Disclaimer: I own no part of Avatar: The Last Airbender, nor make any money from it. This is merely a fanfiction.

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Book Four:

Air

Chapter Eight:

Arrested

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Ba Sing Se – Inner Ring – Mid-day

Mr. Beifong breathed deeply as he exited the Royal Palace. He had spent the whole morning in deep debate with the other members of the World Peace Coalition. It seemed that Fire Lord Zuko was less … flexible then the Coalition had hoped. While Zuko was more than willing to compromise on disputed territories and he had agreed to withdraw his troops from formerly occupied towns, he had completely shut down the Coalition's request to occupy Boiling Rock. That had been enough to send Representative Kohta into spiraling convulsions of rage.

While the Coalition forces argued all morning, Mr. Beifong hadn't been able to fully pay attention to the proceedings. His mind was too much on his wife and daughter back in Gao Ling. How were they faring without him? Was Toph making friends in school? Was his wife able to keep the butler and the help in line?

Mr. Beifong had upped the security in the wake of the robbery by Babubu a few weeks ago. He had outsourced a private Earth Kingdom security force to stand guard at their estate all day long. He didn't want Toph to know this, but he had them secretly tail her. Truth be told, his anxieties and fear for his daughter had only grown in the wake of the robbery, and if not by special order of the Earth King and the World Peace Coalition, he would never have left them back in Gao Ling.

But he was a politician now. He had responsibilities to the Earth Kingdom as whole and he truly believed that the Coalition was the way to bring peace back to the world. To create a prosperous – and more importantly safe – world for his daughter. After all, isn't that what every responsible parent would hope for?

"Mr. Beifong!"

His ruminations were interrupted by Representative Kohta. The older delegate was running down the steps outside of the Royal Palace behind him. Mr. Beifong bowed respectfully. "Representative."

"Things got quite heated in there, didn't they?" the representative asked.

"Yes indeed," Mr. Beifong agreed. "The requests made of the Fire Lord seemed reasonable. But I guess tensions are still high. Perhaps in time he will see things our way."

Kohta stared ahead grimly. "You seem to have higher hopes for Fire Lord Zuko than I do…"

"You don't think the Fire Lord will compromise?"

"The blood of his father, Ozai, runs through him. I think he will yet prove to be his father's son."

Mr. Beifong took this all in. "So you think he will resist efforts at peace?"

"Think clearly, Mr. Beifong. Many of us within the Coalition wanted Ozai executed. Thanks to the Avatar and that stupid Prophet dangling from the Earth King's arm, he was spared. And Zuko simply takes him back to the Fire Nation? And we on the Coalition are just supposed to believe that Zuko has him locked up? No, one way or another, Zuko is carrying out his father's orders. And there's another thing that's been troubling me …"

"And what's that?"

"The Fire Princess – Azula – just so happens to escape the night before the Victory Day Parade? No scorch marks on the wall? No sign of a struggle? And I'm not the only one who's voiced these concerns … others feel someone on the inside let her out …"

"But who?"

The muscles in Kohta's jaw tightened. "The Fire Nation has many talons to its claw it would seem … even among the Coalition."

This struck Mr. Beifong. "You think someone within the Coalition is working with Ozai to sabotage the Coalition?"

"I don't wish to make any accusations." Kohta held out his hands defensively. "And this talk is best suited in private, where there's no chance of being overheard …"

The two reached the bottom step of the palace. Kohta stopped and looked at him seriously. "There's something going on, Mr. Beifong. Something strange is afoot and I don't know who to trust. I hand-picked you to join me as a member of the Coalition, but now, with the current circumstances, I have to know that I can trust you. I have to."

Placing his hand on the older man's shoulder, Mr. Beifong said, "You can trust me. I would never do anything to jeopardize the peace. So many children have grown up for the past century knowing nothing but war. I don't want that for my daughter, or any other child for that matter."

Kohta patted Mr. Beifong's hand. "That was all I needed to hear. I trust you, Mr. Beifong. I saw the love you have for your daughter … I was a fool to think you would jeopardize her future."

As they continued walking, they were interrupted by the sound of marching. "Mr. Beifong!"

There were two Earth Kingdom soldiers. Standing in between them was Lieutenant Sen. Mr. Beifong bowed before them. "Good morning, Lieutenant."

Sen pointed at him and nodded. Before Mr. Beifong knew what had hit him, metal cuffs were slapped onto his wrists. He looked up in befuddlement. "What is the meaning of this?"

Lieutenant Sen stood there resolute. "Lao Beifong – you are under arrest!"

Mr. Beifong was speechless. "Under what charges?"

"Aiding and abetting the escape of Long Feng …"

"What? That's outrageous!"

Kohta wasn't taking this standing down. "Lieutenant – I trust Mr. Beifong implicitly. If you are going to arrest a Coalition delegate, you better have some pretty darn solid evidence to -."

He was cut short as Lieutenant Sen produced a small piece of parchment … one bearing the Beifong family crest. "The guard that was watching Long Feng told us that someone bearing the Beifong family crest requested to see the prisoner – in private. When the guard returned, Long Feng was long gone. We interrogated the guard … but he mysteriously was poisoned shortly after. An investigation into his death is already underfoot. Only someone on the inside of the Coalition had access to the guard … only they could have slipped something into his food before we could get further information out of him." Sen looked down at the crest he was holding. "Sure enough, the guard's words checked out. We found the crest tossed aside near the prison cell …" His eyes bore into Mr. Beifong's. "You got sloppy, Mr. Beifong. But now you will tell us where Long Feng is!"

Mr. Beifong looked over helplessly at Kohta. "Representative Kohta … do something! I have no idea what he's talking about!"

Kohta's eyes misted over. It was as though he were seeing Mr. Beifong for the first time. "… I trusted you …"

Mr. Beifong was incredulous. "Surely you don't believe -."

Kohta shook his head. "Your actions will have brought incalculable harm to the Coalition. One of our own delegates, freeing Long Feng, conspiring to who knows what? I have no patience for anyone who would destabilize the Coalition. And after you told me I could trust you …" Kohta straightened himself up and stared hard at Lieutenant Sen. "Take him away."

The guards began dragging Mr. Beifong away. "Kohta!" he pleaded. "Please! I'm innocent! I was with you! Somehow this is a mistake, a big mistake!"

"The only mistake," Kohta said as the guards led Mr. Beifong away, "was selecting you to join me on the Coalition." He turned and walked away, deafening himself to Mr. Beifong's desperate pleas.

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"Move!" Twigs grazed the two teenagers as they darted through the thick woods. "Hurry! I think she's gaining on us!" The smaller teen, with a bowl-style haircut, spared a nervous glance behind her. "What is that thing?"

Her partner remained silent, stern-faced as they darted over the dry logs.

"You kids think you can play hooky on my watch! I don't think so! Get your miserable carcasses back here!" The screeching voice tore into their heads.

