Once they passed over the United Republic, Aang directed Appa northeast along the coast. When they reached the mouth of the Geum river, the sky bison turned inland, following the river- and the narrow road alongside it- toward the distant mountains. No one spoke, except to occasionally consult a map. Katara and Mai both seemed quite calm and collected, which didn't surprise Zuko; Katara had a gift for keeping a level head in almost any crisis. As for Mai, even if her emotions were in a turmoil, she would never show anyone outside her family.

Aang, however, was gripping his glider-staff so hard his knuckles were white, and the wind around them was even more of an indicator. The slipstreams rushing past Appa were literally slapping Zuko in the face. He knew all too well how emotions could influence bending. Aang was passive and easygoing by nature, but his rage, when provoked enough, was like a hurricane.

They were speeding over a narrow valley, edged with strange, snow-capped stone columns, when Appa suddenly grunted and began to descend. Zuko felt his chest tightening with impatience; every second they weren't getting closer to Izumi and Hou-Ting was wasted. But he needed Aang's help, and if he was honest with himself, he'd been half-hoping for this conversation since the visit to Phleung Wōat. On balance, it was probably better that they clear the air first. But Jayavar's reassuring words seemed meaningless as he glanced at Aang's rigid back.

Appa touched down between two small hills, near the riverbank. Aang sprang from the bison's neck, landed lightly, and began walking east without a word. Zuko slid down Appa's side and followed. Mai and Katara didn't join them; neither was interested in getting caught in an explosion.

For about twenty minutes, the Avatar and the Fire Lord silently followed the path. Zuko glanced back once, but Appa and the two women were already hidden by the hills. The terrain grew rougher; frosted grass gave way to barren ground, broken by odd projections and fragments of stone. Zuko's good eye caught a faint metallic glint that looked like a piece of armor. He wondered idly if they were passing through a battlefield.

Finally, the Airbender stopped, but he didn't turn around. "Tell me about Omori."

Zuko knew Aang wasn't asking about Takeo's rebellion, and he wasn't going to play dumb. He took a deep breath. "My uncle Iroh has always said I don't think things through, don't plan enough. In this case, I was trying to do exactly that: plan for the long-term. You know I've always wanted to keep the peace. But the war-crime tribunals opened my eyes to exactly how much the rest of the world, especially the Earth Kingdom, still hate my people-"

"Can you blame them?" Aang still didn't turn around, but his voice was already hardening with anger. "When we flew over the Western Temple lands on our way to collect you and Mai... I saw what you'd been doing in my people's lands, the same ones your ancestors pillaged and burned. You've been preserving relics of the Hundred Year War, on land that you have no right to. And by even considering that proposal to invade the United Republic, which was as much your brainchild as it was mine-"

"Mai and I rejected that invasion proposal as soon as it was pitched, Aang." Zuko shook his head. He wasn't going to ask how the Avatar had learned about that. "The War Ministry keeps copies of every proposed war plan and scenario as part of protocol, it always has. But I told the Generals myself, no Fire Nation soldier will ever set foot in the United Republic while I'm alive." He sighed. "And no, I don't blame the Earth Citizens for hating Fire Nationals. Not in the slightest. But I'm not going to let them take their anger out on those in the Fire Nation who are innocent, when some of the guilty haven't been punished at all. By the standards of the tribunals, both my uncle and I are war criminals. And yet, we weren't even put on trial; we were rewarded-"

"Don't try to dodge, Zuko." The tip of Aang's glider-staff thudded against the ground; a tremor passed through the earth. "We both know, what you did as Prince of the Fire Nation, pales in comparison to Takeo's crimes. Besides, you and Iroh already redeemed your actions during the war, we're talking about what you've done since then-"

"But even if we hadn't redeemed ourselves, politics made it necessary to have a smooth succession in the Fire Nation, didn't they?" Zuko barked a humorless laugh. "And that's the nature of my position as Fire Lord: sometimes political reality takes precedent over the honor I was once obsessed with." He shook his head. "Back to Omori. Early in my reign... my court and I made a diplomatic assessment of the world. Despite Gilak's rebellion, I wasn't concerned about xenophobia from the Water Tribes; Hakoda welcomed my offer of friendship, and we built stronger ties quickly enough. The United Republic was a natural ally, once we got it on its' feet. But the Earth Kingdom was another matter. Kuei didn't want war, but he never fully trusted me after Yu Dao. And except for Kiyoshi Island, all the western vassal-states remained hostile toward the Fire Nation." He closed his eyes. "I... knew no one was left in the lands around the Air Temples. I knew you never visited any of them except the Southern Temple, because you found it too painful. And I knew Azulon and Ozai built fortresses in the Western archipelago, halfway between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. I saw some of those fortresses as a backup plan, to give my people early warning and defense if we were attacked unprovoked. Overtime, as the peace endured, I demolished all the forts except Omori. But I never revealed that they were left intact to begin with, or that Omori was still garrisoned; I was afraid it would have been too damaging to our diplomacy. When my parents were attacked by Earthbenders at Hira'a, I thought my paranoia had been vindicated, after all. I didn't realize how deeply all of us had been deceived."

