"Maybe this isn't such a good idea." Sokka said nervously. Privately, Katara agreed with him. Going back into Ba Sing Se so soon after their defeat was suicide. Still, they needed a Firebending teacher quickly, and Iroh seemed as good as any.

"It probably isn't, but you know we have to do this." Katara told him, leaning over the side of Appa to see that the Outer Wall of Ba Sing Se was approaching. "We should land soon."

"But Azula will know that we're coming!" Sokka protested. Toph turned in his direction.

"How? It's not like we'll be broadcasting that we're back in the city." She said. "For once, I agree with Sugar Queen."

Katara decided to ignore the nickname for now. She had more important things to worry about. For one, they had no idea where Iroh would be held, or if he was even alive. Stop that! Katara told herself sternly. Iroh is alive. No matter how much of a jerk Zuko is, he wouldn't kill his own uncle.

"Yeah…but…how would we find Iroh?" Sokka asked, reading Katara's thoughts.

"Maybe Azula could show us." Toph said. Sokka started laughing then stopped, faltering when he realised that no one else was.

"Why aren't you laughing?" He asked, confused. Toph raised her eyebrows.

"Maybe because I wasn't joking?"

Sokka tried to figure out what she meant. After two minutes he sighed and threw his hands up, nearly hitting Katara on the head because of the confined space on Appa.

"Okay, I give up. What do you mean?" He asked, slight exasperation in his voice.

Katara had heard the conversation, and began to listen. Aang positioned himself as best he could so that he could hear to. The Earth King and his bear, meanwhile, were still asleep.

"I think Sokka's right. Azula will know that we're coming. So I'm saying maybe that we should let her take us to Iroh." Toph paused. "Well, not all of us. Probably just me and Katara." She added as an after thought.

Sokka and Aang looked at each other in utter confusion. Katara however nodded. She understood and turned to them, ready to explain.

"Do you remember when Haru got captured by the Fire Nation for Earthbending?" She asked, referring to past events.

"Well, yeah, but I don't-" Sokka began. He stopped dead and stared at Katara. "No. Fragment (consider revising)

"What?" Aang asked, starting to get irritated. Sokka carried on glaring at Katara and Toph, but talked to Aang.

"Toph was suggesting that we let ourselves get captured by the Dai Li and taken to where Iroh was being held prisoner. And by the sounds of it, Katara is agreeing!"

"I told you, not all of us. Probably just me and Katara." Toph reminded him.

"Oh that makes me feel so much better." Sokka snarled at her.

Hearing his tone, Toph moved back, slightly hurt.

"Well, it's the best plan that we've got." Katara said, trying to lessen the mounting tension. "Personally, it's a good plan."

"Katara, you can't seriously be considering this. About two hours ago, Zuko and Azula nearly killed Aang and could've killed you! Now you want to just walk right back into their hands?" Sokka yelled, causing the Earth King to wake up, startled.

"What's going on?" He asked sleepily.

The others paid no attention to him, too busy trying to prove their own point.

"I'm with Sokka." Aang said, speaking for the first time. "It's too dangerous. We'll find another Firebending teacher."

"Like who? Jeong Jeong?" Katara asked angrily. "Because last time I checked he'd vanished. It would take too long to search for him, and we need that time for Aang to learn Firebending!"

Everyone was silent for awhile. The Earth King had looked around, then decided to go back to sleep. Sokka stood up and walked himself over to Appa's head, guiding him down for a landing.

They landed in a forest that they hadn't previously noticed, within walking distance of the Wall. Everyone unpacked silently, except for the Earth King who, to everyone's disbelief, was still sleeping. It was awkward silence for at least an hour before Katara spoke up.

"Not to cause another argument, but we need to decide what we're doing." She said, sitting down near the fire that Sokka had managed to get going. The rest of the group followed her lead, and sat down.

"Toph's plan is a good one, but it's just too dangerous." Aang said. He had to lie down on his front, as sitting upright was too painful for him. Sokka nodded enthusiastically.

"Thank you! That's what I've-"

"It's the only thing we've got." Toph interrupted. "I know it's dangerous, but it's either that or waste time that we don't have coming up with another plan."

There was a short silence.

"Toph's right." Aang said, reluctantly. Sokka made an odd noise that Katara assumed was indignation. Aang tried to shrug.

"I don't like it any more than you do Sokka, but like Toph said, it's all we've got."

"I'm not letting my baby sister go back there!" Sokka shouted, realising that he was losing the fight.

"Thanks for you concern Sokka. I'm sure I'll be fine." Toph muttered sarcastically. Sokka ignored her.

