One they were a safe distance from the Dai Li, Amaya had landed Appa on a spire of rock jutting from the water. Toph, Katara, and Sokka had quickly dismounted and were planning, but Amaya was still with Appa. She had sprawled out across the top of his head, and was telling him about everything he had missed, even whispering the bits about Zuko into his ear while she half listened to Katara and Sokka fight over what to do with next.
"Look, we escaped the Dai Li, we got Appa back, I'm telling you, we should go tell the Earth King about our plan now. We're on a roll!"
"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll," Katara pointed out.
"We can build on it!" Sokka insisted. "If we're going to invade the Fire Nation by the eclipse then we need the Earth King's support."
"What makes you think we'll get it?" Toph challenged suddenly. "From what I've seen, things don't usually go that well for our little gang."
"Toph's right," Katara supported. "Long Feng and his conspiracy go too deep for us to fight. I say we just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind us. Besides, Amaya can barely stand!"
"I'm with sweetness," Toph agreed. "I've seen enough of Be Sing Se and I can't even see!"
Amaya jumped, landing beside Sokka. "I'm fine," she insisted, but everyone could see her shaking knees and the dark circles under her eyes. She was pale and looked more like a drug addict suffering from withdrawal than a girl ready to face a king and tell him his advisors were corrupt. "We have Appa now, there's nothing stopping us from telling the Earth King about everything, the war and the conspiracy. This is our best shot at winning the war, and unless you want to try conquering an entire country just the four of us, we need help!"
"See, Amaya's with me!" Sokka grinned. "It's the whole reason we came to Ba Sing Se in the first place."
"Well, I guess if the king knew the truth, things could change," Katara admitted. Toph jumped up.
"I don't trust the new positive Sokka. Long Feng brainwashed you, didn't he?"
"No," Amaya said, shaking her head. "But I found him." She pointed out over the water at the three junks patrolling the lake in tight formation.
"That's probably Long Feng's men looking for us," Sokka said. "We have so move. So?" he asked Katara.
"Let's fly," Katara said determinedly. Amaya grinned and leapt onto Appa. It had been a while since she flew without tack, but she thought she did pretty well, considering the circumstances.
"Can we please buy a saddle? Flying bareback is terrifying!"
Toph, it seemed, didn't agree.
"There it is," Sokka said, pointing to the complex in front of them. "The whole thing is the palace. The Earth King's chambers are probably somewhere in the middle."
"We should be careful," Katara cautioned. "Long Feng has probably warned the king that we're coming."
"Why would you think that?" Sokka snorted. "I bet we'll just sail right in, and… Ah!"
"What was that?" Toph demanded fearfully as Amaya swerved to avoid the flying rocks.
"Flying rocks!" Amaya shouted back. "Katara was right, we're under attack!"
And the funny thing was, Long Feng might have succeeded in keeping them back… if he hadn't made Amaya practically flame with anger. She had never truly hated anyone before, not like she hated Long Feng now. He had taken Appa, had nearly taken Jet's life, and was unknowingly helping Ozai defeat Ba Sing Se.
Amaya thrust out hand with a snarl and it shattered into dust. She didn't even feel tired anymore. Instead, she was running on anger. This must be how Zuko had felt for so long. How had he maintained this for so long? She felt a flicker of pity for him as she jumped and sliced another missile down the middle, sending the halves spiraling around them. She perched gracefully on Appa's horn and then kicked off, landing hard on the ground. A shockwave rippled out, flinging the soldiers assembled in front of them back. The leader was the only one who remained seated atop his ostrich horse. Appa landed in front of him and snarled. His mount threw him and raced away fearfully.
Soldiers lined the walkway as they made their way towards the stairs into the palace. They fired stone cubes towards them. Sokka and Katara hung back close to Appa as Toph and Amaya took the lead, deflecting and destroying every missile. Katara brought out her water and whipped the lines of soldiers back, apologizing the whole way. A phalanx came towards them and Toph took over, lifting the stone paving slabs beneath their feet and flipping them over, pinning the soldiers.
"Sorry!" Katara called as they ran around the soldiers. "We just need to get in to see the Earth King!"
"Katara, that's not helping!" Amaya snapped, then yelped as she saw huge stone statues flying towards them. She and Toph moved the small paving stones, forming a bunker over them. The statues shattered and Amaya winced at the noise, lowering it as Katara took off. She iced a slide in front of her and slid out across the moat, grabbing water from below and landing, twirling the water and knocking a line of soldiers into the drink. She stretched the water across both arms and spun, snagging the leg of one soldier and swiping the rest of them away as the others came across the bridge.