Zuko could feel hot tears of shame behind his eyelids, but he didn't open them. He couldn't look his friend in the eyes until he had confessed everything. "I'm... I'm so sorry, Aang. For the constant deception, for everything. I didn't know about the Dai Li's involvement, much less that they still existed, until after Omori fell. But by then, Takeo and the Dai Li had fled to Zamyn Togsgol. I planned to reveal the truth about Omori to the press when I returned to the Capital, and take whatever judgement the other nations and you might have for me; I'd lived with the guilt long enough. But I came back empty-handed, to find that Takeo had taken Izumi." His throat tightened. "Politics... got in the way again, before I had a chance to redeem myself. You may see that as too convenient of an answer, but I don't have a choice now. If I make any move Takeo doesn't trust... I lose my daughter, forever."

He heard the scrape of Aang's light shoes on the frozen ground, turning to face him, but he still didn't open his eyes. Was it his imagination, or did the winds whipping around them seem to be fading a little?

Aang finally spoke. "Tell me... about Takeo." His voice was still hard, but it sounded more confused than angry now. Confused over why his friend and ally could have deceived him so terribly. Zuko felt his chest tighten with shame and remorse. The Air Temples were all Aang had left of his people, and to use the lands around them for military purposes was like desecrating a graveyard. He deserved every ounce of the Avatar's rage and grief. And yet, Aang was able to put his feelings aside, to hear Zuko out...

The Fire Lord opened his eyes. Aang was staring at him, his expression a mixture of accusation... and what looked like pity. Probably more for Izumi, than for Zuko. "I was trying to be moderate, when I pardoned Takeo for his war crimes. Obviously, I made a terrible misjudgment of his character. But, having made that judgement, I wanted to keep him somewhere as obscure as possible. There were plenty of Earth Citizens looking at Takeo with vengeance on their minds, and I didn't need them or him sparking a new conflict. So I chose a location that only the military knew existed: Fort Omori. And Takeo stayed quiet there, for many years... until Tomoru and Mai discovered that he'd been sheltering the New Ozai Society, ever since I outlawed it. I couldn't risk him provoking another war, with a band of traitors backing him-"

"And yet, we're on the doorstep of another war now. Your mercy toward Takeo prevented justice, from the start-"

"At the time, I was trying to advocate for forgiveness, and reconciliation." For the first time, a flicker of irritation came to Zuko's defense. "For once, I was trying to take a leaf from your book, Aang. You told Katara she should forgive the man who murdered her mother. You weren't willing to kill Ozai during Sozin's Comet, even though we all know he deserved it. You encouraged me to try and reconcile with my sister, who came within an inch of killing you."

Aang's eyes narrowed. A cold gust of wind buffeted both his and Zuko's robes. "Sparing lives doesn't mean you ignore justice. You imprisoned Yon Rha and Ozai for their war crimes for the rest of their lives, you could have done the same with Takeo. You knew he was guilty-"

"Yes, I did! But to nearly everyone in the Fire Nation, he was a war hero!" Zuko felt a bloom of anger in his chest, mingling with his guilt. "He was also a political rival to my father, and in my poor judgement, I thought I could use that to my advantage, silence the ones who were skeptical about my rule! You saw how divided the Fire Nation was, at the beginning of my reign; you saw how I handled the Battle of Yu Dao and the Kemurikage crisis! If I wasn't going to execute my father or Azula, I needed to make decisions that united the Fire Nation behind me, so that I could remain on the throne long enough to make the reforms that we all want!" He made an effort to calm his tone. "My people... aren't the Air Nomads, Aang. Too many of us have been raised in a warrior mindset, even in the era before Sozin's Comet."

"The Sun Warriors aren't pacifists, and yet they don't conquer and oppress-"

"The Sun Warriors chose to conceal themselves from the Fire Nation, and continue to do so." Zuko shook his head. "I do think their teachings would help my people learn to balance their ambitions. But I have to respect Soma's wish to keep her people hidden, and I think she's entirely right to keep the Dragons a secret." He let out a dry chuckle, more hysteria than anything else. "Assuming I survive whatever Takeo has planned for me... if you want to take my head after this is all over, you may have to get in line. But if we survive, and Mai and I can set the Fire Nation's affairs in order... I'll accept your judgement, and the rest of the other Nations. But not before Izumi's safe."

Aang's stern grey eyes didn't soften, but the breeze around him finally died away. "I'm not going to rob Izumi of her father, Zuko. You know me and Katara better than that." He let out a sigh of frustration. "You could have made this easier on yourself if you had just asked me for help, in the first place. Yes, I'm a member of the Council, but the United Republic isn't going to just fall apart in my absence. Diplomacy's a higher priority, if it involves keeping the balance between nations."