"Together Toph and I can take care of ourselves." Katara said, in what she hoped was a reassuring voice.

"Not against the Fire Nation!" Sokka got up and stormed off. Katara knew better than to go after him; he just needed time to calm down.

"We'd better start talking this through then." Toph said as soon as she sensed that Sokka was out of hearing range. Katara nodded.

"If you and I flew Appa into Ba Sing Se then they'd definitely see us." Toph mused. "Then the Dai Li or whoever would come for us, and put us in the same place where they put Iroh. It's simple."

"It really isn't." Katara disagreed. "How will we get out?"

Toph contemplated this. "Ah. Hadn't thought of that."

Silence took over the camp again while everyone thought. Katara stared into the fire. The sparks flew out, but never quite made it on their own when they had been separated from the wood.

Aang and I were doing well until the Dai Li showed up. I might've beaten Azula at one point if Zuko hadn't shown up…separate them and we might be able to beat Azula…Katara thought. She shared her idea with Aang and Toph, who nodded slowly.

"We can overcome the guards that way too, assuming that they'll be guards outside wherever we're being held of course…" Toph said, more to herself than to Katara.

Well, that was pretty much what I was getting at. Divide and conquer can work more than once, Toph, Katara thought, but didn't say anything.

"So it's settled." Sokka said, walking back towards the group. Katara turned to him and stood up.

"I know you don't want me going, but-"

"You have to. I get it. Just…be careful." He said, hugging his younger sister. Katara gratefully hugged him back, glad that he understood.

"What's with the change of heart, Sokka?" Toph asked.

"It's for the greater good, right? As long as you're both-"

"Careful, yes." Katara smiled, predicting what her brother was going to say.

"I was actually going to say back in time for dinner tomorrow night. But careful works too." Sokka said, shrugging.

Katara, Aang and Toph laughed. The atmosphere was better now that they all agreed with each other.

Sokka had collected some fruit for them to snack on while they discussed the plan.

It was decided that Katara and Toph would fly Appa to where they knew they would be seen in Ba Sing Se. They would then make their way to the palace just in case they hadn't been seen. The palace would be crawling with Dai Li agents, who would then "capture" them and take them to where Iroh was being held. Toph would then metal-bend the door and, with three elements combined, they would fight their way out.

Katara admitted to herself that their plan relied a lot on "if" but they would just have to hope that all went according to the way they wanted it to.

"What do we do if you're not back in…should we say a day? Or two days?" Aang asked.

"A day. And don't worry, we'll get out." Toph replied confidently.

Katara assumed that Toph hadn't fully answered Aang's question because she didn't know.

After they had eaten, woke the Earth King and told him of their plan, Katara and Toph knew that it was time to go.

Leaving all their equipment behind, except for one of Sokka's daggers that Katara hid up her sleeve, they climbed on Appa.

"Remember where to collect Appa from?" Katara called to Sokka, who nodded.

"Good luck." Aang said weakly, twisting his neck to see them.

Katara briefly worried about leaving Aang behind, but knew that Sokka would take care of him. The family looked after each other.

"Don't worry, Twinkle Toes. We're not going to let those Fire Nation brats get the better of us." Toph called reassuringly.

We may not have a choice…Katara thought pessimistically. However, she kept silent about that particular thought, and merely smiled at Aang and Sokka.

"Yip yip!" She called, using the command that would get Appa flying.

As her brother and Aang were obscured from her view, Katara wondered if this really was a good plan after all.

The newly appointed head of the Dai Li burst into Azula's throne room.

"Princess, the Avatar's sky bison has been spotted near the Inner Wall!" He cried, rushing to the front of the room.

Azula forgave the man for his rudeness at just running in like that and not bowing. Her thoughts began to race, as she thought of why the Avatar would come back into Ba Sing Se so soon after his defeat. Nothing good, she was sure of that.

"According to the other agents, it's the Waterbender and another girl on the bison." The agent reported.

At this, Azula smiled coldly. She noticed Zuko look up sharply, but chose to ignore him.

"In that case, bring them here. It seems they haven't yet managed to comprehend exactly who it is that they are dealing with." She said.

The agent nodded and exited as quickly as he had entered.

The Avatar was about to find out what happens to his friends when he sends them to do his dirty work, Azula thought, still smiling.

A/N:

Wow, I think this is the longest chapter I've done so far. Personally, this isn't my favourite chapter, I feel that it could be better, but let me know what you think. Again, thank you to my reviewers, you guys are the best.