in the city too!"

"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll..." Katara deadpanned and she crossed her arms over her chest, quirking a skeptical brow at her brother.

"We can build on it." Sokka retorted without missing a beat, "If we want to invade the Fire Nation when the eclipse happens, we'll need the Earth King's support."

"What makes you think we'll get it?" Toph asked drily from her spot on the ground, "I don't know if you noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our little gang."

"I know, but I've got a good feeling about this." Sokka said confidently, "This time will be different."

Katara sighed and uncrossed her arms, giving her brother a stern look, "Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city. His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. I think we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us. Besides, for all we know, Xia isn't even in the city anyway."

"I'm with Sweetness. I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se." Toph agreed wryly and she threw her hands up in the air, "And I can't even see!"

Aang suddenly landed beside Sokka with a grin, "But, now that we have Appa back, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King the truth. About the conspiracy and the War. And Xia is in Ba Sing Se, I know she is. I can feel it here.

He put a hand over his heart just before Sokka put his arm around his shoulder, a grin spreading across his tanned face.

"See? Aang's with me." Sokka stated smugly as he smiled at the younger boy, "It's the whole reason we came here in the first place. We have to try."

Katara pursed her lips and rubbed her chin in thought then sighed, "Well, I guess if the Earth King knew the truth, things could change."

Sokka and Aang grinned happily at her agreement then they looked towards Toph as the blind girl stood up.

"I don't trust the new positive Sokka." Toph quipped then she pointed at Sokka in an accusing manner, "Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he?!"

Aang, Sokka, and Katara looked at her strangely before something caught Aang's eye and he ran to the edge of the small island in the middle of Lake Laogai that they had landed on.

"That's probably the Dai Li searching for us." Sokka deduced as he and Katara ran forward to stand beside Aang and they stared at the three ships sailing a few miles away then he looked at Katara with a quirked brow, "So?"

Katara hesitated a moment before she looked at Sokka with a determined expression, "Let's fly!"

Sokka nodded and the four teens ran over to Appa, climbing on to his back.

"Yip-yip!" Aang shouted after he had taken a seat on Appa's head, clutching at the sky bison's fur as he slapped his tail against the ground and leapt into the air, sailing towards the Earth King's palace.

"Can we please buy a new saddle?!" Toph shrieked as she, Katara, and Sokka held onto Appa's fur for dear life, "Riding bareback is terrifying!"

"There it is!" Sokka shouted over the wind as they flew closer to the palace in the middle of Ba Sing Se, "The whole thing is the palace! The Earth King's chamber should be in the center!"

"We have to be careful!" Katara stated as Appa flew closer, "Long Feng's probably warned the king that we're coming."

"Why would you assume that? If you ask me, I think we're just gonna sail right in and-" Sokka started to say only to cut himself off by screaming when a large rock almost hit them, "Aaah!'

"What was that?" Toph demanded.

"Surface-to-air rocks!" Sokka shouted back then yelped when he saw more being launched at them, "More incoming!"

Appa growled loudly as he dodged a few more of the rocks. Suddenly a rock flew at Aang from the side, but the young Avatar easily destroyed it with his hand. Another rock was launched at them head on and Aang jumped his feet and split the rock in half with his staff. Aang quickly launched himself from Appa's head and landed in front of the palace, using Earthbending to knock back the palace guards that had been standing there while Appa landed behind. Appa growled menacingly at the ostrich-horse, the captain of the guards was sitting on, causing the beast to rear back and throw the captain from the saddle before running away. The captain squeaked and crawled away quickly while Appa walked past, heading towards Aang.

Aang straightened and began running towards the stairs that lead into the palace, Sokka, Katara, and Toph jumping off Appa's back and following him. More guards abruptly appeared on either side of them and began Earthbending earth-cubes at the teens, but Toph easily use Earthbending to block the attacks while Aang broke the cubes with his staff and Katara used Waterbending to subdue the guards.

"Sorry!" The dark-haired Waterbender called out as she knocked the guards back with her water-whip.

More guards came charging at them from the palace and Toph shifted her feet and raised her hands, pushing them outward, which caused the tiles the guards were running along to flip over and trap the guards.

"Sorry!" Katara apologized again as the group ran past the trapped guards, "We just need to get through to see the Earth King!"

Even more guards appeared on the opposite side of a bridge and they launched two giant badgermole statues at the teens. Sokka blanched as he watched the statues come right towards them then he sighed in relief when Aang and Toph Earthbended a stone igloo around them, the statues breaking into little pieces as soon as they hit it.