Zuko shook his head again. "If I asked for your help every time the Fire Nation faced a crisis, too many people would see Mai and I as dependent on you. The hardliners in the warrior class would denounce us as puppet rulers, on behalf of the Avatar. I needed to prove otherwise. And it may well be the same for any Fire Lords who follow me, no matter how many reforms we pass. I respect your advice, even if I didn't always follow it. But Mai and I have to be seen to make our own decisions. Even if we have to take the judgement for them afterwards... as we're doing now, with Takeo." Keeping Aang's gaze, he got down on his knees. "I... will ask for your help, this time. Though I know I don't deserve it."

To Zuko's surprise, the Airbender was the one who broke eye contact first, turning toward the river. Zuko glanced over his shoulder, back toward the hills where Appa, Mai and Katara waited. His gut squirmed with guilt as he remembered Katara's angry words at the Western Air Temple:

"You might have everyone buying your little transformation, but you and I both know you've struggled with doing the right thing in the past."

How right she had been. The Fire Lord shook his head. He really hadn't changed much, in twenty years. Had Katara? He knew how much she valued trust, how fiercely protective she was of Aang. She seemed calm, but he wondered if that was a facade. How much anger was she putting aside now, until everything was settled? He would take it regardless, of course.

When Aang finally spoke, his voice was stern, but not cold. "I'll help you now, because it's necessary. And because Izumi isn't guilty of your mistakes." Zuko winced; Aang's words reminded him of his conversation with Jayavar, at Phleung Wōat. "But I'll be watching you after this is over, Zuko. You broke my trust, when you didn't tell me about Omori. I understand that you don't want to be perceived as a puppet, that people won't have confidence in you if you're always taking the same line as me. But you can't be a puppet to your own council either, the way Kuei is to the Council of Five. You brought this entirely on yourself, because you couldn't trust your own judgement. Show me you can do that...and perhaps, one day, I'll be able to trust you again."

Zuko bowed his head almost to the ground, tears welling in his good eye again. After a moment, he choked out a word that he hoped Aang would recognize as "Thank you." This was more than he had hoped for, that Aang was even willing to consider forgiving him...

Then, as he straightened up, he noticed a distant sound, growing closer, that made his heart sink: the jingle of reins, and the scraping and squawking of ostrich-horses.

Katara pushed back her hood as she reached the riverbank. Even in winter, the weather was mild compared to the South Pole. Breaking a chunk of ice from the frozen river's surface, she liquefied it and bent it into Appa's mouth; the huge bison smacked his lips and grunted appreciatively.

She hadn't heard Mai's light steps behind her, so she jumped at the sound of the Fire Lady's voice, just feet away. "It must be hard for you. Going around the world on another Avatar-related mission at a moment's notice, when you have a baby and two young ones at home."

Katara closed her eyes, fighting the urge to make a retort. She didn't talk about leaving their children at home specifically because it was so hard on her and Aang, behind their upbeat facades. Bumi, Kya and Tenzin were safe, of course; there was no one Katara trusted more than her brother and best friend. The new Triad leader, Yakone, made her nervous, but the Triple Threats had been quiet since the attack on Toph. Besides, Air Temple island was well-guarded by both the Acolytes and the White Lotus. Still, Katara's guilt and worry for her children threatened to overwhelm her at times. Her mother had literally sacrificed herself to the enemy, to save her life. Given that Mai and Zuko might be about to do the same for Izumi, the Fire Lady's words felt reproachful.

Then again, Katara was surprised Mai was even opening a conversation. Mai had never been hostile toward her, but whenever they met face-to-face their conversations seemed short and awkward. While Mai's letters were polite, her tone remained guarded, and Katara found it hard to keep up correspondence with her, unlike Ty Lee. Then again, the Fire Lady had always been aloof about her feelings. But now, she was abandoning everything she and Zuko had built in the Fire Nation, for the sake of her child. Perhaps Izumi's capture was affecting Mai more deeply than Katara had first thought; it might explain why she was finally willing to talk.

Katara gave a halfhearted shrug as she glanced back. "You have no idea. I think it frightens me more than the kids, when one or both of us has to leave. But I've been running my healing clinic since before Bumi was born. And Aang has Council meetings almost every week, when he's not attending diplomatic summits. We learned to balance our schedules from the very beginning, make sure we have enough time for each of them, but it also helped them get used to us being away for periods. And it helps us appreciate the time we have with them, all the more." The corner of Mai's mouth curved upward, for just a moment. "Toph makes sure the kids can protect themselves, what with the Triads all over Republic City. You've taught Izumi combat as well, yes?"

"Dao swords from Zuko, shuriken from me, and Firebending from Iroh."

"Good range. Aang and I rely on our bending so much, we never learned any other forms of combat. But Bumi's going to visit Kiyoshi Island next year and learn chi-blocking." Katara chuckled. "As if Aang and I don't have to be alert enough already, he's always trying to ambush us with some prank or booby trap. We also send him and Kya to the South Pole every other year, so they can learn Water Tribe customs from their uncle and grandfather."

