A/N: I apologize profusely for the lateness of this chapter. Sophomore year is a bitch, what can I say? Midterms are (mostly) over, and NaNoWriMo is almost upon us, so I should be cranking out chapters. And when I say should this time, I truly mean it.

Thank you again to all those who have reviewed, favorited, and subscribed. Your support means the world to me. Also, last chapter was the most-reviewed so far! Perhaps we can beat that, yeah?

Disclaimer: I do not own A:TLA, only Mira.

Chapter Seventeen

Truth and Consequences

"Look, we escaped from the Dai Li, we got Appa back—I'm telling you, we should go to the Earth King now and tell him our plan. We're on a roll!"

"One good hour after weeks of trouble isn't much of a roll."

Mira's next words came through gritted teeth. "Don't tell me you're just going to leave Ba Sing Se to Long Feng."

"That's not what I meant—"

"Really? What else were you suggesting? Because I'm staying, even if the rest of you decide to leave."

Sokka waved an arm. "Uh, Mira? I'm on your side here. I'm say we should go confront the Earth King."

Mira blinked. "Oh. Right."

"I get where you're coming from," Toph said slowly. Mira's brow furrowed at her hesitant tone. "But what makes you think he'll believe us?"

"I can be persuasive when I want to be."

Katara stepped forward. "What if Long Feng's control is too absolute?"

Mira did not waver. "We'll never know unless we try."

Aang straightened up from his position next to Appa. "Guys, you're forgetting something. We've got Appa back, remember? Nothing's stopping us from flying to the palace and telling him!"

"And I do believe that's three against two," Sokka chirped. "That's a majority."

Toph raised her hands in mock surrender. "Hey, if Mira thinks she can do it, then I'm in."

"And if we did manage to alert the Earth King, things could really change," Katara said thoughtfully.

Sokka clapped his sister on the back. "That's the spirit!"

Mira gestured toward three dark green ships prowling the lake. "And in the spirit of getting the hell outta dodge…?"

"To the Earth King?" Sokka asked, scanning those before him. Nods were exchanged all around. "Then let's fly!"

It was worth nothing that bareback riding on a flying mammal is not a pleasant way to travel, even if one is unafraid of heights. Even Mira was feeling slightly green as Appa glided towards the walled-in complex of the palace. The fur felt slippery between her sweat-slicked fingers. Her gaze remained on the palace ahead, as she refused to look down. Sitting in a leather saddle was easy compared to this. Mira didn't even want to think about what Toph was going through.

"Be careful," Katara warned, her voice barely rising above the howl of the wind. "Long Feng's probably warned the Earth King that we're coming."

A safe assumption. But Sokka, ever the hard-headed one, began to question her logic. And the universe, as it was wont to do, decided to prove him wrong. Appa veered sharply to the left as a massive boulder streaked toward him. Mira pitched sideways, her fingers slipping in the sweaty fur. Her heart leaped to her throat and she readjusted her grip. Now would certainly be a hell of a time to fall off.

Mira's hands kept a death grip on Appa as he swayed left and right to avoid two more boulders hurled by the palace guard. Aang batted one casually aside, then split a second one down the middle. Now that Appa was back where he belonged, Aang was more focused than he'd been in months. The change was startling, but welcome.

Aang leaped to the ground, and a ring of earthbending exploded outward to knock aside the guards waiting for them. Mira and the others followed, each branching out and taking on a portion of the King's Guard.

Despite the seriousness of the situation, Mira couldn't help the wicked grin that stole across her face. There was something about being hopelessly outnumbered that set the heart racing. Fair fights were sometimes just no fun. She supposed it was the look of shock upon a man's face when he realized that his reinforcements weren't actually going to be of any use after all.

At least, the King's Guard certainly wasn't. Mira sidestepped the first who tried to rush her, cracking him across the spine with her club. He went sprawling onto the ground and didn't get back up. A second guard approached her, but didn't attempt to directly engage. He punched out with one hand, sending an apple-sized chunk of rock straight for her head. Mira twisted, gathering both rods into one grip as she swung out towards the projectile. Wood met stone with a thundering crack. The earthbender's eyes widened in fear moments before his own rock met his temple.

Mira sniggered under her breath, but didn't have time to watch him fall. They did, after all, have an actual objective to achieve—and it wasn't here in the courtyard.

Her friends were making their way across the cobbled pavement, and Mira followed after them. One guard was propped on one knee about fifteen feet from her, his gaze fixed on Aang. Mira was running before she even saw his hands move. "'Scuse me," she drawled as she approached, and then she was leaping off the ground and pushing off his extended knee. Her other foot came forward to kick him in the head, and he sagged. Her feet landed lightly on the ground, and she continued running.

The King's Guard seemed mainly preoccupied with the benders of the group, which suited Mira just fine. She'd take point and head for the throne room while the others took on the bulk of the guard.

