To Princessbinas: Yes, that was Iroh, but not the same Iroh she meets in the physical world.

--

Rocks continued to blast past them, expertly dodged with Aang and Appa's teamwork. The whole gang felt themselves rotate nearly ninety degrees as a result.

"I don't think I like flying!" Toph managed to shout, her voice betraying how noxious she felt.

Another rock came careening towards them, but this time dangerously closer than all the rest that came before. Determined, Aang thrust his hand outward, palm open as he jumped to his feet. The massive boulder made contact with his hand, shattering into two rocky halves on impact. "Hold on, we're gonna land!" Aang yelled, repositioning himself to sit down. He guided the reins in a practiced pattern, as if navigating through a maelstrom of elemental missles was a daily occurence.

Everyone heeded Aang's advice, lying as prone as they could on the saddle while they held on tightly to the saddle's edges. Suddenly, they all felt a lurch as they were no longer nosediving and there was the sudden sensation of Appa being on land. It was accompanied by a roar from the Sky Bison and a terrified squawk from an unseen Ostrich-Horse.

Wasting no time, Toph was the first off of Appa, earthbending before she'd even landed on the palace grounds. A giant wave made of the stone flooring suddenly lurched from the ground, moving as fluidly as a tsunami wave. Toph was atop it, charging forward at the stunned guards and the still a ways off palace doors.

The rest of the gang followed Toph's lead. Korra decided to mimic Toph, creating a wave of rock of her own. Katara hitched a ride with Toph while Sokka jumped on Korra's platform. Aang pushed ahead, knocking a portion of the guards off the steps, many of them ragdolled and leaving behind startled screams.

"You sure you feel okay enough to bend?" Sokka asked, the first time concern from him was aimed towards her that she could remember. He hadn't looked her way, instead having his back to her as he slugged his boomerang ahead of them to incapacitate any distant soldiers, or swinging his bone sword at any that came too close.

Korra nodded and then answered with a simple "Yeah," realizing he couldn't see her with his back turned. "I think Katara healed the worst of it," she added. "Just sore." Sokka glanced back to nod, turning his attention back to the path the team was clearing.

Korra's rock Tsunami continue it'it's path towards the palace doors, lagging just behind Toph's faster variant. Any soldiers Toph and Katara happened to bypass, Korra and Sokka would dispatch with well timed pillars of rock and a thrown boomerang, respectively.

The palace doors were just ahead now, about one hundred meters. The remaining guards stood in formation at the top, a squad of them rushing down the steps toward them. At least they were steps. With a gesture from Toph, the stairs flattened into a ramp. The advancing soldiers lost their footing, tumbling down the impromptu obstacle course.

With much less resistance now, they closed in on the massive entryway into the Earth Kingdom Palace. Aang led the way, followed by Katara and Sokka, while Korra and Toph covered the rear. They dashed their way through, going by the idea that that the Earth King's chamber would be in the dead center of the opulent structure.

They came closer to the end of the center hallway, with Sokka deciding to check each of the doors in case they might pass him by.

Korra neared Sokka, and nearly jumped back when he stepped backwards into her path, followed by a scream from the room.

"Sorry, wrong door," he appeased, closing it right after. "Well, nothing to check but the big door here," he said aloud, sweeping his hand in the direction of the giant stone double door.

"Looks pretty sturdy," Korra commented, giving the entrance a once over. It was standard issue, at least in make. A giant earthen door, fashioned by the most renowned earthbending sculptors. Even from here, she could tell that it had to be several meters thick. Sokka however, didn't seem at all concerned as he rotated a shoulder.

"Stand back guys, I got this!" Sokka sprinted towards the door, his dominant leg outstretched as he leapt forward.

"Flying Kick-a-Pow!"

Almost as if he were magnetized to the door, he seemed to be stuck in freeze frame when his foot connected with the door. Understandably, it hadn't budged, and Sokka finally fell to the ground on his rear.

A second of silence followed before Aang hopped forward, his staff in a double grip. He swung mightily, a massive gust of wind slamming the doors open. Sokka was caught in the turbulence and got pushed through the now open door, unharmed.

"A little warning next time?" he ground out, stretching his back for kinks. As he slowly got back up, the rest of the gang filed in.

"Long Feng..." Korra balled her fists so tightly, her nails threatened to dig into the skin.

The team took fighting stances. At the crest of the steps sat the Earth King. Standing at his left side were the Grand Secretariat, along with a unit of Dai Li agents.

The team took fighting stances and Long Feng narrowed an eye upon noticing Korra. As if he were asking How are you still here? The thought alone made Korra's blood boil. But she exhaled from the nose, remembering her...experience? Vision? Whatever that was where she met the old man. Regardless, now was not the time to lose her cool.

