Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Ready, Aim, Fire" by Imagine Dragons
Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence
Author's Note: Who's ready for a Zutara reunion? *raises hand* Book 4 is gonna be your best friend...if Katara can get out of Ba Sing Se
Chapter 16: The Earth King
Ready aim fire
An empire is falling
In just one day
You close your eyes
And the glory fades
"We've got to get her back."
Sokka sits on a rock a few feet away from Appa, his hands wrapped around his knees. He stares at the water slowly lapping against the shore. Normally water makes him feel better, reminds him of home. Right now there's only one thing that could make him feel better.
"We'll find her. I promise." Katara takes a seat next to him on the boulder. "We don't leave anyone behind."
"We can't go back into Ba Sing Se," Toph argues. "We escaped the Dai Li once, but who's to say we can do it again? We got lucky. If we go back they'll be waiting for us."
"We still have to talk to the Earth King about the eclipse," Aang adds. "It's our only hope for a bloodless end to the war, but we'll still need his support for it to be successful."
"The Earth King is only in control of cultural matters. He probably doesn't know anything about the war. The Dai Li probably keep him just as sheltered as anyone else in the city."
"Then we should tell him what's going on," Aang says. "Maybe he can do something good for the city."
"Even if we could convince him of the truth, what makes you think we'll get his support?" Toph asks. "I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't usually go that smoothly for our gang."
"We have to try," Sokka says. "At least we have to convince him to release Suki and the Kyoshi Warriors."
"Sokka, Long Feng is in control of the city," Katara says softly. "His conspiracy with the Dai Li is too powerful. Even if the Earth King believed us, his men are loyal to Long Feng. We're outnumbered a hundred to one."
"I'm ready to leave this horrible place behind us," Toph states. "I've seen enough of Ba Sing Se - and I can't even see!"
"But what about Suki?" Sokka turns to Katara, catching her eyes. "You said we wouldn't leave her behind."
"Sometimes to win the war you have to lose a battle." She looks away from him. "I think we should get out of here and regroup. I need to train my earthbending more and I should start learning firebending. I say we find Zuko, break him out of prison, and then return when we're stronger."
Sokka stands up, anger coursing through him. "You're just saying that because you want to rescue him! You've never stopped thinking about him, even though he gave himself up willingly. Suki was kidnapped. Who knows what's happening to her right now?"
Katara also stands, her softness melting away and her anger surfacing. "I'm just being practical! We were barely able to escape from the Dai Li! Next time we'll all be in prison!"
"Suki rescued you from prison and now you're okay with leaving her there?"
"She didn't rescue me just so that I could get sent back by being stupid!"
"Katara, going into the heart of the Fire Nation is even more dangerous than going back into Ba Sing Se," Aang says levelly, trying to play peacekeeper. "We have no idea where Zuko is, but we know that Suki is somewhere in the city."
"We do?" Toph asks, still sitting on the ground.
"And we still don't know if the eclipse is even legit or not," Katara continues. "We read it in a fairy tale. If we find Zuko, we can ask him. He's a Firebender, he would know."
"I'm still not entirely convinced he's on our side," Aang mutters.
"It will take weeks to travel to the Fire Nation and back here. They could do anything to Suki while we're gone. We need to rescue her now, while we're here." Sokka lays an arm around Aang's shoulders. "We want to stay. At least long enough to try."
"Look!" Aang points towards the water. Three ships with green sails are coming into sight.
"That's probably the Dai Li, searching for us." Sokka turns back to the girls. "We need to go now. Whatever happens, I'm not leaving Suki here. I'll find a way to get to the Earth King alone if I have to."
Katara stares at him for a long time. "We always make decisions as a group," she says.
"This isn't a decision."
They stare at each other for a long time. Finally Katara sighs. "Fine. We'll try one more time. But afterwards, we're going to rescue Zuko. No more discussion."
"Deal."
"I don't like this," Toph says, getting to her feet. "Let's just get this over with."
"C'mon, Appa!" Aang springs lightly onto the bison's back. "Let's fly!"