Now they faced the soldiers pouring out of the palace down the stairs and boulders falling from levels above. Toph stepped forwards and Amaya could tell from the determined look on her face to stay back. Toph jerked her arms and the tall staircase was suddenly a slide, the stairs snapping into one long chute. Soldiers went for a long ride as Toph and Amaya worked together, ripping up a section of the stonework under them to use as a platform. They rode it to the top of the stairs, soldiers falling around them all the way.
"Seriously, we're on you guy's side!" Sokka swore. "Sorry!"
They reached the top and Toph and Amaya each took a side, raising a wall and shoving it, pushing the soldiers back as they raced inside through the long hall in front of them. They reached a room with four passageways, one way they had just come through, the other three spilling soldiers.
"Toph, which way to the Earth King?" Sokka asked.
"How should I know?" she snapped. "I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se."
Amaya, Toph, and Katara kept the soldiers back with their respective bending strengths as Sokka ran from door to door, checking for a way that seemed promising.
"Any time now would be great Sokka!" Katara snapped.
"I'm trying!" Sokka insisted as he peered inside a door.
"Burglar!" shrieked the woman inside before fainting.
"Sorry, wrong door!" Sokka apologized, closing the door behind him.
Amaya froze.
Zuko was standing in a shabby but clean apartment, dressed in his Blue Spirit disguise, minus the mask. Or perhaps standing was too nice a term. He was swaying dangerously. He pitched forwards and crashed into a table, knocking off a vase that shattered on the ground. The table supported him only for a moment before it collapsed and he hit the ground.
"Zuko!" Iroh yelled, rushing for him.
"Amaya, come on!" Katara shouted. Amaya unfroze.
"Grab onto something!" she ordered. Everyone followed her cue and Amaya began to spin, arms wide. A tornado appeared around her, picking up soldiers, loose bits of rubble, and decorations and slamming them into walls. Amaya dropped to the ground and Sokka clambered over a pile of wreckage.
"Now that's an impressive door!" he called down, staring at the green and gold monstrosity. "It's got to lead somewhere!"
Toph shot herself over the rubble on a stone platform. Amaya grabbed Katara under the arms and jumped, hauling her over with them. Sokka leapt at the door, trying to kick it open, but the door didn't even shake as he slid to the ground. Amaya and Toph ran forwards, attacking with their respective elements and blasted the doors off their hinges, Sokka flying with them.
"Some warning next time!" Sokka demanded. Katara pulled him to his feet as they ran past and the four assembled in a line before the Earth King. Long Feng stood furiously in front of him, a line of Dai Li stretched before the throne.
"We need to talk," Amaya said sharply as everyone stood ready with their weapons.
"Your Majesty, they are here to overthrow you!" Long Feng said.
"We're on your side!" Sokka insisted.
"You invade my palace, take out my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?" the Earth King asked, rising furiously. He still didn't cut an impressive figure, with his skinny arms and thin build. He looked much more like a bespectacled scholar, and they would have easily mistaken him for such had he not been wearing royal robes.
"He's got a point," Toph said.
"If you're really my allies, you drop your weapons!" the Earth King bargained. Amaya hissed as she threw down her glider. Toph dropped her boulder, Sokka his machete, and Katara sucked her water back into its canteen.
"There, see?" Sokka asked. "We're your allies!"
"We're friendly, your Majesty," Amaya said with a curtsey.
"Detain the invaders!" Long Feng ordered. The Dai Li stepped forwards and suddenly they all had their hands tied behind their backs by the signature stone hands the Dai Li favored.
"But we dropped our weapons!" Sokka said angrily. "We're your allies!"
"See that the Avatar and her friends never see the light of day!" Long Feng said triumphantly. The Earth king paused.
"The Avatar," he said, looking at Katara. "You're the Avatar?"
"Not me, Amaya," Katara said, gesturing towards Amaya, who held up her hands, easily fracturing the hands.
"Here!" Amaya grinned.
"Your Majesty, what does it matter?" Long Feng said as Amaya held her hands up in plain sight, even though she let the remains of the hands hit the ground. "They are enemies of the state."
"Perhaps you are right," the king said, though his looked unsure. Amaya giggled as the furry nose of a bear snuffled her hips. She dropped to her knees, grinning, and rubbed him happily.