The taller teenager stopped. He looked at the girl and shook his head silently. He gestured for her to keep moving. She protested. "I'm not leaving you behind."

He turned, and pulled a bow over his shoulder, his fingers grazing the fletched arrows slung over his back. He motioned for a tree.

The girl nodded. "An ambush … I like it." She deftly sprinted up the side of a tree, jumping from branch to branch, like a pig-monkey.

The taller teenager pulled back the arrow on the bow's twine, one eye closed, staring at the clearing.

Nothing came.

There was silence. Were they no longer being pursued?

For seconds they waited with bated breath. The girl poked her head out from the leaves. "Is … is she gone?"

The boy shook his head.

"GOTCHA!"

The ground behind the boy exploded in a mixture of dirt and rock, and the boy was thrown off his feet. Before he knew what hit him, rocky bindings shot up from the ground, cuffing his hands.

He stared hard at his captor. Green smock. Pointed teeth. And her hair pulled back in a severe bun.

Miss Grungy gloated as she pressed a booted foot onto his chest. "Now, where's your little friend? The boy with the ugly haircut?"

Someone dropped from the tree above. "I AM A GIRL!" Smellerbee held a knife up to Miss Grungy's throat, and the muscular woman thrashed recklessly.

"Threatening a truant officer? I should hand you over to the Constable! But why, when I can have more fun?" Miss Grungy flashed a toothy grin, before she stomped her foot into the ground. Using Earthbending to accelerate, she turned the ground into a conveyor belt, bashing her back – and Smellerbee – into the trunk of a tree. The Freedom Fighter groaned, and her jagged blade went flying yards away. Reaching behind her, Miss Grungy caught Smellerbee by the scruff of her neck and held her out. With a stomp of her foot, earthen handcuffs clasped onto Smellerbee's hands before the truant officer threw her next to her partner, Longshot.

"Looks like a mighty fine catch for me today. You two will get the punishment of a lifetime when we get back to school!"

"But that's what we tried telling you earlier!" protested Smellerbee. "We don't go to your school! We don't go to school period!"

"Save your empty protests," Miss Grungy sneered. "Nobody pulls one over on me – you can count on me as a human lie detector." Her wide lips drew close to Smellberbee's ear, and the Freedom Fighter tried to scoot backwards from the rancid smell of corned beef.

"You can join the other delinquents in detention. We're all going to have so much fun together!"

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"Mom, I'm leaving!"

Mrs. Beifong waved goodbye to her daughter as she exited the front gates of the estate. "Bye, honey! Remember, your father is coming back in a few days! Try not to get into anymore trouble! You want him to return to hear you've been good, don't you!"

Toph waved at her as she passed. "No promises!" She took off running, already very nearly late.

Mrs. Beifong stood in the doorway, watching as her daughter disappeared into the distance. She smiled warmly to herself, before turning back towards the house.

She stopped as she found her way blocked by two of the Earth Kingdom guards her husband had hired. The guard's eyes had been shielded by wide-brimmed hats, but they wore the uniforms of Earth Kingdom bodyguards. "Yes?" she asked, mild concern rising in her voice. "Is there a problem?"

"We need to take you in to the Constable for questioning," the one responded.

"Questioning? For what? And you don't have that authority – you work for me and my husband." There was a sinking feeling in her stomach.

"As of this morning, we have been relieved from your family's employ. We now work directly for Lieutenant Sen of Ba Sing Se. Your husband has been arrested for treason."

"What?! This is outrageous!"

The two guards punched their fists forward, and rocky gauntlets shot from their sleeves, handcuffing Mrs. Beifong.

And that's when she realized the private bodyguards hired by her husband were not bodyguards at all.

They were Dai Li.

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Toph was reflecting on her new life as she made the commute to school that morning.

She had somewhat adjusted to her new life back home, the daily routine of school. Several of her classmates had warmed up to her, though Hadok was still obnoxious as ever. Nevertheless, there were some things that remained unchanged.

In the wake of the Babubu incident, Toph's father had increased security. He had hired an outside security team to guard the estate, and though he swore he hadn't, Toph knew that he had ordered them to tail her. She could sense them.

It was nice having more leeway from her parents, but she supposed some old habits were harder to break. Besides, she could take having guards trailing her from a distance much better than being locked down at home, 24/7. The new rules suited her just fine.

Toph had managed to keep her nose clean in school and was even seeing improved grades. She had been successful in steering clear of Hadok for the past few days. She had thought that they had somewhat bonded in their clash with Xin Fu and Babubu, but Hadok still persisted on antagonizing her. She resisted the temptation to bend his face into a wall, and even managed to avoid him in between classes.

That streak was about to end.

"Long time, no see Lovey-poo!"

Toph facepalmed, whirling around as Hadok got in her face. "What do you want, Hamdock?"

Hadok beat around the bush. "Oh nothing, just that I heard some really juicy news from my father about your father. Messenger hawk just came in to my mother this morning."

Toph grabbed him by the shirt. "Spill it."

"You didn't say please, Lovey-poo!"

Toph was not in a patient mood. "Okay – please!" She stomped her foot, and the next thing Hadok knew, he was neck deep in the ground, heading jutting up. She placed her foot on the top of his head. "You better spill the goods now, or the school will be picking what's left of you from every crevice!"

"Okay, fine, geez just let me out."

Toph stomped her foot again, and Hadok shot out of the ground like a cork, landing on his rear. Rubbing his backside and scowling, he muttered – "Your dad's in prison!"

"What? Say that again, and I'll bury you all the way this time!" She made to move past him.

"I'm not making it up," he swore. "Use your Earthbending, don't you pride yourself on being a human lie detector?"

Toph stood with her back to him, head bowed. "What are the charges?"

Hadok shrugged. "Something about aiding and abetting some criminal in Ba Sing Se … the Earth King's former Secretariat … Lee Sheng or something like that …"

Toph whirled around and grabbed him by the shirt. "Long Feng? Was that the name?" Her eyes were frenzied. She began shaking him. "Is it?!"

"Yes, yes, something like that! Apparently your dad freed him …"

Toph dropped him where he stood. "No. My dad wouldn't … he must've been set up." She scooped up her bag of books and rushed past Hadok. "I have to get home … I have to tell my mother!"

"And where do you think you're going?" came a harsh voice.

Toph stopped in her tracks. "Oh boy, not her!"

Miss Grungy stormed up to her. "I saw you assault that boy," she hissed, pointing to Hadok, who sneered at Toph. "I knew it was only a matter of time before you screwed up again, Beifong! Detention!"

Toph threw her books down on the ground. "I have to get home! My father -!"

"- will be very disappointed in your actions," Miss Grungy hissed. "But perhaps the criminal element runs in families. Oh yes," she sneered, seeing the shocked look on Toph's face. "The entire Earth Kingdom will have heard about your father's arrest by now. The headmaster received a messenger hawk this morning. The entire World Peace Coalition is shocked – freeing a sworn enemy of the Earth King."

