OMG! EVERYONE IS FRICKIN SPECTACULAR! Your reviews/faves/alerts made me soooooo happy! I apologize that I didn't get this up sooner, but I've been UBER busy! I hope you like this chapter. :)

please keep reviewing! you all rock my world.

Enjoy!

-TSA

Chapter 14:

'Although you may spend your life killing, You will not exhaust all your foes. But if you quell your own anger, your real enemy will be slain.' ~Nagarjuna

The morning sun peeked through the windows, lighting the path he walked as he cleaned the floors of the teashop. He was fretting over leaving Zuko home alone, but all the boy had been doing for the past few days was sleeping. His body was experiencing the turmoil of his mind, possibly cleansing him of his wrongful deeds. One could only hope that meant he would leave Briar behind. Setting the broom up against the wall, he stared at the empty tables.

He couldn't put a finger on it, and part of him didn't want to understand, why Zuko had said Briar's name. If anything, that damned girl was responsible for all this and for the things to come, but he wasn't about to ask for her to help him. He needed Zuko to believe that she was trouble, though that boy wouldn't listen to any word of reason until he got hurt. Shaking his head, he glanced over his shoulder upon hearing the door to the teashop creak open.

His eyes widened and his heart fluttered. Was he seeing things? The rays of the sun haloed her face, bringing to life all her marvelous features that he felt he had been deprived of. Sighing heavily, he took in her regal form, adorned by a high collared dress the color of the ocean. Her hair was tied up loosely, strands falling around her cheeks. Those emerald eyes sparkled even as she cast her stare to the floor.

"I hear the best tea in Ba Sing Se is sold here," she giggled.

Iroh could hardly put words to seeing her so suddenly, "Would you like to attest to that?"

She smiled while walking over to him. Her arms came around his neck and she hugged him as tightly as she could, "I missed you, Iroh."

"I missed you too, Hikaru." When she left his embrace, he felt a chill down his spine, though the warmth was returned when she held his hand in hers. But her eyes had darkened, "What's wrong?"

"I'm afraid I know the truth." She buried her face in her hands for a moment, "Briar has been corresponding with the Fire Nation to take over Ba Sing Se."

Iroh shook his head, "What is her motive?"

"The letter states that they will give her enough money to take her kingdom out of poverty and open the ports so she can trade. She has good intentions, but at the cost of our nation's capital!" She slammed her fist against the table, "It also states the murder of The Earth King. I can't let that happen."

"Do you truly believe she'll resort to murder?"

"I can't determine that. I don't even know her anymore…"

Iroh sat beside her, taking her hand and unfolding her fingers from her fist, "I'm sorry, Hikaru."

She smiled as best she could, wiping away a stray tear before it fell, "What did I do wrong?"

"It's as you said 'It's the price we pay when their real parents aren't involved in their lives'."

"I need to stop her, Iroh." She rose to her feet, "The Earth King's life may be in danger."

. . . .

He was watching her- Again. It was beginning to bother her how much time he spent peering over her shoulder, never saying a word, just simply watching. If she figured he was smart, which was not the case, she'd have thought him to be trying to decipher her cryptic plans. But he was literally staring at her at all times, especially when he found her alone in the library. Today, she was less than inclined to entertain his ogling eyes.

Closing the book in front of her, for it offered her no use in her current search, she glanced up at him, which made his face beam a dark shade of red, "Can I help you, Your Majesty?"

"Pr-Princ-cess." He cleared his throat, "There's something that's been on my mind." His eyes found hers and he choked on his words. Rubbing the back of his neck, he tried to breathe as steadily as he could, "The other night when you k-kissed m-me-" His face was a shameful scarlet, "I just want to know if you possibly-!" He sighed heavily, "-possibly have any real affection towards me."

Briar's eyes were wide and she was fighting the urge to laugh. Smoothing out the wrinkles of the skirt of her dress, she rose to her feet while gingerly patting him on the cheek, "What was that, Your Majesty?"

He quickly held her hand as she went to drop it to her side, "Do you possibly have any affection towards me?"

