Toph and Iroh were now in a bubble in the rock. "Where do you want to start?" she asked. There were heartbeats overhead and on all sides, but they were muffled by distance, and she couldn't recognize any of them as Sparky.

"Get us into the main palace kitchens," said Iroh.

"Right," said Toph, and earthbent a temporary tunnel which collapsed behind them as she let them out into the kitchen. Then the cook was dropping someone's breakfast all over the floor, and Iroh was apologizing for startling her and asking after Zuko in his most uncle-ish voice. Several startled assistants backed away from the vegetables they'd been cutting, still holding their knives.

"I, uh...," said the cook. "I don't know where the Fire Lord is. The Regent only just moved him late last night. Please don't hurt me!"

"You're lying," said Toph. She leaned forward, trying to look intimidating.

"I am trying to find him because I'm worried about him," said Iroh. "I want to help him, not harm him."

"Second story, north wing, third door on the left as you enter from the main hall. There are guards outside it, but I imagine you can deal with those," said a voice from the doorway.

"Sei," gasped the cook. "What are you doing, you silly girl?"

"Getting the Fire Lord away from Qin," said Sei. "He could use a rescue, and you know it." She crossed her arms and glared at the cook.

"The Fire Lord is not in his right mind, and you can't just ignore the Regent like that. He could have you executed!" said the cook. "Are you crazy?"

"I'm trying to keep the Fire Lord alive-"

Toph pulled Sei with them as she earthbent them back out of the kitchens.

"-uh, hi?" said Sei.

"Don't want you to get killed for helping," said Toph. "We can find you a safe place to hide afterwards until things quiet down, right, Uncle Tea?"

"Yes," said Iroh. "Once we've gotten Zuko back in his rightful place, I'll make certain he knows what you did for him, Sei, and that you get back everything you just risked."

"And you can help us find S- the Fire Lord, right?" asked Toph.

"Yes," said Sei, gulping.

"Right, then."

They made their way underneath the palace, down tunnels, and through walls and the odd ceiling. They arrived at the door in question to find it ajar, and the room beyond empty and unguarded except for a small animal that hissed at them from under the bed. Oh right, Sparky had a pet now.

"He's supposed to be here," Sei whispered. "Where is he?"

There were bars on the windows, but when Iroh asked her about traps, Toph shook her head. "Nothing metal or stone that's out of place," she said.

Iroh touched the bed. "Still warm. They must have taken him away when we started making noise. In a hurry, or they'd have taken the kitten."

Iroh walked over to the table and picked up something small. "To Avatar Aang and his allies," Iroh read out. "Zuko is unharmed, and will remain so, but you will never find him by yourselves. Come and talk to me. Regent Qin."

"Toph, can you hear a small group of people, say Zuko plus a few guards, hurrying away from this spot?" asked Iroh. "Perhaps one of them struggling, or being carried by the others?"

"Be quiet," said Toph. "I need to concentrate." Toph stomped, and listened. There were people all over the place, as if this were an anthill someone had just kicked over, but nothing that really resembled... she stomped again. Still nothing... unless... "there's a group over by the west tower, moving west," said Toph. "One might be the right size for Zuko, isn't wearing armor, and is surrounded by others who are mostly bigger and are wearing armor." She grimaced. "I can't be sure of details from this distance."

"We'll try it," said Iroh, his voice grim.

Toph earthbent another tunnel, and sent them all earthsliding down and along it as fast as she could. Sei screamed, then slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle the sound. Toph then made an earth platform, and sent them all rushing upwards.

They came out in a corridor, with a group of soldiers staring and pointing weapons and bending stances at them. In the center was Mai. Not Zuko, but... "Oh no, I'm being kidnapped by the Avatar's friends," said Mai in a monotone, crossing her arms and staring at the ceiling.

Toph gaped at her. Since was Mai not perfectly capable of looking after herself?

Mai sighed exasperatedly. "I give up," she said loudly. Iroh grabbed Mai's arm, and said "Toph, get us out of here." Oh, 'capture', duh. Toph sank their little group back down through the floor.

"Have you found Zuko yet? I heard the commotion and came looking for him," said Mai.

"No," said Toph.

"Qin seems to have moved him again, but these numbskulls found me and were determined to protect me from the scary Avatar. I couldn't get away from them without destroying my plausible deniability," said Mai. "I'll need to 'escape' from you later, too."

"We thought you were him," said Toph. "Want to fill us in on what's been going on while we look for Sparky?"

"Thought you'd never ask," said Mai.

"Any idea where Qin might have taken him?" said Toph.

"Not the palace," said Mai.

"Then where?" said Toph.

"The tunnel system runs out into Caldera," said Iroh, "and feeds into natural lava tunnels running from the volcanoes to the sea in Harbor City."

"It's a maze, and some of it is full of lava," said Mai.

"Great, any idea which direction?" said Toph.

"Probably Harbor City," said Mai. "Zuko's drugged or worse, so I doubt those with him will risk him getting sunlight depleted, and the guards are firebenders who won't want to be underground for long periods either."

