Back in Omashu, a lot of people have gathered in some sort of underground cave. At the other side of the room, Toph, Sokka, and Katara enter the large space through a tunnel.

"Is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance?" Toph asked

Yung angrily balls his fist, "Of course not! The day of the invasion, we readied ourselves for battle. We were prepared to defend our city... to fight for our lives and for our freedom. But before we even had a chance, King Bumi surrendered." He replied, "The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do. He looked me in the eye and said he was going to do nothing." The three looked surprised. King Bumi was a known friend to the United Forces, they thought he'd fight for his kingdom.

"It doesn't matter now." Yung continued, "Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom. And freedom is worth dying for." As Yung ends his speech, a smile plays on his face. Toph Earthbended the floor under her to stand over everyone and get their attention.

"Actually there's another path to freedom." Toph started, "You could leave Omashu. You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation. But you're outnumbered. You can't win. Now's the time to retreat, so you can live to fight another day." Toph paused, "My name is the Blind Bandit, these are my seconds in command, Captain Boomerang and the Painted Lady. We came here to help you escape."

Resistance fighters whispered all around them as Yung spoke, "You don't understand. They've taken our home, and we have to fight them at any cost!"

"I don't know, Yung, living to fight another day is startin' to sound pretty good to me." A resistance fighter says in a soft tone.

Another resistance fighter takes a step forward and points toward himself, "Yeah, I'm with the Blind Bandit!"

Yung looks at all the people who have taken refuge under ground and now are living in the sewer tunnels while they whisper among themselves. He looks back at Toph, "Fine. But there's thousands of citizens that need to leave. How're we going to get them all out?"

Sokka, whose hand was on his chin as he cooked up a plan, points at Yung as he exclaims his idea, "Suckers!"

Katara raises one eyebrow and just stares at Sokka. The rest of the group follows her example. Sokka smiles broadly, "You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox."

The citizens reach into buckets of water filled with pentapi. The civilian, whose face is already covered with the marks of removed pentapi, places it on his exposed left arm. Its jellylike body moves up and down a bit. After a few seconds, someone else removes the pentapus by gently rubbing its head. All the citizens did the same actions, placing and removing pentapi from their face, shoulders and arms.

Sokka walks over to them to address them, "The marks make ya look sick, but you gotta act sick too. Ya gotta sell it!" An old man hobbles by, leaning heavily on his cane. He clutches his back while moaning in pain. Sokka grabs the guy who is standing next to him and points at the old man, "Now that's what I'm talkin' about."

The man turns around, smiling. He taps his wooden leg with his cane, "Years of practice."

"Okay everyone! Into sick formation." Sokka announced. He and the other civilians start walking toward the gates of Omashu. Just as Katara wants to join them, she notices that Toph is walking off in the other direction, "Blind Bandit, what are you doing? Aren't you coming with us?" She only refers to her codename when other people are around.

Toph turns around, "No. I'm not leaving until I find Bumi. No man left behind."

Fire Nation soldiers with spears are guarding the gates of Omashu when a moaning crowd of 'sick' people walks toward them from every direction. They move like zombies, swaying back and forth. One of them even falls down. The guards back away as the sick crowd reaches them.

Sokka theatrically grabs his face and moans painfully, before stretching out his hands toward the frightened guards, "Plague! Plague!"

The guards on the ground start to retreat into the citadel behind them, away from the sick, while another guard rings the gong to alert everyone of the problem at hand.

The governor of Omashu and his family, including Mai, who is eating a bowl of fire flakes, watch on one of his balconies, looking out over the city.

"What is going on down there?" Ukano asked looking over the balcony

"I saw some kids yesterday who were sick with pentapox. It must have spread!" A guard replied

"Pentapox!" Ukano pulls his beard, "Hmm, I'm pretty sure I've heard of that."

"Oh, this is terrible." Michi said

"What should we do?" The guard asked

"Drive them out of the city." Ukano points toward the gates, "But don't touch them! We have to rid the city of this disease!" The guard bows in respect before leaving to spread the governor's orders.

Mai calmly offers her dad the bowl of fire flakes, "Fire flakes, Dad?"

Michi gasps, "How awful!" She hugs her husband as the toddler next to her, Mai's little brother known as Tom-Tom, crawls away.

Toph runs through the streets of the city. She nimbly climbs a house and balances on the railing, before landing on a flat rooftop. She hears a giant creature below sadly pushing forth a turnstile. Toph jumps down and feels that the creature is a goat gorilla through the vibrations. She assumed it was King Bumi's pet. She remembered his name was Flopsie.

"Flopsie." When Toph calls his name, Flopsie turns around and happily tries to reach his friend. His chains hold him back, so he sadly ceases his attempts. Toph jumps over him and smirks, "Metal chains." She Metalbends the chains off, "Suckers."

The happy animal hugs and licks Toph's face once he's free, "Yeah yeah yeah!" She said pushing him back with a smile, "You're welcome." Then she climbs on top of Flopsie, "Come on, Flopsie. You gotta help me find Bumi. Let's go!" Flopsie races off at great speed.

Back at the Fire Nation circus, it was night time. Performers in two Chinese dragon's costumes are dancing. As they move out off the stage, the circus master, Shuzumu, stands before the circus' main ring, addressing the crowd.

"We're deeply honored to have the Fire Lord's daughter at our humble circus." He said motioning to Azula sitting in a high box seat with two guards at her side, "Uh... tell us if there is anything we can do to make the show more enjoyable."

"I will." Azula replied

In the circus ring, a net spanned under an acrobat who is balancing on a rope, high up in the air on one hand. The acrobat is Ty Lee, who is wearing very colorful clothing. Azula and Shuzumu, both look up, fascinated by Ty Lee's performance.

"Incredible. Do you think she'll fall?" Azula asked

"Of course not." Shuzumu replied

"Then wouldn't it make it more interesting if you removed the net?" Azula looks directly at Shizumu.

"Uh...the thing is... the performers..." He started concerned

"You're right, you're right. That's been done." After a short pause, she continues with a tone of dark pleasure, "I know. Set the net on fire."

Shuzumu had a worried look plastered on his face, "Of course, Princess." Shuzumu leaves the box to set the net of fire. Ty Lee looks down in concern at the consuming flames beneath her. She continues with her act. Shuzumu is balling his fist and clenching his teeth, hoping that Ty Lee will not fall off.

"Brilliant, just brilliant!" Azula says ecstatically. She looks down at Shizumu and asks happily, "Ooh, what kind of dangerous animals do you have?"

Shuzumu looks up, hopeful that he can change the subject to the animals and save Ty Lee from her burning peril, "Well, our circus boasts the most exotic assortment-"

"Release them all!"

Shuzumu looks utterly shocked by Azula's command. Ty Lee has a worried face, as she is still balancing on one hand above the flames. Then, several animal noises fill the night.