A low moat filled with water surrounded the palace, with only a thin stretch of bridge connecting the two sides. Currently, it was filled with a line three guards deep, all waiting for them. "Hey, Kat!" Mira called as she skidded to a stop. "If you would—?" She swept out an arm towards the bridge, and Katara followed the movement. The younger girl nodded, a fierce look on her face.

Katara swept out a hand, creating an icy ramp next to the bridge. She flipped through the air, arms still twisting in a hypnotic motion. Water from the moat rose up into the air and pushed against the guards, sweeping them all from the bridge.

"Thanks!" Mira called, and she sprinted across. The others were close behind, their footsteps a frantic staccato.

"Toph, the stairs!" Aang cried. Toph nodded, and the two earthbenders shot forward. Mira remained hot on their heels. If they were planning something, she didn't want to be left behind.

A guard rushed her from the side, but Mira didn't have time to fully engage him. She took a step to the side and her hand shot out, clasping around his elbow tightly. His momentum carried him forward, like Mira had anticipated. Her club met the back of his skull as he passed, and he fell like a bag of rocks.

When Mira reached the stairs, she nearly groaned. Several stories of stairs separated them from their goal, and it wouldn't be easy to fight while climbing them. As she watched, the palace door belched out several fresh guards, who began to swarm down the stairs.

Toph popped up by Mira's elbow, and with a quick jerk of her hands, the stairs flattened out into a smooth ramp. Bundles of green shot down the slick surface as Aang joined Toph's side. Together they pulled a chunk of earth from the ground, just as they had with the Outer Wall. They shot up the stairs, passing men caught in their cloaks and screaming as they slid down the ramp. Sokka called out a weak apology as they passed.

Two squads closed in from either side as they reached the top of the stairs. Mira tensed, but Aang and Toph sent out two walls to drive them back. The group surged forward, and finally, they reached the palace doors.

Mira took point, hardly noticing the extravagance that surrounded her. Sokka was by her side, head swiveling to and fro.

A four-way split in the corridor loomed in front of them, full of green-clad men. Toph stomped once, and the ground rumbled. Columns of earth shot up to pin the guards to the ceiling, but there was still the issue of direction to deal with.

"Which way to the Earth King?" Sokka asked.

"How should I know?" Toph said. "I'm still voting we leave Ba Sing Se?"

"Just pick one, Sokka!" Mira said, eyes darting from hallway to hallway, in case reinforcement showed up. It killed her, having to randomly pick, but she didn't know the way, either.

Sokka lunged at a series of nearby doors and began checking behind each one. Mira's attention was diverted as a second series of guards came at them. For a few minutes, she was caught up in the dance of the fight, and all other things fell from her mind.

It was during a brief respite that she noticed it. They were in a four-way corridor, but most of the guards were coming from one hallway in particular. No reason for them to do that, unless there was something back there worth protecting.

Or someone.

"Straight ahead!" she called. "Try that way!"

Aang shot out a blast of air that had all guards flying back into the walls, freeing the others from the altercation. Mira ran forward with Sokka right behind her.

They rounded a corner and stopped dead. A huge door stood at the end of the hallway, stretching all the way up to the ceiling hundreds of feet above. "This is just a wild guess," Mira said, "but I think that might be it."

"Yep," Sokka agreed. "C'mon!" He sprinted down the hall, leaving the others to follow. The others stopped as they reached the threshold, but Sokka kept going. A strangled war cry echoed in the air as he leaped up, one leg extended. Needless to say, nothing happened as he met the solid oak door. He fell to the ground in a heap, but was springing up in the next second. The door didn't move as he continued to push at it, though it wouldn't be a match for Aang and Toph. Mira opened her mouth to voice a warning, but the earthbender were already stepping forward.

Sokka went flying as they knocked the door down, and Mira bit back a laugh. "A little warning next time, guys," he said, rubbing his head and staggering to his feet.

The throne room wasn't quite as sumptuous as the rest of the palace, but it still carried an aura of power. Huge columns sprouted from the ground and stretched up to the ceiling, and green lanterns burned with a steady light in each one. A thick green carpet shot straight for a raised dais on the opposite side of the room, where a surprisingly simple throne sat. This throne was currently occupied by a thin man with spectacles, wearing a robe that looked like it might swallow him up at any moment. Several guards stood around him, but there was only one who made Mira's blood run cold. Long Feng stood at the king's right side, a satisfied smirk on his face.

Well, this just made things much more difficult.

Aang didn't wait for introductions. "We need to talk to you!"

"They're here to overthrow you." Long Feng's voice flowed like poisoned honey.

Sokka shook his head. "No, we're on your side. We're here to help."

"You have to trust us," Katara added, eyes wide.

The Earth King rose from his throne and peered over his spectacles at them. "You invade my palace, lay waste to all my guards, break down my door…and you expect me to trust you?" His voice was high, but carried authority. And he did hold a valid point. "If you're on my side," the king continued calmly, "then drop your weapons and stand down."

