Author Notes: While the progression of the story roughly follows that of the show, many events are changed, arranged in a different order or omitted. This is fan fiction, after all.

"Here…we…go!!" Toph rode a wave of earth up the steps to the first great door of the Earth Palace. Behind her was Appa, who carried a whooping Sokka and his sister. The guards at the door were normally non-Benders, and proved it by diving for cover at the first sight of Toph's massive earth wave. The gates plowed open with a fierce thud, only to lead to another, larger gate of stone.

"One more?" Toph increased the size of her wave. This time, there were Earthbenders at the gate, hurling rounded boulders at her. "This is for swatting my family seal aside when we asked nicely!" The rocks fell apart easily at her touch, just as their guards did. "Come on, Mitsu!"

Mitsu flew through the opening and past Toph, pointing his fingers at the next gate. Some clicking could be heard and the door swung open, leaving a stunned Toph to hurl through the sudden opening and forcing Appa to dive down steeply to catch her.

"There's an easier way," Mitsu grinned as Dai Li rushed around the group and fired off earth gloves and massive columns of rock. Katara dismounted Aang and drew water from a moat, riding the resulting wave right into the people guarding the remaining door. In a display of power she filtered the water through the cracks and burst them.

"Nice one, sugar queen," Toph grinned.

"There are more Dai Li!" Aang pointed to what was next, a giant stair case with Dai Li running down the palace steps, flattening them in a surfing motion.

"They want to go flat, we'll go flat," Toph flattened the entire staircase, sending them tumbling down like an avalanche. Katara formed the Octopus and wailed against the falling men, sending them into the moat. Aang joined Toph and Earth Bended up the flattened staircase while Mitsu deflected the flying rocks. There was a kind of lethargy to him though, a slight unwillingness in his actions.

"One more door!" He flew above the Earthbenders and used his Force Bending to unlock the gate.

"How do you know?" Aang asked.

"I've been here before," Mitsu looked at the opening, seeming a bit unsure of going in.

"Um, guys?" Katara pointed to the courtyard that lay before them. A hundred Dai Li had assembled in a square formation with a captain carrying a spear-shaped rock.

"Come quietly or perish," the captain warned, hoisting the spear on his shoulder.

"You can't be serious," Toph formed a bigger spear with her feet.

"I am serious, dead serious," the Dai Li raised the earth around them until even Appa couldn't outpace the rising rock. Toph and Aang tried reversing the rock, but they were no match for a hundred and one other Earthbenders.

"Surrender now?" the captain smirked. Toph punched the wall, only to see the broken rock rejoin the formation just as quickly.

"Damn you!" Toph sat on the ground, which was also resistant to any tunneling attempts.

"I think you should surrender…wait, I know who you are," the captain looked at them.

"I'm the Avatar!" Aang pleaded with the captain.

"Not you, it's obvious who you are. I meant him."

"Back then, you were a grunt," Mitsu looked away from the captain.

The group looked at Mitsu, who looked away from everyone.

"I was a young grunt, and you were a young runt. Your brother is going like seeing you. Take them to the King!"

"What's he talking about? I thought you lived in the Great Rock?" Toph whispered as the Dai Li dragged them in a giant ball of rock.

"I did live there most of my life. I didn't say I was born there," he fell silent.

The ball dissolved as soon as the palace doors were shut and the team was bound in earthen chains which Toph couldn't break.

"Solid diamond linked with steel, this is really tough."

"The Dai Li were originally trained by Kyoshi herself," Mitsu walked behind the others, "she taught them a lot of things most Earthbenders have forgotten."

Aang stopped past a giant portrait of the Avatar draped on the wall. "How can I ever live up to this giant of a woman?"

"You're no Earthbender, Aang, you don't have to be like her at all," Katara slowed down to stand next to him. A tall Dai Li official stepped in front of them and shoved tem forward.

"She only came here once," Mitsu continued slowly. "I guess this is your first and last time here as well."

"How do you know this place?" Toph looked up at him, noting how he unlocked the greater gates. He didn't answer her.

The next door was made out of an ornate metal carving with painted green facades and brass hinges, and it creaked slowly open. Guards stood either side of an empty throne, tall behemoths of men thanks to their layered armor that covered all except for their eyes. A lone man stood beside the seat, with a long ponytail but no helmet.

"I haven't seen you in a long time," he pointed at Mitsu, who looked away.

"Mitsu, what the hell is he talking about?" Toph pleaded with him.

"ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF HIS GRAND MAJESTY THE KING AND SOVERIGN OF THE EARTH KINGDOM, KUEI THE 52ND!" a herald boomed as a man stepped out from behind the throne. He wore two rounded spectacles and stared blankly at the group, resting his robes on the seat.

"These are the people who attacked the gates and invaded this palace," the pony tailed man pointed to them. "And this is their beast," a group of heaving men dragged Appa in a giant net. "You also have a special guest, your Majesty." The king shot up and couldn't believe what he was seeing. A bear crawled out into the room and began slobbering over Mitsu.

"What is he talking about, for the last time?" Toph's voice sounded more worried than ever.

"He's my brother," Mitsu hung his head down .