What's happening? Is someone attacking us?
It's Aang! He's in the Avatar State!
Are you okay?
Why didn't you stop them?
-No, I tried! -You let them take Appa!
Aang, stop it! We barely got out of there.
-Toph did what she could. -It wasn't enough.
-She saved us. -I don't care.
The Earth King can help once we tell him.
There's only one plan now.
Find Appa. I don't care about anything else.
We will find him. But it's like Sokka said.
Our best chance of finding him is going to the king.
I'm going to find Appa.
Don't wait for me.
Aang!
Jet couldn't make it out.
It was because of him that we got away.
Aang's right. I should've held it open longer.
You did everything you could.
Appa!
A fever is the fire of change.
If you survive it,
it burns away your old self and gives you new life.
Blue Spirit.
Huh.
-Help! Mama! -Zuko, wake up.
We need to go.
I love you so much.
No. No.
Wake up.
-Mama! Where's Dad? -Wait. No.
Wake up.
-I won't let you turn them into monsters. -Stop! Stop! Stop!
I… I want it to stop! Make it stop!
Is that what you think I am? A monster?
Where's Dad? Where's Dad? Where's Dad?
Promise me that no matter what happens, you stay together. Remember who you are.
Not again. Get us out of here! Move!
I love you so much.
Mom!
She's gone, Zuko.
She doesn't matter.
She never mattered.
You don't matter.
He is a very sensitive being.
He flinches from conflict.
You need to give him another chance. You need to nurture his instincts.
Zuko lacks strength.
He wants to help people. He wants peace and justice.
There is a greater destiny in store for both our children
than you can imagine.
They called their protector the Blue Spirit.
If our son refuses to put his younger sister in her place,
then she will take his place.
Zuzu, there are no winners or losers.
A fight, once begun, only ends when one wins…
Only those who practice courage…
He can be shaped.
He can be corrected.
-If our son refuses to put… -Stop!
…then she will take his place.
-A monster! -Where's Dad?
Compassion is a sign of weakness.
I'm sorry.
I gotta admit, the plan isn't planning like usual.
Yeah, well, Appa was a big part of it.
I know. He's an important member of the team.
He really carries us.
Aang's been out all night. Should we go look for him?
-Found him! -No.
I haven't.
Hey.
Are you okay?
No.
Let's just figure out how to see the Earth King.
Sokka was right. That's the fastest way to find Appa.
Look, Aang. About what happened--
I don't wanna talk about it.
Okay. Then let's talk about the plan.
Right.
The plan. We just need to figure out how to get through the palace guards,
the Dai Li, and the countless impenetrable walls.
Okay, so we're walking straight into a prison.
What? No.
What maniac would do that?
What do you believe you can gain from walking into this prison?
You're the one who stands to gain.
I don't stand to gain anything.
I'm just a humble servant to the Crown.
I'll indulge your charade if it makes you more comfortable.
I'm looking for a fugitive from the Fire Nation.
In exchange for your…
Sorry.
…the Earth King's assistance,
I'll provide you the names of the generals who are conspiring to discredit you.
Me?
-The cultural minister? -Yes.
Somehow they got the idea that you're a sort of shadow ruler
who commands a network of spies
to maintain a chokehold over this whole city.
And you have the names of these conspirators?
General Sung, General Situ,
Lieutenants Khettry, Kim, and Zhang.
Very well.
I will look into your accusations and let you know what I decide.
When?
It could take a few days or a few weeks.
You'll be dead by then.
You walk into this prison to negotiate,
immediately give up your only leverage,
and then hurl empty threats at me.
Is this what passes for military prowess in the Fire Nation?
A few miles from here, there are 20,000 Firebenders
who have been ordered to level the wall and burn your city to the ground
unless I tell them to stand down.
That's what we call military prowess.
Even if that were true,
our army will handle it
like it always has.
The army whose leaders I just named as traitors?
You don't really know who you're dealing with.
I would never put the security of this city at risk.
I know exactly who you are.
I can see your whole history in your eyes.