Katara ran out of the igloo and charged towards the bridge, creating a ramp of ice from the water in her canteen which she slid up and over the moat, Waterbending a water-whip from the water as she did so. She lashed out at the guards with the water-whip, sending them all into the moat and she somersaulted as she landed, the water curling around her arms and shoulders. She quickly attacked the other guards that were still on her side of the moat, sending them all into the water.

Aang quickly leapt over the moat and swung his staff, freezing the guards in the water easily while Appa, Sokka, and Toph crossed the bridge. The group came to the base of the stairs that would lead into the palace, Appa growling angrily as more surface-to-air rocks were launched at them as even more guards ran down the stairs.

Toph smirked and ran towards the base of the stairs, raising her hands in the air just before she brought them down and to the side, Earthbending the stairs into a ramp that caused the guards to slide down it. Quickly, Aang and Toph then Earthbended the ground they and the others were standing on up the ramp, escalating them past the fall guards.

"Seriously, we're actually on your guys' side!" Sokka shouted in exasperation at the falling guards, then he paused when they reached the top, "Sorry!"

More guards came at the group from either side only to be pushed away by the slabs of rock Toph and Aang Earthbended at them.

"In there!" Sokka exclaimed and he led the group into the palace, coming to a stop inside a large chamber with three doors.

Another squad of guards appeared, but Toph easily defeated them with by Earthbending a pillars of rock that slammed the guards into the ceiling.

"Toph, which way to the Earth King?" Sokka demanded hurriedly as he looked at each of the doors.

"How should I know?" The blind girl snapped as she Earthbended a rock wave at two more guards, "I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se."

Sokka growled and ran towards one of the doors, throwing it open and looking inside before slamming it shut again when he saw it was empty. He quickly ran to the second door and did the same, opening then closing it again while another wave of rock took out more guards behind him. The young Water Tribe warrior quickly ran to the third door and threw it open, blanching when he saw a woman in the room.

"Burglar!" The woman shrieked as she threw her hands in the hair before she fainted.

"Sorry." Sokka squeaked and he shut the door, resting his back against it, "Wrong door!"

Xiaodan watched slightly worriedly as Zuko opened the door to the new apartment the three shared and he shuffled inside with his shoulders slumped and his dao blades' sheath dragging across the ground. The white-haired girl quietly stepped inside the apartment after him, gently taking the sheath from him and leaning it against the wall before walking closer to him with a worried frown.

"You did the right thing." Iroh commented proudly as he entered the apartment and shut the door behind him softly, "Letting the Avatar's bison go free."

"I don't feel right." Zuko mumbled weakly as he swayed slightly, his vision going blurry before his eyes shut and he fell forward.

"Firebug!" Xiaodan gasped and lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground, his sudden deadweight causing her to stumble and fall onto her backside, accidently bumping into a small wooden stand and knocking over the vase that was resting on it.

"Zuko!" Iroh exclaimed in shocked worry and he rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside Xiaodan and his unconscious nephew.

Xiaodan looked up at Iroh with an anxious and slightly frightened expression as she gently shifted Zuko in her arms so his back was against her chest and his head was resting on her shoulder.

Sokka frowned and looked around the chamber the group had entered then he turned around, his expression brightening slightly as he quickly climbed up a large pile of rubble that was blocking one corridor.

"Now that is an impressive door." Sokka commented with grin as he looked at the massive double door at the end of the corridor and he scrambled down the rubble, running towards the door, "It's gotta go somewhere."

The Water Tribe warrior jumped up, executing a flying kick at the door, "Yaaah!"

The door didn't budge and Sokka fell to the floor in a heap then he jumped up and began pushing at furiously, but it still refused to open. Toph and Aang suddenly ran up behind him and Aang slammed his staff down, busting the doors down and knocking Sokka forward in the process.

Sokka groaned as he pushed himself up and he rubbed his head, glaring over his shoulder at Aang, "A little warning next time?"

Aang and Toph ignored him as they ran into the large chamber where the Earth King was sitting on his throne, with Katara right behind them. The four teens stopped several feet from the throne when Long Feng and five Dai Li agents ran in front of the Earth King and they quickly prepared their weapons or shifted into a bending stance.

"We need to talk to you." Aang stated firmly as he held his staff at the ready, Katara standing beside him with her water-whip, while Sokka had his machete unsheathed and Toph had a boulder floating in front of her.

Long Feng glared at them for a moment then turned to look at the Earth King, "They're here to overthrow you."

