Earth


She stands at the doorway, wanting to help. I send her away: please, just go. Please.

Aang replayed the scene in his mind as Ba Sing Se's fabled walls rose over the horizon. The sea voyage had been uneventful. The Fire Empire could do logistics, he had to give them that.

Crossing the gates was disheartening. The city bustled as before, but red banners lined its walls, metal chimneys darkened the sky. Earthbending was still strictly prohibited – the rail system was now powered by steam.

Aang got off on the Lower Ring. He'd bought Earth Provinces clothes in the first port of call, complete with a headband, but hadn't planned much farther. If only Sokka were there. He entered the nearest tavern, a rundown building with shadowy figures loitering nearby.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for someone."

The waitress wasn't impressed. "Knock yourself out, looking is free."

"I mean in the city."

"Well, information isn't. What're you havin'?"

"Water?"

She came back with a dirty mug. "That'll be a copper."

Aang didn't touch the mug. "Thanks. Her name is Toph Bei Fong." Probably safer than asking for 'Katara of the Water Tribe'.

The waitress bit the coin and slid it into her pocket. "Never heard of her."

Three taverns later, Aang kicked at the dirt on the cobblestones. At this rate he'd run out of money before he could circle even the Lower City, much less the other levels. Assuming, of course, there was any trace to be found. He was pulled out of his reverie by a figure in an alley.

"Word on the street is you're looking for the Lady Toph."

"I'm an old friend," said Aang, trying to see into the gloom.

"A bit young for an old friend. Can you afford the information?"

"Sure," said Aang, pulling out his moneybag. "But how do I know it's worth it?"

"You don't," said the stranger, eyeing the coins hungrily. "Wait, how did you get that?"

"The pai sho tile? A mutual friend gave it to me."

"I see." He took the copper pieces that were offered. "If she decides to meet you, it will be at Ozai Square, midnight tonight. Come alone. What's your name, kid?"

"Er, Twinkle."

"Right…"

#

Ozai Square, formerly Omashu Square, was easy to find. Passing the time was harder. Aang half-expected to be one more country kid taken in by a big city scammer. Night finally came and the plaza emptied out. When he reckoned it was past midnight, he got up to leave. What a waste of time and money.

A figure he hadn't noticed before walked towards him. He could tell the woman wasn't Toph. And yet…

"You make bold claims, kid."

"Suki?"

"I'll ask the questions. You came alone?"

"Twinkle-toes, as I live and breathe," Toph boomed behind him. "It's okay, Suki, he's the real deal."

The three embraced.

"Perimeter?" asked Toph. She wore her hair long.

Suki made a bird call. A different call came back. She nodded and stood guard.

"Sorry, we've had our share of imposters and traps." Toph ran her fingers over his face. "Iceberg?"

Aang smiled. "Iceberg."

"You really should be more careful. We need to take you somewhere safe."
"Can you take me to Katara?"

"Aang… You know about the Uprising?"

He nodded.

"When the survivors regrouped, she insisted we needed to find you. I'd had enough of pinning my hopes on supernatural saviors, sorry. She left on her quest, I stayed behind to rebuild the resistance."

"I don't blame you. I've let you down time and again."

"Thing is, we didn't fare much better without you. Sure, we're alive and kicking – mostly kicking. But so is the Empire. And seeing you again after all this time… I can't help feeling maybe Katara was right. We need a symbol."

She punched him on the shoulder. "Don't tell her I said that."

"Thanks, Toph, I…"

She stopped mid-step. "Something's wrong."

Wooden manacles latched onto her wrists as Dai Li flooded around them. Suki started in her direction.

"Don't," cried Toph, "get him out of here!"

Aang began to protest but Suki pulled him away. They raced down an alley and into the sewer.

#

Aang and Suki moved quietly through the tunnels.

"They followed me. To get to her."

"Of course they followed you. That's no excuse for letting our guard down. Toph hid it best, but all of us want so hard to believe. We had to take the risk."

"That's what happened to Sokka, isn't it? He believed too much."

Suki turned, crestfallen. "I'm sure he had his reasons."

"So what happens now?"

"They execute her at dawn."

"What?"

"Don't worry, we won't make it easy. But first we regroup. Welcome to the White Lotus."

Aang stared at the brick wall in front of them. Then he felt the air currents.

"There's a room here."

Suki smiled. "You're spoiling the drama."

She operated a hidden lever and opened the trap door. They walked inside.

"What's the White Lotus?"

"It used to be a secret society with powerful members from the four nations. Now, you're looking at it."

The large basement was littered with equipment and a sparring mat. A ladder led to the house above.