You come from nothing,
so you've had to claw and connive your way to power.
But true power,
the divine right to rule, is something you're born with.
And were you born with it?
Or were you born second best?
You see, I know who you are too.
A privileged girl,
desperate to show that she deserves
anything.
Even in this cell, I have more power than you could scrape together
in a thousand lifetimes
because yours is dependent on lies and weakness
and the whims of an absent monarch.
You forget, I control the Avatar.
And he will wipe out your army like he wiped out the armada in the North.
The Avatar is a child who can't control his power.
In defending the North, he destroyed the North.
He'll do the same to your glittering metropolis.
The last thing you want is for this to come to war.
I'm offering you a chance to expose your enemies as traitors
and save this city.
Help me find the fugitive,
give me the Avatar,
and I will ensure that you are recognized and rewarded
as the man who saved Ba Sing Se.
I do not make deals with the Fire Nation.
Everyone deals with the Fire Nation one way or another.
You're up.
Yeah.
Thank you for taking care of me.
You've done the same.
I also went by work.
I missed… three shifts,
so… I got fired.
Could you still get me a job at the tea shop?
I believe I can.
Thank you, Uncle.
Okay, how about this? Katara creates a sudden blizzard.
The guards have to go in to get their coats.
Well, then they'll know we have a Waterbender with us.
I still think disguising ourselves as pillars could work.
Pillars that move?
Disguises did work for getting into Omashu.
Okay, so then maybe we just disguise ourselves as the Kyoshi Warriors.
-I heard they're in town. -They are?
Yeah, I overheard someone talking about it while I was casing the palace.
We should find them. Maybe they can help.
There's no time. We need to figure this out now.
I've got it!
They might be expecting the four of us, but you know who they won't be expecting?
Momo.
We hide in the bushes.
We send in Momo.
Toph and Aang can earthbend above Momo so it looks like he can earthbend.
Well, lemurs can't earthbend.
Exactly. They'll be confused.
Therefore, distracted.
You guys have had all morning to come up with something,
and this is the best we've got?
This is the one time my parents could be useful.
They probably could just walk us right through the front door.
Right through the front door.
Yeah, that's what I said.
I've got it!
Okay.
Did I do this?
Sokka?
Okay.
Boom!
Genius, right?
What is that?
I can't even see it, and I already know it's bad.
I'm sure Sokka will explain it.
It's us in the casks.
-See? -Oh.
No.
Are you joking right now? Is he kidding?
I'm dead serious. This is what we do. Aang and Katara get in one cask.
Me and Toph will get in the other one.
Our amazing Earthbenders will bend in a false floor.
So we can hide under the wine.
And they'll just cart us right in.
Exactly.
Move your hand. No, your other hand.
Sorry. It's dark. I can't see anything.
Oh no! What a nightmare.
Be silent. We're approaching the palace gates.
It's not the usual palace guards. It's the Dai Li.
General Sung.
We've been expecting you.
Yes, I have an audience with the Earth King.
A gift from the Agrarian Zone.
Wine for the palace guards.
We'll take them from here.
Your officers must remain outside.
The cultural minister would like to see you.
Hey.
No one's gonna notice if only one of these ends up in the storeroom, right?
I guess your little plan worked.
Of course it did. My plans are foolproof. They always work.
Where's the other cask?
What?
Say hi!
Coming in, Lee?
Afraid of babies?
Huh?
You were staring out there.
Oh… no. Babies are afraid of me.
What do you think of the city so far?
Mmm…
It's okay, I guess.
You clearly haven't seen all the best sites.
Um…
Uh, like, where?
Well, I could show you around a little.
Okay.
Yeah.
Thank you. All right.
Uh, Mushi. How's this?
Dragon Well tea should be steeped at a lower temperature.
Otherwise, it could turn bitter.
I'll get rid of it.
No, no. We'll drink it.
Bitterness has its own lessons.
And once you get it right, you can savor how far you've come.
-Let's wait a minute to be sure. -It's clear. Let's move.
-Aang, wait. -No.
I'm tired of waiting.