Mai nodded. "Izumi mentioned that, when she was discussing one of her letters from Bumi. You've given them quite an adventurous childhood- though perhaps not as intense as what we went through, at the end of the war." Her brow furrowed slightly. "That's why Zuko and I decided to have Izumi visit the Sun Warriors. We wanted her to see more of the world at a young age, the way your Team Avatar did during your adventures."

Katara smiled. "Seeing the world from another culture's perspective is never a bad thing- and Izumi's such a brilliant child. I bet she was over the moon when you told her about that."

Mai glanced away, toward the river. "It was overdue on my part, to be honest. I tried not to be too hard on her. But she's had a spotlight on her since before she could walk, being our only heir."

The Waterbender frowned. She knew Mai had suffered a miscarriage once, but... "Have you and Zuko ever tried again?"

The Fire Lady's head snapped up, her eyes like flint. "Izumi is all we've ever needed."

Katara raised her hands hastily. "Sorry, didn't mean to prod. It sounds as if you've had her under good influences from the start."

Mai looked away again. "I suppose. I saw how well she responded to Zuko, Iroh, Kiyi...and I kept my distance, for years. Buried myself in administration, politics. Convinced myself she didn't need someone as ruthless as me, looking over her shoulder all the time. It wasn't until Zuko went to the United Republic for a year, that I realized how much distance had built up between us." Her eyes turned glassy. "She's all Zuko and I have, and I never seemed to have enough time for her. Until her life was on the line..."

Katara felt her heart twist with sympathy. She reached out and put her hand on Mai's shoulder, hesitantly. "You're making time for her now, Mai. This is when it really counts."

Mai turned slowly, her expression unreadable. Her mouth opened slightly, as if she was searching for the right words to say; then, her gaze shifted past Katara's shoulder and she stiffened. Her hand went to the tri-pronged sai in her sash. Behind them, Appa rumbled in alarm.

The Waterbender spun around. Down the road, where the river wound around the base of a hill, several mounted figures had appeared. Even at this distance, Katara could make out the wide-brimmed, spiked headware worn by Earthbenders. Their uniforms were light green except for the jade-colored pauldrons, but she didn't know which of the Earth King's vassals wore those colors. However, she knew they'd landed near the border between the Hu Xin and Kodei provinces. Either way, if the Fire Nationals were seen, it could get ugly fast.

"Mai, you should get out of sight-" She started to say, then stopped as she glanced back. The Fire Lady had already made herself scarce. As Katara turned back to the approaching soldiers, Appa let out a growl; she stroked his muzzle reassuringly.

The Captain leading them looked surprised to see her, but not necessarily hostile. He bowed his head respectfully as the patrol came to a halt. "...Lady Katara. We weren't expecting to see you or the Avatar in the Hu Xin province."

"Aang and I are on our way to Ba Sing Se. To offer King Kuei our assistance with diplomacy, as we have many times before." Katara eyed the troops as they dismounted, forming ranks behind their commander. There were at least a hundred of them. If Aang had landed in the Hu Xin province, these soldiers were part of the Army of Puyo, under General Fong's command. But of course they knew who she was, and given that they weren't trying to arrest her on sight, she might be able to talk her way out of this... as long as Mai and Zuko weren't spotted. "I assumed all the Earth King's vassal armies were sent west, given the recent tensions with the Fire Nation?"

"General Fong has received reports that the Fire Nation has been raiding villages throughout the Dragon's Back Mountains, including the border of the Chenbao province- which does not maintain a standing army to protect itself. We've been sent north, along with other battalions of the Army of Puyo, to answer the citizens' pleas for help."

Katara shook her head. "The Fire Army may be mobilized, but they haven't deployed any troops in the Earth Kingdom yet. Even if they had, why would the Fire Nation attack through the north? The Dragon's Back is some of the harshest terrain on the continent. More importantly...Does your mission have King Kuei's approval? I assumed his top priority was searching for his missing heir, and since the Council of Five thinks the Fire Lord took her-"

"I'm simply obeying orders, Lady Katara." The Captain cut her off, curtly. "The Earth King has broken diplomatic relations with the Fire Lord, and ordered the capture and internment of any Fire Nationals found in the Earth Kingdom. General Fong has verified the Fire Nation raids based on the testimony of refugees who fled the attacked villages. Therefore, in ordering us north, he is merely obeying the Earth King's orders in turn." He touched the brim of his helmet. "I wish we could stand to provide you and the Avatar with an escort to Ba Sing Se, but we can't spare any troops-"

He broke off, his eyes staring past Appa. Katara glanced in the same direction and cursed silently to herself; Zuko and Aang had just crested the hill. Zuko's travel clothes didn't have any Fire Nation insignia on them, but his scar was clearly visible even at a distance. The instant he saw the Earth Kingdom troops, he turned the left side of his face away, but the damage was done. There was a series of rumbling, cracking sounds as the first rank of soldiers Earthbent chunks of soil and rock into the air, at the ready.