Mira's rods clattered to the floor in an instant. Earning the king's trust was crucial—even if it meant throwing away her only defense against Long Feng. The others followed her example.

Aang's smile was a bit too wide as he attempted to charm the king. "See? We're friends, your Earthiness."

The king, needless to say, remained unimpressed.

"Detain the assailants," Long Feng ordered. Dai Li agents materialized from either side, taking hold of the teens. Mira bit her lip and allowed herself to be restrained, as much as it was killing her to do so.

"But we dropped our weapons," Sokka said. "We're your allies."

Mira decided it was well past time for her glib tongue to step up. "We're still a threat, Sokka. You know that."

Angry looks surrounded her, but she remained unfazed. Long Feng chose to ignore her and said, "Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see daylight again."

"Wait." The Earth King held a hand out as he squinted down at Mira. "You're the Avatar?"

"I beg pardon, Your Majesty, but no, I am not." She inclined her head toward Aang. "He is. And might I ask, while I am permitted to speak, why Long Feng feels the need to silence us after we have laid down our weapons in surrender? I was not aware that the policy of peaceful negotiations had been changed."

A thick silence fell over the room as every occupant stared at Mira in shock. She could sense the barest hint of tension radiating from her friends, but that was an issue for another day. Her question still hung in the air, until Long Feng finally addressed it. "That policy does not hold for enemies of the state," he hissed.

The Earth King, who had managed to shake off his disbelief, looked uncertain. "Perhaps you are right," he said slowly. "But…the girl does raise a valuable point. And," he chuckled suddenly, and Mira followed his line of sight to catch a glimpse of Bosco licking Aang's face, "Bosco seems to like them. I will hear what they have to say."

Mira's insides danced with relief, though she didn't let it show. "If it pleases your Majesty?" she asked, referencing the bonds holding her hands back.

The king nodded, and gestured with a hand. Mira felt hands untie her, and she gratefully stepped forward, while still keeping a respectful distance from the throne.

"I do realize that the news we bear will be difficult to grasp, much less to accept," Mira began. "But I ask that you keep in mind that the Avatar brings you this news in a genuine effort to protect yourself and the city you rule." She took a deep breath, then took the plunge. "Your advisor, Long Feng, has been lying about the peace you believe your city is experiencing. For the last hundred years, the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes have been at war with Lord Ozai of the Fire Nation, who is attempting to conquer and rule these lands. There is no peace here. There never has been in your entire reign."

Seconds passed in silence as the king digested this. Then: "A secret war? You do realize how this sounds? It's…insane!"

"Completely," Long Feng added coolly. Mira bit her tongue to prevent any hasty words from tripping out.

"I'm afraid that isn't the worst accusation I will level today," she said grimly. "Long Feng is the one responsible for keeping the truth from you. He blackmailed the Avatar in an effort to keep you in the dark, and he's been brainwashing citizens who ask the wrong questions."

Long Feng nearly cut Mira off in his haste to reply. "All lies."

In her mind, his rapid answer was akin to an admission of guilt, but it seemed that the king was not as cynical. "Your claim is difficult to believe."

"These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction." Mira grit her teeth and glared at Long Feng. She was past the point of caring if the king saw her reaction. Damn Long Feng! Damn him and his snake tongue! It was her word against his, and spirits knew hers wasn't worth much.

Which actually gave her an idea, now that she thought about it…

"I have to trust my advisor," the Earth King said, his voice colored with the faintest hint of regret. The Dai Li stepped forward, but stopped when Mira answered with a step of her own.

"Your Majesty, you are the seventh in the line of the scholar kings, are you not?"

The king started and gave Mira a strange look. "I am. But how could you possibly—?"

Mira ignored his half-asked question (a risk, but one she needed to take). "Then you know that in a court of law, the mere word of either the plaintiff or the defendant is not enough to earn a conviction. You cannot take Long Feng on his word alone, especially if we are able to provide evidence to support our claim."

A small smile grew on the king's face. "Every word you say is true. In good faith, I cannot judge on word alone—even the word of an official as esteemed as Long Feng. You have evidence to support your claim?"

Mira nodded, despite the panicked looks of her friends. "I have two pieces of evidence. One may be more telling, despite the volume of the second."

"Appa's bite!" Sokka exclaimed suddenly, drawing a confused look from the king and an annoyed one from Mira. "Appa bit Long Feng this morning!"

"Even if he did, that doesn't tie him to the conspiracy," Mira explained. Sokka tried to protest, but Mira barreled on. "Trust me, I've got something better."

"Which is?"

Mira's smile sparkled with mischief as she turned to the king. "How would you feel about a trip outside the palace?"

"Where are you taking him to again? The drill? Or better yet, Lake Laogai?"

Mira shook her head. "Nah, not the lake. They'll have abandoned it already. You don't leave a secret base where it is once it's been discovered. It's bad policy. And to answer your second question, we will take him to the drill. That'll be the nail in the coffin."

"So, where are we going now?"