"That whole thing is the palace!" Sokka shouts over the wind as they approach from the air. "The king's chambers should be somewhere in the middle."
"We have to be careful," Katara reminds them all. "The Dai Li have probably already warned the king that we're coming. He won't want to listen to us, and definitely won't want to believe us."
Suddenly Appa lists to the right, barely avoiding a rock projectile blasted at them from the ground. The bison growls.
"Hang on!" Aang yells.
Appa zig zags through the air, avoiding the missiles from below. Aang stands on his head, using his staff to cut other rocks to pieces. The others struggle to hang on. Toph is paler than normal.
"Katara! We have to get down there!"
Katara climbs to Appa's head by Aang. "What's the plan?"
"We have to jump and take out those soldiers!" Aang points to a line of dozens of Dai Li agents already in bending position. "If we don't disable them, they'll blow Appa right out of the air!"
"Okay! On the count of three!"
They jump down from Appa, landing with a blast of air from Aang and a blast of rocks from Katara. The Dai Li agents are thrown off their feet by the dozens.
Appa lands behind them and the others climb off. "The entrance is there!" Katara points straight ahead. "Come on! We have to hurry!"
They run as fast as they can through the courtyard and towards the stairs. A line of Earthbenders start attacking them as they run. Aang and Toph guard the front while Katara and Sokka bring up the rear.
Ahead is a canal with a set of bridges. Katara runs to the front and uses the water from the canals to grab the men from the bridge. They all fall into the water with a splash. Before they can bend themselves out, Katara freezes the entire canal.
They reach the bottom of the stairs. Two dozen more Dai Li agents pour out of the palace and run down the steps. Toph raises her arms up and then pumps them down, turning the stairs into a giant flat slope. The men slide down with a surprised cry.
Toph and Katara then stand on either side of the others and work in tandem to earthbend the entire slab of rock that they're standing on upwards. As the Earthbenders slide past them, Sokka yells out apologies.
The reach the top, only to be flanked on both sides by more Earthbenders. Toph and Katara earthbend walls of rocks to push them to the sides and out of the way.
"In there!" Sokka points. They run inside, leaving a chaotic mess behind them.
They go through the hallway only to run straight into a square intersection. Earthbenders run in from all sides. Toph throws her hands down, sending pillars that shoot the men up to the ceiling.
"Toph! Which way to the Earth King?" Sokka calls out.
"How should I know? I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se!"
More Earthbenders appear and Toph is preoccupied fending them off. Sokka runs around, checking all the doors for any sign of the Earth King. He finally climbs over a large pile of rubble and sees an enormous gold and green door at the end of a short hallway.
"Now that's an impressive door," he remarks. "It's gotta go somewhere."
He runs over and tries to throw his shoulder into it. The door doesn't budge and he ends up falling to a heap on the floor, cursing under his breath.
Aang jumps down and blasts the doors open with his airbending. Sokka climbs to his feet and takes a good look in. At the end of yet another hallway is a large gold throne with someone sitting on it. Another pair of Dai Li agents stand guard in front.
They all run towards it, skidding to a stop before the Dai Li. The Earth King watches them curiously. By his side is his bear. And standing right in front of him is Long Feng.
"We need to talk to you," Aang declares.
"They're here to overthrow you," Long Feng warns the king.
"No! We're on your side. We're here to help." Sokka sticks his boomerang back into its sheath and holds his empty hands out in front of him as a gesture of peace.
"You have to trust us!" Katara adds.
The Earth King stands up. "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," Toph comments.
"If you're on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down." The Earth King looks at them all firmly.
Katara glances at Aang and Toph. Aang sets down his staff on the floor in front of him. Toph's eyes harden. It's not until Katara sends her water back into their flasks that Toph lets the boulder she's holding drop with a dull thud onto the floor.
"See? We're your friends, not the enemy."
Long Feng raises his hand. The Dai Li earthbend rock cuffs to hold their hands behind their backs. Katara strains but she can't free herself.
In front of them, Long Feng smiles. "Detain the assailants. Make sure the Avatar and her friends never see daylight again."