"My father is innocent, if you would just let me -."

"Like father, like daughter," Miss Grungy hissed, lifting Toph by the nape of her neck. "You'll have plenty of time to reflect on your father's sentence during your own hard time – detention!"

"You have three seconds to let me go!" Toph yelled. She was past her breaking point. "I have to get home, I have to talk to my mother, and I have to prove my father's innocence!"

Miss Grungy lifted Toph so they were face-to-face. Flecks of spit hit the blind Earthbender and Miss Grungy stated each word with delight. "Try it. You make the first move. I already caught two hooligans out in the woods this morning. Please, Miss Beifong – do something reckless. Let me relive my Earth Rumble glory days!"

She tossed Toph to the ground and squatted into a fighting stance. Toph stood up. She was well past her breaking point.

Miss Grungy continued. "And while we're at it, I hear your mother has been taken in for questioning."

Toph blinked. "My mom?"

"What will they do to your mother when they hear you've assaulted a school official? What will become of you? To the orphanage for troubled children, no doubt!"

"Where are they holding her?" she demanded.

"She's probably on her way to Ba Sing Se by now … perhaps she can share a cell with your traitorous father." Miss Grungy's frog-like mouth grew wider. "Of course, the Constable has given me a special task – to ensure you do not leave Gao Ling. So fight me all you want – but you're not going anywhere but to detention and then an orphanage! And if you dare fight me, it'll only make your parent's situation more dire. So would you like to try me some more?"

Toph would have loved nothing more than to pummel the woman right then and there. But no – if she struck a school official it would only complicate her parent's arrest all the more. She would have to think of a more effective, subtle plan.

She lowered her head. "No. No I wouldn't."

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Ba Sing Se – Upper Ring – Mid Day

"Steady. Steady."

Uncle Iroh was watching in the shadows of an alley with his new friend, waiting for the precise moment to strike. He had heard that Toph's father had been arrested for the escape of Long Feng. But if his new friend from the Order of the White Lotus was right, then he was just the fall guy.

Iroh had tried going to the Earth King's palace, to let the Coalition Members know that Mr. Beifong was innocent.

He was not allowed in. Despite his record in saving Ba Sing Se, he was not a member of the Coalition. The guards had turned him away, despite his protests on behalf of Toph's father.

And when he heard that the guard who fingered Mr. Beifong turned up dead, he knew it was only a matter of time before Mr. Beifong perished under mysteriously similar circumstances.

And so now it was time for Plan B.

They stood in the alleyway as Lieutenant Sen and two Earth Kingdom soldiers led Mr. Beifong into an unmarked cart drawn by two ostrich-horses.

Iroh turned to his new friend and nodded. "Okay, move into position."

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"But I'm innocent," Mr. Beifong protested. The two guards shoved him into the carriage, and then sat on either side of him.

Sitting across from him was a man with his head wrapped up, similar to a Sandbender. Lieutenant Sen sat next to them. The man unwrapped his head coverings and Mr. Beifong gasped.

"You!"

Long Feng sneered. "I apologize for the rough accommodations, Representative Beifong. After all, you so kindly freed me from my prison!" The former Secretariat winked at Lieutenant Sen.

It clicked in Mr. Beifong's mind. He gestured with his cuffed hands to Sen. "You set me up!"

Long Feng grinned. "There was a time, Mr. Beifong, when the very walls of Ba Sing Se opened and closed at my command. I determined who entered the city. I determined what news was heard. The newspapers only printed what I allowed them to print. Only those stories that kept the Earth King in perpetual ignorance could be distributed. There was no war in Ba Sing Se."

Mr. Beifong grit his teeth. "The truth will get out this time! You put me on trial, I'll expose both of you!"

Long Feng pretended not to hear him. "But those days will soon return. Indeed, they are even here now. Lieutenant Sen has some very powerful friends. The Court rules all."

Mr. Beifong was shocked. "The … the what?"

"You have heard rumors of a secret society – the Order of the White Lotus. But what if I told you there was a ruling council inside of that Order? One that controls the White Lotus order without them even knowing it. An Inner Court, while the Outer Court of the Order of the White Lotus is kept in perpetual ignorance of its existence … as I once kept the Earth King in perpetual ignorance of the war."

"You're insane!"

"I speak the truth," Long Feng smirked. "I should know … Lieutenant Sen inducted me recently. I now sit on the Court … a member of the true ruling power in the world. You are in politics, Mr. Beifong. You should know better than anyone how the real-world works …"

"Why don't you fill me in?" Mr. Beifong spat.

"The truth, Mr. Beifong, is that there are never two sides to any conflict. There is always a third side. A third side funding both sides. They determine which of the two sides wins."

Long Feng's grin grew more demonic.

"No matter which side comes out the victor, it is the third side that always wins!"

Now it was Lieutenant Sen's turn to speak up. "The war is over, but the Avatar has not won. By defeating the Fire Lord, the Avatar has defeated the world. The Court has determined the Fire Nation to be the victor in the war. The Avatar has secured the Fire Nation's victory."

"You're mad," Mr. Beifong replied. "The both of you. You're spitting mad!" His fingers curled into fists on his lap. "Neither one of you will get away with this! I'll expose you both!"

"You will not get the chance," Long Feng replied calmly, observing his nails. "You will be found in your cell before you can testify. Your guard will have taken a quick break. They will find you in your cell, hanging from your bedsheets. Unable to live with the guilt of what you've done, you'll have taken your own life. A tragedy, no doubt." The former Secretariat leaned forward. "We have won. The Avatar has defeated the world for us. Our victory is at hand. The Court has its men everywhere. We have infiltrated your ranks. We have raised vast private armies. We have poisoned Chief Arnook. Put a more controllable puppet in his place to throw the Water Tribes into Civil War. The remaining nations will follow. When the time is right, we will destroy the Fire Nation capital. We will destroy the Earth King's Palace … and before all of Ba Sing Se, I will personally execute the Earth King!"

"People will lose hope," Sen continued. "The World Peace Coalition will be left in tatters. Seeing the Coalition powerless to stop these strikes, will cause the people to lose faith in its leadership. It will be dissolved. The war will continue. Nothing will stop our ascent."

Long Feng wrapped his head back up, disguising his face. He nodded to Sen, before exiting the cart.

Lieutenant Sen turned to the Earth Kingdom guards. "Let's move." The guards exited the carriage and sat on the driver's seat, taking up the reins of the ostrich-horses. They flicked the reins.

But the problem was, a cart full of cabbages had rolled into their path, blocking their way…

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"Fresh cabbages! Ten coins a bushel!" The Cabbage Merchant grinned as he held up two cabbages from his cart.

Lieutenant Sen leaned out the window to his two guards. "Get this joker out of here!"