"I thought it'd be best if we let him hear about the war from someone besides us. And who better than the citizens of the very city he rules?"

"And getting him to see the state of the Lower Ring is just a perk." Katara gave a knowing smile. "You've had this planned out for a while, haven't you?"

"Longer than I care to admit."

"It's well-thought out. Nicely paced too, for him." She nodded to the king, who was currently dressed in a drab brown poncho with a large hood. He seemed caught between repelled and excited at the adventure laid before him.

She grinned. "I thought I'd ease him in slowly."

"Any ideas as to where and who you'll take him to?"

Her smile widened. "Oh, I've already got that one figured out. Should be a good show, too."

They watched in silence as Long Feng tried for the twentieth time to dissuade the king. And for the twentieth time, his ruler shook his head and refused to be swayed.

"Mira?"

"Hm?"

"Before we leave, there's something I wanted to ask about."

"Go ahead."

"How did you know what to say to him? I mean, I can be eloquent when I want to be, but nothing along the lines of that. So how is it that you, a street thief from a small village, know that much about court etiquette?"

Mira's shoulders slumped and she sighed. "Fair question." Her eyes slid sideways to meet Katara's open face. "You know, a few months ago I'd've bit your head off for even broaching the topic."

Katara scoffed. "A few months? Try a few weeks."

Mira didn't believe it went that far, but she didn't try to argue the point. "Look, there's still some things you don't know about me. But it's not because I don't trust you. More like, I don't trust myself."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Good question. Not sure why I said that. Anyway, what I'm trying to say is, you'll find out soon enough. Actually, make that after we get the king on our side. Sound alright?"

Katara was silent for so long Mira started to fear that she might not accept the compromise. But finally, she answered. "Okay."

Mira let out a silent breath. She'd just bought at least a few days, at least. What she'd do when time was up, she didn't know. And whether or not she'd been telling Katara the truth about revealing herself? Well, she didn't know that either.

That led to a path of thinking she really didn't want to do down, so the question was boxed up put aside for a later date. Right now was for dismantling Long Feng—and what a sweet moment that would be.

Aang bounced up to the king, a bright look on his face. "Are you ready, Your Majesty?"

"I am not sure," he answered honestly, dropping the corner of poncho he'd been working through his fingers. "But I suppose that I am as ready as I'll ever be."

Aang beamed. "Great!"

"We'll have to take Appa, if that's okay," Mira cut in, crossing the room to stand by the king. "The train's too conspicuous, even with your disguise."

"Oh, no, that's quite fine," the king said eagerly, waving a hand. "I've never flown before. It should be quite an experience!"

"Yeah," Toph mumbled. "It's an experience, alright."

The earth king was took to flying surprisingly well, though he did look a little green upon landing. He shook off the concern about his well-being, eyes bright and cheeks flushed. "I haven't done anything like that since…" He trailed off, a faraway look in his eye. "Well, I don't think I've ever done anything like that."

"Your Majesty?" Mira said, climbing down after him. "With all due respect? You need to get out more."

He stared at her, then let out a bubble of surprised laughter. "I do think you may be right." His expression grew somber as he took in his surroundings. "Whether or not this conspiracy is true…perhaps it would be best if I did not spend so much time in the palace."

"It's jarring, isn't it?" Mira asked, watching him. "The splendor of the palace in the same city as this." She gestured to the streets around them.

They stood in a cramped little square barely large enough to house Appa. Several market stands lined the walls, their storefronts chained up in an effort to dissuade looters. Slapdash patches were thrown up against decaying sections of wood, lending a blotchy, unfinished air to the market. Puddles of brown water gathered in the corners and weeds stubbornly poked up through the cobblestones beneath. It was quiet; the only sound the faint dripping of a leaky faucet echoing through the space. This was Burokun Square—and it wasn't a coincidence that Mira had brought the king here. This marketplace had finally closed down a month ago, after the last vendor selling here had gone out of business. It was completely deserted now, which was part of the reason Mira had directed Aang to land here. Flying air bisons tended to attract attention, and Mira wanted the king to experience the Lower Ring without any distractions. Burokun Square was the perfect place to start.

"How could I not know of this poverty?" the king whispered, horror dawning on his face. "How could he keep this from me?"

Mira placed a hand on the king's arm and said calmly, "If I may, Your Majesty? The person I want you to see is this way." He allowed himself to be led out of the square and down the street, and Mira almost had to physically guide him, due to his wandering eyes.

The king's head could not stay still as he swept his gaze across the street. While it wasn't as crowded as it could get, the street was still fairly clogged with people. Mother with purple bags under their eyes pulled at their children, bags of groceries or infants balanced on their hips. Stick-thin children ducked under arms with a shout, while older siblings chased after them. Market vendors called out their wares, shoving samples into the faces of anyone who dared to venture too close. One of them looked toward Mira, but she sent him such a fierce glare that he immediately turned away. The air reeked of spoiled food and unwashed bodies, with the faintest undertone of ringweed smoke. The combination of sensations was overwhelming—Mira was actually impressed with how well the king was dealing with it. For someone who spent his life with his head buried in the sand, he was taking this all rather well.