"No, we're on your side." Sokka retorted sharply, "We're here to help."

"You have to trust us." Katara added in a slightly pleading tone.

The Earth King stood slowly and took a few steps forward, "You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?"

Toph tilted her head slightly, "He has a point."

"If you are on my side, then drop you weapons and stand down!" The Earth King ordered firmly.

The four teens looked at each other for a second then Aang straightened and dropped his staff then Katara put her water back in her water skin, Sokka dropped his machete, and Toph dropped the boulder she was levitating in front of her. Aang flashed a smile at the Earth King.

"See?" He asked with forced lightness and he chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head, "We're your friends, Your Earthiness."

The king remained silently as he stared at them impassively while Long Feng signaled for the Dai Li to use their rock gloves to cuff the group's arms behind their back.

Long Feng smiled sinisterly, "Detain the assailants!"

The five Dai Li agents rushed forward and came to a stop behind the teens, their heads bowed slightly.

"But wed dropped our weapons." Sokka protested in confusion, "We're your allies."

Long Feng smirked faintly, "Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again."

"The Avatar?" The Earth King asked in shock and he pointed at Sokka in confusion, "You're the Avatar?"

"Uh, no." Sokka replied flatly and he nodded his head towards Aang, "Him."

Aang grinned and effortlessly broke free of his earth cuffs, raising his arms and waving at the Earth King.

"Over here." The young Avatar said with a cheesy grin as he reattached his earth cuffs behind his back.

"What does it matter, Your Highness?" Long Feng asked with a frown, "They're enemies of the state."

"Perhaps you're right." The king mused unsurely then he smiled when his bear sniffed and licked Aang's cheek, causing the young boy to laugh, "Bosco seems to like him. I will hear what he has to say."

Long Feng glared angrily at Aang as he walked forward to stand a few feet in front of the dais the king and Long Feng were standing on.

"Well, sir, there's a war going on right now. For the past one hundred years in fact." Aang explained carefully, "The Dai Li's kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you."

"A secret war?" The king demanded and he shook his head in disbelief, "That's crazy!"

"Completely!" Long Feng agreed with a small sneer.

"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our sky bison to blackmail us." Aang continued firmly and he glowered slightly at Long Feng, "And blackmail is the least of his crimes. He brainwashed our friend!"

Long Feng quickly turned to face the king, "All lies. I've never even seen a sky bison, Your Majesty. Frankly, I thought they were extinct."

"Your claim is difficult to believe." The king said slowly as he sat back down on his throne, "Even from an Avatar."

"These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks." Long Feng whispered into the king's ear, "If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction."

The Earth King pursed his lips in thought then sighed, "I have to trust my advisor."

The Dai Li agents grabbed the teens by the arms and began pulling them towards the door, but Sokka whirled around to face the king with an excited grin.

"Wait!" He shouted, "I can prove he's lying. Long Feng said he's never seen a sky bison. Ask him to lift his robe."

"What?" Long Feng demanded in shocked outrage as the king looked at Sokka suspiciously, "I am notdisrobing."

Aang and Sokka smiled slyly at each other and the older boy nodded once. Aang smirked and inhaled deeply then he blew a large gust of air at Long Feng's legs, lifting his robe and revealing the rectangular bite mark on his calf from where Appa bit him at the lake.

"Right there!" Aang exclaimed gleefully, "Appa bit him!"

"Never met a sky bison, huh?" Sokka asked rhetorically, a smug smile on his face.

"That happens to be a large birth mark." Long Feng snapped as he lowered his robes and his tone became sarcastic, "Thanks for showing everyone."

"Well I supposed there's no way to prove where those marks came from." The king stated unsurely, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Of course there is." Sokka replied with a grin and Aang easily escaped from the Dai Li agent holding him, the earth cuffs falling from his wrists.

"I'll be right back!" Aang shouted as he ran out of the throne room and a loud crash sounded from down the hall before he reappeared a few moments later with Appa and Momo in tow, "Open up, buddy."

Appa rumbled as he opened his mouth widely and Aang pointed at the sky bison's teeth with a cheeky smile then he moved over and pointed at the mark on Long Feng's leg.

"Yup. That pretty much proves it." The king commented wryly and the four teens cheered happily, "But that doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory."

Sokka, Toph, Katara, and Aang cheers faltered and their shoulders slumped.

"Though, I suppose the matter is worth looking into." The Earth King continued slowly and the four teens gave half-hearted cheers of approval.

"We'll take it." Sokka mumbled as he rubbed the back of his head.