The two guards slid off the carriage, cracking their knuckles. The Cabbage Man didn't stop smiling. "Good morning, my good sirs. I can see that you two are in desperate need of ruffage. Just look at your greasy skin. And my, those bags under your eyes! And those nasty eye crusts!" The one guard wiped his face nervously, checking for grease. The other pulled down his eyelid, checking for eye crusts. The Cabbage Merchant hummed merrily as he began stacking cabbages in a bag for them.

Lieutenant Sen had had it up to here with this nuisance. "What is taking so long?" he groused as he stormed out of the carriage. "We don't want any of your lousy produce, old man!"

The Cabbage Merchant was utterly offended. "Look here, bub! I grow only the finest produce this side of the Earth Kingdom!"

"I don't care if your cabbages can turn straw into gold! GET YOUR LOUSY CART OUT OF MY WAY!"

The Cabbage Merchant shrugged. "Have it your way." He grabbed the handles of his cart, walking down the street.

Then, suddenly, he whirled around, his eyes crazed and with a mad yell, he began charging them with his cabbage cart!

"Lookout!" The guards and Lieutenant Sen dove out of the way as the Cabbage Merchant braced for impact with the carriage.

BAM!

The carriage rocked heavily before restabilizing. The ostrich horses whinnied as their harnesses detached. The two animals took off running down the street. "Get them back here!" Sen shouted.

By now, a scene was beginning to form, and passerby stopped, ogling the situation. The Lieutenant ripped open the door of the carriage to check on his prisoner …

… only to find it empty!

Cursing, he whirled around to see the Cabbage Merchant disappearing down the street with his cart. There, in the cart, among the cabbages, Iroh and Mr. Beifong's heads poked out.

"Forget the ostrich-horses!" he shouted at his soldiers as they struggled with the animals. "The merchant! Stop the merchant!"

The Cabbage Merchant, still pushing the cart containing his cabbages, Iroh and Mr. Beifong, spared a glance behind him to see the two soldiers coming fast on a wave of Earthbending.

"Hold on tight!"

He picked up speed, careening through the streets of the Upper Ring.

Going left.

Going right.

The Cabbage Merchant picked up speed. Before them, the road arched downward into a steep hill as it approached the Middle Ring. The cart was moving faster than he could push it. "Make room!" he shouted, before hopping up into the cart, joining Iroh and Mr. Beifong. "And hold on tight!"

The cart reached the crest of the hill and began its descent at breakneck speed. The wind blew back the cheeks of Iroh, the Cabbage Man and Mr. Beifong.

Faster.

Faster they went!

Mr. Beifong pointed ahead at a crossing guard escorting a group of kindergarteners across a street. "We're gonna crash!"

"Let me take it from here," Iroh said sternly. The old general leaped up out of the cart, landing in ten feet in front of it. He punched his fist forward, and a blaze of jetfire burst from the crown of his knuckles. It sent the cart flying upwards vertically.

Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man held each other as they flew up into the air. Then they looked at each and screamed bloody death as they landed.

The cabbages made a soft cushion. The two landed on them with a splat. Mr. Beifong sat up, holding his head. Iroh was there in an instant, helping him to his feet. They looked up to see the two soldiers at the crest of the hill. "We've got to move," he said.

But the Cabbage Merchant didn't move. Instead, he looked down at the splattered and wrecked cabbages and his splintered cart. His lip trembled and his eyes brimmed.

Then he let out a soul-shaking scream that tore into the hearts of anyone within a three-mile radius.

"MY CABBAGES!"

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It was afternoon when two security guards led Toph to a classroom. She sat down at a desk, impatient.

She needed to figure out a way to get to Ba Sing Se to help her parents. She really didn't want to be anywhere near the Si Wong Desert again. Could she stow away aboard a refugee vessel? After all, Ba Sing Se was still taking in refugees last she heard.

Well, first things first. She would have to figure out a way to get out of the school. Right under Miss Grungy's nose.

Speaking of the devil, Miss Grungy flounced in, his mouth broad, her chest puffed out. She grinned down at Toph as the blind Earthbender found a seat in the middle of the room. "Like father, like daughter," she scoffed. "They always say 'the apple never rots far from the tree.'"

Toph waved her hand in front of her face. "You could use an apple for those fangs you call teeth."

Miss Grungy snickered. "You won't be smiling for long, Miss Beifong. A representative from the orphanage is coming within the hour to take you away. That's right, with both parents as criminals, I've taken the liberty of filing out an application to the Xen Fue School of Incorrigible Children. There, you'll receive the necessary … discipline … which has been so obviously lacking." The truant officer turned, opening a door. "But in the meantime, you can spend detention with two new little friends. Thieves and brigands, the both of them. You'll all get along swimmingly, I'm sure."

Miss Grungy opened the door and Toph's mouth dropped open as Smellerbee and Longshot, the two Freedom Fighters from Jet's old gang, entered the room. Longshot silently took a seat next to Toph. Smellerbee, cocky as ever, took a seat in the back, behind Toph.

"You will all sit and do lines. Except for you, Ms. Beifong. Seeing as you're blind and I really don't care to learn braille, you will do hard, manual labor. You style yourself a martial-artist or something, right? So this should be a cinch! Push-ups! Now! And no stopping until the representative from Xen Fue comes to gather you up and permanently remove you from civilized society!"

The truant officer's eyes roved the three prisoners. "My office is down the hall! Any sign of acting up, and I will personally leave you in the infirmary!"

"You can't do that!" Smellerbee responded. "Corporal punishment is illegal!"

"What does a criminal like you know about what's legal, boy?!"

Smellerbee's eyes narrowed. Longshot turned to her and simply shook his head. Smellberbee nodded back, but her eyes never left Miss Grungy.

The truant officer puffed out her chest some more. "Many children have thought the same as you! Sure, corporal punishment is frowned upon. But that still doesn't stop … accidents … from happening when they act up!" Her voice took on a sickeningly sweet tone. "Are we clear? Any questions?"

"Yeah," Smellerbee replied, putting her feet upon the desk. She wasn't about to let the "boy" comment slide. "Does the Foggy Swamp Tribe know you raid their wardrobe?"

Miss Grungy snarled. "You'll get the answer to that question in detention tomorrow!" She held up a thumb and pinky. "Don't mess with the bull-rhino, young man or you'll get the horns!" She opened the door again and to Toph's surprise, Hadok entered.

The truant officer stood behind him, clasping his shoulders. "Hadok here has graciously volunteered to keep an eye on you lot. He reports to me. He is my eyes and ears. If you step out of line even the slightest, all he has to do is blow this whistle and I'll know." She looped a lanyard around his neck. A whistle dangled from it. And with that, she morphed out the door.

Toph immediately turned to Longshot and Smellerbee. "What are you two doing here? I didn't even know you went to school."