Finally, they reached the apartment Mira had been visiting mere days ago (though it felt more like a lifetime). She sent up a quick prayer that it wasn't unoccupied, then turned to the king. "On second thought…it might be better if she didn't see you."

The king's eyebrows drew together in confusion. "I thought you wished me to talk with this person?"

Mira picked her words carefully. "Talking with the king could be quite a shock. I doubt this would happen, but it's possible she wouldn't be completely honest with you."

"You have no problem being honest with me."

Mira cracked a smile. "I'm not most people. Now, you can stand outside that window—" she pointed, "—and just listen to what she has to say."

The king nodded and took his place in the alley beside the open window. Mira took a deep breath, then knocked three times on the door.

The silence stretched out for such a long time that Mira began to worry that she'd been too late. She was just about to turn around and leave when the door creaked open and a single green eye peered out at her.

"Temal?" Mira asked tentatively. "Can I come in?"

The door swung open fully, revealing Temal holding a large kitchen knife. "Mira," she said in a sigh. "Come inside." She closed the door swiftly behind her and sagged a little. "Sorry about that," she said, setting the knife down. "Been lookin' over my shoulder all day now. We're just about to leave for the Hantai safe house, though, so it's not for much longer." She crossed the hall to the kitchen, where several crates lay scattered about the floor. "Sorry about the mess, I just finishing up packing. Ryo's with Colie, over at the safe house," she said suddenly. "But you knew that."

"Yeah. I actually came here to see you," Mira admitted. "I've got a strange question for you, but just bear with me, alright?"

Temal's eyebrow crept up her forehead slowly, but she nodded nevertheless.

"If you could say anything to the Earth King—right here, right now—what would it be?" Temal's mouth fell open and she gave Mira a look that clearly asked whether she was in her right mind. "Just go with it," Mira said. Unfortunately, her eyes chose that exact moment to flick to the window the king was hiding under.

Temal's gaze followed, and her jaw nearly hit the floor. "The Earth King's here?" she mouthed exaggeratedly.

Mira's mouth opened but no sound came out. She didn't want to confirm it, but she needed Temal to speak her mind. And the only way she'd truly do that was if she knew the king would hear her. As it turned out, she needn't say anything. Temal read it all on her face, and her mouth snapped shut. "Why, you little…" she mouthed, and she reached a hand out in a strangling gesture. Her hand fell and her mouth gathered in a straight line. She wiped her hands on her skirts, her eyes far away.

A few moments later, she took a seat by the window and cleared her throat. "If I could say anything? Well, for starters, I'd ask him where the hell he's been his entire life."

Mira's throat nearly closed up with a vague choking sound. Temal was playing a dangerous game here.

"No one knows what he looks like. No one's ever seen the bastard, so who's to say that he actually gives a shit about us?"

"Temal—"

"No, let me finish. You asked the question, don't tell me you don't want to hear Daichi's honest truth." She paused for a moment to collect her thoughts. "Look around you, Mir. About half the population of Ba Sing Se lives in the Lower Ring, and at least half of those people are all war refugees. We're full to bursting with people we can't afford to house due to a war that no one's supposed to know is happening. But really, the only person who doesn't know is the damn king, so we're all left to keep our mouths shut and try to scrape a living out of what little we've managed to fight for." She stopped to take a breath, as she'd managed to say most of that in one go. "The Dai Li roam around in the shadows to make sure that everyone keeps their mouth shut, and when someone doesn't, they disappear in the middle of the night, only to reappear the next morning acting like a completely different person than they were before. No one's told the king about this because we're all afraid that if we try, we'll disappear and maybe not come back at all. The Hantai's been around since the war started, and look what they've managed to do: almost nothing. Sure, the general populous knows about the war, but that's mostly because half the people living here are war refugees. Point is, no one can do anything about this conspiracy because the one person who needs it cleared up is too busy holed up in the palace doing Kyosei knows what! We're left on our own, and frankly, we're not doing a bang-up job of it."

There was a brief moment of silence as Mira blinked in stupefaction. She'd expected a candid analysis of affairs in Ba Sing Se, not what Temal had actually given her. But it was her next words that really took Mira by surprise.

Temal tilted her head towards the window and said, "I hope you got all that, Your Majesty, because I'm not saying it again."

A feather could have knocked Mira over, she was so stunned. Her jaw dropped and she blinked stupidly at the woman in front of her. Sure, Mira was brave and all, but what Temal had just done needed a courage that Mira knew she herself didn't have.

"Um…I guess you can come in now, Your Majesty," Mira said weakly.

There was a brief moment of silence before a tentative knock came from the front door. Mira let him, an apology on her face. "I am really sorry about that," she said. "I didn't know she'd, well…" She trailed off as the king brushed past her.

