Long Feng looked up at the Outer Wall surrounding Ba Sing Se and smiled.

It hadn't taken much to convince his former underlings, who betrayed him for Azula, to once again swear loyalty to him. They themselves had been cast aside by the Earth King and banished from Ba Sing Se.

Some of them had been banished from the Fire Palace by Azula, too. Serves them right.

The rest of the Dai Li that had been banished by Princess Azula remained in the Fire Nation, in the shadows, away from scrutiny. Establishing contact with them would be important. Once things were secured in Ba Sing Se, they could surprise the Fire Nation as well.

The Impenetrable City of Ba Sing Se proved to be very penetrable. Once by the Dragon of the West, who breached the Outer Wall towards the end of the siege. Once again by Princess Azula, who snuck into the city in disguise and brought down the Earth King.

And the city would yield once again to Long Feng.

The Dai Li were comprised of elite earthbenders and had an extensive map of underground caverns and tunnels. Being purged from the organization did not remove those skills or that knowledge.

Long Feng and the other former Dai Li agents gathered outside the wall over a large underground vein. Together, they punched the ground. An entrance opened into the tunnel. They dropped in, sealing the hole above them.

Inside the tunnel, green crystals glowed and lit the way. They followed the tunnels for what felt like miles, as they traversed underneath the Agrarian Zone. After what was certainly hours of slow, creeping travel through the tunnels, Long Feng gave the signal to stop. Using their combined talents, they formed a pathway up and into the Lower Ring. Lifting themselves on platforms of earth, they rose through the dark into the light of a waning crescent moon.

Noises could be heard from taverns. Drunks stumbled home, and petty criminals lurked in search of prey. The sounds of a couple doing something very inappropriate three alleys down could be heard clearly. Long Feng and the other former Dai Li closed the holes they came out of and shrank into the shadows.

Let the lowlives run about. Soon, the city would once again belong to Long Feng.

0-0-0

Jin woke up to whimpering. She was confused for a moment, before she remembered that she invited Arna of the Kyoshi Warriors and Princess Azula into her home.

She laid in bed for a moment, thinking about the implications of that statement. Her parents had no idea; she kept her promise to Mr. Mush—Iroh.

Sometimes, the fact that she somehow accidentally met three members of the Fire Nation Royal Family continued to shock her.

Jin was spurred into action by the continued whimpering. She whipped her feet to the floor and stumbled out of the room. The floor was cold on her bare feet, and she wrapped her robe closer around herself.

She came out into the living room, where Arna and Azula were sleeping. Arna had curled herself up in a chair, still snoring. Azula lay on the couch, hugging herself under the blanket and making sad, pitiful noises in her sleep.

Jin knew her parents weren't going to wake up. They somehow managed to sleep through the celebrations that broke out the night the city was taken back. Arna didn't look like she was waking up anytime soon either, as she snored softly in her chair. Jin crept over to Azula.

In the gentle moonlight, Jin could see tear tracks making their way down Azula's face. Azula mumbled in her sleep.

"No, no. Zuzu—no!"

"Azula?" Jin whispered. "Azula, you're safe, you're—"

Jin reached out. As her fingers brushed Azula's shoulder, Azula's eyes snapped open. She lunged at Jin, grabbing the collar of Jin's robe, and landing on top of her. A blade of pure azure flame sprouted from Azula's fist to right under Jin's chin. Azula's golden eyes were feral.

"Azula!" Jin stage whispered. "It's me! You're safe!"

Recognition flashed in Azula's eyes. She snarled at Jin.

"How dare you wake me—"

"You were crying in your sleep!" Jin explained.

Azula's eyes narrowed. Jin felt the hot point of the fire blade prickle her skin uncomfortably. Then, Azula flicked it out.

She crawled off of Jin, back onto the couch, and wiped the tears off her face. She glared pointedly at Jin.

"You never saw this. This never happened," said Azula. "And if you dare tell anyone… I'll kill you."

"I promise, Azula—"

"I am a princess!" hissed Azula.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Princess!" said Jin. "I promise, I won't tell anyone!"

"See that you don't," said Azula. With that, she whipped around, facing away from Jin, and pulling the blanket over herself.

Jin caught her breath for a moment, before slowly standing and making her way back to her room. She didn't notice Arna, still pretending to snore, who woke up the second Azula pounced on Jin, and who stayed back as Jin hastily explained what she was doing. She slipped into her room, wrapped herself up in her blanket, and stared at the ceiling, the light of the waning crescent moon shining through her window. She tried to ignore the strange shadows shifting outside her window.

She was crying, thought Jin. Is she scared of something? Does she miss her home? What could make Princess Azula cry?

I guess she's not as untouchable as she pretends to be…