"We don't." Smellerbee reclined back in her chair. "That stupid gargoyle mistook us for kids playing hooky and wasn't smart enough to check the attendance roll."

Hadok pointed at them. "No talking!"

Toph rolled her eyes. "Oh, whatever! What're you even doing here, Hadok? Since when are you the gargoyle's lapdog?"

He shrugged. "She forced me into it. But what can I say, bossing you around is fun, lovey-poo! Besides, shouldn't you be doing your pushups?"

Toph laughed. "As buff as I am, I have better things to do!"

Hadok lifted the whistle to his lips.

Toph was unconcerned. "You pull that whistle and the Gargoyle is gonna have to extract it from where the sun don't shine! You really want that, Hadmock?" Leaving Hadok stewing, Toph turned to Smellerbee and Longshot. "So what are you two doing in Gao Ling?"

"We were out recruiting, trying to find more orphans to join the cause," Smellerbe answered.

"The Freedom Fighters? But the war is over?"

"So what, we should just disband 'cause the Fire Nation isn't attacking anymore? There're plenty of oppressors in the world that could use some Freedom Fighter justice!"

Toph sighed. "Alright, I'm gonna level with you two. My Dad's been arrested for a crime I'm about ninety-nine percent sure he didn't commit and I need to get out of here now!"

Smellerbee cracked her knuckles. "Jailbreak? Count us in!" Longshot nodded under his hat.

"You're not going anywhere!" Hadok yelled. He placed the whistle into his mouth, preparing to blow.

THWOOP!

A dart shot out of nowhere, knocking the whistle out of his mouth. He had a moment to look up and see Longshot spin a small dart-shooting device between his fingers before Toph Earthbended his hands into the floor.

The blind Earthbender stood over him. "You helped me fight Xin Fu and Babubu. My parents are in danger again … even worse this time!"

Hadok grumbled.

"Your father is a representative of the World Peace Coalition," Toph continued. "Wouldn't he want the two of us to work together instead of being enemies?"

Hadok stared back at her. "First, free me from these bindings," he said. "Second – keep that kid's darts away from me!"

Longshot tipped the brim of his hat in affirmation.

Hadok stood up. "Alright, fine, I'll help you. Don't consider us friends or anything, but jailbreaking sounds better than working for the Grungy all day. Besides," he grumbled. "I do kinda owe you for rescuing me during the whole Babubu incident, or something like that…"

Toph held a hand out to her ear. "What's that? I rescued who?"

"Don't push your luck."

Toph began pacing restlessly. "We need a plan."

"Why can't we just walk out of here?" Smellerbee asked. "This is detention, not a prison."

"Oh, it's very much like a prison," Hadok replied, "Miss Grungy has security guards stationed at every door. And the floors – they're reinforced wood. Even the 'Blind Bandit' over there has difficulty with wood."

"Couldn't Toph just Earthbend the Gargoyle or something?" Smellerbee asked.

"Absolutely," Toph replied. "But, the Gargoyle made a good point earlier. If I touch a school official, it won't help my parents' case. Believe me, I want to knock that frog-like grin off her face. But I won't do anything that'll endanger my parents!"

Hadok drummed his fingers on a desk. "The Grungy has guards stationed at every door. Even if we could get them to abandon their posts, they have the whole place rigged for lockdown. Once the guards leave, wooden doors will drop at every exit, leaving us trapped."

"But if they're rigged to shut down at once, there's got to be a master switch," Smellerbee suggested.

"There is," answered Hadok. "It's in Grungy's office. If we can disable it, it'll spring the doors open once the guards abandon their posts."

Smellerbee pulled out a knife. "Leave it to me."

"But how are we going to get Grungy out of her office?"

"How did Sokka and Zuko do it when they were trapped in the Boiling Rock?" Toph asked herself. She snapped her fingers. "I've got it!"

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Miss Grungy was about to sit down at her desk and devour a delicious corned beef sandwich when she heard it from down the hall.

"Miss Grungy has a big horse-rhino bubblebutt!" This was followed by the sound of something heavy hitting the lockers.

Miss Grungy slammed her fist onto her desk. "That little runt!"

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Toph was having a blast, running down the halls of the school with a stick in her hand, rattling lockers as she went.

Behind her, the door to Grungy's office blasted open and the truant officer stood there. She watched Toph race down the hall.

Miss Grungy stormed back into her classroom, tore a microphone off her desk and yelled into it.

"ALL GUARDS! ALL GUARDS! A delinquent is on the loose! Form up – stat!"

Around the school, the guards began abandoning their posts, entering the school. Behind them, large wooden doors slammed shot, locking the building down.

The guards formed up around Miss Grungy. She pointed down both sides of the halls. "Half of you go that way – the other half go the other way – we'll pincer the little punk! MOVE!"

And the guards, themselves terrified of the truant officer, spread out.

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"Pssst!"

Hadok was standing in the doorway of Grungy's office, motioning. "The coast is clear!"

Smellerbee and Longshot sprinted across the hall, joining Hadok in the truant officer's room. They kneeled down under her desk … there was a button. "We have to disassemble it first," Hadok said. "Then we gotta cut the right wire."

Smellerbee twisted the plastic surrounding the button, removing it. "Do you know which wire is the right one?" she asked.

Hadok held his hands out. "I don't know …"

"What do you mean you don't know!"

"I'm not an expert wire cutter!"

Smellerbee shook her head. "It's a good thing we learned a thing or two from Jet. Now let's see … yellow is mellow, brown we all go down." With a flick of her knife, she cut the yellow wire.

Around the school, a second set of wooden doors slammed down at every exit, further reinforcing the building's security.

Smellerbee grinned apologetically as Longshot and Hadok stared down at her incredulous. "Okay, so maybe Jet was wrong about a few things …" She picked up her knife, playing around with the wiring. "Let's see …"

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Ba Sing Se – Middle Ring – Late Afternoon

A train, powered by two Earthbenders, sped like a bullet along the Middle Ring of Ba Sing Se. These trains frequently transported refugees, tourists – anyone really – from ring to ring.

Aboard one of the cars, Iroh, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man squeezed into a seat between two burly Earthbender refugees. One Earthbender had a large Tsungi horn and was playing … well, badly. Iroh still hummed along and danced in place in his seat.

"This was a good idea," Mr. Beifong said.

Iroh nodded. "We have to get you out of Ba Sing Se … hide you away somewhere safe until we can prove your innocence."

Mr. Beifong sighed and looked at the floor. A worried look was spreading across his face. "But my wife, my daughter – will they be okay? What if they're implicated in all this?"

Iroh patted him on the arm. "I do not have the answer. Sometimes life can be like a speeding train. We may not be able to see the destination, but we are safe and secure in the ride."

The Cabbage Merchant stood up. "That was the cheesiest thing I have ever heard!" Scratching himself, he began to make his way towards the rear of the car. "I'm gonna go check out the food car and see if there're any snacks."

