Back at the palace, the team arrived at a pile of rubble. Sokka climbed atop it and saw a gigantic door.

"Now that's an impressive door. It's gotta go somewhere." Sokka dropped down from the rubble and attempted to kick the door open. "Yaaah!" The door did not move even slightly. Sokka started trying to push it open, but to no avail. Reiko and Aang jumped in from behind and busted the door down, knocking Sokka forward in the process. He started rubbing the back of his head. "A little warning next time?"

They arrived in the Earth King's chamber with Kuei sitting in his throne. Long Feng and his Dai Li agents stood in their way. The team took fighting stances against them.

"We need to talk to you." Aang said.

Long Feng Turned to face the Earth King. "They're here to overthrow you."

"No, we're on your side. We're here to help." Sokka urged.

"You have to trust us." Katara said.

Kuei Stood up with a rising aggravated tone. "You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my fancy door, and you expect me to trust you?"

"He has a good point." Reiko pointed out.

"If you are on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down!" Kuei exclaimed.

They looked at each other for a moment. Aang dropped his staff, Katara put her water whip back in her water skin, Sokka dropped his machete, and Reiko dropped the boulder she was levitating.

Aang Smiled. "See? We're friends, Your Earthiness." Aang Gave a slight nervous chuckle.

The king said nothing and just continued to frown grimly. Long Feng signaled the Dai Li to cuff their arms with rock gloves.

Long Feng Smiled sinisterly. "Detain the assailants!"

The Dai Li rushed behind Team Avatar.

"But we dropped our weapons. We're your allies." Sokka protested.

"Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again." Long Feng snapped The king looked at him shocked.

"The Avatar?" Kuei Pointed at Sokka. "You're the Avatar?"

"Uh, no. Him." Sokka Nudged his head at Aang.

Aang Effortlessly broke free of his earth cuffs and raised his arms. "Over here." Aang Re-attached the cuffs.

"What does it matter, Your Highness? They're enemies of the state." Long Feng said.

"Perhaps you're right." Kuei said as Bosco sniffed and licked Aang, who laughed, and smiled at Long Feng. "Though Bosco seems to like him." Kuei Looked back at the team. "I'll hear what he has to say." Long Feng glared at Aang.

Aang Walked forward. "Well, sir, there's a war going on right now. For the past one hundred years in fact. The Dai Li's kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control the city, and to control you."

"A secret war? That's crazy!" Kuei said.

"Completely!" Long Feng said.

"Long Feng didn't want us to tell you, so he stole our sky bison to blackmail us. And blackmail is the least of his crimes; he brainwashed our friend!" Aang said.

Long Feng Quickly turned to face the king. "All lies. I've never even seen a sky bison, Your Majesty. Frankly, I thought they were extinct."

Kuei Sat down. "Your claim is difficult to believe. Even from an Avatar."

Long Feng Whispered in his ear. "These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction."

Long Feng Thought for a moment. "I have to trust my advisor."

The agents started taking the team away, but Sokka stopped for a moment.

"Wait!" Sokka Turned to face the king with a big smile. "I can prove he's lying. Long Feng said he's never seen a sky bison. Ask him to lift his robe."

"What? I am not disrobing!" Long Feng said.

The king looked thoughtful before looking at Sokka suspiciously.

Aang and Sokka smiled slyly and nodded at each other. Aang blew a large gust of air at Long Feng's legs, lifting his robe and revealing a bite mark left by Appa.

"Right there! Appa bit him!" Aang said.

"Never met a sky bison, huh?" Sokka said.

Long Feng Lowered his robe. "That happens to be a large birth mark." Long Feng spoke Sarcastically. "Thanks for showing everyone."

"Well I suppose there's no way to prove where those marks came from." Kuei said.

"Of course there is!" Sokka said.

The group got Appa and brought him in. He opened his mouth. Aang pointed at the bison's teeth and at Long Feng's mark.

"Yup. That pretty much proves it." Kuei said. Team Avatar cheered. "But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory." Team Avatar became downcast. "Though, I suppose this matter's worth looking into." Team Avatar looked at each other approvingly, while Long Feng glared at the king before walking away with his agents.

xxx

Back in Iroh and Zuko's apartment, Zuko was asleep. Kuri was at his side, holding his hand. He woke up.

"You're burning up." Kuri Dipped a cloth in water. "You have an intense fever." Kuri Placed the cloth on Zuko's forehead. "This will help cool you down."

"So thirsty." Zuko Sat up, but Kuri made him lie back down.

Kuri Grabbed a bucket with a spoon in it; took out the spoon. "Here's some clean water to drink." Kuri sat him up slightly. "Stay under the blankets and sweat this out."

Zuko grabbed the spoon from Kuri and drank the water. He tossed the spoon aside and grabs the bucket. He drank from it, while spilling some out. He tossed the bucket aside and lay back down.