Kurai clutched Zuko and held him. "I'm...so glad your safe."
Xxx
Reiko, Aang, and Sokka reaching their house on Appa. The three jumped off and ran inside to see if Katara was in there. Momo runs up to them.
"Momo!" Aang said.
Momo climbed up Aang onto his shoulders. Reiko looked around.
"There's no one else here." Reiko said. "Where is my sister?"
"Katara is in trouble! I knew it!" Aang said.
"Oh, no!" Sokka said.
"Wait! Someone's at the door." Reiko said. Someone knocked on the door a second later. "Actually, I know who it is. It's an old friend of mine." Reiko walked over to the door and opened it, showing Iroh behind the door. "Glad to see you're okay."
"I need your help." Iroh said.
Sokka and Aang became shocked and angry upon seeing him, and got into a fighting stance. Reiko calmly smiled and waves at him. Momo flew away upon seeing him.
"You guys know each other?" Aang asked.
"I met him in the woods once and knocked him down. Then he gave me some tea and some very good advice." Reiko said.
"May I come in?" Iroh asked. Reiko nodded, and he walked in before turning to the group. "Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se."
"She must have Katara and Kurai." Aang said.
"She has captured my nephew as well." Iroh said.
"Then we'll work together to fight Azula, and save Katara, Kurai, and Zuko." Aang said.
Sokka Approached Aang and pointed at him. "Whoa there! You lost me at "Zuko"."
"I know how you must feel about my nephew." Iroh Moved forward to place his hands on Sokka's shoulders. "But believe me when I tell you that there is good inside him."
Sokka Pushed Iroh away. "Good inside him" isn't enough! Why don't you come back when it's outside him too, okay?"
"Katara's in trouble. Kurai is in trouble. All of Ba Sing Se is in trouble. Working together is our best chance." Aang said.
Sokka understood, and nods. Iroh began walking back to the door.
"I brought someone along who might help us." Iroh said.
They all walked outside. Reiko put a couple earth pillars around the nervous Dai Li agent and made him stand up. Iroh walked over to him and took the gag off his mouth, revealing this to be the scarred agent.
"Azula and Long Feng are plotting a coup! They're going to overthrow the Earth King!" The Captured Agent said.
"My sister! Where are they keeping Kurai?" Reiko snapped.
"In the Crystal Catacombs of Old Ba Sing Se, deep beneath the palace." Captured Agent said.
Iroh, Aang, Reiko, and Sokka run away to help Katara, Kurai and the Earth King.
xxx
In the jail where Long Feng is. He meditated in his cell while a Dai Li agent informed him of what is going on.
"The movements of the Earth King and all the generals have been plotted out step-by-step." Head of the Dai Li said.
"Good. And the Fire Nation princess is cooperating?" Long Feng said.
"Oh, yes. More than cooperating. She's really taken charge. She's terrifying and inspirational at the same time. It's hard to explain." Head of the Dai Li said.
The Dai Li agent walked away.
xxx
Inside the Crystal Catacombs, Kurai slowly let go of Zuko.
"Why did they throw you in here?" Kurai asked. "They were disguised as Kiyoshi Warriors and captured me and Katara."
She looked over at Katara, who was huddled in the corner.
There was a silence.
"What...happened to the Water Tribe Girl?" Zuko asked.
"Azula wanted to use me as an example." Kurai admitted. "She knew everything. About my past as Queen of the North, about us, everything. Azula...knew I was a Firebender. She...challenged me to an Agni Kai."
"WHAT?" Zuko involuntarily lit his hands.
Katara whimpered in the corner, and Kurai grabbed his hands, putting out his fire.
"Don't. You'll scare her." Kurai said. "Katara defended me and stopped Azula. She's...she's been burned. She healed herself, but...it was traumatizing for her."
Zuko straightened firmly and walked over to Katara. He knelt down. "Thank you. Thank you for protecting the woman I love. I won't let either of you get hurt again."
Katara looked up, hope etched on her face, and silently nodded. "We have to get out of here."