As the merchant opened the door to enter into the second car, he stopped short as he caught a glimpse of the train car behind them.

Lieutenant Sen and the two Earth Kingdom soldiers were shoving passengers aside and were headed right for their car! He whirled around to Iroh. "Guys … we've got a problem!"

Lieutenant Sen saw him and pointed. "It's them!"

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Gao Ling School - Afternoon

Toph raced through the school, laughing. She had outraced those hog-monkeys and decided to take a quick breather. She pushed open a door. They'll never think to find me in here, she thought to herself. Because I never spend any time here!

She was in the library. The library had a central atrium, and there was a second floor that ran above the atrium like an open ring.

As she caught her breath, she sensed something through her feet.

Right outside the door. "Cripes," she muttered. She raced up to the second level and hid behind a bookshelf.

Outside the library, Miss Grungy gave orders. "Spread out! Search the cafeteria! I'll take the library!" The truant officer burst into the library's atrium, grinning.

Toph stood above on the second level, pressing her back to a bookshelf.

"I know you're here," Miss Grungy yelled aloud. "I can smell you! I wanted it to be this way … just you and me. That's why I sent the rest of the guards away. And don't think I don't suspect your little plan. Your little friends are probably in my office as we speak. Let them have their fun."

With a great kick, Miss Grungy knocked over a bookshelf in the atrium. Books and papers flung in all directions. Above, Toph flinched.

"Where, oh where, can my blind Earthbender be? Oh where, oh where can she be?" Grungy was singing as she kicked over a table, scattering its contents. "You'll have to come out sooner or later. The only exit from the library is through those doors! And if you try to Earthbend I'll know!"

Toph pressed herself against the bookshelf again, feeling around, looking for any escape route. Unfortunately, the Grungy was right. The main doors were the only way in or out. And Miss Grungy was below, taking her time, playing her little psychological games.

"I can't wait till I get my hands on your little friends." She cracked her knuckles, grinning broadly. "You think detention is bad … try in-house suspension. And no one has to know what goes on. Thumb-screws. A gentle dislocation of the shoulder. All I have to say is they had an accident. No one will doubt me. But no one will believe little truants and brigands like them!" With a sudden kick, Miss Grungy turned a wooden table into a pile of splinters.

"I can be persuaded to go easy on them," she announced. "If you surrender yourself to me, that is!" She shoved over another bookshelf, which collapsed into the one next to it, creating a domino effect, crashing several bookshelves over.

"Oh, why drag this out?!" Grungy was moving through the atrium. "We both know one way or another I'll find you. And you can't do anything to hurt me … not if you don't want to make your father look worse in front of a judge! You'll be in that orphanage within the hour, I assure you! Why prolong the inevitable?"

"You know something – you're right!" Toph leaped up from the second floor, landing square in the heart of the atrium.

Grungy's wide mouth broadened, her sharp teeth reflecting light. "I knew you would see reason …"

Toph shrugged. "Actually, I was waiting for you to move to the other side of the atrium." Toph jerked a thumb behind her at the entrance and exit doors. "Thanks for droning on and on and not staying in one place!" She threw over several tables and chairs as Grungy cursed and raced for her. With a final salute, Toph raced out through the library doors back into the school's hallways.

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Back onboard Ba Sing Se's trains, the trio of Iroh, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man roughly shoved their way through the crowded train. "'Scuse us! Sorry! We're in a bit of a rush!"

Lieutenant Sen and his two soldiers burst into their train car. With a crack of Earthbending, he shoved all the passengers up against the wall, leaving a clear path straight for Iroh, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man.

"You led us on quite a chase," mused Lieutenant Sen. "But the chase ends here. Surrender, and your executions will be quite painless!"

The Cabbage Man squatted into a combat stance. "General – get Mr. Beifong out of here!"

"You cannot take them on your own …"

"Take them! If you get involved with your Firebending, some of these passengers might get hurt! Go! I have a trick up my sleeve!"

Nodding, Iroh grasped Mr. Beifong and led him to the next train car.

"Do you hear that boys?" Sen mocked. "He's gonna hold us off!"

Not responding, the Cabbage Merchant reached over to the man who had been playing the Tsungi horn. "Can I borrow this? Thanks!" He took the Tsungi horn and slung it over his shoulder.

Sen continued his mocking. "Oh, look boys! He's going to play us a little diddy! Maybe he'll put us to sleep with a lullaby!"

His tongue between his teeth, the Cabbage Merchant stared at them defiantly as he reached into his vest with a free hand, retrieving a small packet. He tore the packet open with his teeth and began pouring its contents into the Tsungi horn.

"What, are you gonna grow some cabbages?"

"I have spent the last year being mocked!" the Cabbage Merchant spat. "Disrespected! My produce destroyed by one accident after another! But no more! Now the world will sit back and know to respect the Cabbage Man!"

He finished emptying the contents of the packet into the Tsungi horn and held it level over his shoulder. A devious gleam was in his eye.

"Now you will know the wrath … of MY CABBAGES!"

Drawing a deep breath, he blew deeply into the Tsungi horn. Instantly, dozens upon dozens of small cabbage seeds shot out like corks, blasting the Lieutenant and his men repeatedly.

"Ow! That hurts! Stop!"

The Cabbage Merchant paused. Then blew again.

And again, the wicked trio was basted with cabbage seeds.

"Have some more!" the Cabbage Merchant shouted, a crazed gleam in his eye. He completely blasted the trio back, knocking them to their feet with a constant barrage of cabbage seeds. He kept blowing and blowing, until finally, there was nothing left. With a final heave, the Cabbage Merchant hurled the Tsungi horn at them. It whacked Lieutenant Sen across the head. The Merchant, cackling madly, whirled around and followed in Iroh's wake.

The Lieutenant stormed to his feet, dragging his two soldiers up. "Find them!"

And the chase was on!

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.

"Quickly! Up here!"

Iroh motioned for Mr. Beifong to climb up a railing. They were on the outside of a train car. "Up on the roof?" Mr. Beifong questioned. "But there'll be nowhere to go!"

"We have to put distance between us and them! I'll think of something! Go!"

Gritting his teeth, Mr. Beifong began the climb, Iroh behind them.

A door burst open as they were mid-way up. Iroh grit his teeth, thinking it was Sen and his men and that they had gotten the best of the Cabbage Man.

But no – it was the Cabbage Man himself grinning up at them. "Wait for me!" He began the climb up behind them.

Mr. Beifong reached the top of the train, holding his arms out nervously to keep himself steady as the wind blew at them. He helped Iroh and the Cabbage Merchant up and they all took in the scenes of Ba Sing Se.

"There they are – now we've got them!"

On the other end of the train car, Lieutenant Sen and his two men climbed to the top, sneering. Iroh and company backed up, but they were on the front train car. Nowhere else to go.

