Appa, Reiko, Aang, and Sokka were still flying back to the Palace. Reiko was holding onto Sokka's arm so she did not fall.

"So how did it go with the guru? Did you master the Avatar State?" Reiko asked.

"Uh..." Aang said."

"Aang, are you okay?" Sokka asked.

"I'm great! It went great with the guru. I completely mastered the Avatar State." Aang laughed nervously and looked down. "Yeah."

Xxx

At to the Royal Palace, where Zuko and Iroh were sitting at a table in a room, waiting for the Earth King. Iroh poured some tea into a cup.

"What's taking so long?" Zuko snapped, worrying about Kurai.

"Maybe the Earth King overslept." Iroh wondered.

Dai Li agents began to circle around the two.

"Something's not right." Zuko said.

Azula walked past the Dai Li and came in front of her brother outside the circle of Dai Li agents.

"It's tea time!" Azula said.

Zuko quickly stood up. "Azula!"

"Have you met the Dai Li? They're earthbenders, but they have a killer instinct that's so firebender. I just love it." Azula grinned.

Iroh picked up his cup of tea.

"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname "the Dragon of the West"?" Iroh asked.

"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote, Uncle." Azula rolled her eyes.

"It's more of a demonstration, really." Iroh said.

Iroh began drinking his tea. Zuko looked over at him and smiled before going behind him. Iroh began breathing fire. In a corridor outside the room a fire blast made a hole in the wall, allowing Iroh and Zuko to escape. The Dai Li agents began shooting some rock gloves at them, but missed as Zuko and Iroh turned around the corner. Iroh generated lightning and destroys the wall in front before jumping down into a bush below. Zuko stopped at the edge.

"Come on! You'll be fine!" Iroh urged.

"No! I'm tired of running! Azula has Kurai! I want her back!" Zuko whirled and walked back.

"That's not how you will find her!" Iroh snapped back but let him go.

"You're so dramatic. What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Kai?" Azula sighed.

"Yes! I challenge you!" Zuko said. "If I win you have to return Kurai to me!"

"No thanks." Azula said, irritated.

Zuko shot a fire blast toward her, but two Dai Li agents intervened and pulled up a section of the floor, making a wall. They shot some rock gloves at Zuko's feet, making him lose his balance. He put his right hand down, but another rock glove trapped that one. Azula turned around smiling and walked away as the agents captured him.

xxx

Inside the throne room, where Sokka, Reiko, and Aang confronted Kuei.

"Katara and Kurai are fine. You have nothing to worry about." Kuei said.

"But, in my vision, I felt so sure they were in trouble." Aang said.

"Well, they met with the Council of Generals to plan the invasion, and since then, they've been off with your friends, the Kyoshi Warriors." Kuei said.

"See, Aang? They're with Suki. They're probably back at our apartment right now talking about make-up or something." Sokka said.

"Okay. Maybe you're right." Aang said.

"Believe me, if there was any danger at all, Bosco's animal instincts would sense it." Kuei said.

Bosco lifts up his head from sleeping to look at the three.

Xxx

Inside the Crystal Catacombs, where Kurai was pacing back and forth and Katara was crying in the corner. Kurai stopped pacing upon hearing a hole open up above.

"You've got company." Dai Li agent said.

He threw Zuko in, who rolled down and landed in front of Kurai.

"ZUKO!" Kurai rushed forward, catching him in her arms.