"Katara!" The waterbender groaned, waking from a sound sleep. Her head spun as she tried to pull her thoughts together. Someone was pounding on her door. In mingled annoyance and worry, Katara swung her legs out of the bed. She glanced at the window, and found that it was still pitch black outside.
The door opened, and Toph entered. Her shaggy hair was even more unkempt than usual, and a few straps of her armor were undone. "Katara, quick. We have to go. Fire Lady Mai has disappeared!"
"What?" Without conscious thought, Katara sprang from the bed and began to throw on her clothes. "How?"
"No one knows," Toph said. Her voice sounded a little frantic. "A servant went to check on her, and she was gone! It looks like her bed was never slept in. The palace has been searched, but she's nowhere to be found."
"And the Dai Li don't know anything?" The waterbender jerked her breastplate over her head and fumbled with the straps.
"Not a thing," Toph groaned. "Not one blessed thing! But then again, if Mai went willingly, you know how she can sneak. She's a bloody assassin…"
Katara paused in the act of fastening a bracer. "Willingly?" she echoed. "Why in the world would Mai go willingly with anyone?"
"Damned if I know, I'm just throwing things out here. Hurry!" Katara threw on her other bracer, pulled on her boots, and fairly ran after Toph.
By the time they reached the palace, everything was in an uproar. Guards and soldiers scurried everywhere like ants. The courtyards were lit up by torches, every inch of ground being turned over in the search for the missing monarch. Lieutenant Guiren appeared. "General Bei Fong – Sergeant Katara!"
Toph snapped her head to look at him. "Report, Lieutenant!" she barked. Katara glanced at her, a little startled. It was the first time she'd heard Toph use that tone.
"The palace and all its grounds have been searched twice, General. There's no sign of Fire Lady Mai." He saluted as he spoke. "I've taken the liberty of sending the Dai Li out to search the city."
"Good." Toph's mouth was set in a straight line. "Have the city gates been sealed, as I ordered?"
"Yes, General. No one may enter or exit Ba Sing Se. We've done the same with the palace gates."
"Excellent. Keep searching. I want every able-bodied soldier in this city out looking for her!" Toph snapped. "Katara and I will be meeting with the Earth King and Fire Lord Zuko. Report to me with any new information. Dismissed!" He saluted smartly and disappeared. "Come on, Katara. Let's go."
The throne room of the Earth King was quiet, but the air was buzzing with tension. Katara could see Zuko and the Earth King talking before the thrones; Zuko stood straight, his arms rigid at his sides. Even at that distance, she could see the barely-contained fury and unmistakable fear in his face. She and Toph approached at something close to a run. "My liege!" Toph said, dropping on one knee when she was about twenty feet from them. Katara quickly did the same.
"What news?" It was Zuko that answered, his voice harsh.
"Fire Lady Mai is nowhere in the palace, Fire Lord," Toph said. "Both the palace and the city are sealed off – no one can enter or exit either one." She paused. "The Dai Li have been dispatched. We should have news soon."
"Unacceptable!" Zuko snarled. "My wife must be found! Are you even trying to find her, Toph? Are you trying to start another war between our countries? She is the Fire Lady of the Fire Nation!"
"My lord, everything that can be done is being done." Toph's lip curled a little as she said this; Katara hoped the young woman would keep her volatile temper in check. "The Dai Li are the best the Earth Kingdom has to offer. They will find her."
"They had better!" Zuko whirled on his heel and stalked from the room. "I will be in my quarters."
The Earth King looked down at Toph. "Is there any new information?" he asked.
"No, my liege." The general's hands tightened just a fraction. "There's not a sign of her anywhere in the palace. The soldiers are searching the Inner Circle, and the Dai Li are handling the Outer Circle. They're sure to find something soon."
"They had better." The king looked grim. "I'm sure you appreciate the gravity of this situation, General Bei Fong. As unstable as things are right now, the last thing we need is open hostility from the Fire Nation!"
"Yes, my lord." Toph's lips clenched, and Katara saw her face twist. Her own stomach was tying itself in knots – she could only imagine how Toph must feel! "I won't rest until she's found, my lord."
"See that you don't." The king's eyes flicked to Katara. "Do you have anything to add here, Ambassador Katara?"
"No, my lord," Katara said softly. "I don't."
He sighed, turning away. "Go, General. Find her."
"My lord." Toph bowed her head, rose to her feet, and left. Katara had to run to keep up with her. As she caught up, she saw Toph scowling. "Threatening war," she spat. "Arrogant, overbearing jerk…I don't care if he is Fire Lord now! What does he think, that I can snap my fingers and make his wife appear out of thin air?"
"He's just scared, Toph," Katara said. "He's feeling helpless, and he's worried Mai will get hurt. And he has a little girl back home! - Let's just get to work and find her."
Toph jerked her head in assent. Her frown didn't soften any, but she didn't refer to the subject again. "Let's go see if the Dai Li have found anything yet."