"But Bosco seems to like her!" the king grinned, as if that fixed everything. "I will hear them out!"
Well, maybe it did fix everything.
Amaya stepped forwards, Bosco following her in the hope of more petting. Amaya grinned fondly at the animal and rubbed his stubby ears as she talked.
"Well your Majesty," Amaya began. "There's a war going on now. In fact, it's been going on for a century, since I… er, left. The Dai Li have kept it secre in an attempt to control both you and the city."
"A secret war?" the Earth King blinked. "That's crazy!"
"Completely," Long Feng sneered.
"The Dai Li didn't want us to tell you so they stole our sky bison. Long Feng blackmailed us in an attempt to keep us quiet!" Amaya accused. "And blackmail is the least of what he's done! He brainwashed our friend Jet and tried to make him kill me!"
"All lies," Long Feng said to the king. "Your Majesty, I've never even seen a sky bison. Frankly I thought they were extinct."
The Earth King sat down again, pondering. "Your claim is difficult to believe, even from an Avatar."
Long Feng leaned forwards and whispered in the king's ear, but his eyes never left their quartet. When he drew back with a smug smile, the king began to speak.
"I must listen to my advisor," the king said finally.
"What?" Amaya shrieked as she felt stone close around her wrists once again. The Dai Li behind them began leading them towards the door.
"Wait!" Sokka yelled suddenly, wheeling around. "I can prove Long Feng is lying! He said he's never seen a sky bison, right? Have him lift his robe!"
"What?" Long Feng demanded, but he seemed less confident now. "I am not disrobing!"
The king seemed a bit suspicious, so Amaya hurried it along. She inhaled deeply and blasted air at Long Feng. His robe flew up, revealing deep purple bruises in the shape of teeth around his ankle.
"Appa bit him!" Amaya said. "Right there, you can see!"
"That happens to be a very large birth mark," Long Feng said sharply, shoving his robe down. "Thanks for showing everyone."
"I guess there's no way to prove where those marks came from," the king said.
"Of course there is," Sokka disagreed.
"Yip yip!" Amaya called, and Appa charged into the room. The Dai Li scattered fearfully and Amaya held up her hands. "Easy boy, hold still." She tickled under his chin and Appa opened his mouth wide. "See his teeth?" Amaya said. The king came forwards, examining them curiously. Amaya walked over to Long Feng and yanked up his robe, ignoring his protests and pointing to his bite. "See the mark? It's a match!"
"Yeah, that pretty much proves it," the king submitted.
"Whoo!"
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory."
"Aw."
"I suppose it's worth looking into now."
"Eh?"
Long Feng trudged out of the room with his Dai Li agents, glaring at Amaya hatefully. She waved and stuck out her tongue, grinning.
"We can prove that too!" Sokka said. "We'll take him to the Dai Li's secret headquarters!"
"So this is a train. I didn't know it would be this… public."
"You've never been outside the upper ring before?" Katara asked.
"Oh, I've never been outside the palace before," the king nodded matter of factly. He looked out the window to where Amaya was flying with Momo on her head. "Now that's the way to travel! Where are we going exactly?"
"To Lake Laogai," Sokka said. "Under it actually, to the Dai Li's secret headquarters. You're about to see where all the brain-washing took place."
"It's gone!" Toph shouted as the shattered tunnel appeared on the surface of the lake.
"The Dai Li must have destroyed it when they heard we were coming!" Katara insisted, seeing that they were losing the Earth King.
"That seems awfully convenient," he said suspiciously.
"This just proves that there's a conspiracy even more," Sokka said.
"Long Feng was right, this was a waste of time," Kuei said. "If you don't mind, I'm going back to my palace."
"The wall," Amaya said softly.
"What?" Sokka asked.
"They'll never be able to clean up the wall in time," Amaya said. "There's too much to repair."
"That's genius!" Sokka praised. Amaya smirked.
"Been known to happen."
"King Kuei," Amaya said, landing in front of him and owing. The king drew back in surprise and looked down his nose at her.
"What?" he asked. "Another conspiracy you'd like me to look into?"
"My humblest apologies," Amaya said, still bowing. "We were clearly badly misinformed. I'm terribly sorry for making you come all this way. Perhaps, as an apology, I could take you back to the city personally, on Appa."
The Earth King grinned. "I could do that."
"Your Majesty, without your soldiers?" one of the guards asked.