But even as the Dai Li begin to move, the Earth King frowns. "The Avatar? You're the Avatar?"
Katara nods once.
"What does it matter, your Highness?" Long Feng asks. "They're enemies of the state."
"Perhaps you're right."
The bear climbs from his seat next to the king and wanders over to them, stopping in front of Aang. He sniffs him for a minute and then licks up his face. Aang laughs.
"Bosco seems to like them," the Earth King points out. "I'll hear what they have to say."
Katara takes a few steps forward. She hopes Sokka and Aang are right about the Earth King listening and helping them.
"There's a war going on right now, your Highness. For the past one hundred years, in fact. The Dai Li kept it secret from you. It's a conspiracy to control you and the city."
"A secret war?" The Earth King laughs. "That's crazy."
"Completely," Long Feng agrees.
"Long Feng wanted to keep it from you and he knew we were a threat, so he kidnapped our friends to try and blackmail us. And blackmail is the least of his crimes. He brainwashes anyone who doesn't fall in line! Everyone in the city is terrified of speaking the truth."
"All lies." Long Feng turns to the king. "I have no idea what friends they're talking about."
The Earth King sits down. "Your claim is difficult to believe, even from an Avatar," he admits.
Long Feng leans in and whispers something in his ear. Katara doesn't know exactly what he's saying, but she knows it's all lies.
"I have to trust my advisor," the king says after a minute. The Dai Li grab Katara and the others and begin to escort them out.
"Wait!" Sokka exclaims. "I can prove he's lying!"
They all turn back around.
"Long Feng said he has no idea about our missing friends. But we received a letter saying they were invited to the palace! The scroll has the official seal and everything!"
"It's too bad that the scroll is conveniently not here," Long Feng says.
"Actually, I have it in my bag."
The Earth King nods at the Dai Li agent behind Sokka, and he releases him from his cuffs. Sokka pulls the letter out of his bag and hands it to the king.
"Yep, that pretty much proves it. Unless someone broke into the palace and stole my official seal, of which only two people have access too." The Earth King looks over at Long Feng. "And that would prove a huge fault for the person in charge of security."
Long Feng turns red.
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory," the king continues, before the kids can get too excited. "Though I do suppose this matter is worth looking into."
"Hey, I'll take it," Sokka says.
"So this is what a train is like." The king stands in the middle of the aisle, glancing at all the awed citizens around him. "I didn't realize it would be this...public."
"You've never been outside the Upper Ring before?" Katara asks.
"I've never been outside the palace." Before they can react, he points outside the window, where Aang is riding on Appa next to them. "Now that's the way to travel."
"So...may I ask where we're going?"
"Underneath Lake Laogai, your Highness," Sokka says. "To the Dai Li secret headquarters. "You're about to see where all the brainwashing and conspiring took place."
When they arrive at the lake, Toph stomps the ground to raise the entrance to the bunker. But to their shock, only broken rocks emerge from the water.
"It's gone!" she exclaims.
Katara knows what happened instantly. "The Dai Li must have known we were coming and destroyed the evidence."
"Hm. that seems awfully convenient."
"Hey, if anything, this proves the conspiracy exists even more."
The king doesn't buy it. "Long Feng was right. This was a waste of time. I'm going back to the palace.
He and his guards turn and start walking back. Katara thinks fast. "The wall!"
"You're right! They'll never be able to cover that up in time!" Sokka exclaims.
Aang springs up and jumps right in front of the king. "If you'll come with us to the outer wall, we can prove that the war is real."
The king looks down from his glasses. "No Earth King has ever been to the outer wall. I don't have any more time for this nonsense."
Sokka runs up. "If you come with us, this time you can ride on Appa," he bribes.
Somehow that seems to change his mind very quickly.
He shrieks as they take off.
"First time flying?" Toph asks.
"It's both thrilling and terrifying!"
"Yeah, I hate it too."
"I have to be honest with you guys," he says. "Part of me really hopes that what you're telling me about this war isn't true."
Katara looks away. "I wish it wasn't," she says quietly.