Appa needs me just as much as I need him.
I know you're upset. We all do.
And we're all here, trying to help.
But you need to get it under control.
Because if you talk to the Earth King like this,
he's not gonna listen to a single word we have to say.
Jet will have died for nothing.
And we won't be any closer to finding Appa.
I'm trying.
I'm trying, okay?
I just…
I can't think straight.
I…
I miss him.
Okay? I miss him.
Aang, breathe.
Okay.
-I'm okay. -Told you they'd be here.
-Come on. We found the study. -Ahem.
Toph found the study.
Minister, I have a meeting to get to.
Whatever this is, let's make it quick.
It's interesting that you are so busy today,
when I also can't seem to locate the Avatar and his companions.
He must be busy as well.
What do you want?
A rumor has come to my attention
that the military is holding a high-level Fire Nation asset
in custody at the wall,
without informing the Crown.
This is a lie, of course,
meant to cast suspicion on your loyalty to the Earth King.
Isn't it?
Shocking.
The lies people will tell to undermine Ba Sing Se's security.
Uh, one more thing before you go, General.
The king has invited your daughter to Lake Laogai.
Where's General Sung and the king?
We're not late, are we?
I… I don't think so.
These flowers. They had them at the party.
So?
They said they came from the king's garden.
There we go.
Your Majesty?
Oh.
Yes.
I'm King Kuei.
And we need to talk to you.
Oh, yes. The Avatar.
I hear you've been doing good work in the city.
Comforting the sick. Spiritual leadership.
You're an Airbender.
Do you know the hanging gardens of the Western Air Temple?
Yeah. I've been there.
Avatar Yangchen was actually raised there.
There's a flower there,
the silver amaranth,
that changes colors throughout its blooming cycle.
I would give my kingdom for the chance to see one.
And I would love to take you there.
It's one of the most beautiful sights in the world,
but we actually have something we need to talk to you about.
A few somethings.
Serious matters, Your Majesty.
Oh.
I have people for that sort of thing.
-But if you like, I can show you around-- -We need to talk to you about the war.
Politics turns my stomach.
I haven't seen a sprite lily in a while.
You know your flora?
They're not native to the Southern Water Tribe,
but I have a friend who taught me a few things.
-Are you doing some weeding? -Yes. Necessary work, but dirty.
Hmm.
The walls don't keep the weeds out, do they, Your Majesty?
No matter how hard you might try, everything is connected.
The weeds always find a way in.
But
with the proper help,
the flowers can thrive.
We just have to pay attention.
And take action.
I understand.
I'll hear you out.
Did you know she could do that?
So are we just waiting to hear what this guy decides, or what?
Decision has been made for him. He just doesn't know it yet.
He did help me realize something though.
What's that?
What I'm supposed to do.
It's the parable of the two dragons.
When the world was young and spirits roamed free,
two dragons were born from the same egg.
Even before they hatched, they competed for food.
One emerged, large and powerful, Hageshi.
The other,
weak and small,
Nho Xiu.
Over time,
Nho Xiu learned to fend for himself,
to hunt and scrounge in the dirt,
somehow surviving.
While Hageshi was so strong, he could simply sit back
and steal whatever prey his twin had hunted.
Hageshi grew so large,
he became lord of all dragons,
whether he deserved the title or not.
And the two hated each other.
One day, Nho Xiu slaughtered a great beast.
And tired of his brother's theft, he flew to a distant cave to eat his prize.
But Hageshi still found him
and stole the food out of the mouth of his starving twin.
Sated,
Hageshi slept.
He was vulnerable.
It was Nho Xiu's moment to get revenge,
to take everything he'd ever wanted.
Nho Xiu hesitated for a moment and missed his chance.
Hageshi opened his eyes
and saw his brother standing over him with bloody intent.
Nho Xiu attacked, but it was too late.
Hageshi was ready.
He killed his brother easily.
And the smaller dragon died
full of regret that it should come to this.
I remember this one.
My mother always said this is why my sisters and I needed to share,
so we wouldn't kill each other.