Amaya smiled. "Oh, you all will fit too."
Amaya grinned as the heard the Earth King yelling behind her.
"First time flying?" Toph asked.
"It's both thrilling and terrifying," he said.
"Yeah, I hate it too," Toph said.
"I must admit," King Kuei said. "Part of me is glad that what you told me about the war wasn't true."
"Oh, it was," Amaya said firmly. "I wish it wasn't true. But now I'm taking you to prove it."
"What?" Kuei demanded angrily. "I thought you were taking me back to the city."
"That's the sad part," Amaya said, turning to face him. "I am. You see?"
She pointed as the outer wall came into view. A barrier had been erected around the drill, preventing anyone from getting close, but workers had already assembled scaffoldings around it, ready to start repairs.
"What is that?" Kuei asked in horror.
"A drill," Sokka filled in. "A giant drill, made by the Fire Nation to bore through your walls."
Amaya took them down on the edge of the wall and they all got off. King Kuei went slowly to the edge and looked down. Glaring up at him was the Fire Nation insignia.
"I can't believe… I never knew," he said softly, shaking his head.
"Your Majesty, I can explain."
Amaya snarled and turned as Long Feng rose up beside them with a group of Dai Li.
"Go ahead and try to explain this one away," Amaya challenged. "I dare you."
"It's simply a construction project."
"With the Fire Nation emblem on it?" Katara said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's imported! You can't trust domestic machinery, you know," Long Feng said. It was clear though that the king was convinced without a shadow of a doubt. "Your Majesty, you aren't really going to believe children over your most loyal and trusted advisor?"
Kuei looked at all the faces surrounding him, and then decided. "Dai Li, take Long Feng into custody. I want him to stand trial for crimes against the state."
The Dai Li hesitated for a moment, and then cuffs shot from their robe and circled his wrists. He was yanked into the grip of his subordinates.
"You can't arrest me, you need me more than you know!" Long Feng shouted as he was dragged away.
"Looks like Long Feng is long gone!" Sokka called. Amaya smacked him.
"Gloating is tacky," she said loftily. A grin slipped over her face. "But in this case, totally justified."
"I can't believe I didn't know about this. You fuur have truly opened my eyes," King Kuei said, sitting on his throne. Bosco was subdued, lying at his master's feet. He seemed to sense his mood. "What I thought was a great metropolis was merely a city of fools. That makes me the king fool. We're at war. With the Fire Nation."
"That's why we came to Ba Sing Se," Sokka said encouragingly, stepping forwards. "We think you can help us and the war."
"There's a comet coming," Amaya said, moving to Sokka's side. "At the end of summer, it's energy will grant the Firebenders unbelievable power. They'll be unstoppable."
"But there is hope," Sokka continued.
"Literally and figuratively," Amaya muttered.
"Before then, we have a window of opportunity. A solar eclipse. The sun will be completely obscured and the Firebenders will be helpless."
"What are you suggesting Sokka?" the king asked.
"That's the day we attack the Fire Nation. The Day of Black Sun."
"That would involve moving countless troops out of the city," Kuei mused. "We'd be vulnerable!"
"Sir, with all due respect, would you be any more vulnerable than you have been up until now?" Amaya asked. "Your walls have kept them out up until now, but as you saw today, they won't hold long. Ba Sing se is the only major city left. Even Omashu has fallen and King Bumi has been taken prisoner."
"You have two choices, your Majesty," Sokka said. "You can either sit here and wait for the Fire Nation to destroy you, or attack and give yourselves a fighting chance."
"Very well," Kuei decided. "You have my support!"
"Whoo!"
"Your Majesty," said a man as he came into the throne room and knelt before the monarch.
"This is General Han, one of the Council of Five, my highest-ranking generals."
"We found files in Long Feng's office that I think would interest everybody here," the general said, standing.
The Earth King sat at a table with Amaya and co. around him.
"This box contains files on everyone in Ba Sing Se," Han said. "Including you," he added, gesturing to the teens.
Kuei reached into the box and pulled out a scroll. "Toph Bei Fong," he read. He handed it to Toph, who passed it to Katara. She unrolled the scroll and scanned it.
"It's a letter from your mom!" Katara said in amazement. "She's in the city and she wants to see you!"
"Long Feng intercepted our mail?" Toph snorted, shaking her head. "That's just sad."
"Amaya," he said, handing her a scroll. "This was on the horn of your bison when the Dai Li found him."