They fly over the fields. The king looks in awe at his kingdom. Katara can't believe that he's never actually seen the place he rules over. How much of culture is in history and how much is in the people? How can he save culture that he knows nothing about?
They approach the wall as the sun begins to set.
"Look! It's still there!" Aang points. A new wall has been built around the remains of the weapon, but it's still there.
"What is that?"
"A drill. A giant drill made by the Fire Nation to break through your walls."
The king looks down upon it in shock. "I can't believe I never knew," he says slowly.
Just as Katara thinks they might break through to the king, Long Feng shows up.
"I can explain, your Majesty," he says calmly. "This is nothing more than a construction project."
Katara sets a hand on her hip. "Really?" she asks sarcastically. "Then perhaps you could explain why there's a Fire Nation insignia on your construction project."
"Well it's imported, of course. Can't trust domestic machinery."
The king doesn't look impressed. Long Feng begins to panic.
"Surely you don't trust these children instead of your most loyal attendant," he says.
The king only hesitates a moment. "Dai Li, arrest Long Feng," he orders. "I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."
The two Dai Li agents exchange looks before throwing cuffs on the man.
"You can't arrest me," he says, shocked.
"I'm the king, not you. Now, Avatar, you wanted to talk to me about the war?"
As they walk back towards Appa, Sokka turns back one more time. "Looks like Long Feng is long gone," he quips. "Ah, that feels so good. I've been waiting so long to use that one."
A tray of shrimp, rice, and soup is slid under the prison door. Long Feng looks at it suspiciously; he's been in charge of prisoners long enough to know this isn't common fare.
"The council of five and the general are loyal to the Earth King," a man says. "But there's someone here to see you."
Long Feng stands. "Who?"
"An ally."
The voice is a cold, female voice. He has no idea who it is, but he's not turning his options down. "Let her in."
The door opens and a young girl walks in. He almost laughs at the ridiculousness of it all. "And who are you?"
"Someone who wants to see the Earth King fall and the Avatar captured," she says, locking her golden eyes with his. "And someone with the means to do it."
He narrows his eyes. He doesn't believe her, but he doesn't have any other hope, either. "Continue."
"Everything is going exactly how I predicted it. The Avatar has the king wrapped around her thumb and feels completely safe. She and her friends think that their work in this city is finished."
"It is! I'm in prison and powerless!"
"You underestimate the loyalty of the Dai Li. They will follow your lead over the Earth King's any day."
He examines the girl standing in front of him. She has a powerful aura around her, and she speaks confidently. But he's still not completely convinced. "How do you know?"
She points to the food. "They want you to be comfortable. They let me in. They won't completely defy the king until you have a solid plan, but they are loyal to you."
"But I don't have a plan," he admits.
"I do. And I'm willing to make a deal." She crosses her arms. "But I'm not going to hang out here forever."
He watches her carefully. She's good. "What kind of deal?"
"I want the Avatar. You want your power back. We can both walk away happy."
Long Feng has lost everything. He's desperate - desperate enough, even, to trust this strange girl. He nods once. "What do I have to do?"
"The Avatar has already set the trap for herself. As for the king, we'll have to take him down from the inside. With the Dai Li on our side, that won't be a problem."
He thinks it over. She's being evasive on purpose. He's not sure why, but if she is trying to manipulate him, he's sure he can handle her. After all, she is only a child. "And all you want is the Avatar?"
She nods, then steps out of the cell. "Someone will be back soon with news. Try not to go crazy until then."
The door closes shut again. "Wait!" he calls. "What's your name?"
She smirks. "Names aren't important."
"I want to thank you young heroes for opening my eyes." The king is sitting on his throne again, facing the group. "All this time what I thought was a great metropolis was just a city of fools. And that makes me the king fool." He covers his face with a hand. "We're at war - with the Fire Nation!"
"That's why we came to see you," Sokka says gently. "We think you could help us end the war."
"We don't have much time," Aang adds. "A solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be entirely blocked out by the moon and the Firebenders will be helpless. We can end the war without any bloodshed."
The king frowns. "What are you suggesting?"