"If they head for Harbor City, they can hide one man among many," said Iroh.

"People tend to spot the scar," said Mai. "You'd have to hide him well."

"Or tell them you're keeping him safe from the Avatar and enlist their help," said Iroh.

"Quiet, all of you!" snapped Toph. She breathed quietly in the sudden stillness, orienting herself towards the harbor and listening. Then stomp. Then listen again.

The sounds of the palace above them were blocking out everything but the feel of magma pooled and running slowly under everything. "It's too loud. We need to get further from people," said Toph.

She took them out to the nearest unfinished tunnel, and they ran along it as long as it lasted. Then she earthbent them over into the nearest natural tunnel that ran down towards the harbor. They sat, and waited as she listened. Stomp. Listen. Stomp, listen.

In the relative quiet, she could hear a long way. Much further than she could in the palace. There was just one problem: there was no group that could be Zuko and a bunch of guards. Either Qin hadn't taken him out this way, or they'd already passed outside Toph's range.

Qin joined them before Aang had quite gotten bored enough to go and hang out with Appa. The Fire Nation's new regent looked tired, and a bit disturbed at the state of the courtyard. "I'll put it back when we leave," Aang reassured him. Qin raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, instead bowing, which Aang and Katara returned, and they all sat down.

Qin took a cup of tea and sipped it. They looked at Qin expectantly. "Avatar Aang, I know you are worried about the Fire Lord, but I must protest your breaking into the palace trying to kidnap him. The incident with the Dai li was vile, but be assured he is being well-treated and has already made substantial progress in his recovery."

"Can we see him?" said Aang. "He's my friend, and I'm really worried about him!" He made puppy eyes at Qin. It was worth a try.

Qin ran a hand through his receding hair. "I'm afraid not. Your actions have left me with no trust that you, or your associates, will not kidnap him. The massed councils gave regency of the Fire Nation and his guardianship over to me, and I would be irresponsible to allow a visit from you."

"I am a healer as well as his friend. I treated him after his lightning injuries." said Katara. "I really think you ought to let me see him."

"I have summoned the Royal Physician, and he should be here shortly. You may speak to him."

There was a knock at the door. Aang looked up, expecting to see a doctor, but it was Iroh, Toph, and a teenage girl wearing a servant's uniform. No Zuko. They were all rather dusty. Aang's heart sank.

"Ah, there you are, Prince Iroh," said Qin. "I was wondering when you'd join us." He frowned at the girl, then smirked. "And you've just found the traitor among Fire Lord Zuko's servants. Thank you, that is very useful."

"I'm no traitor," said Sei, and swallowed hard before looking the Regent directly in the eye and not bowing at all. "You, sir, are a usurper who has kidnapped the Fire Lord. Where have you taken him now?"

Qin's eyebrows shot skyward, and he looked at Aang. "The Fire Lord is not fit to rule right now. I am the legally-appointed ruler of the Fire Nation, and his guardian. I do what I must to keep this nation, and its vulnerable young monarch, safe."

Toph frowned at him. "He actually believes most of that," she said. "Is S-Zuko at least safe right now?"

"Ah, my people tell me you have some ability to truth-read. Interesting. Yes, Zuko is safe right now."

"Safe from what?" asked Iroh. "I understand he came dangerously close to killing himself yesterday."

"He's fine. He was caught and restrained before he could jump. He has since been moved to quarters where such dangers are not present."

"You should let me see him," said Iroh. "My nephew is... highly strung at the best of times, and he needs someone he trusts with him right now."

"Then why in the name of Agni did you leave him here alone on a throne he wasn't ready for?" demanded Qin. "While you went gallivanting around aiding the enemy?"

"It seems I overestimated the willingness of some in the Fire Nation court to see a gift when it was in front of them," said Iroh. "Tell me, Qin, are you really so eager to restart the War?"

"You are doing more to restart the War than I am! Helping the Earth Kingdom - how does helping rebuild our greatest enemy help the Fire Nation?" Qin leaned forward, his hands clenched into fists. "They have signed no peace treaties, we've gotten no guarantee they won't take our help and hang us with it. You're endangering your own people!"

Iroh's eyes flashed, but his voice was calm. "Unless we deal with the – justified, I might add – rage of the Earth Kingdom in a fair and balanced manner, there will be another war."

"There will be another war anyway," said Qin. "I'd rather have a war we can win right now, than one we can't win later."

Qin glanced at Aang. "You I can understand – you are our enemy and we have never given you reason to be anything else. But Iroh – why? I really admired you when you were Dragon of the West. What happened to you? You've become a traitor and a coward!"

"Actually, I'm not the Fire Nation's enemy really," said Aang. "The War was really hurting your own people, and you needed it to stop just as much as everyone else did. You don't even dance anymore! It's so sad."

There was another knock on the door. "Dr. Chimon!" cried Katara when it opened. "Can you tell us what's going on with Zuko?"

Which was when Momo threw up all over Katara's lap.