The Captain's voice rang out. "Fire Lord Zuko. You are trespassing in the Earth Kingdom, which currently does not recognize your regime. You have also been accused of kidnapping Princess Hou-Ting, heir to the Earth Kingdom. You will be detained until relations have been restored and negotiations concluded." His tone shook for a moment, then hardened. "Avatar Aang...Lady Katara... you are traveling with an enemy of the Earth Kingdom, have knowingly brought him here. Allow me to take him into custody, and you may be allowed to leave our lands-"

"Not happening." Katara flicked her wrist. Clumps of snow all around them liquefied and rose into the air, rotating around her rapidly in a massive water-wheel. Behind her, she could hear the wind picking up. "They mean no harm, either to the Earth King or his people. Zuko and Kuei have a common enemy-"

Her words were interrupted by a whistling sound. Two of the foremost Earthbenders suddenly went down with howls of pain, red-tinted throwing stars protruding from their feet and forearms. Mai stood next to Appa's head, her left hand upraised, three more shuriken ready to throw.

Immediately, the first row of Earthbenders thrust their arms upward simultaneously, raising a stone barrier; the ones behind them launched projectile after projectile at Mai. Appa roared and swiped his tail, his Airbending sweeping the stone wedges aside, then charged at the barrier, shattering it. The first three ranks of soldiers scattered to either side, but the ones behind them raised stone restraints from the ground, paralyzing Appa's paws. The bison smashed them apart with blows from his massive tail, but new ones formed almost immediately; there were too many Earthbenders for him to counter on the ground.

Encasing her feet in water, Katara shot forward on a current, the water-coil around her whirling faster and faster. At her gesture, the pressurized stream struck three of Appa's restraints with terrific force, shattering them. Before she could attend to the other three, the Earthbenders launched a barrage at her, forcing her to deflect instead. As she molded some of the water into ice-missiles, she noticed the Captain gesturing and yelling at the troops still on horseback. They began to spread out along the riverbank, outflanking Mai and Appa. The Fire Lady was probably more than a match for any soldier in this patrol, but if she didn't have room to evade Earthbending attacks...

A jet of flame shot past Katara, hurling back two soldiers that had been closing in on her right. She didn't look back to see whether Zuko or Aang had conjured it; she could hear both of them approaching from behind. "Get Appa loose!" She yelled, trapping two Earthbenders' feet in ice and hurling a third into the river with a water-coil. "We could hold them back all day, but there's too many of them; if they outflank us, we're finished!" Of course, Aang could probably overwhelm the entire patrol if he used the Avatar State, but even after he'd gained control of it, he preferred to use it only as a last resort.

"On it!" Zuko rushed past her, a pressurized fire-dagger blooming over his hand. "Aang, I'll need cover!"

Aang shot by Katara's left shoulder on his air-scooter, orange cloak billowing behind. His staff swung left and right, kicking up chunks of debris in its' wake and bombarding the main formation of Earthbenders. As they raised barriers to deflect the attack, the Airbender circled them, the wind currents behind him howling louder and louder, twisting around the soldiers in a funnel shape. Seeing their comrades trapped, several benders outside the whirlwind launched a barrage of earthen projectiles at Aang, but Katara's water whips swept them aside.

There was a sudden crunch of breaking stone, followed by a bellow from Appa; Zuko and Mai had managed to get him loose. Katara surfed towards the bison, jumped and caught hold of the saddle's edge just as his tail began to beat the ground. Scrambling on, she extended her arms over the other side, helping Mai and Zuko aboard. As Appa lifted off the ground, she shouted a warning to Aang, but he had already extended the wings of his glider and was weaving through the air toward them. As the whirlwind around them dissipated, the Earthbenders hurled more projectiles at Aang, but he dodged them one by one, finally dropping onto Appa's neck and grabbing the reins.

"Yip-Yip times a thousand!" He barked, and the bison banked east, climbing rapidly. The attacks from the ground fell behind, then disappeared.

"Well... that could have gone better." Zuko gasped, as soon as he caught his breath. "They'll be sure to let both the Earth King and the Dai Li- and by extension, Takeo- know we're here, and that the Avatar's taken the Fire Lord's side."

"I'm not sure they're collaborators." Katara remarked. "Their Captain was genuinely surprised to see me, and he was willing to let Aang and I go. If he knew about the Dai Li, or was working with them, wouldn't he have tried to capture or eliminate all of us, from the start?"

Mai shook her head grimly. "Even if those Earthbenders aren't aware of the Dai Li, Fong might be. Either way, our enemies will probably be forewarned. It might have been more pragmatic to finish them off." She ignored the look Aang shot her way. "But, I suppose we shouldn't have taken the chance of killing soldiers who are unknowingly part of the conspiracy."