"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation," Sokka says firmly. "The day the fires go out."
The king thinks about it. "I don't know. That would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable."
"You're already vulnerable. The Fire Nation won't stop until Ba Sing Se falls. You can either sit back and wait for it to happen or take the offensive and give yourself a fighting chance!"
The king takes a moment to consider it again. He looks over at Katara. "You've been very quiet, Avatar. What do you think?"
"Nothing matters if I can't defeat the Firelord. The day the fires go out is my best opportunity to beat him."
The king nods. "Then you have my support."
Aang cheers. Sokka smiles, but he's not finished.
"One more thing, your Majesty," he says. "Our missing friends."
"Ah, yes. The ones Long Feng kidnapped." The Earth King nods. "Can you give me their names and descriptions? I'll have my men start searching for them immediately. As soon as we find them, we'll let you know."
"They call themselves the Kyoshi Warriors. Their leader's name is Suki. They wear green and gold armor and pale make-up."
The king nods at a Dai Li agent next to him. The man takes notes.
"You kids have had a long day. Why don't you go and get some rest? We'll send for you as soon as we have news."
They all bow and thank him. As they walk out, Sokka smiles widely.
"See? That wasn't bad at all. We got rid of Long Feng, exposed the truth to the Earth King, got support for the war against the Fire Nation and it's only a matter of time before they find Suki."
"I still have a bad feeling about being here," Toph says.
"Well, don't ruin it for the rest of us."
"Sir, we found them." The Dai Li agent bows before the king. "The Avatar's friends."
The king smiles. "Good! Bring them in!"
The door opens and three girls enter the throne room. The king notices they're wearing the green and yellow robes, pale face make-up, and metal fans just like the Avatar and her friends said. As they near the king, they bow in respect.
"It is with the highest honor that we welcome the friends of the Avatar and the esteemed warriors from Kyoshi," the king declares.
"We are the Earth King's humble servants," the girl at the front says.
"You are the leader, Suki?" he asks.
"Yes, your Highness."
"I would like to extend my most sincerest apology for the suffering you and your warriors have endured at the hands of my men. Had I known what was going on, I would not have tolerated it."
"We are thankful for your kindness and generosity."
"You must know that it has been a very trying week for me," he continues. "My most trusted advisor, Long Feng, tried to take control of Ba Sing Se from me."
"It's terrible when you can't trust the people who are closest to you," Suki says.
"But there is good news." The king strokes his bear's head. "As we speak, the council of five is meeting to plan an invasion of the Fire Nation this summer. On the day of a solar eclipse! The Firebenders will be powerless."
"Really?" Suki exchanges looks with her friends. "Now that sounds like a brilliant and fascinating plan."
The king suddenly remembers his promise to Sokka. "Ah, yes. The Avatar wanted to be notified as soon as we found you. I must admit, they spoke so highly of you that I wanted to speak with you first. I'll have my messenger send a scroll immediately."
"That's not necessary," Suki cuts in. "We'll go and surprise them ourselves."
The king smiles. "That will be nice. Once again, I'm sorry for what my former advisor did."
"It's quite alright."
The girls bow and exit. The king turns to his bear. "What nice girls," he says, smiling. Bosco growls.
"We're about to do something that countless people have tried but none have succeeded at, girls," Azula says as they walk through the halls of the palace.
"What's that?" Ty Lee asks. "Getting Mai to wear make-up that's not totally depressing?"
"Ha ha," Mai replies dryly.
"I'm talking about conquering the whole Earth Kingdom. Starting with Ba Sing Se."
The two girls are suddenly fully alert. Good. Azula wants them to know that this isn't just a fun game anymore. This is war.
"For over a hundred years the Fire Nation has hammered away at this city from the outside. But now we're on the inside. And we can take it ourselves."
"You're so confident," Ty Lee says. "I really admire that about you."
Azula lifts her lips in a small smile. "We're in a perfect position to organize a coup and overthrow the Earth King. The key is the Dai Li. Whoever controls the Dai Li controls Ba Sing Se."
"And how do we get control of the Dai Li?" Mai asks.
