Finally making it across the gap between the paths away from the giant serpent intent on killing them; Sokka turns to see the small earthbender still atop the rock pillar further out into the water. "Toph, come on its just ice."

Toph puts one foot on the ice that is between them, but shrinks back "Actually, I'm going to stay on my little island where I can see." A huge coil of the Sea Serpent crashes down just behind her, blasting her out onto the ice with a yelp, ""Oh, I'm coming!"

The tribesman nodded his encouragement, "You're doing great! Just follow the sound of my voice!"

Stopping completely to glare at the boy Toph replies acidly, "It's hard to ignore."

The sea snake's massive tail crashes through the ice bridge, shattering the entire expanse and sending Toph high into the air before she was sent into the lake. "Help! I can't swim!" she cried.

"I'm coming Toph" Sokka called out.

Before the boy could even move Suki surged past him and dived into the water. Swimming furiously towards the smaller girl the Kyoshi warrior held her above the waves.

Dramatically, "Oh Sokka, you saved me."

Suki blushed as the earthbender kisses her cheek, "Actually, it's me."

"Oh…well…heheh" Toph began fatally embarrassed. "You can go ahead and let me drown now."

Once on shore the red girl stomped over to the firebender who was flat on her back laughing hysterically, having heard the whole thing. "Shut up Sparks!" she roared beginning to kick the laughing girl.

Katara looked up shocked at the airbender gliding towards them. She had thought he would have been gone longer after having left to find Appa a short while ago, "Aang, what are you doing here? I thought you were looking for Appa?"

The avatar nodded sadly, "I was, but something stopped me. Something big."

The group moves to the great wall of Ba Sing Se and both Aang and Toph begin to earthbend the entire group on an earth platform up the face of the wall, lifting them all upwards.

"Now what's so big that Appa has to wait," Sokka asked as the group ascended the wall.

Aang looked away the boy and out toward the horizon, "That."

Sokka and the rest turned to peer over the edge of the wall. Flanked by several tanks on either side was a sight to behold. A monolithic drill edged steadily towards the giant walls of Ba Sing Se.

Ying despairingly lowered her head, "We made it to Ba Sing Se, and we're still not safe. No one is."

"We escorted you and your family safely her through the Serpent's Pass." Kiren said comfortingly. "I'm sure there is something that we can do to help the city."

An earthbender guard ran up to the group and spoke urgently, "What are you people doing here? Civilians aren't allowed on the wall."

Aang looked determined as he turned to face the man, "I'm the Avatar. Take me to whoever's in charge."

The Avatar's group approached a man seated at a desk alone, the refugees having been escorted into the city.

General Sung smiled at the young monk, "It is an honor to welcome you to the outer wall young Avatar, but your help is not needed."

Aang looked incredulous, "Not needed?"

"Not needed," the general intoned smugly. "I have the situation under control. I assure you the Fire Nation cannot penetrate this wall. Many have tried to break through it, but none have succeeded."

Toph was quick to reprimand the general, "What about the Dragon of the West? He got in."

Sung appeared startled, "Well…uh…technically yes, but he was quickly expunged." More confidently he continued, "Nevertheless that is why the city is named Ba Sing Se. It's the impenetrable city. They don't call it Na Sing Se, which means penetrable city."

Toph scoffed, "Yeah, thanks for the tour, but we still got the drill problem."

The General paced back and forth, "Not for long. To stop it, I've sent an elite platoon of earthbenders called the Terra Team."

Sokka looked thoughtful, "That's a good group name, very catchy."

Kiren stared at the general who seemed extremely confident. The firebender sat down in a chair facing the desk, leaned back on two legs putting her heels upon the desk, and pulled out an arrow. She studied him for a few more seconds before letting out a loud laugh. Calming down she smirked, "You really believe that will work don't you? Where did you learn your strategies general, grade school?"

The general stopped his pacing abruptly and stared at the girl. Currently she ignored him, taking time between super heating an arrowhead and carving at it with a knife.

Sung was flustered, "I'll have you know girl that our team is composed of the most powerful earthbenders in the city. And besides what do you know firebender,"He spat.

The archer smirked at the man, "It still won't work, and besides I know a lot more than you general. You know considering that I am a firebender," she looked at him pointedly, "I like to play around with metal. Trust me that drill is made by the most advanced metal smiths in the entire world. Your elite earthbenders won't even be able to dent it." She glanced towards the edge of the wall and encouraged, "Just watch, not a dent."

Below the Terra Team is seen trying to wedge several large pillars of stone against the side of the drill, but it shatters them effortlessly. And before the earthbenders could try again two warriors repel down the side and swiftly take out the entire team of twenty men.

Kiren groaned, "Great. Now we have to deal with the three of them again."

Ignoring the firebender General Sung flails his arms in panic, "We're doomed!"

Sokka slaps the general hard across the face, "Get a hold of yourself man!"

"You're right, I'm sorry," the general replied rubbing his cheek. He meekly approaches the avatar and pleads timidly, "Help please."

Aang nodded and walked to the edge of the wall, "The question is, how are we going to stop that thing?"

Everyone turns to Sokka and he jumps slightly, "Why are you all looking at me?"

The avatar shrugs, "You're the idea guy."

Sokka groans staring at them incredulously, "So I'm the only one who can ever come up with a plan? That's a lot of pressure," he complains.

Katara smiles, "And also the complaining guy."

"Now that," Sokka points at her "I don't mind."

Ty Lee looks through the periscope from within the command chamber of the drill, "Hey, look at that dust cloud. It's so…poofy. Poof!"

War Minister Qin looks at the girl strangely before turning to look at the royal, "Don't worry Princess. I'm sure it's nothing.

Sometime after the announcement of the drill hitting the wall of Ba Sing Se a message echoes through the communication tubes, "War Minister, an engineer was ambushed! His schematics were stolen!"

The war minister's eyes widen in shock as another message comes through, "War Minister, a brace on the starboard side has been cut clean through! It's sabotage sir!"

Azula narrows her eyes at the minister who is frozen in terror before turning towards Ty Lee and Mai, "Let's go ladies."

Kiren looks around suspiciously as Katara and Aang finish cutting through another brace. Where were the guards? Surely they would have noticed the sabotage by now.

"Good work Team Avatar" Sokka encouraged. "Now Aang just needs to…..DUCK!"

He ducks and covers just in time to avoid a blast of blue flame. Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee run out onto another massive girder well above the group.

"Wow Azula you were right, it is the Avatar." Ty Lee gushed before smiling seductively at Sokka, "…and friends."

Sokka smiles vacantly, "Hey."

Katara marches past angrily and yanks the boy into a passageway.

"Well hello there princess," Kiren smirked. "Fancy seeing you here, do you come here often?"

Azula glares back at the girl, "Your hilarious Kiren."

The older firebender grins widely at the royal before sauntering away, "Bye princess."

"Follow them," Azula ordered. "The Avatar is mine."

Kiren reaches the water siblings and whispers urgently, "Go towards the rear of the drill and exit that way. I'm going back the way we came, I'll grab pipsqueak and meet you there."

Turning, the trio split paths. Kiren spun around and ran past Ty Lee and Mai and back out onto the girders before leaping a good twenty feet down to a lower one.

Azula slides down the huge drill and drops down beside a slurry drenched Ty Lee and scowls at the drill. With the final blow delivered to the top of the drill by the Avatar the entire machine had shut down. A steaming hatch opened in the rear of the drill, revealing a somber Mai.

"We lost."