Chapter Nine

Naruto, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee were traveling atop their mongoose lizards following the trail of fur left by the Avatar. After the defeat of the drill they had fallen back to their previous strategy of following flying bison's fur to track down the Avatar and his team. Appa surrounded by the Kyoshi Warriors. Appa licks one of the warrior's faces. Appa's ear starts to twich as he hears footsteps thundering. Lightning strikes a nearby tree, causing it to fall down and blocking the pathway. Mai, Azula, Naruto, and Ty Lee arrive on mongoose lizards.

"My, my, you're easy to find. It's really astounding my brother hasn't captured you yet." Said Azula holding a clump of Appa's fur. the Kyoshi Warriors standing in front of Appa. Appa growls at Azula and the Kyoshi Warriors draw their shield fans.

"What do you want with us?" Said Suki

"Who are you? The Avatar's fan girls?" Said Azula looking at the Kyoshi Warriors.

"Oh, I get it. Good one, Azula." Said Ty Lee

"If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck." Said Suki still holding her shield fan up in the air ready for a fight.

"I knew this was a waste of time" sighed Mai, who looked bored.

"We could still use the bison to follow it back to the Avatar." Said Naruto helpfully.

"No Avatar, huh. Well, that's okay. Any friend of the Avatar is an enemy of mine." Said Azula as she jumps off the mongoose lizard and fire bends at Appa, who the Kyoshi Warriors protect by moving their shields together. Azula fire bends at Appa. The Kyoshi Warriors protect him by moving their shield fans together. Naruto, Ty Lee, and Mai jump off their mongoose lizards. Mai faces two Kyoshi Warriors and throws three shurikens, pinning a Kyoshi Warrior to a tree.

"Huh?." Said the Kyoshi Warrior as she looks at the weapons on her right arm in confusion.

"You're so colorful, it's making me nauseous." Said Mai as she throws a bunch of darts at the second Kyoshi Warrior. The Kyoshi Warrior unsheathes her sword and uses it to deflect the darts. She swings at Ty Lee, who manages to get behind the Kyoshi Warrior and perform chi blocking.

"You're not prettier than we are." Said Ty Lee standing over her downed enemy.

"Sorry about this." Said Naruto as he shot a fire ball at a Kyoshi Warrior, who blocked it with her shield only to have Naruto run up and deliver a knockout punch. On the other side of the clearing Suki defends Appa from Azula's fire bending blasts with her fan shield. Closer shot of Azula summoning blue fire. Shot changes to Appa and Suki. Suki takes the blast and deflects it to the side where it sets the fallen tree behind them on fire. Appa looks frightened at the flames.

"Afraid of fire, I see. That's good. You should be." Said Azula looking over at the bison

"Go, Appa! Fly away from here!" said Suki as she unsheathes her sword. Appa flies up and Suki charges Azula with her sword. Azula jumping up and knocks the sword out of her hand and into a tree. Azula fires another blast at Suki, who blocks it with her shield. Suki tries kicking Azula, but Azula uses the opportunity to knock down Suki. Appa flying overhead, who looks down and flies back. Azula, preparing to strike another fire bending blast. A Kyoshi Warrior in the background throws her fans at Azula, who ducks and kicks a fire bending blast at the other Kyoshi Warrior and pursues her. Suki stands up and waves a torch at Appa.

"Get out of here! You have to find Aang! We'll be okay!" Said Suki, Appa backs away from Suki and flies away. A blue fire bending blast hits Suki's shield. Suki steps back and wields her fan.

"Don't you know fans just make flames stronger?" Said Azula, facing down the last remaining Kyoshi Warrior. They charge at each other, Azula firing another blast and Suki deflecting it. after Azula's quick victory the stood around looking at the defeated Warriors

"So what should we do now." Asked Naruto who picked up on of the Kyoshi Warriors fans and started to examine it more closely. Ty Lee instead of picking up a fan grabbed a head piece and was trying it on. Azula was silent as she thought up there next plan.

"If were hurry we could still catch up to the bison but there was no guaranty at it would lead them back to the Avatar." Azula thought looking around the clearing and that is when she noticed the Naruto and Ty Lee and a brilliant idea popped in to her head.

A few days later.

"I cant believe I let you talk me in to this." Said Naruto as he adjusted his chest for the tenth time.

"Relax Naruto, this plan will work." Said Azula who was walking in font of the group

"Besides I thing you look really pretty, Naruto." Said Ty Lee.

"That's not the point, Ty Lee." Said Naruto sounding exasperated.

" that's enough you two were here." Said Azula as they reached the front door of the earth kings palace.

"yes may I help you." Asked on of the shoulders standing guard.

"Can you tell the earth king the Kyoshi Warriors wash to see him." Azula said sweetly. It only took the soldier a few minutes to return with his answer.

"the earth king welcomes his honored guests the Kyoshi Warriors." Said the soldier as he let them inside. Once inside the palace, the four Kyoshi Warriors walked up to the earth king and bowed

"In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor that I welcome our esteemed allies, the Kyoshi Warriors!" said earth king Kuei

"We are the Earth King's humble servants." Said Azula looking up at the earth king

"Please come inside." Said the earth king as he walks to his thrown room and takes a seat next to his pet bear.