Long Feng glared at the king from the corner of his eye then he and his agents stalked out of the room.

Xiaodan sat near Zuko's head as he rested on the sleeping pallet in their apartment, gently running her fingers through his sweat-dampened hair. Zuko shifted and his eyes fluttered open, the flickering around blearily.

"You're burning up. You have an intense fever." Iroh remarked quietly as he dipped a cloth in a bowl of cool water then he placed it on his nephew's forehead, "This will help cool you down."

"So thirsty." The scarred teen rasped and he tried to sit up, but both Iroh and Xiaodan gently made him lie back down.

Xiaodan grabbed the spoon from the bucket of clean water, carefully handing it to Iroh before she helped Zuko sit up slightly.

"Here's some clean water to drink." Iroh said as he held the spoon to Zuko's mouth, "Stay under the blankets and sweat this out."

Zuko grabbed the spoon and drank the water quickly, some of it spilling down his chin and chest then he tossed the spoon aside. Xiaodan shifted in surprise when he suddenly turned onto his side and grabbed the bucket before he tipped the water into his mouth, causing more water to spill. She winced when he threw the bucket aside, hitting the wall with a loud clatter, but she readily helped him lie back down on the sleeping mat. Iroh gently pulled the blankets up to Zuko's shoulders, exchanging a worried glance with Xiaodan as she began to gently run her fingers though the banished prince's hair again.

"I will go get more water." Iroh said quietly as he got to his feet and picked up the bucket, slipping out of the apartment and leaving his ill nephew in Xiaodan's care.

Xiaodan sighed quietly and leaned forward, pressing a lingering kiss to Zuko's forehead then she straightened. The white-haired Airbender closed her eyes and cleared her mind, slipping into a meditative state as she continued to run her fingers through Zuko's hair in a soothing manner.

"So this is what a train is like?" The Earth King, Kuei, asked slightly uncomfortably as he stood in the middle of a train cart surrounded by several guards while the other passengers stared at him in shock, "I didn't realize it would be this...public."

"So you've never been outside the Upper Ring before?" Katara asked in surprise from her seat beside her brother and Toph.

"I've never been outside the palace." Kuei replied cheerfully, causing Katara and Sokka to give each other sidelong glances.

"Now that's the way to travel." The Earth King stated as he looked outside the train window and smiled slightly when he saw Aang flying on Appa then he looked at the Water Tribe siblings, "So, may I ask where we're going?"

"Underneath Lake Laogai, Your Kingliness." Sokka replied easily as a frown began to appear on his face, "To the Dai Li's secret headquarters. You're about to see where all the brainwashing and conspiring took place"

The group, plus the king and his escort reached the lake a little bit later and Toph walked over to where the secret path was the first time, Earthbending it up out of the water which revealed that it had been destroyed and the entrance was missing.

"It's gone!" Toph exclaimed in surprise.

"Oh don't tell me-!" Sokka groaned then stopped, taking a deep breath as he gave a plastered on a fake smile and gave a thumbs up, "That's okay. Still got my positive attitude."

"The Dai Li must've known we were coming and destroyed the evidence!" Katara stated with a small scowl.

"Hmm..." King Kuei hummed as he looked at the teens suspiciously, "That seems awfully convenient."

"Hey, if anything, this proves the conspiracy exists even more." Sokka quipped weakly.

"Long Feng was right. This was a waste of time." The Earth King remarked drily and he turned to leave with his guards, "If you'll excuse me, I'm going back to the palace."

Katara suddenly smiled in realization and she turned to look at Sokka and Aang, "The wall! They'll never be able to cover that up in time."

"Oh yeah," Aang agreed excitedly and he jumped in front of the king, "If you come with us to the Outer Wall, we can prove to you that the secret war is real."

"No Earth King has ever been to the Outer Wall." King Kuei said with a slightly offended expression then he walked past Aang, "I don't have any more time for this nonsense."

Aang's shoulders slumped and he stared at the ground with a depressed look on his face.

Sokka ran up to stand beside Aang with a sly grin, "If you come with us, this time you can ride on Appa."

King Kuei stopped and a slow smile appeared on his face.

"AHHH!" King Kuei screamed at the top of his lungs in fear as he clung to the fur of Appa's back for dear life as Aang directed the sky bison towards the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se.

Toph turned her head towards him as she clung to Appa's fur beside the king, "First time flying?"

"It's both thrilling and terrifying!" The king exclaimed with a wide grin and Toph snickered quietly.