"And, if we're ever able to reach the Earth King, he'll be less likely to listen to our story if we leave bodies in our wake." Katara added. She was a bit startled by Mai's ruthlessness, but she wasn't one to talk herself. And while Aang's pacifism was one of his best qualities, she knew he could occasionally be hypocritical about it. "It would have been better... if none of us had made the first attack. But if Kuei finds out we just held them off, without taking any lives, he may start asking himself questions, instead of just blindly following the Council of Five and Ariq."

After a pause, Mai nodded in Katara's direction. Zuko glanced back, his forehead knotted with worry. "When Takeo finds out I disobeyed his instructions-"

"He won't, Zuko." Katara put her hand on his shoulder. "Not before we arrive, and they won't be expecting the Avatar-"

"You think Zamyn Togsgol will be as easy as that?" Mai jerked her thumb over her shoulder. "Those were nothing compared to the Dai Li, and you know it; all four of us have encountered them. And if they're in the mountains, their headquarters will probably be underground, just like in Ba Sing Se. Perfect for an Earthbender, but not exactly ideal for any of us. Unless you're planning some kind of diversion, we'll be badly outnumbered and outmaneuvered."

"A diversion... we may actually have just that." Katara caught her husband's eye. "When did Xai Bau say he wanted to speak with you, again?"

As the sun started to dip low behind the clouds, the old warrior slid off his ostrich-horse. He found a seat beneath a maple and connected his thumbs across his stomach. Just as his eyes began to close, he glimpsed a fox emerging from the underbrush. His hand strayed toward the baton for a moment, but then he noticed tasseled ears and a second tail. He smiled slightly. Māoyan had come to guide him to the Spirit World.

He'd only gotten one letter from Nakken, and it hadn't been encouraging. While her words were respectful, the Waterbender claimed the rest of the White Lotus wouldn't take his Dai Li 'theory' seriously unless they had more evidence, so she'd returned to Puyo in search of another lead. Meanwhile, Xai Bau had been traveling steadily northeast across the plains of the Earth Kingdom, pushing himself and his mount to exhaustion, stopping only briefly for food or rest. He hadn't been able to take a train beyond the border of the United Republic; only a few of the Earth Kingdom's states had rail lines, and none of them ran to the Dragon's Back. Each night, he entered the Spirit World to meet with Zaheer. The boy was now his main source of news from Ba Sing Se, thanks to his gang of child-thieves. Although the Upper Ring and Kuei's palace were too heavily guarded for eavesdropping, several of the children worked as gleaners in a field next to the Outer Wall. It was easy for them to stray near one of the towers or gatehouses and listen to the guards' conversation.

Unfortunately, the news was foreboding. Fire Navy ships patrolled just off the Earth Kingdom's west coast. Triads in the United Republic continued to smuggle munitions and equipment to both sides. The Council of Five and the Earth king still claimed Zuko was behind Hou-Ting's kidnapping and the attacks on the mountain villages. Two of Ba Sing Se's three field armies- supported by the forces of King Ariq of Omashu- had assembled in the west, to prepare for a coordinated strike at the Fire Nation once war erupted. But the Council of Five's aggressive strategy only seemed to be setting their armies up for collapse; the Fire Nation's land forces might be outnumbered, but their air and sea power was far superior.

Zaheer had wondered aloud if another failed war against the Fire Nation might improve the Earth Kingdom's society, in the long run. Despite his vow never to kill, Xai Bau understood his pupil's line of thinking; it was similar to that of Tao and Yiwu, the siblings who had tried to rob him. Few of the Earth Kingdom's people cared about, let alone supported, their King's conflict with Zuko. Even fewer understood the conspiracy behind it. Except when he held diplomatic summits, King Kuei was far too distant from his subjects, his orders delegated through countless appointed bureaucrats. With his heir kidnapped, his leadership had become even more uncertain and ineffective. Most of Kuei's vassals were ignoring his orders- either because they trusted their own judgement better, or because some had secretly sided with the Dai Li. Even with Omashu's support, if Ba Sing Se attacked the Fire Nation unprovoked now, its' armies would almost certainly be crushed. And such a massive defeat would enrage the common Earth Citizens, who neither understood nor supported the war but would have to sacrifice their children all the same. If their rage provoked open protests or even revolts against the monarchy, the Earth Kingdom's flaws would be exposed, for even its' most ignorant leaders to see. If it was forced to evolve, to adapt its' laws and give rights to its' people... Xai Bau might have agreed with Zaheer, if it weren't for the sheer number of lives that would be lost. For the survivors, at least, such a revolution was an opportunity.

But if the Dai Li swooped in and launched a coup after the Earth Army was beaten, they might overpower Ba Sing Se and unify the vassals under their leadership- wiping out the Earth Kingdom's best chance for reform, and making it even more oppressive than before. And Xai Bau hadn't forgotten Pathik's prophecy about the burning city, the loss of "blood and order." The Order of the White Lotus couldn't afford to wait until the climax of the conflict, as they had during Sozin's Comet. They had to act now.