Quaint.
But wrong.
Nho Xiu didn't regret hating his brother.
His only regret was not killing him while he slept.
The lesson is to strike down your enemy completely when you have the chance.
I've been sent here,
far from court, to hunt my brother.
And though he's weak, he's dangerous.
And I will not
miss my chance to kill Zuko.
Everything we need to defeat the Fire Nation is in there.
I can't believe I haven't heard any of this.
Well, I heard it from Kyoshi herself.
It was in the Spirit Library. Just trust me.
And you're proposing that before this comet comes,
we launch a major offensive on the Day of Black Sun?
With your help, Your Majesty,
we could save the world.
If this is true,
this may be the most important thing I've ever heard
and the most important decision I've ever had to make.
General Sung.
General Sung, Long Feng,
I've just heard some very upsetting news.
The fall of Omashu, an army camped outside our walls,
and a comet that will give the Firebenders extraordinary power.
General Sung can back up everything we've said.
Is what they say true?
-No. -What?
Ba Sing Se is as strong as it ever was, Your Majesty.
There are Fire Nation forces outside our walls,
but they will be easily handled.
Kyoshi scouts have captured their general
and brought him into the city as a prisoner.
The Avatar and his friends simply want to feel important
in a city that does not need them.
General Sung, what are you doing?
Your Highness.
We mustn't be too hard on the Avatar and his friends.
They're but children after all.
You can't listen to him! He lied to me, and he's lying to you!
Aang has tried for weeks to come here and tell you all of this.
And Long Feng has stopped him.
Interesting narrative,
coming from a thief.
Katara is no thief.
Oh, but she is.
The night of the party,
she stole some precious and valuable golden nettles from the palace,
taking advantage of Your Majesty's hospitality.
Since then, she has been agitating in the Lower Ring every night,
stirring tension in a typically peaceful place.
I was helping people who needed it.
If you were being so helpful,
why did you have to don a disguise and hide your actions?
If you were being so helpful,
why did you flee the scene of a riot?
And that's just the start.
Sources tell me
the Beifongs have been manufacturing war machines for the Fire Nation.
War machines that they used against the Northern Water Tribe.
War machines that they would use against Ba Sing Se.
They are traitors to the Earth Kingdom.
That's not true.
Toph didn't know anything about that until… until recently.
Lady Beifong is now in the city and has been in touch with her daughter.
Who knows what young Toph could be planning to share with her?
And this one.
This one was the last person seen
by one of the city's most prominent thinkers
before he went missing.
The Dai Li are investigating the disappearance of Professor Zei
as a possible murder.
Your Majesty, the Dai Li can't be trusted. They are loyal only to Long Feng.
Keep in mind, Your Majesty,
that these accusations are coming from a young man
who is a known collaborator with Sai,
the Fire Nation spy who concocted this whole story.
-Sai didn't-- -What?
Didn't attempt to assassinate the King of Omashu?
We can explain all of this.
You certainly do spin marvelous tales.
You see, Your Majesty,
the Avatar is in league
with a thief, a spy, and a traitor.
How could we possibly trust the Avatar
when his companions have shown themselves to be enemies of the Earth Kingdom?
Please, Your Majesty, no matter what he says about us,
it doesn't change the fact your city's in danger.
The Fire Nation is coming,
and you have the power to stand up and fight.
Please, Your Majesty, we need your help.
The world… needs your help.
Long Feng.
What should I do?
Don't ask him. He's a liar.
Where did you take Appa?
-Aang, don't. -I know it was you!
Where is Appa?
-Stay back, Your Majesty. -Aang!
Aang!
Escort the Avatar and his friends home.
Thank you, Long Feng,
for your help and your loyalty.
I am your humble servant.
But I was never told of these Fire Nation forces.
General Sung.
You said that part of the story was true. Did you not?
Yes. I'll plan a visit for you to check on our forces--
General Sung,
please send me the most recent action reports from the wall.
Yes, Your Majesty.
And in the future,
notify me immediately and directly
of any threats to our borders.