"Yeah, I hate it too."

"I have to be honest with you, part of me really hopes that what you're telling me about this war isn't true." King Kuei commented as he looked down at his hands.

Aang sighed from where he was sitting on Appa's head, "I wish it wasn't."

Xiaodan pursed her lips and gently took the wet cloth from Iroh, placing it over Zuko's forehead gently. The feverish teen groaned and rolled onto his side, his eyes moving restlessly behind his eyelids as shudders racked his frame as he dreamed.

'Zuko, unscarred and dressed as the Fire Lord, sat in the throne room of the Fire Nation Palace. Suddenly, a red dragon and a blue dragon appeared and began circling around the pillars on either side of him.

"It's getting late." The blue dragon remarked in Azula's voice as it began circling around Zuko, "Are you planning to retire soon, my lord?"

"I'm not tired."

"Relax, Fire Lord Zuko." The blue dragon with Azula's voice whispered in his ear, "Just let go. Give into it. Shut your eyes for a while."

Zuko's eyes started to drift shut, but he snapped them open a moment later when his uncle's voice roared out of the red dragon.

"No, Fire Lord Zuko!" The red dragon snapped in Iroh's voice, "Do not listen to the blue dragon. You should get out here right now. Go! Before it's too late!"

"Sleep now, Fire Lord Zuko." The blue dragon urged softly and suddenly both dragons disappeared, along with the throne room and the guards that had been watching Zuko crumbled into nothing. The blue dragon reappeared in front of him again.

"Sleep." The blue dragon whispered then it suddenly charged at him with its mouth wide open, "Just like mother!"

Zuko's eyes widened when he saw his mother, Ursa, inside the darkness of the blue dragon's mouth.

"Zuko!" His mother shouted desperately as she turned to look at him, "Help me!"

Zuko gasped when he saw himself in his mother's eyes and the floor beneath him disappeared, pulling him down with it...'

Xiaodan frowned and gently ran the cloth over Zuko's face, wiping away the sweat that had gathered as he slept.

"Do not worry, Xia." Iroh said quietly as he held out a cup to tea to the white-haired girl, "My nephew is strong, he will pull through."

Xiaodan placed the towel in the bowl then she took the teacup with a sigh, "I know, Iroh. I know."

Iroh patted her shoulder then took a sip of his tea, both watching as Zuko continued to shiver under the blankets.

"It's still there!" Aang shouted and he pointed at the Fire Nation drill as the group flew over the Outer Wall.

"What is that?" King Kuei asked in shock as he stared down at the drill that was protruding from the Outer Wall.

"It's a drill." Sokka replied grimly, "A giant drill made by the Fire Nation to break through your walls."

The king looked down at the drill with a horrified expression and Aang quickly landed Appa on top of the wall, where the group looked down at the drill.

"I can't believe I never knew." King Kuei stated in disbelief and he closed his eyes, his head bowed slightly.

Long Feng appeared on an earth elevator with two Dai Li agents and they approached the group.

"I can explain this, Your Majesty." Long Feng said as the king and the others turned to look at him, "This is nothing more than...a construction project."

"Really?" Katara asked sarcastically and she gestured over the wall at the drill, "Then perhaps you could explain why there's a Fire Nation insignia on your 'construction project.'"

King Kuei looked at Long Feng suspiciously and the head of the Dai Li hurried to explain.

"Well, it's imported of course. You know you can't trust domestic machinery." Long Feng replied lightly then he looked at the king with a slightly worried expression, "Surely you don't believe these children instead of your most loyal attendant?"

King Kuei looked at Long Feng then at the four teens beside him and his expression became firm, "Dai Li! Arrest Long Feng! I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."

Long Feng, Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Toph stared at the king in shock and the two Dai Li agents exchanged sidelong glances before they launched metal shackles onto Long Feng's arms and pull him to them.

"You can't arrest me!" Long Feng yelled furiously as the two Dai Li agents began leading him away, "You all need me more than you know!"

"Looks like Long Feng is Long Gone! Ha!" Sokka crowed with a laugh and he wiped a fake tear from his eye, "Ah, yeah, I've been waiting to use that one."

Katara and King Kuei gave the Water Tribe boy unimpressed looks in response.

"I want to thank you, young heroes, for opening my eyes." King Kuei said gratefully as he sat on his throne later that night, "All this time, what I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of food. And that makes me the king fool. We're at war. With the Fire Nation..."

"That's why we came to Ba Sing Se, Your Highness." Sokka stated as he stepped forward, "Because we think you can help us end the war."