"After the Invasion, Sokka and the others busted me out. We came here to fight the occupation. Toph bought the house and bankrolled the operation. That's when they found us."

"Who?"

"Masters Pakku and Bumi, Piandao and Jeong Jeong; even Zuko's uncle, Iroh. But there were others."

"Wow. How could Ozai ever have defeated them?"

Sukki looked puzzled. "Ozai's dead, Aang. He died on the day of the Uprising."

"They killed him?"

"Someone had to stop that lunatic. He was going to use the Comet to burn the Kingdom to ash, so we drew his attention to Ba Sing Se. It worked too well: the air fleet moved in and crushed us. Ozai fell in battle and Azula was crowned Fire Lord. We don't know exactly who did it – most of us didn't make it out alive."

"So Bumi and the others, gone."

"I'm sorry, Aang. Omashu was recaptured that day. We licked our wounds and kept up the fight."

"What about Zuko?"

"Disappeared after the Invasion, branded a traitor. Do we even care?"

"No, I guess not."

They jumped as the trap door snapped open. Longshot and Smellerbee crawled inside and rested against the wall.

"Anyone else?" asked Suki.

Longshot shook his head solemnly.

"Pipsqueak and the Duke were also taken to the Palace," said Smellerbee. "Haru and the others are still on mission."

"Guess this is the rescue team," said Suki. "Freshen up, we're moving out."

#

The Palace towered against the skyline, illuminated by patrolling lights. The team hunkered in the shadow.

"There are too many guards," said Aang. "How do we get in?"

Suki moved to a manhole.

"Sewers? Again?"

"Man up, Twinkles," Smellerbee said, lifting the cover. She motioned inside. "Ladies first."

Suki dropped in after Aang. "The Palace complex was built over time on the ruins of the old city. There are tunnels even we don't know about."

"I know. I died there once."

"Oh, right."

A dart flew past them into the darkness; a guard buckled to the ground. Longshot lowered the blowgun, frowning.

"You're right," said Smellerbee, "we need to be more careful."

Aang stared at the guard. "Is he…"

"Buzzard wasp venom. Only lasts a few hours."

They moved deeper underground through crystal-lit tunnels. Suki stopped. The cave before them ended in a massive metal wall, with a single guarded gate.

"Longshot and Smellerbee will create a distraction. Aang and I…"

"Halt!"

They turned slowly to face an archer patrol, arrows cocked.

The captain chuckled. "Guess we'll need a bigger execution platform."

As the team hesitated, a blur charged into the archers from behind. Arrows flew wide. The White Lotus engaged and the figure retreated to the shadows, flashing a blue demon mask.

"The Blue Spirit," gasped Smellerbee.

It reappeared by the prison gate, struck, and was gone.

"He's fast," said Aang, careful to use only earthbending.

"We've seen him around the city," Suki said between blocks, "not very sociable."

Aang grinned. "You may be in for quite a surprise."

The gate guards were now upon them. The ghost materialized beside Suki but collapsed, an arrow protruding from its back. The team moved to fight around it.

"How bad is he?" asked Aang, deflecting a blade.

Suki broke off the arrow shaft. "Er, Aang?"

Aang turned to look at the dark-haired woman behind the mask.

"Didn't expect to see you again," she said.

"You're Azula's friend, aren't you? The bored one. But where's…"

The woman passed out.

Aang returned to the fight. The remaining guards sank into the ground to their necks.

"Nice trick," said Smellerbee. "Couldn't have pulled it off a little sooner?"

"It wasn't me," said Aang.

"Mai!"

They turned to the prison gate. Toph, Pipsqueak and the Duke were running towards them. So was a second Blue Spirit. It dropped to its knees and cradled the woman.

"About time," said Toph. "We need to leave before..."

Dai Li agents surrounded them.

"Any suggestions?" asked Suki.

"There's an underground river," said Toph.

"And?"

"Hold your breath."

The ground collapsed and they were washed away by the current. The Dai Li did not follow.

The river emptied out in the outskirts of the city. The sun was rising over the eastern walls.

Toph walked over to the two Spirits. "Guess I owe you one."

"It wasn't worth it if she dies."

Toph examined her. "It's not as bad as it looks. She'll live, Zuko."

He tore away his mask and threw it to the ground. The goatee was eerily reminiscent of his father.

"How did you know?"

"I have a good ear for these things. But why?"

"You need to warn the Northern Water Tribe. Azula is going to attack."

"She's tried before," said Suki, "and failed."

"It's different now," said Zuko. "There's an eclipse."