"We already have it."
Azula stands in front of the ranks of the Dai Li. At her right side is Long Feng. Mai and Ty Lee stand off to the side. Everyone is silent, waiting to hear what she has to say.
"The Earth King and the Council of Five do not trust the Dai Li," she begins. "They imprisoned your leader, Long Feng. Soon they will turn on you and eliminate all of you. Seizing power today is a matter of life and death."
She walks down the steps, getting close to the men. Standing on the same level as them. "This coup must be swift and decisive. The Earth King and each of the five generals must be taken out simultaneously. Long Feng has placed you in my command while we overthrow the government. If I sense any disloyalty, any hesitation, any weakness at all, I will snuff it out." She pauses in front of one man and makes eye contact with him. He swallows. "That is all."
"Nice speech, Azula!" Ty Lee says after the Dai Li have shuffled out to complete their assigned tasks. "It was pretty and poetic, but also scary in a good way."
"Yeah, I thought you were gonna make that one guy pee his pants," Mai says with a smile.
"There are still a few loose ends." Azula looks to the side. "The Avatar and her friends, for instance."
"We haven't heard anything yet," Sokka moans.
"Maybe they haven't been found yet," Aang says.
"I think we should go back to the palace and wait there. Then we'll know the news immediately." Sokka stands. "Anyone coming with me?"
"I will," Toph volunteers. "It's so boring just sitting around this house."
"I'm going to stay," Katara says, barely looking up from her map. "I need to finish plotting our course to the Fire Nation and packing our supplies."
"I'm going to stay and help," Aang says.
"Okay. Suit yourselves."
Sokka and Toph walk to the palace. It's not too long of a walk, and they have no idea what happened to Joo Dee since the king took control again.
As they walk up the stairs to the palace, they see a man heading their way.
"It's General How," Sokka says. Toph suddenly freezes. "What is it?"
"We need to hide. Now."
He doesn't question her, just takes her hand and leads her behind a pillar. He peers around and watches as the general walks closer.
Suddenly chains appear from above and wrap around his arms. He tries to fight but a half dozen Dai Li agents drop down from hiding spots and secure him.
"What's happening?" Toph asks. "Who are those men? Why did they attack the general?"
"Those were Dai Li agents." Sokka tries to imagine why they would arrest the general. Slowly he comes to a realization. "Toph, I think there's a coup happening."
"A coup?"
"The Dai Li are taking over the government from the inside. They're probably targeting all the generals and the king." Sokka grabs her hand and starts running towards the throne room. "We have to warn the king!"
"Why would the Dai Li do that?"
"Because they're more loyal to Long Feng than they are to the king."
They skid into the throne room, where the king and his bear are lounging in their seats. In front of the throne are two Kyoshi Warriors. Neither of them are Suki.
"Thank goodness we're in time," Sokka exclaims.
"In time for what?" the king asks.
"Yeah, what are you in time for?" one of the Kyoshi Warriors asks. She looks familiar, but Sokka can't place her. She suddenly flips over until she's right in front of him. "Cutie."
He leans back. "Uh, I'm kinda involved with Suki," he says.
She tilts her head. "Who?"
Toph sends her shooting away with a blast of rock. She lands lightly on her feet.
"Those aren't the real Kyoshi Warriors!" Toph exclaims. On his throne, the king gasps.
"Sorry to disappoint you," the other one says, right before throwing a set of ninja stars their way. Mai. Which means the other girl is Ty Lee. And if Mai and Ty Lee are here, that means that...
Mai goes after Toph while Ty Lee chases down Sokka. He barely ducks and dodges her jabs.
"It's like we're dancing," she teases.
"This fight is over."
….that means that Azula is also here. Both Sokka and Toph look up to see her holding a blue flame next to the Earth King's head. He's already sweating.
Sokka and Toph have no choice but to raise their hands in surrender.
"Get them all out of my sight." Azula shoves the Earth King forward. Dai Li agents surround them and escort them away. Before they get to Sokka, he manages to yell out, "Where's Suki and the real Kyoshi Warriors?"