"From the Eastern Air Temple!" Amaya grinned as she read.
"I don't suppose there's anything for us?" Katara asked.
"No," Kuei said, shaking his head.
"But there's an intelligence report that might interest you," Han said, bringing a scroll from his belt and handing it to them. Katara unrolled it eagerly and began reading.
"A small fleet of Water Tribe ships," Katara read.
"That could be dad!" Sokka cheered.
"Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay… Lead by Hakoda! It is dad!" Katara beamed.
"A letter from the Eastern Air Temple," Amaya smiled as they settled on the rug in the Library. Kuei had left them to do kingly things and get the ball rolling on their attack, as well as to start undoing the damage Long Feng had done to the people's psyche. "There's a man there, he says he's a guru!"
"What's a guru?" Sokka asked. "Sounds like some kind of poisonous blowfish."
"A guru is a spiritual expert," Amaya snorted. "He says he knows about the Avatar State, and he can teach me to control it!"
"And we know where dad is now!" Katara said, looking at the scroll in her hand happily.
"I know what you mean," Toph said. "My mom's in the city, and from the sound of her letter she finally understands me!"
"This is all such big news," Sokka said. "Where do we start?"
"I hate to say it," Katara said. "But we have to split up."
"Split up?" Amaya blinked. "But we just got our tiny dysfunctional family back together! You want us to split up again?"
"Amaya, you have to meet this guru. If we're going to defeat the Fire Nation, you have to be ready."
"I know," Amaya sighed. "I just don't' like it, is all." She perked up. "But Chameleon Bay is on the way to the Eastern Temple. I could drop you off on the way!"
"Someone has to stay behind with the Earth King and help plan for the invasion," Sokka said, standing, "I'll do it."
"No," Katara said, standing too. "I know how much you want to help dad. I'll stay, you go to Chameleon Bay."
Sokka looked at her with tears in his eyes. "You are the best sister ever!" He hugged her tightly and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Easy there big brother," Katara said, pushing him away. "Though you're right, I am."
"We can leave tomorrow, it's already getting late," Katara said.
"Okay, tomorrow it is," Sokka said. "Then to bed we go."
"I'll be there in a minute," Amaya said. "There's something I have to do first."
"What?" Toph asked. "We can help."
"No," Amaya said, shaking her head. "This is… sort of a personal thing."
"Going to say goodbye to your boyfriend?" Katara teased. Amaya gave her a harsh 'shut up!' sort of look.
"Maybe," Amaya said, standing up and raising her chin. "I'll be back soon."
"Who is this guy, Amaya?" Sokka asked. "You didn't tell us."
"No one," Amaya said, perching on the window and unfolding her glider. She jumped and soared away.
"Do you know who it is?" Sokka asked Katara, who grinned proudly.
"Maybe."
"Who is it?" Sokka asked eagerly.
"Not telling," Katara said, sticking her tongue out.
"Come on, give me something. Do I know him?"
"Not telling."
Amaya was fading fast. In fact, she was close to passing out. With all the action of the day over, healing Jet, running from the Dai Li, invading the palace, and proving Long Feng's guilt, all with no sleep, she was running on empty and she still had a job to do.
Zuko was standing in a shabby but clean apartment, dressed in his Blue Spirit disguise, minus the mask. Or perhaps standing was too nice a term. He was swaying dangerously. He pitched forwards and crashed into a table, knocking off a vase that shattered on the ground. The table supported him only for a moment before it collapsed and he hit the ground.
"Zuko!" Iroh yelled, rushing for him.
Amaya had pushed the vision to the back of her head, but now she had to know what was wrong with Zuko. If he was injured, she could help him, she knew. She had no idea where he lived, but a little name-dropping with the owner of the tea shop got his address. Amaya landed in a crouch on the upper level of an apartment complex. She skittered along the rail, closing her glider, and dropping in front of a door, knocking gently.
It wasn't long before the door was opened by Iroh.
"Oh, it's you," Iroh said, giving her a small, tired smile.
"Can I… come in?" Amaya asked awkwardly. She didn't know how much Iroh knew about her relationship with his nephew, but the old man always seemed on top of everything, so she'd wager a lot.
"Of course," he said, opening the door wider. Amaya stepped inside and looked around. The place was small and a bit run-down, but it was cozy, with little personal touches all over. And sprawled on a pallet by the window was Zuko.