Temal blinked as he appeared in the kitchen. "This is the Earth King?" she asked. She scanned him up and down, hands on her hips.

The king fiddled with his poncho, suddenly looking very out of place in Temal's house. "I don't know what to say to that," he confessed. "I suppose I don't have much of an excuse, do I?"

"Truthfully? No." Mira winced at Temal's short reply, though there was another part of her that cheered loudly. She'd wanted to say those exact words for years, but now that she'd met the king…she just felt pity. He wasn't an evil person, or completely clueless. He'd just been manipulated, like the rest of Ba Sing Se.

The king nodded sadly. "Then I hope you will accept my sincerest apologies. I honestly did not know what was going on."

"How?" Temal asked, sounding a little less angry and a little more resigned. "How do you miss something as big as this?"

"I suppose I was being handled. I thought was performing my duties as a ruler, though I realize now that Long Feng was giving me something entirely different. He made me believe that a good king stayed in his palace and didn't venture into his own lands. He told me to leave that to him." He broke off bitterly. "You were telling me the truth the entire time," he said, looking at Mira. "The poverty, the war…all of it?"

Mira nodded. "But you needed to hear it from one of your citizens. And now that you know the truth, you need to see something else. Something that might really drive home how serious this war is."

The king nodded. "Lead the way." Mira waited for him at the door as the king turned back to Temal one last time. "I thank you for being honest with me," he said sincerely. "I know I have given you no reason to believe me when I say this, but I will fix the mistakes I have made."

Temal gave him a warm smile. "Despite my determination to hate you, I find that you are much different in person." She met his gaze steadily. "You are a good man, with good intentions. I believe that once this is out in the open, you will make a great king."

The king's eyes shone brightly before he cleared his throat. "Perhaps you will help me in deciding the fate of this city. After all, I need someone who knows what life here is really like." He looked uncertain. "That is, if you would be willing—?"

Temal gaped at him. "I—yes! Of course I—yes."

The king smiled at her. "Thank you, Temal. You have opened my eyes, and I am grateful for that." He turned to leave, and Mira put a hand on his arm.

"If you would wait for a moment, there is something I wish to say to her as well." The king nodded, and Mira walked over to join Temal.

They stood there, staring at each other for a long while. Finally, Mira spoke up. "Thank you, Temal."

"Thank me? Thank you!" she said. "Thanks to you, now I've got a chance to really make things better here." Her eyes crinkled as she smiled. "I continually praise Daichi that it was Colie you punched that day in the marketplace. You have been a blessing to us, Mira."

Mira's eyes prickled uncomfortably. "You can't mean that," she said, her voice husky. "I nearly ripped your family apart."

"No," Temal said fiercely, grabbing Mira's shoulders. "You made us stronger. You've been a guiding light for Colie when she couldn't be. You've been a friend and sister to me, and Ryo looks up to you like an aunt. You are a member of this family, Mira, and you always will be. I know you're thinking we'll never see each other again, but that's not true. Not if I have anything to say about it."

Mira took a deep, shaky breath. No one had ever said anything quite like that to her—she hadn't felt like this since…well, it'd been a long time. Mira reached out and embraced Temal tightly, and the older girl reciprocated. "I'll miss you," Mira said quietly. The admission felt liberating. Months ago she would have thought that saying something like that was weak, but somehow, she felt all the more stronger for it.

Temal finally pulled back, but kept her hands on Mira's arms. "Don't be a stranger," she ordered. "I don't care where you're going, or where you end up—you visit us, alright?"

Mira didn't even hesitate. She nodded, and Temal leaned in to kiss her on the forehead. "Goodbye, Mira," she said, once she'd pulled back.

"Goodbye, Temal," Mira said softly. She padded across the room to meet with the king, and with one lingering look, led him outside.

The king, wisely, chose not to speak about what had just happened. He looked thoughtful, and Mira realized that he had a lot to think on as well. They walked in silence, each grappling with their encounter with Temal.

Mira wasn't quite sure what to make of the promise she'd just made. Never in her years of travel had she formed such an attachment to a person, much less a family. The gypsies had welcomed her and molded her, yes, but she hadn't found it too difficult to cut ties and move on. When she considered doing the same here, her chest gave an unpleasant twinge. Never coming back wouldn't just hurt them, she realized. She'd also be hurting herself.

Appa and the others were waiting for them once they entered Burokun Square. They were silent as the king climbed aboard, as if they could somehow sense that things had fundamentally changed in the short time they were gone. They had, of course. The king saw how things truly were now—and that was nothing to be taken lightly.

It was a shorter flight to the Outer Wall this time, and it wasn't long before the king first laid eyes on the edges of Ba Sing Se. He seemed oblivious of the wide-eyed wall guard, who kept a respectful distance—but couldn't quite keep their disbelieving gazes to themselves.

"Your Majesty?" Aang asked. "The drill's right over there." He pointed off to the right, and the king leaned out to follow his finger.