"We don't have much time." Aang explained as Momo climbed up the king's arm, "There's a comet coming this summer. Its energy will give the Firebenders unbelievable strength. They'll be unstoppable."

"But there is hope." Sokka added with a small nod, "Before the comet comes, we have a window of opportunity, a solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be completely blocked by the moon, and the Firebenders will be helpless."

King Kuei gave the young Water Tribe boy a curious look, "What are you suggesting, Sokka?"

"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation." Sokka replied seriously, "The Day of Black Sun."

"I don't know." King Kuei said unsurely as Momo climbed back down his arm and laid on Bosco's back, "That would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable."

"You're already vulnerable. The Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Si" Sokka stated matter-of-factly as he turned slightly to the side and crossed his arms over his chest, "You can either sit back and wait for that to happen, or take the offensive and give yourself a fighting change."

Kuei took a moment to think then he nodded, "Very well. You have my support."

Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Toph cheered happily, stopping a moment later when a man in military garb arrived.

"Your Majesty." The man said respectfully as he got bowed before the king, "I apologize for the interruption."

"This is General How." King Kuei said as he looked at the four teens, "He's the leader of the Council of Five, my highest ranking generals."

"We've searched Long Feng's office." General How stated as he straightened and looked up at the king, "I think we have something that will interest everybody."

Aang, Sokka, Katara, and Toph looked at each curiously before following the general towards the Long Feng's office with the king.

"There are secret files on everyone in Ba Sing Se." General How explained as another soldier placed a chest on the table the king was sitting at, "Including you kids."

"Secret files?" Aang asked in curious confusion.

King Kuei pulled took a scroll from the chest and read the side curiously, "'Toph Beifong'."

The king handed the scroll to General How, who then handed it to Toph. The blind girl handed the scroll to Katara and the Waterbender opened it.

"It's a letter from your mom." Katara said with a slightly smile as she read the letter and Toph's unseeing eyes widened in shock, "You're mom's here in the city. And she wants to see you."

"Long Feng intercepted out letters from home?" The blind girl asked rhetorically then she shook her head, "That's just sad."

"Aang?" King Kuei said as he held out another scroll to the bald boy.

"This scroll was attached to the horn of your bison when the Dai Li captured it." General How remarked as Aang took the scroll and opened it.

"It's from the Eastern Air Temple." Aang stated in surprise as he read the scroll.

Katara looked at the king hopefully, "Is there a letter for and Sokka by any chance?"

King Kuei looked in the box and gave the siblings a weak smile, "I'm afraid not."

"Oh..." Sokka sighed as he and his sister looked at the ground sadly.

"But there is an intelligence report that might interest you." General How said and he handed a scroll to Katara, who eagerly opened it.

"'A small fleet of Water Tribe ships.'" She read and Sokka looked at her in shock.

"What? That could be Dad!"

"'Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay. Led by Hakoda.'" Katara continued to read and she looked at Sokka with an excited smile, "It is Dad!"

Aang suddenly shifted and looked up at the general with hopeful eyes, "Is there anything in Long Feng's secret files on someone named Xiaodan?"

The general pursed his lips in thought, "I'm not sure if there is. I can have someone look for you if you'd like."

Aang nodded eagerly, "Yeah, that would be great!"

"You should know that this is not a natural sickness," Iroh said as he poured the tea he had just made into three cups, "But that shouldn't stop of you from enjoying tea."

He gently helped Zuko sit up and put the cup to the ill teen's lips, letting Zuko drink the tea slowly.

'What's happening?" Zuko asked weakly in confusion and worry after he had taken a sip of the tea, his eyes briefly flickering over to Xiaodan, who was fast asleep beside him.

"Your critical decision." Iroh explained lowly as he held the teacup in one hand, "What you did beneath that lake. It was in such conflict with your image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body."

Iroh held the teacup to Zuko's mouth again and the scarred teen took a small sip.

"What's that mean?" Zuko asked before he began coughing roughly a few moments later.

He shuddered then lied back down, almost unconsciously reaching out and grasping Xiaodan's hand where it rested beside his bed. The white-haired girl shifted slightly in her sleep, her hand tightening around his gently.

"You are going through a metamorphosis, my nephew. It will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it," Iroh explained slowly as he turned and put the teacup down, grabbing the damp cloth and gently dabbing at the sweat on Zuko's brow as he continued to speak, "You will be the beautiful prince you were always meant to be."