"Your Majesty, it was only a kiss-"

"But you said you wanted to stay in Ba Sing Se!" He blushed while watching her eyes for any sign of admiration, "With me…"

She licked her lips, nearly agitated with his behavior, "Don't you think you're being quite a bit forward?"

"If I'm not then I might miss my chance!"

She yanked her hand out of his, feigning to be insulted, "Your Majesty, you've brought up an uncomfortable point. I have been exposed to my previous fiancés' plans to kill me, and it has left me uncertain of any man's intentions."

She went to stomp out of the library, but he grabbed her hand and spun her around, "I'm not that kind of man-"

"That will be enough!" She once more freed herself from his grip, "I appreciate your care for me, but I am unprepared to accept a husband. I'm very sorry."

Stomping out of the library, she was slinging curses about her research being disturbed. By the time she reached chambers, she slammed her fist into the wall, which nearly shattered the stone. Pulling her fist out of the fissure, she mulled over what she had read while in the silence. She needed an actual book to clarify that the Day of the Black Sun was indeed on the ninth day of the seventh month. Summer-a few more months away and the Fire Nation could be rendered powerless.

But she had little time to continue that train of thought as the sound of yelling erupted down the hallway. All she could hear was the word "intruder" being screamed, which brought a newfound curiosity to her. She made her way to the throne room to find a group of palace soldiers fighting against four "children". With her sleeves rolled up, she slammed her foot into the ground, which split the floor in half. The brunette girl's leg slipped into the break.

Briar was slow to react to the slab of rock that hurtled toward her. Bracing herself, she only slid a few meters backward, and once her footing was regain, she uprooted a boulder from the ground and sent it smashing into the brunette whose ankle had been sprained. She smiled as she was sent tumbling down the hallway, which left the other three staring at her with wide eyes.

"That's my sister!"

Briar rolled her eyes, "As if I give a fuck."

She drew a slab of rock up to block a gust of wind that would have knocked her off her feet. Before she went to charge after them, she saw them burst into the throne room. Running after them, she sent a fissure into a pillar to break their path, but she was seized around the waist and hoisted over a hulking man's shoulder.

"Put me down!" she bellowed, bashing her fists into Nalren's back.

"It's for your own good, Milady." Nalren gave a nod of his head, "That's The Avatar."

Glancing over her shoulder, she caught the seething glare of Long Feng, which made her smirk, "Alright, fine. But please put me down!"

Nalren granted her wish, which only got him a palm across his cheek. Regaining all her dignity, she strolled past The Avatar and took her place at the king's left side. Her hand slipped over his shoulder, which made him shiver. The least she could do was utilize his slight affection for her.

"Your Majesty, we've come to warn you about the Fire Nation invading the Earth Kingdom!"

Briar's brow furrowed while the Earth King fidgeted in his seat. She glanced over at Long Feng, who took a step forward.

"You're out of your mind, Child," Long Feng growled.

"It's true!" The brunette girl leaned against her brother for support, "There's been a war going on for years now. The Fire Nation has set its eyes on the Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se in particular!"

"There is no war." Long Feng leaned closer to The Earth King, aware that Briar had done the same, "You have no proof of this."

Briar smirked, glancing over at Nalren, who had drawn his sword, "I believe there is more to this story, Your Majesty."

The Earth King stared up at her, captivated by her gentle smile.

"And what would that be, Princess?" Long Feng snapped.

"You have been plotting to overthrow The Earth King." She gestured for Nalren, who tugged a letter out of his belt, "I happen to have a letter of proof."

Long Feng's eyes were wide with terror, "That's an abomination!"

"Would you like to me to read this letter?"

It was brilliant. She had truly outdone herself. Creating a letter based off the writing of the one she received, pinning this crime that was her own on him. Brilliance. The Earth King had no ability to determine that she had created it herself, he was too oblivious. Smiling, she handed the letter to The Earth King, who barely read it before Nalren bound Long Feng's hands with chains. She gave Long Feng a wink as he was dragged away, yelling that she was setting him up.

"You cheating whore! You've set me up! You're the one behind all this!"

She knelt in front of The Earth King, sticking her bottom lip out in a pout, "You don't believe him, do you, Your Majesty?"

He tenderly touched her cheek, "Of course not."

"She's going to kill you, Your Majesty! She's working with the Fire Nation."