The drill remained where they had left it, looking all the world like a black widow spider, what with the garish Fire Nation insignia painted on top. The machine was surrounded by a hastily constructed stone wall, as though someone had tried and failed to hide it.

The king took a shaky breath in. "I can't believe it," he said softly. "All my life…and I never knew."

"I can explain this, Your Majesty." Long Feng came sweeping in from the tower entrance, flanked by two Dai Li. He swept a hand toward the drill in a dismissive gesture. "This is nothing more than a…construction project."

"Really?" Katara cocked an eyebrow. "Then perhaps you can explain why there's a Fire Nation insignia on your 'construction project'."

And for the first time, Long Feng began to flounder. "Well, it's imported, of course. You know you can't trust domestic machinery." He was met with cynical stares. "Surely you don't believe these children, instead of your most loyal attendant?!"

The Earth King's eyes hardened, becoming chips of brown ice. "Dai Li, arrest Long Feng. I want him to stand trial for crimes against the Earth Kingdom."

The Dai Li obeyed instantly, and a prickle of uncertainty shot up Mira's spine. The Dai Li was Long Feng's organization. For them to abandon him so easily seemed…well, it didn't feel right.

"You can't arrest me!" Long Feng cried. "You all need me more than you know!" He was dragged from the wall, his shouts echoing in the air long after he'd disappeared.

Mira should have felt joy, or relief, but all she could feel was a slight sense of unease. Long Feng was cunning and clever—something told her getting rid of him wouldn't be this easy.

But then again, she always was the paranoid sort.

As night fell on Ba Sing Se, there was nothing Mira wanted to do more than find a nice, soft bed and collapse into a dreamless sleep. Before she could, however, there was still the issue of the war to sort out.

They were once again in the throne room, only this time, it was under friendlier conditions. The king sat alone this time, with the five friends standing before him.

"I want to thank you, young heroes, for opening my eyes," he said softly. "All this time, what I thought was a great metropolis was actually a crumbling center of inequality. How could I have been so blind?" He buried his head in his hands, and Mira felt a fresh wave of sympathy for the man. "We're at war…with the Fire Nation."

Sokka stepped forward. "That's why we came to Ba Sing Se, Your Highness. Because we think you can help us end the war."

"We don't have much time," Aang said. "There's a comet coming this summer. It's energy will give the fire benders unbelievable strength—they'll be unstoppable."

The king looked up, eyes wide.

"But there is hope," Sokka cut in. "Before the comet comes, we have a window of opportunity. A solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be entirely blocked out by the moon, and the firebenders will be helpless."

The king's voice was wary. "What are you suggesting?"

"That's the day we need to invade the Fire Nation. The Day of Black Sun."

The king sat back. "I am not sure. That would require moving troops out of Ba Sing Se. We'd be completely vulnerable."

"With all due respect, sir, you're already vulnerable," Mira pointed out. "You saw the drill. The Fire Nation's already attacked, and you're not even in the war. You can either sit back and wait for them with open arms, or you can be proactive and give your citizens a fighting chance."

The king was silent for a long while. "Very well. You have my support."

Mira couldn't help the wide grin that broke out on her face. The others cheered, and even the king gave a small smile.

At that moment, a burly man dressed in light armor entered the room. "Your Majesty, I apologize for the interruption." He dropped to a bow next to Mira, then straightened up.

"This is General How," the king said. "He's the leader of The Council of Five, my highest-ranking generals."

"We searched Long Feng's office," General How said. "I think we found something that will interest everybody."

Mere minutes later, they were congregated around the desk in Long Feng's study. A guard handed General How a box, then departed. General How handed the box over to the king, who slid it open and withdrew a scroll.

"There are secret files on nearly everyone in Ba Sing Se," General How was saying. "Including you kids."

Mira raised a brow. It was unlikely Long Feng had managed to find anything on her.

"Toph Bei Fong," the king said, reading the name on the scroll. He handed it to her, and she passed it off to Katara, who unrolled it and began to read. After a few moments of silence, she said, "It's a letter from your mom. She's here in the city, and she wants to see you."

"Long Feng intercepted our letters from home? That's just sad," Toph said, but there was undisguised happiness on her face.

"Aang." The Earth King handed over a small scroll.

"This scroll was attached to the horn of your bison when the Dai Li captured it," General How explained.

"It's from the Eastern Air Temple," Aang said slowly. His eyes continued to scan the page as Katara leaned forward.

"Is there a letter for me or Sokka, by any chance?"

"I'm afraid not," the Earth King said, poking around the now-empty box.

"Oh," they said, deflating a little.

General How spoke up. "But there is an intelligence report that might interest you." He pulled a scroll from an inside pocket of his armor, and held it out for Katara to take.

Her eyes flew across the page. "A small fleet of water tribe ships…"

"What? That could be Dad!"

Katara's voice rose as she kept reading. "Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay, led by Hakoda. It is Dad!"

"Perhaps we will take our leave, so you may rejoice in this news together," the king said. He tucked the box underneath his arm as he and General How prepared to leave.