As Xai Bau entered the mist-shrouded grove of trees in the Spirit World, Māoyan suddenly shot past his feet, yipping excitedly. Weaving through the low-hanging branches, he saw the reason for her excitement: Zaheer was sitting on a boulder near the brook, meditating. The boy stood and patted the kitsune's head as she reached him, then bowed to Xai Bau. "Sifu. I have news-"

He dove sideways as the flail whistled through the air where his head had been, a half-second before. Māoyan scampered off the rock, barking indignantly. Xai Bau gave the chain a sharp jerk, whipping it to the spot where the boy's maneuver would take him. But Zaheer planted his feet and sprang up halfway through his roll, evading the attack before it could intercept him. Xai Bau nodded in approval as he swung the flail again. Zaheer still didn't have much of an attack, but his movements were unpredictable, constantly changing. He used to just take the blows; now, he evaded more and more of them, forcing Xai Bau to use more energy. "You'll have to make it quick. I'm supposed to meet with the Avatar at sundown."

"But it's already dark in Ba Sing Se- oh, right, never mind. Anyway, we overheard some Wall guards this afternoon. General Fong's troops have been seen on the march, but they're not moving south, toward Kuei and Ariq's armies." Zaheer leaped directly upward, narrowly avoiding the chain looping around his ankles. "Apparently, they're heading northeast, following the Geum river upstream."

"Which flows out of the Dragon's Back." Xai Bau nodded. "As we expected. Is Fong leading them himself?"

"Not sure. They're definitely wearing his colors, though."

"Has Fong been given Kuei's authority to deploy troops in that region?" Not that it would stop him, if he's joined the Dai Li.

Zaheer intercepted the flail as it shot past him, then yanked on it as he sprang forward. His fingers extended, aiming for a pressure point on his mentor's shoulder. "The guards didn't seem worried, in fact they seemed pleased that he was finally going to deal with the 'Fire Nation raids' in the north-"

The chain retracted and coiled around Zaheer's wrist before he could land the blow, pulling him face-first into the ground. Untangling the weapon, Xai Bau collapsed it back into the handles as his pupil stood up. "When you're making a close-range attack, make sure you minimize your distractions."

"What distra-oh." Zaheer reddened slightly as he brushed dirt from his face. "Right. Sorry, sifu."

Xai Bau nodded, studying him for a moment. "Zaheer... you can get into the Middle Ring, yes?"

Zaheer gave him his usual impish grin. "Are you kidding? Compared to the Agrarian Ring, that's easy."

"Good. When you return to the Mortal World, I need you to take a message for me. You know where the University is?" The boy nodded. "If you make your way to the faculty teahouse in the evening, you'll find a professor with cropped grey hair, wearing robes like mine. He's Grand Lotus Sungwoo, one of the leaders of my Order-"

At that moment, a patch of air near the brook began to shimmer. Immediately, Zaheer dove behind a tree, out of sight. Xai Bau raised his hands defensively, then relaxed as Aang appeared.

"Avatar Aang." He bowed his head briefly. "I have news, from Ba Sing Se. The Army of Puyo is mobilized, but it's not joining with the forces of Omashu and Ba Sing Se. Instead-"

"They're heading for the Dragon's Back... and then, this supposed 'Zamyn Togsgol.'" Aang cut him off, his face tense. "I know, I saw for myself. We only just escaped from one of Fong's patrols."

"'We?'"

"Katara and I finally picked up Zuko and Mai. They confirmed that the Dai Li are behind these incidents- and now, they've taken Princess Izumi, too. Mai and Zuko were planning to go after her themselves-"

"The Fire Lord's daughter was taken, too?" Xai Bau shook his head grimly. "Playing the two strongest nations against each other with hostages...that is cunning of them. Have you confirmed that Fong's collaborating with them, or is he just being manipulated?"

"Given what I know about him, and that you saw Joo Dee at his palace, I wouldn't put him above suspicion. But it isn't just Fong and the Dai Li. A group of mutinous Fire Nation soldiers has been gathering under a rogue General, Takeo; they're the ones raiding the villages in the north. Takeo was pardoned for war crimes by Zuko after the war, but it seems he's been using Zuko's mercy to plot against him ever since. He's in alliance with the Dai Li."

"Takeo? Yes, I've heard of him." Xai Bau frowned. Praised as a commander even by his Earth Kingdom counterparts, and respected by nearly every soldier in the Fire Army. But Xai Bau had seen Takeo's darker work firsthand, during the Fire Nation's occupation of Yu Dao and in several attacks on Ba Sing Se. If Zuko had pardoned him, it wasn't surprising no one had heard from Takeo in years; half the Earth Kingdom wanted his head. "You're sure he's in alliance with the Dai Li?"