Azula grins. "They're getting first hand tours of Fire Nation prisons. I think they'll really enjoy it there. But don't worry, you'll be getting to meet them soon enough."
Sokka suddenly feels the fight leave him as they're taken away.
As soon as the Avatar's friends are gone - though not the bald kid or the Avatar herself, which is annoying - Long Feng shows up. She was expecting him to come to her as soon as the coup was complete, although he sure is faster than expected.
He marches right up to the throne, two dozen Dai Li agents behind him. "Now comes the part where I double cross you, Azula," he says. "Dai Li, arrest the princess of the Fire Nation."
So he figured out who she is. Took him long enough. But he's a fool for thinking that he can take over so easily. No one out-manipulates Azula.
As expected, the men stay frozen. Azula watches in amusement.
"I said, arrest her!"
"They haven't made up their minds," Azula explains. "They're waiting to see how this is going to end."
"What are you talking about?"
"I can see your whole history in your eyes," she continues. "You were born with nothing. So you've had to struggle and claw and connive your way to power. But true power, the divine right to rule, is something you're born with. The fact is, they don't know which one of us is going to be sitting on that throne and which one is going to be bowing down. But I know. And you know."
He looks down in defeat. She smiles triumphantly. Then she turns and takes a seat on the throne. "Well?"
He hesitates a minute, unwilling to admit his defeat. Then he walks forward and kneels. "You've beaten me at my own game," he says.
"Don't flatter yourself," she says. "You were never even a player."
He was a pawn, just like the Earth King and the Dai Li and almost everyone else. Very few people are actually important. Zuko, before he betrayed the Fire Nation. Her father, the Fire Lord. And the Avatar.
But everyone knows that in chess, the queen is the most powerful. And Azula is now the queen.
"We have to get out and warn Katara and Aang!" Sokka exclaims. He slumps down to the floor of the cell. "But how are we going to get out of here?"
"You see any Dai Li agents nearby?" Toph asks.
He stands up and glances through the small, barred window. "Nope. All clear."
"Then stand aside." She cracks her knuckles and then lays her hands on the metal door, getting a feel for it. Then she tears the door out of its hinges and throws it to the side.
"Let's go!" Sokka runs out, Toph on his heels.
"Wait!" the Earth King cries. "I'm not leaving without Bosco!"
Sokka sighs, but they run back through the palace to the throne room. Ty Lee is trying to demonstrate to the bear how to walk on her hands. Toph covers her hands with rock, temporarily tethering her to the floor. Then she turns to Mai, who is sitting on the steps.
"Ugh, just take the bear," Mai says, waving her hand casually.
The king runs to Bosco and hugs him. Sokka grabs him. "C'mon, we gotta go!"
"Is that everything?" Katara asks, packing the last of the saddlebags.
Aang checks over the list. "Yup! We're all set to go. We just have to wait for Sokka and Toph to get back."
Suddenly the entire side of the house blows in. Aang protects them with a wind sphere. When it dies down, they see Sokka, Toph, the Earth King and his pet bear running towards them.
"We have to go!" Sokka yells. "Right now!"
"What's going on?" Katara's gaze drifts to the Earth King. "Why is he here?"
"Azula has taken over the Dai Li! They tried to capture us, but we managed to escape. But we have to go now!"
"What about Suki?" Aang asks.
Toph shakes her head. "Azula was the one who captured them. She and the other warriors are in the Fire Nation now. We'll explain later, but we have to go right now!"
Katara and Aang run the saddlebags to Appa. The others climb on and Appa moves to an open area. Even as they watch from his back, Dai Li agents are marching towards what was their house.
"Appa, yip yip!" Aang shouts. Appa takes off, flying as fast as he can.
Katara watches below. All throughout the city, Earth Kingdom banners are being replaced by Fire Nation ones. The Dai Li are spreading throughout, causing chaos. And as they reach the outer wall, they see the gates wide open, Fire Nation tanks and troops already marching in.
The Earth Kingdom has fallen.
The End BOOK 3. To Be Continued In BOOK 4: THE STRATEGIST