Below them, two Earthbenders were using their bending to steer and move the trains. One looked over his shoulder and caught sight of the group on the roof. "Hey – get off from there!"

On top of the train, Sen took a step forward. "You're trapped. My men are exhausted. Let's not drag this out any further."

The Cabbage Man looked over at Iroh. "Do we jump?"

Shaking his head, Iroh replied "We would never survive the fall."

"What now?" Mr. Beifong trembled.

Sen nodded to his two men. They kicked their feet, and bits of the track behind the train flew up, morphing into boulders. The two soldiers used their bending to keep the boulders aloft. "Last chance," Sen smirked.

Iroh punched a jet of fire at them. Sen blocked it with a wall of stone, and the two soldiers punched their fists forward in response. The boulders flew at Iroh and Mr. Beifong. Iroh grabbed the Representative, throwing him to the ground to duck.

The boulders flew over their heads, hitting the two Earthbenders driving the train, knocking them clean unconscious. The Cabbage Merchant gasped as the two men both plummeted off the sides of the track … and then breathed a sigh of relief as they gently landed on an open awning.

But then he gasped again. He shrieked at everyone.

"THERE'S NO ONE DRIVING THE TRAIN!"

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.

"No, no, no! That's the wrong one again!" Hadok was waving his arms in exasperation.

"Here's an idea!" Smellerbee yelled. Several cut wires littered the floor between them. "Why don't you try it yourself!"

"Fine by me!"

She handed him her knife. He kneeled down as she folded her arms and cocked her head expectantly.

He fiddled with several wires. "Got it!" He sliced the wire and shot Smellerbee an arrogant smirk.

Instantly, a third set of wooden doors shot down, further reinforcing the exits.

Hadok grinned sheepishly as Smellerbee swiped her knife back from him.

"Is it done?" came a voice from the doorway. Toph was standing there.

"It would be if Florence Delicate-Fingers over here could cut the right wire!" Hadok spat.

Smellerbee held her knife up to his throat. "There's a cord or two in your neck I'd like to cut!"

Toph was incredulous. "This should've been done by now!"

She heard yelling and running from the hallways, and Miss Grungy's unmistakable grunts. Toph grit her teeth. "They're coming!"

Longshot rolled his eyes. He silently took the knife from Smellerbee's hand, kneeled down wordlessly, and cut a purple wire.

Across the school, the wooden doors suddenly sprang back up, opening the doorways. Giving them an escape.

Smellerbee's mouth was open wide as Longshot smirked and silently handed her the knife back. "How did you know?"

He merely shrugged.

Toph was antsy. "Let's go!"

The foursome darted out of the office into the hallway. Behind them, Miss Grungy appeared in the hallway with several guards. "There they are! Don't let them get away!"

Longshot gestured with his head for the rest of them to move. Smellerbee wouldn't. "I'm not leaving without you." He glared her. "Okay, you'll be along soon!" She took off running, with Toph and Hadok in tow.

Longshot reached into his pants pocket and withdrew a small dart blower that Miss Grungy had not confiscated. He aimed and blew several darts. They struck two of the guards in the legs and arms, knocking them off their feet.

"Take cover!" one guard yelled, hurling himself behind a garbage cannister.

Grungy clenched a fist. "Bloody cowards!" she berated her men.

Tipping his hat to her, Longshot turned and raced to keep up with his friends.

With a roar of an armadillo-bear, Miss Grungy tore after them.

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The train was careening out of control. With nobody left to drive it, it was picking up speed.

Iroh's eyes widened. They were coming up on a bend. And with without any drivers, they would go right off it and plummet hundreds of feet below.

Iroh turned to the two Earthbending soldiers. "Do something – or we'll all perish!"

The guards looked at each other. "He's got a point …"

With a grunt, they both took off running along the train and leaped forward, landing right in front of it. Their backs to the front of the train, they used Earthbending to begin steering it … but it wasn't enough.

The train had picked up too much speed.

And as they reached the bend, the two soldiers realized it would go over the edge. Leaping from the front of the train onto the tracks, they watched as the front car went over the edge.

The two soldiers, gritting their teeth, held out their arms. The train was made of stone, allowing it to be manipulated by its Earthbending drivers. The two soldiers focused with all their might, keeping the entire train from going over.

With a creak of metal and stone grinding, the train ground to a stop.

Its front car, however, dangled off the edge of the track, hundreds of feet in the air. It hung limply, vertical.

On its roof, which was now hanging on its side, Iroh, Mr. Beifong, the Cabbage Man and Lieutenant Sen clung on for dear life.

"I never thought it would end like this," the Merchant lamented. "I always thought I would die an old man, rich from opening several cabbage-franchises." Tears brimmed. "I was gonna build an amusement park, 'ya know! Cabbage Land. I even had a mascot in mind – 'Cabby the Cabbage'!"

"We have bigger problems right now!" Mr. Beifong shouted.

Below them, Lieutenant Sen had a firm grip on the roof. He was now ascending towards them, a murderous gleam in his eye. Iroh was the closest to him. The Lieutenant, with a free hand, drew a knife, holding it in his teeth, climbing up towards Iroh.

"Lieutenant … for your own sake do not try it," Iroh warned.

The Lieutenant gripped Iroh's leg. Iroh kicked out at him.

Above, on the train tracks, the two soldiers began moving the train back onto the tracks. They may have been in bed with Lieutenant Sen, but they were still not going to allow the civilians on the train to perish … especially a train containing children.

Inside the train, the passengers clung on for dear life, watching with bated breath as the train began reversing course, backing up onto the tracks.

Sen had reached Iroh's level. With a free hand, he raised his knife. "Goodbye, Dragon of the West!"

This gave Iroh an idea.

The old man opened his mouth, and a burst of flame issued out. Sen ducked his head down but lost his gripping. His arms flailing, he fell off the side of the train, plummeting the hundreds of feet below.

He landed in an open awning, breaking his fall. Cursing, he watched helplessly as the train was pulled back up onto the tracks by his two soldiers. "This isn't over, General Iroh!"

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Toph, Hadok, Smellerbee and Longshot raced through the hallways of the school. There – the main entrance! The warm glow of sunlight filtered the hallways, radiating them.

It was darkened as Miss Grungy appeared, blocking their escape.

"Your journey ends here!" She squatted into a wide stance.

"Don't slow down!" Toph yelled.

With acrobatic grace, Smellerbee launched herself into the air, over Miss Grungy's head. The burly woman growled, just missing the young Freedom Fighter. Hadok and Longshot slid under her, between her legs and out the door.

Toph used Earthbending to propel her up, over Miss Grungy's head. She was going to make it – she would be able to get home, figure out if her mom was safe, find a transport to Ba Sing Se …

Miss Grungy's fingers closed around her ankle.

Toph slammed into the ground, Miss Grungy tightening her grip.