Aang nodded. "I was skeptical at first, but the Kiyoshi Warriors found evidence for Zuko. And it makes sense: Takeo and the Dai Li have been staging mock conflicts to pit Zuko and Kuei against each other. Once open war erupts, they'll take advantage of the chaos and launch coups in both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation."

"At least Zuko's aware of their plans-" Xai Bau cut himself off before he could finish. Even if he knew about the conspiracy now, there was nothing Zuko could do as long as Takeo held his heir, except walk into the trap. Once again, he understood the Earth Citizens' impatience with monarchy. Zuko might be much more aware and receptive to his subjects' needs than Kuei, but he was still willing to endanger his country if it meant a chance of protecting his daughter. Like Aang and Kuei, the Fire Lord's concern for his offspring made him dangerously vulnerable.

Aang met his eyes. "I'm going with him. The Earthbenders won't be able to warn Takeo before we arrive, Appa can outfly any messenger hawk."

Xai Bau shook his head. "You may be stronger than the last time you faced the Dai Li, but you don't know their numbers. Please wait when you reach Zamyn Togsgol, until I have enough White Lotus to assist you."

Aang looked troubled. "I'd like to... but I don't know if we can convince Zuko and Mai to wait that long. They're worried that if any reinforcements are spotted, Takeo will kill Izumi. Besides, I don't like the idea of drawing the White Lotus out of Ba Sing Se. With most of the Earth King's troops in the west, the city's vulnerable. If the Dai Li launch their coup now, the White Lotus may be the best defense Ba Sing Se has."

Xai Bau conceded that point. Useless though the Earth King was, they couldn't let him become the Dai Li's puppet again. Luckily, not all of the White Lotus was stationed in Ba Sing Se. "What about Iroh? He could lead the Fire Nation branch of the Order, give you assistance-"

"Iroh... was badly injured during Izumi's kidnapping." Aang's eyes dimmed. "Zuko's not sure he'll survive."

Xai Bau felt a pit grow in the base of his stomach. He disagreed with the former Grand Lotus, on many things. But Iroh had always been willing to listen to him, had offered him spiritual and emotional comfort after Kaho's death. He deserved a gentler end.

He pushed that grim piece of news to the back of his mind. There were other Grand Lotuses in the Fire Nation besides Iroh. "What about Pian Dao? He handled logistics for the Order during Sozin's Comet. Even coming by sea, he could have a team assembled near Zamyn Togsgol in five days." He noticed Aang's grim expression. "Please, Aang. Let me find you some support. You might take Takeo and the Dai Li by surprise if you go alone, but you don't know their strength. If you don't have a backup plan, Zuko's life might be sacrificed for nothing." Not to mention yours, if Koh's warning was correct.

After a long pause, Aang nodded. "You have until sunrise, four days from now... If I can convince Zuko and Mai to wait that long." He pressed his fist to his palm and bowed as his body began to fade. "Good luck."

Xai Bau turned away, shaking his head as the Avatar vanished. Four days wasn't enough time, unless the White Lotus came by air. But he had to try anyway. The problem was, he wasn't sure how many White Lotuses would actually answer his pleas for help. Unless...

He whistled, and both Zaheer and Māoyan emerged from hiding. "Māoyan, I need you to go to Master Pian Dao, right away, and bring him here." The kitsune gave a small whine. "I'm sorry, I can't now. But I'm sure Zaheer will be happy to play with you, once he's finished his mission." Māoyan gave an affirmative yip and bounded away.

Zaheer raised an eyebrow. "You were telling me about this 'Grand Lotus Sungwoo?'"

"Yes. Tell him I sent you, then tell him I'm invoking the Winter Kāihuā, under Pian Dao's authority." Technically, Xai Bau didn't have the authority to summon a Kāihuā himself: only the Grand Lotuses could assemble the Order for military purposes. And no one had invoked the Kāihuā since Iroh, during Sozin's Comet. But that didn't matter now, and Xai Bau didn't care if his Lotus Tile was revoked afterwards. "All White Lotus Earthbenders should assemble on the Inner Wall; the Council of Five should do the same with their remaining forces. The rest of the Order should fortify the Upper Ring and protect King Kuei, at all costs."

"Why do they need to protect that worthless King?" Zaheer looked scornful. "There's plenty of other people in Ba Sing Se who need protection more than him-"

"I agree with you. But even though Kuei's a poor ruler, he still represents order and authority for most Earth Citizens. If he falls into the hands of the Dai Li now, there's a good chance their coup will succeed. Whatever flaws the current Earth Kingdom regime may have, we can't let the Dai Li restore theirs." The old warrior gripped the baton in his belt.

Zaheer stared up at him, a curious look on his face. "What... did the Dai Li do to you? To make you hate them so much?"

After a long pause, Xai Bau laid his hand on the boy's shoulder, met his jade-green eyes. "No more than they did, to any of their other, countless victims. But... it's the reason I haven't trained anyone, since the war ended." He squeezed Zaheer's shoulder gently. "Until I met you."