Zuko sighed quietly as he fell back into a feverish sleep, his hand unconsciously tightening around Xiaodan's. Iroh smiled faintly at their clasped hands and he put the cloth back in the bowl of cool water.

"I can't believe it." Aang said as he sat cross-legged on the carpet in Long Feng's office with his friends, the scroll he'd received in his hands, "There's a man living at the Eastern Air Temple. He says he's a guru."

"What's a guru?" Sokka asked in befuddlement and he tapped his chin in thought, "Some kind of poisonous blowfish?"

Aang chuckled and shook his head, "No, a spiritual expert. He wants to help me take the next step in the Avatar journey. He says he can teach me to control the Avatar State."

Katara smiled and nodded her head, "And I can't believe we know where our dad is now."

"I know what you mean." Toph agreed and she smiled slightly, "My mom's in the city. And from her letter it sounds like she finally understands me."

"This is all such big news!" Sokka exclaimed excitedly as he waved his hands above his head, "Where do we start?"

Katara pursed her lips and looked at the others with a small frown, "I hate to say it, but we have to split up."

"Split up?" Aang questioned worriedly, "We just found Appa and we still need to find Xia for our family to be complete again! Now you want us to separate?"

"You have to meet this guru, Aang." Katara pointed out calmly, "If we're going to invade the Fire Nation, you need to be ready. And you said so yourself, you and Xia always find each other anyway."

Aang sighed and nodded in reluctant agreement, "Well, if I'm going to the Eastern Air Temple, Appa and I can drop you off at Chameleon Bay to see your dad."

"Someone has to stay here with the Earth King and help him plan the invasion." Sokka stated with a small sigh and he stood up, "I guess that's me."

"No, Sokka." Katara stated with a shake of her head as she stood too, "I know how badly you wanna help Dad. You go to Chameleon Bay. I'll stay here with the king. Plus if I stay, I'll be here when General How finds that information on Xia, I can tell her where you are, Aang."

Aang smiled and nodded happily while Sokka began dancing and jumping around.

"You are the nicest...sister...ever!" Sokka all but squealed and he kissed Katara's cheek happily.

"Easy there, big brother." Katara said with a slight chuckle as she pushed her brother away slightly, "Though you're right, I am."

The next morning, Aang and Sokka stood outside the palace with Toph and Katara, preparing to leave on Appa. Katara was petting Appa's side with a small smile on her face and Aang shuffled towards her nervous.

"Katara? I need to tell you something." Aang said, blushing brightly when she turned to look at him with a curious smile, "I've been wanting to say it for a long time."

"What is it, Aang?" Katara asked and she tilted her head slightly to the side.

Aang rubbed the back of his head, "Katara, I-"

Sokka suddenly cut Aang off midsentence by throwing his arm around the younger boy's neck and giving him a noogie.

"Alright!" The Water Tribe boy crowed gleefully, "Who's ready to get going on our little men-only man trip?"

Katara rolled her eyes and gave her brother an annoyed looked while Aang scowled faintly at him, still trapped in Sokka's headlock.

"Aang and Sokka," King Kuei called out as he approached the group and the two boys turned to look at him curiously, "I wish you a good journey. Ba Sing Se owes you its thanks. We look forward to your safe return."

Sokka let Aang go and he, Aang, and Katara all bowed to the king respectfully then Sokka turned to start climbing onto Appa's back. A soldier walked up to the king and bowed briefly.

"Your Majesty. There are three female warriors to see you. They're from the island of Kyoshi."

"That's Suki!" Sokka exclaimed in shock and he lost his grip on Appa's fur, falling to the ground in a heap.

"You know these warriors?" The king asked inquisitively.

"Oh yeah." Sokka said with a nod as he got to his feet, "The Kyoshi Warriors are a skilled group of fighters. Trustworthy too. They're good friends of ours."

King Kuei smiled, "Then we shall welcome them as honored guests."

Aang turned to get onto Appa, but Katara touched his arm.

"Wait. Aang." She said then she hugged him and kissed his cheek, causing him to blush brightly and smile happily, "I'll find Xia, I promise."

Toph walked over to the two and smiled at them, "I'm really gonna miss you guys."

Katara reached out and pulled Toph into the hug while Sokka looked away and crossed his arms.

"Me too." The Waterbender agreed with a slightly sad smile.

"Yeah." Aang added with a nod as he hugged both girls.

The three broke apart and turned to look at Sokka then they exchanged mischievous smiles before they hugged him.

"Aahh! Great. That's enough." Sokka grunted and he smiled slightly, "Okay, we love each other."