"Toph!"

Hadok, Longshot and Smellerbee whirled around. Miss Grungy was dragging Toph back into the school. "A valiant effort," she mocked. "But now it's too late … you're mine!" She pressed a switch near the entrance door. "Too bad you brats didn't realize I had an alternate switch to the doors installed last month."

They watched, helplessly, as the wooden doors descended once again.

No … she would not be stopped here! Toph would not be stopped from rescuing her parents. Gripping the stone door frame, Toph used her bending to push the stone walls apart. A fissure appeared in the wall, traveling up to the ceiling … and …

BOOM!

The ceiling caved in on itself and the front wall caved outward. The wooden doors slammed to the ground, but with no doorframes to keep them in place, they collapsed flat like a board.

Toph blinked, scrabbling out of Miss Grungy's grip as the truant officer howled at the destruction around her. "You brat! You're going to pay for all this damage!"

Toph called over her shoulder as she joined Hadok, Smellerbee and Longshot. "Charge it to my dad's account!"

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The foursome took a shortcut through the woods. "We were camping out over here," Smellerbee explained, showing Toph a small firepit and two makeshift tents. "Before the gargoyle came charging us." She turned to Longshot. "Let's grab our gear quickly." She began grabbing several daggers, slinging them in sheaths around her shoulders and into her boots. Longshot slung a bow over his shoulder.

Toph pointed down a trail. "My estate isn't too far."

Smellerbee nodded. "Get going. That gargoyle is probably gonna have men trailing us. Longshot and I will hold them off. Get home, get to your parents."

"What about you?" Toph asked.

"Never mind us, we'll be okay!"

There was the sound of men in the clearing. Smellerbee pointed down the trail. "Go!"

Toph nodded. "Thank you both." She grabbed Hadok, and Earthbended them down the trail.

Smellerbee withdrew a dagger, and Longshot drew back his bow, aiming at whatever was coming out of those woods.

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Toph arrived at the Beifong estate. It was empty. A notice was pinned on their front door. She handed it to Hadok who read it. "Looks like your mom's been arrested alright," he muttered.

Toph grit her teeth. "Then I'm going to Ba Sing Se."

"How? You're just a kid!"

Toph punched him in the arm. "This 'kid' taught the Avatar Earthbending and helped kick Fire Nation butt. I'm going and no one is stopping me!"

Hadok nodded. "Okay, okay, relax."

There was a sudden squawk and suddenly a messenger hawk appeared. It landed on Hadok's shoulder, pecking at him. A scroll was tied to it. Hadok removed the scroll and unfurled it. "It's another letter, for you. It's from your friend … Aang."

Toph cocked her head. "Aang?"

Hadok's eyes widened as he scanned the letter's contents. "He says that there's a crisis … a strike on the Fire Nation is coming. He says something about getting a letter from Iroh … it looks like your buddy Aang is asking for his friends' help. He needs to reunite Team Avatar …"

This was too much for Toph to take in.

"When does he want us?"

Hadok scanned the scroll. "I'm guessing as soon as possible … he used the word 'urgent.' He also says that a lot of people may die if they can't stop this attack on the Fire Nation …"

Toph stood there, eyes misted over.

"Toph?"

"My parents … but I can't just let innocent people die…"

"What are you going to do, Toph?"

She lowered her head. Tear drops stained the ground at her feet. "My parents have to wait, I guess. I gotta help Aang … I won't have innocent blood on my hands." Her head shot up and she clenched a fist. "But once I'm done with Aang, I'm going to Ba Sing Se. Long Feng will pay!"

Hadok nodded. "Then let me come with you."

Toph shook her head. "No. I gotta go alone … besides, you have a mother at home to tend to. You don't want to just up and leave, believe me … your conscience will eat you alive."

"But Toph -."

She shook her head. "Don't argue. Get home, before you get in any deeper. Tell everyone that we forced you to help us escape … you're Miss Grungy's favorite student anyway. She'll believe I threatened you."

"But I -."

"Don't. Don't put your mother through what I put mine through. Please, Hadok. I have to do this alone. Thanks for helping me escape though." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before turning, riding on a wave of Earthbending towards the west … towards the Fire Nation.

"Twinkletoes … you had better be right about this!"

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Ba Sing Se – Night

The moon shone above the streets of Ba Sing Se as Iroh, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man darted from alley to alley. Iroh looked up at a street address, making sure it was the right place.

"I think this is it …"

"Your contact from the Order better be able to get us out of here," the Cabbage Man groused.

Mr. Beifong looked at both of them deadpan. "What Order? What are you talking about?"

Iroh waved him away, before addressing the Cabbage Merchant. "He is not initiated. We will say no more of the Order in front of him."

There was the sound of footsteps, and a man, dressed as a beggar, appeared. "Who knocks at the Garden Gate?"

Iroh and the Cabbage Merchant spoke in hushed tones at the same time. "One who has eaten the fruit and tasted its mysteries."

The vagabond grinned. "Iroh!" The old general laughed as he hugged the man. "It is good to see you too, Loi."

The man named Loi beckoned them. "I can't get you out tonight, but the Order has a safehouse. Come, I'll lead the way."

Smiling merrily, Iroh followed Loi, with the Cabbage Merchant and a very confused Mr. Beifong following in tow.

They reached an old, abandoned warehouse in the outskirts of the Lower Ring. Loi knocked in a harmonic pattern, and a large roll-up door began ascending. Loi nodded. "This way."

They entered the dank, musty warehouse. Candles flicked along the hallways as they came to what Iroh considered an overly ornate door for a warehouse. He noted that the door had an odd carving – it appeared to be a carving of a centipede with many legs. Loi turned to them, now a sad look on his face. "General Iroh … I'm very sorry for what I'm about to do…"

Iroh was surprised. "What?"

Loi opened the door and the group entered what appeared to be a huge banquet hall. Low, purple flames on the wall cast a dim glow across the room. There was a large banquet table, but the people sitting at them were the oddest assortment Iroh had ever seen. They were wearing overly expensive clothing – outfits that only the elite of the Upper Ring could wear. And they all wore masks. Masks of different shapes and sizes, with different animals. Cat-foxes, armadillo-bears, hawk-owls, badger-moles. Only their lips and chins were exposed.

At the head of the table sat a woman in exquisite furs and a fox-like mask. "Loi … you are very nearly late."

Loi bowed low. "I'm sorry Merilina … I had to bring the prisoners … uh, I mean guests."

Iroh, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Merchant looked at each other. "Prisoners?" They backed away, only to bump into several large soldiers who blocked their paths.

Loi turned sadly to Iroh. "I'm very sorry, General. But may I welcome you to the Court of Many Faces … the true, Inner Court of the Order of the White Lotus …"

And Iroh gaped in amazement and shock as he, Mr. Beifong and the Cabbage Man were led in for an audience with the Court …

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