He looked horrible, drenched in sweat and shaking, his eyes shut tight as he curled a little bit tighter. Amaya stared at him sadly, a hand pressed to her mouth to try and obscure her trembling chin. Was he hurt freeing Appa? If he was, she'd never forgive herself.
"You don't seem surprised to see him like this," Iroh said as he knelt at his nephew's side. Amaya sat on the other side, examining his face.
"I'm not," she admitted. "I don't really know how, some sort of Avatar thing I suppose, but sometimes I get these flashes, like visions, of what he's doing, where he is," she smiled. "It's comforting." Her smile fell. "But then I saw him like this. I was worried, so I… I came to see if there was anything I could do to help. What happened?"
"A spiritual crisis," Iroh said, and Amaya nodded, understanding. The monks had spoken of them occasionally, very rare occurrences where someone made a choice to do a complete one-eighty personality wise.
"Can I ask what triggered it, if that's not too personal," Amaya said.
"Certainly," Iroh nodded. "He has finally let go of his past. He no longer hunts you desperately. He was torn beneath that lake. Part of him wanted to let the bison go to you. The other part wanted to follow after it and then bring you back to the Fire Nation. He has finally decided his path."
"Not necessarily," Amaya warned. "Sometimes people revert, or a decision puts them back on their old path."
"Water," Zuko whispered hoarsely, disrupting the conversation. "Uncle, water. Please."
"You have a visitor," Iroh said as he lifted the ladle from a bucket of water at his side. He passed it to Amaya, who gently brushed his sweat-sodden bangs back from his face. Gold eyes fluttered open, dark bags hanging under them.
"Aya," Zuko said, and Amaya inhaled sharply.
"What did you say?" she asked, hardly daring to believe she'd heard that right.
"Nickname," he grunted weakly, looking up at her. "D'you mind?"
Amaya laughed softly. "No," she said, shaking her head. "I love it. It's just been a while since someone called me that. Here, drink." She raised his head and lifted the ladle to his lips. He cupped her hand and tilted the ladle towards him, guzzling the water.
"Slowly," Amaya cautioned. "You'll make yourself sick. Well, sicker."
"How'd you know I was ill?" he asked.
"How else? Avatar stuff. I knew something was wrong and I came as soon as I was free," she grinned. Her smile faded slightly. "Actually, I came for two reasons." Her eyes flicked to Iroh, who got the message and stood, leaving the room.
"Why else?" he asked.
"Well, I got this letter from a guru. He can teach me to control the Avatar State," Amaya explained. "He's… pretty far away."
"You're leaving," Zuko surmised.
"Just for a while," Amaya said hastily. "And when I come back, I expect to see you ready and waiting to try and kick my butt, mister."
"I'll work on that."
"I have to go," Amaya said sadly. "It's been a long day and I'm leaving in the morning." She leaned forwards, brushed his bangs back, and kissed his forehead. Zuko leaned up and captured her lips for a moment before lying back down.
"Hey Zuko?" Amaya said before she stood.
"Huh?"
"I think I may."
Zuko looked at her in amusement, actually managing a weak grin. "I think I may too."
"I'll see you soon," Amaya said, kissing him quickly once more before standing up.
"See you."
She left, flying back to the palace. Iroh came after she had left, grinning widely.
"You were listening, weren't you?" Zuko asked him, managing a weak glare.
"Of course," Iroh said matter of factly. "You think you may what, Zuko?"
"Nothing," Zuko muttered, rolling over. His eyes fluttered and closed. Just before he fell asleep, he muttered, "I really think I may."
Iroh grinned.
"Amaya and Sokka, I wish you a good journey," Kuei said as Amaya and Sokka prepared to leave. "Ba Sing Se owes you it's thanks."
Amaya and Sokka bowed, and he scrambled up onto Appa, eager to get going and see his father.
"You Majesty," said a messenger, running up. "There are three female warriors here to see you from Kyoshi Island."
"That's Suki!" Sokka yelped and promptly fell off Appa.
"You know these girls?" Kuei asked curiously.
"The Kyoshi Warriors are a skilled bunch of fighters. They're good friends of ours!" Sokka said.
"Then they will be welcomed as honored guests," King Kuei said. She messenger bowed and ran off.
"I'm really going to miss you guys," Toph said, hugging Katara and Amaya.
"Me too," Katara said. They all looked at Sokka, then as one they tackled him in a group hug.
"Oh, okay, I'll miss you guys. Great, we all love each other. Seriously, get off."