Briar let out a howl, forcing tears to stream down her face, "Make him stop, Your Majesty!"

The Earth King rose from his seat, "Silence him, General!"

Nalren dragged him from the throne room, all the while thinking to himself about the truth of the matter. Yes, Long Feng was plotting against The Earth King, but their only proof was the word of a lying, backstabbing princess.

The Earth King had never felt so powerful before. His own voice, ringing off the walls, was unlike anything he had ever heard in his lifetime. He held a hand out to Briar and drew her to her feet, pleased by the idea of her sitting on a throne beside him.

"Your Majesty, with your permission, we can give you proof of this," The Avatar said.

Briar huddled close to him, watching the eyes that were following her as she set a hand against his chest. Something about the blind girl was making her uneasy. She leaned up to The Earth King and whispered, "Your Majesty, let us wait another day. I wish to discuss your earlier proposal with you as I have seen your true authority in this palace." She gently kissed his cheek, "They can stay in the palace and tomorrow we'll venture out into the city."

The Earth King was hardly listening to her words, smitten by the idea of her accepting his affections, "Give us a day to consult, Avatar. General Nalren will escort you to your quarters."

Nalren glanced up as he walked back into the throne room, irritated that he was being ordered around like a servant. Gesturing for the group, he trudged out into the hallway, aware that there was a pair of eyes glued to his neck.

"You're not from Ba Sing Se."

He stopped when he felt they were far enough away from the throne room, "I'm from a city inside the Southern Earth Kingdom." He sighed heavily, "Princess Briar has me sworn to her allegiance."

The blind girl shrugged, "She seduced The Earth King."

"You're rather perceptive for a blind girl-"

Nalren was cut off as her foot smashed into his shin.

"The name's Toph."

He wobbled a little, shin still stinging, "Nice to meet you…"

"What's that princess's deal?" The Avatar asked.

"I can't tell you, for even I don't know!" Nalren gestured for them to following him, creating a pace that had them hopping to keep up, "Is the Fire Nation close to breaking Ba Sing Se's walls?"

"There's a drill making progress," The Avatar replied.

"We don't have much time." Nalren ushered them down a new hallway, one he was sure was far away from Briar's chambers, "Tomorrow, we make haste. I will assist you in any way possible-"

"We need the Council of Five," Toph said.

Nalren grinned, "That won't be a problem."

He assigned them each a bedroom before striding down the hallway so quickly that he vanished before they could thank him. He needed to assemble the Council of Five and prepare the all the armies in the Earth Kingdom, but if Briar found out, Chronos' life might be at stake. Shaking his head as he entered his chambers, he set to penning a letter to the other generals, hoping that a standard meeting wouldn't concern Briar. It was a long shot to prove that the Earth Kingdom was under attack, but he couldn't sit back and watch his country fall to the Fire Nation.

As he finished his letter, ignoring that his calligraphy was terribly slanted, he began to wonder about what Briar whispered to The Earth King. Brow furrowing, he tried to account for the number of soldiers stationed in the throne room, but all he could think of was one, and that was himself. Wait-

He wasn't sure how loud he cursed, but he left his note and rushed out into the hallway. He was praying he hadn't played into Briar's hands! If she killed The Earth King, then the entire city would have to bow to a new ruler. She'd never be able to cover up the incident! But that didn't mean Ba Sing Se wouldn't collapse. Fuck. Racing to the throne room doors, he found two guards blocking his path. He threw them aside with two slabs of rock, but when he went to fling the doors open, he found them locked.

Banging against them proved pointless and his shouts were only met by the echo of his voice off the walls. He stumbled backward while continuing his prayers. She wasn't capable of murder, he had told himself. But maybe he was being proven wrong.

WOAH! MURDER? That seems a bit dramatic...lol. but don't forget ZUKO! he's still sick...and now Hikaru's back! she's gonna kick some ass...Briar's got The Earth King around her finger and Long Feng is in jail! so why was she looking up the date for the Day of the Black Sun? I'll let you ponder that...

get ready to find out who the "King" piece is in the next few chapters!

anyway, update will be soon and i hope you all liked this installment. :)

review!

-TSA