"We have to talk to you," Aang relayed to the King, an urgency in his voice. The monarch's brows lowered in concern, but his attention was pulled to his advisor. His secretariat's face held a mask of false concern. Behind him and off to the side sat a robed bear. It looked quite intimidating by virtue that it was a bear, but the effect was dampened by the fact that it was wearing clothes.

"They're here to overthrow you," Long Feng asserted, his eyes never leaving the group of misfits.

"No," Sokka cut in, glaring at Long Feng. "We're on your side," he pleaded to the King. "We're here to help."

"You have to trust us," Katara supplied.

Earth King Kuei did not immediately respond. He was glaring down at the group, but seemed to be looking past them. He finally spoke, his volume steadily rising along with the tension in the room.

"You invade my Palace...lay waste to all of my guards," King Kuei's voice began to waver. "You break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?"

Toph scratched her chin. "He's got a good point," she reluctantly agreed.

King Kuei finally stood from his throne, and the atmosphere of the room seemed to shift. The Dai Li raised their arms toward the group, their rock gloves aimed in preparation.

"If you are on my side, lay down your weapons and stand down!"

Team Avatar hesitated, briefly looking at each other for guidance. Korra was prepared to launch fire at Long Feng's smug face, but she caught Sokka's expression. He slowly shook his head in a silent warning before dropping his own weapon.

Korra sighed in disappointment, relaxing her fists.

Long Feng seemed to smirk where he stood. "Detain the assailants!"

The Dai Li moved quickly, appearing behind the gang, ready to place them all in shackles.

"But we're your allies! We dropped our weapons!"

"I should have known you'd just arrest us again," Korra spat. In response, Long Feng looked down his nose at her.

"Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see the light of day again," he scoffed, turning to vacate the room with his men.

The Dai Li were interrupted by none other than King Kuei.

"Did you say the Avatar?"

Long Feng mentally facepalmed. He should have known better than to name drop the bald child's status of all times.

Kuei stepped forward, standing at the edge of the top of the steps, regarding Sokka curiously.

"Are you the Avatar?"

Korra couldn't help but snort at the abdurdity of the claim before Sokka could respond, but instantly quieted when kuei turned his attention to her. "You must be the Avatar, then?"

If Korra had been drinking anything, she'd have choked on it. She coughed and cleared her throat. Sokka intervened once realizing she was slow to respond.

"No, he is," Sokka cut in, pointing toward Aang the best he could while cuffed. Korra let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding.

"Right here, sir," Aang confirmed, waving his oddly uncuffed hands before placing them back behind his back as if he were restrained the entire time. The cuffs reattached.

Long Feng resisted the urge to grumble under his breath. He maintained his composure, although his annoyance began to just barely bleed through his voice. "What does it matter, your highness?" he asked the king. "They're enemies of the state." He gestured a dismissive hand at the group of upstarts.

Kuei looked downcast at the assertion, and Long Feng allowed himself a inward smile at his small victory.

"Perhaps, you're right," Kuei began to agree.

Kuei's bear unexpectedly approached Aang and licked his face. Aang let out a chuckle at the attention.

Kuei's demeanor seemed to change immediately at the scene and he alliwed a smile towards Long Feng.

"Although...Bosco seems to like him," he observed. Kuei cleared his throat.

"I'll hear what the Avatar has to stay."

Korra couldn't let the chance slip and stuck her tongue out at Long Feng when the king wasn't looking. The Secretariat could only glare in response.

--

Having Appa with them again, it was easy now to convince King Kuei of Long Feng's conspiracy. There was a small hiccup with the now buried Lake Laogai, but once Kuei was convinced to ride on Appa to the outer walls with them, his assistance was assured.

Kuei looked over the wall, horror painted over his face.

"What is that?!"

Down below, a massive machine was slightly embedded into the wall. A giant drill, obviously damaged.

"A construction project, my liege," Long Feng quickly answered, careful to not let his voice waver.

"With a fire nation logo on it?" Korra was quick to point out.

Long Feng cursed under his breath.

There was no hiding the fact that the drill was Fire Nation property. The flame insignia was plastered all over the top of the vehicle.

"Imported merchandise. You know how can't always trust domestic machinery."

The excuse was weak and they all knew it. King Kuei had yet to say anything as he continued to stare down at the mess down below.

"Surely you're not taking their word over your most loyal attendant?"

"Dai Li," Kuei finally spoke. He turned, standing straight up.

"Arrest Long Feng! I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom!"