He patted Aang's and Katara's head when the three young teens didn't let him go, "Seriously."

Katara giggled and the three let go, Sokka and Aang climbing onto Appa, who took off a moment later. Toph waved over her shoulder as she walked down the stairs of the palace, heading towards the house her mother was supposed be staying in.

Zuko's eyes fluttered open and he woke up with a small groan. He flexed his fingers slightly then blinked blearily in confusion at the slight heaviness he felt. He stared at the tanned and tattooed hand holding his, his eyes moving until they rested on Xiaodan's serene face as she slept beside his sleeping mat. The banished prince untangled his fingers from the white-haired girl and slowly pushed himself up, tossing the blankets off his body as he got to his feet. He walked past his uncle, who was sleeping in a sitting position on the other side of the sleeping, and he entered the small bathroom in the apartment.

Sighing quietly, Zuko reached into the basin of cold water and splashed his face, washing away the sweat from his fever then he looked up at the mirror. The scarred teen gasped in shock when he saw himself without his scar, no hair, and the Avatar's arrow tattoos.

"Ah!" Zuko shouted hoarsely in horror as he jerked upright, flinging the blankets off his body as he panted heavily.

Zuko exhaled heavily and brought his hand up to touch the left side of his face, his eyes closing when he felt the scarred skin beneath his fingertips.

"Zuko?"

The banished prince opened his eyes and let his hand drop into his lap as he turned his head, gold eyes meeting tired orange orbs. Xiaodan pushed herself up into a sitting position, the loose blanket Iroh must have draped over her pooling around her legs.

"Are you alright?" The white-haired girl asked in a concern and she reached out to touch his forehead, pausing when he flinched slightly.

Xiaodan let her hand drop to the ground, her brow furrowing slightly

"Do you need something to drink?" She asked then she got to her feet without waiting for a response, but before she could take a step towards the bucket of clean water, warmth encased her hand.

"I'm fine." Zuko rasped tiredly and he gently tugged her down so she was sitting next to him, "Just...Stay."

Xiaodan stared at him in concern for a moment then she nodded, shifting her hand and lacing her fingers with his as he laid back down. She reached out tentatively again, hesitating a moment, but when Zuko didn't move, Xiaodan began to lightly run her fingers through his hair. Zuko exhaled softly and his eyes drifted closed of their own accord, his tired body relaxing slowly at the soothing sensation.

"You see, Aang? A little positive thinking works wonders." Sokka quipped smugly as he sprawled out on Appa's back with his hands behind his head, "We got the king on our side, we got Long Feng arrested, Katara's gonna find Xia, and when we get back, Suki's waiting for me."

"Yeah..." Aang agreed with a dreamy smile on his face as he thought about Katara, "Girls are waiting for us. Thanks, positive attitude."

"Everything is gonna work our perfectly." Sokka continued as Appa flew over Ba Sing Se, "From now on and forever."

Aang turned around and smiled at the older boy, nodding his head in agreement.

The Dai Li agent walked down the metal hall of the prison, stopping at the last door.

"Dinner." The agent grunted as he slid a tray of food underneath the cell door where Long Feng was sitting then he straightened, "The Council of Five and the military are loyal to the Earth King, but the Dai Li remains loyal to you, Long Feng, sir."

Long Feng smirked sinisterly as the Dai Li agent walked away and he took a bite of the roll that had come with his meal.

Toph quietly walked up the steps of a nice house in the Upper Ring of the city, pausing in front of the door. The blind girl took a deep breath and knocked firmly on the door, hesitating a moment when it opened on its own.

"Hello?" Toph called out as she walked into the house, "Mom? Anyone home?"

She walked into the center of the room and frowned, then she jerked her head up and her eyes widened when she suddenly sensed something, but before she was trapped inside a metal box.

"Hey!" Toph shouted angrily, fear tinging her voice as she pounded on the walls of the metal cage, "Who do you think you're dealing with?!"

Xin Fu and Master Yu dropped down from where they had been hiding in the rafters of the house and the wrestler stalked forward.

"One loud-mouthed little brat who strayed too far from home." Xin Fu growled in reply.

"In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor that I welcome our esteemed allies, the Kyoshi Warriors!" King Kuei said as the three female warriors walked between the two rows of guards towards the king, who was standing at the base of the palace steps.

The three girls kneeled before the king and bowed their heads then looked up.

Azula, disguised as the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors smirked up at the king, while Mai and Ty Lee kneeled at her sides.

"We are the Earth King's humble servants."