LovinZuko, you're right I didn't explain how Azula found them. I was thinking about it but completely forgot to write about it. She would have tracked them from Gao Ling to the river they washed Appa at then kept going the same direction, demanding the whole way if anyone had seen a flying bison. They flew over towns and Katara and Zuko even went back to one so Appa definitely would have been seen. They were meandering until Appa talked to Iroh so that would have given Azula plenty of time to catch up. As for Toph not noticing them I don't think she'd notice because there's always something going on and so over time she would have learned to ignore almost everything that wasn't nearby the same way we ignore stuff that we aren't looking at/focusing on. It's like how you can walk somewhere but don't really notice things until it's late at night and you're alone then you notice everything. Does that make sense? I probably should have addressed that in the chapter.

2019 edit: I addressed it a little….sort of?

. . .

"Water bomb!"

Sokka jolts to his feet, trying to run away but the splash from Katara jumping down the waterfall washes his feet out from under him. Toph laughs from the safety of the shore, her legs only barely in the water. "You know," he stands spluttering, "Some of us are trying to relax and enjoy the water and not drown."

Katara rolls her eyes, "Oh yes I can see it now - Sokka, citizen of the Southern Water Tribe, died by drowning. That's a sad way to go."

"Guys, I hate to break this up but don't you think we should be heading to Ba Sing Se?" Aang worries at his bottom lip, glancing from his friends to the horizon, the city just barely visible.

Zuko nods, "He's right. We need to get going."

Katara sighs, giving a longing look to the waterfall. "Fine. Let's go."

. . .

The oasis was only a small respite from the desert. This time though they have enough water and their goal is clearly visible. Ba Sing Se looms ever closer and Zuko grows more and more figity. Katara scoots over to him. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Zuko," she warns.

He looks away. "It's nothing, just that well, the last time someone from my family was here Uncle was trying take the city. I don't imagine they've forgotten."

"Maybe not, but you're trying to help. Besides, we don't have to tell them who you are."

Sokka rolls his eyes, cutting in, "Keeping his identity a secret hasn't exactly worked out that well if you haven't noticed."

Katara shoves him. "No one's asking you!"

"Just saying."

"Sokka, you -"

"No, Katara, he's right. We might as well tell them. It'll probably come out sooner or later anyway."

"I wouldn't do that," Toph comments. "The Earth Kingdom has a long memory and if you haven't noticed not many of us like the Fire Nation. Letting them know he's the crown prince is an easy way to get locked up."

"See," Katara sticks out her tongue.

"Yeah, and some of the servants would talk about the Dai Li, apparently they run Ba Sing Se or something. They're good at making people disappear. A maid's brother was living there and trying to do something - I never heard the details - but apparently they didn't like it and he just stopped showing up to work one day. No one heard from him after that and four days later the maid was gone too. Gao Ling's so far away from Ba Sing Se but they still made her disappear."

Zuko gulps.

Sokka whistles lowly. "Maybe we shouldn't say anything about who you are then Lee."

"Yeah," Zuko nods, "I agree."

Sokka goes back to staring at the wall, his thoughts zipping from the Dai Li to the eclipse to sending his thanks to Tui and La that they made it out of the desert alive.

Toph shrugs and resumes her blind inspection of the dirt on her nails, hiding her shudder. She was taught to respect the Dai Li if she ever went to Ba Sing Se and keep her mouth shut like a lady but her parents didn't realize just how much she learned from the servants. She'd heard the horror stories her parents hadn't.

Aang bites the inside of his cheek, scared of what lies ahead.

Katara reaches over and squeezes Zuko's hand. "You'll be okay," she mutters more to herself than to him. "I won't let anyone take you away from," She pauses, "us."

He squeezes back.

. . .

The wall is even bigger than they thought it would be, stretching endlessly above them, the white stone almost blinding. Appa groans at the exertion, straining to fly over on a less than full stomach. They can hear the shouting from guards, see the gawking and the sun reflecting off of countless uniforms. Then the smell hits. Even so far above the city they can smell it, rotting fruit and dung mixed with the stench of too many bodies pressed into too small of a space. They all wrinkle their noses while some cover their noses with their hands.

"What is that?"

"My guess would be the Lower Ring." Toph grimaces. "Let's just keep going."

"Wait, we should stop and see if we can help." Aang almost snaps Appa's reigns but is stopped short by Sokka.

"We can help once we've landed. First let's get real food in everyone and talk to the Earth King. If we can't stop Ozai then we can't help these people anyway."

"No, we need to stop."

Katara clenches her jaw against the smell trying in vain to ignore it before placing a hand on Aang's shoulder. She knows they can't do anything right now. One problem would just be replaced by another and another and another and they'd never get to tell the Earth King about the eclipse. "Let's just get to the palace."

He huffs, "Fine."

The smell dissipates the closer they get to the palace until finally they land, surrounded by lillacs and honeysuckle and guards.

"Avatar Aang and company." An unremarkable woman bows as they jump down, a large smile plastered on her face."My name is Joo Dee. I have been given the great honor of showing the Avatar around Ba Sing Se. You must be his companions. Welcome to our wonderful city. Shall we get started?"

"Started? Started with what?"

"The tour of the city. I am also to show you to your new home."

"Tour of the city, new home, how did you know we were even coming?"

"The Earth King knows many things. Now, let's begin," She intones.

"No, we need to see the Earth King," Sokka demands. "We have information about the Fire Nation Army that he needs to know about."

Joo Dee smiles at him, "You're in Ba Sing Se now. Everyone is safe here." Her words flow out of her mouth like thick honey, oozing undeniable sincerity.

Sokka's eyebrows shoot up and Katara interjects. "People might be safe here but they aren't outside the walls. We need to talk to the Earth King."

Joo Dee's smile falters slightly before sliding back into place. "Let's get you to your new home. I'm sure you're tired."

Sokka almost opens his mouth again but Toph cuts him off. "That sounds like a great idea."

"Toph, what're you-" The earthbender shakes her head slightly. Sokka huffs and Aang draws his eyebrows together.

"Dai Li."

Zuko hisses but they all fall into step behind Joo Dee after Aang quickly hugs Appa and makes sure he's cared for.
She leads them past exotic flowers and penned in animals until they're out of the gardens. "This is the Upper Ring. Your house is nearby. Is there anything you'd like to see before I take you there?"

"Yeah, I'd like to see the Earth King," Sokka mumbles under his breath.