"Your Majesty?" Mira said in a low voice.

"Yes?"

"There's nothing for me, is there?"

The Earth King shook his head. "No, there isn't. Should there have been?"

"No. I wasn't expecting there to be." Truthfully, Mira was more relieved than anything. Long Feng hadn't figured out who she really was. That piece of information alone was more valuable than anything he could have found on her.

"I can't believe it!" Aang said excitedly, and Mira's attention was turned back to the room. "There's a man living at the Eastern Air Temple. He says he's a guru—"

"What's a guru?" Sokka asked. "Some kind of poisonous blowfish?"

Aang shook his head. "No, a spiritual expert. He wants to help me take the next step in the Avatar journey. He says he can teach me to control the Avatar State."

"And I can't believe we know where our Dad is now," Katara said happily.

"I know what you mean," Toph said. "My mom's in the city, and from her letter it sounds like she finally understands me."

"This is all such big news." Sokka looked a bit dazed. "Where do we even start?"

"Split up." Everyone looked to Mira in surprise, and she rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, it's not that big a deal. Aang needs to master the Avatar State if he's ever going to defeat the Fire Lord, Toph ought to talk to her mom, and you two should see your dad. Someone needs to stay behind and coordinate the war effort here, and that's obviously me. That way, everyone gets what they want."

"It just—it feels like we just found Appa and got the family back together. And now you want us to separate?"

"What's good for the parts is good for the whole, Aang," Mira said gently. "We all need this. You especially, being the Avatar and all."

"I know," he said grudgingly. "I'll miss you guys, is all."

"Alright, save the sap for tomorrow," Mira said, holding up her hands. "I'm about dead on my feet and I won't even be going anywhere tomorrow."

It was soon decided that sleep was indeed the best option. Each was given a guest room in the palace, though Mira didn't have much time to appreciate it. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow.

Everyone rose early the next morning. Excitement buzzed through the air as people rushed back and forth in preparation for their journey. Supplies needed to be packed, goodbyes said...and then they were off, leaving Mira behind to spearhead the war effort. She grinned to herself a little. Honestly, there was no place she'd rather be.

She noticed Aang pull Katara off to the side and sidled over that she might overhear better. Judging by Aang's pink cheeks, it was obvious what he wanted to bring up. Despite Mira cynicism, she thought it was about damn time.

"Katara, I need to tell you something. I've been wanting to say it for a long time…" Aang trailed off and shuffled his feet.

Katara's face was open and concerned. "What is it, Aang?"

"I—"

Sokka popped out of nowhere and wrapped Aang in a headlock. "Alright! Who's ready to get this show on the road?"

The Earth King chose that moment to descend the palace steps and see them off. "Aang, Sokka, Katara, I wish you good journey." Sokka wheeled around, Aang's head still caught in his elbow. He quickly released him and stood up straight, a pink blush coloring his cheeks. "Ba Sing Se owes you its thanks, and we look forward to your return."

"Your Majesty." A guard stood at the Earth King's elbow. "There are three female warriors here to see you. They're from the island of Kyoshi."

Sokka, who had started the climb onto Appa, started at the name and fell to the ground in a thump. "That's Suki!"

"You know these warriors?" the king asked.

"Oh, yeah," Sokka reassured. "The Kyoshi warriors are a skilled group of fighters—trustworthy, too. They're good friends of ours."

The king nodded, satisfied. "Then we shall welcome them as honored guests." He backed away, leaving the group for their final goodbyes.

"I'm really gonna miss you guys," Toph said softly.

"Me too," Katara said.

"Yeah," Aang chimed in. He threw his arms around her, and Katara soon followed. Sokka managed to get roped in, but Mira hung back.

Katara looked up and gave Mira a weak glare. She backed away, holding her hands out. "Oh no. Uh-uh. My sap quota has been used up for the day."

"It's not even mid-morning!" Katara protested.

"…I have an astonishingly low sap quota."

"Oh, come here!" An arm shot out and snagged her elbow, and before Mira could pull away, she was caught in a web of hands and limbs.

"Oh-kay, this is, um…that's enough, everyone's fully loved, we get it—will you let me out!" She extricated herself carefully, her cheeks flushed red. A fan of forced affection, she was not.

Soon after, Toph departed on foot to meet with her mother, and Appa took to the skies. Mira stood watching, one hand raised to block the rising sun. She remained until Appa was merely a speck in the sky, then turned to make her way into the palace. All that was left now was the planning of a war.

Simple enough, right?

A/N: And now, I finally get to make this promise: the truth will out next episode. You've waited long enough…Thankfully, next chapter is already half-written and has been since last year—literally.

Stay tuned for:

Mira's backstory

Mira and Zuko one-on-one (crystal caves, anyone?)

Some…interesting fights

And a familiar face will reappear

Got you hooked yet? Next chapter will come out sooner than this one did, I promise.

Please leave a review on your way out. I would love to hear what you thought.