"Look Bosco! The Kyoshi Warriors are here to protect us! Aren't you excited? It's been a difficult week for me. My most trusted advisor, Long Feng, and his Dai Li agents tried to take control of Ba Sing Se from me." Said the earth king looking to his bear who yawned loudly.

"It's terrible when you can't trust the people who are closest to you." Said Azula

"But there is good news. As we speak, the Council of Five is meeting to plan an invasion of the Fire Nation this summer, on the day of a solar eclipse." Said the earth king happily. For a second, Azula's eyes slightly widen with shock and worry upon hearing this, but she quickly hides it.

"Really? Now that sounds like a fascinating and brilliant plan." Said Azula who clances off as Mai, Ty Lee an Naruto look at each other.

"but you must be tied from your travles, please allow me to set you up with a place to stay while you are staying in Ba Sing Se.

that night, and where Azula, Mai and Ty Lee are staying which is a small building in the Upper Ring. Mai and Ty Lee are removing their make-up. A smiling Ty Lee is looking in a mirror. She is wiping the last traces of her Kyoshi makeup from her face. Mai is seated next to Ty Lee, still working on her own face. On the opposite side Naruto was feverishly removing his make up as fast as he could.

"We have been presented with an extraordinary opportunity." Said Azula who was looking out the rooms window at the city.

"Mai finally gets to wear make-up that's not totally depressing?" said Ty Lee happily.

"Ha, ha." Said Mai Sarcastically with large, dark splotches of black makeup dripping down her eyes.

"I'm talking about conquering the whole Earth Kingdom. For one hundred years, the Fire Nation has hammered away at Ba Sing Se from the outside. But now we're on the inside, and we can take it by ourselves." Said Azula. the two girls turn with shocked looks, Naruto look excited

"Good the sooner the better, that way I don't have to keep dressing this way." Said Naruto his face finally cleaned of all make up.

"Gosh, you're so confident. I really admire that about you." Said Ty Lee.

"From the inside, we're in perfect position to organize a coup and overthrow the Earth King. The key is the Dai Li. Whoever controls the Dai Li controls Ba Sing Se." Said Azula, looking away from the window and back in to the room.

The Next morning, they started to put Azula's plan to action. Back at the palace with Mai and Ty Lee The former is sitting on the stairs and the latter is practicing chi blocking and acrobatics. Nether one of them aware of the two Dai Li agents hide on two pillars and secretly spy on a conversation between

"I'm tired of wearing this girly disguise. I don't know how anyone could fight in this." Said Mai sighing with boredom.

"Maybe that's why it was so easy to beat the Kyoshi Warriors and take their clothes." Said Ty Lee

"How much longer do we have to serve the Earth King? If I have to clean up one more pile of bear poop, I'm going to throw up." Said Mai

"Princess Azula promised we would go back to the Fire Nation as soon as we captured the Avatar. We just have to be patient." Said Mia

"Shush up! Do you want the whole palace to know we're Fire Nation?" Said Mai who stands up.

"Sorry!" Said Ty Lee covering her mouth with her hands. The agents smile and climb away. Azula and Naruto, who was hiding behind another pillar, walks up to them.

"Good work, girls. I'm sure the Dai Li will deliver the message." Said Azula smirking at they follow her and walk back in to the palace. Just then one of the Avatar's team members runs in to the throne room.

"Thank goodness you're here, Suki. Something terrible is going on. The Fire Nation has infiltrated the city, I just saw Prince Zuko and his uncle. We have to tell the Earth King right away!" Said Katara who ran up to them. Azula widens her eyes in surprise and smiles slyly.

"Oh, don't worry, I'll be sure to let him know." Said Azula. Katara notices "Suki" has gold eyes and is shocked upon realization that the "Kyoshi Warriors" are actually Azula, Mai, Naruto, and Ty Lee. She prepares to attack, but Ty Lee quickly jumps forward and blocks her chi.

"So, Zuzu's in the city, too? I think it's time for a family reunion." Said Azula while the they gather around the fallen Katara. After taking the water bender to one of the palace dungeons. The returned to their room for the night were not long after two Dai Li agents showed up in the middle of the night at took Azula Away.

"What is this about? Your agents show up in the middle of the night and drag me down here? You will not treat a Kyoshi Warrior this way!" Said Azula who was led into a prison by two Dai Li agents. And token to Long Feng's cell.

"But you're not a Kyoshi Warrior, are you, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation? Said Long Feng sanding from his spot on the floor.

"What do you want?" Said Azula.

"I want to make a deal. It's time that I regain control of Ba Sing Se and you have something I need." Said Long Feng

"Oh?" Aske Azula wondering what Long Fang wanted, as if she didn't already know.

"The Earth King's trust." Said Long Feng

"Why should I help you?" said Azula

"Because I can get you the Avatar." Said Long Feng

"I'm listening ..." said Azula smirking.