Whatever loose hold you have on the city,
it's slipping away.
Hey, we'll come up with a new plan.
We'll figure it out.
A new plan?
It's over. We lost.
Don't say that.
And it's all your fault.
Me?
Everything was going great up until Long Feng told the king
what you've been doing at night.
I took those nettles to help a sick kid.
Everything that I did was to help people.
Well, it didn't help us, did it?
Back off, Aang. We would've said something if it was any of your business.
You told her about this and not me?
She didn't tell me. I felt her leaving the house at night.
So you both lied?
No!
Maybe you would've felt it too if you had focused on your earthbending
instead of running around with Long Feng.
-So much for being there for each other. -Don't even start.
When did you find out her parents were building weapons for the Fire Nation?
Hey, I don't have anything to do with them anymore, so it doesn't even matter.
It matters.
How long has your family been in business with the Fire Nation?
Do they build warships for them?
Did they build the ships that came to Wolf Cove?
Did they build the ships that brought Firebenders
that burned down our village and murdered my mother?
The ones that drove our father to abandon us?
Did they build those ships?
How could you not have told me?
I didn't even think about it.
You never do.
Wow.
I thought that you guys understood that I am not my family.
Are you sure?
Because it kind of sounds like you talk to them all the time.
-What? -Is your mother in town?
-Yes, but-- -You didn't think we should know that?
I haven't spoken to her.
All she did was send me a letter to tell me that she was here.
Was this before or after you found out that she was a war criminal?
Are you kidding?
I'm not a war criminal.
I've been here,
helping the Avatar get ready to fight the Fire Nation.
-Where have you been? -Good question.
Maybe she was starting a riot.
I didn't start a riot.
Some people were attacking innocent Fire Nation defectors.
-They were-- -Whoa! You were defending Fire Nation?
Okay. Okay, so it's fine for you.
I was defending innocent people.
It doesn't even matter what I was doing.
We know the reason this all fell apart is Long Feng.
I knew that guy was no good from the moment that we met him.
How was I supposed to know? He was helping us.
Obviously, he wasn't.
-What about the people you trusted? -Professor Zei was a real winner.
Oh yeah, like you did any better with General Sung.
-You said she was on board. -She was.
Then what happened?
What do you think?
-Long Feng got to her. -Stop blaming me.
I told you you had to stay calm.
-I warned you. -Yeah.
Yet you had to go and fly off into the Avatar State anyway.
We'd already lost
after the Earth King heard what you three had been doing.
It's like none of this matters to you.
You all act like my friends,
like you understand the pressure I'm under, but you don't.
I have to save the world.
And you can all pretend to get it, but you don't have any idea.
The only one who cared was Appa.
And he's gone.
Because you lost him.
Because I had to save you!
You know what?
I don't need this.
I may be blind,
but you guys don't see me at all.
-Hey. -Go ahead.
Leave.
It's not like I need you anymore anyway.
-You're just gonna let her go? -You can go too if you want.
Unless you wanna sit around and make another plan that won't work.
No, my plan worked fine.
We just got beat.
And that's not on me. That's on you.
So much for Team Avatar, huh?
Sokka.
You said you were with me.
I've always been with you.
I do everything that I can to help you.
No. You're off doing your own thing.
You don't care.
Where were you today?
I had to carry the whole team because you were so distraught.
It was because I made everyone focus on their jobs
that we got in front of the king in the first place.
And that worked really great.
Didn't it?
You know what?
Carry yourself from now on.
I can explain.
You don't have to justify your choices to me.
I want to anyway.
I'm not doing this out of anger or for vengeance.
I'm doing this because I want to help people.
And
I'm doing this for myself.
Zuko.
I'm glad you brought me here.
You're a good man.
Can I help you?
I was hoping to find a friend who still clings to the ancient ways.
I am Iroh.
Dragon of the West.
I come to offer my services.
But you knew I was here, didn't you?
The Dragon of the West is a cold-blooded killer.
He ordered the burning of countless innocents,
the slaughter of those who would resist us
and any who would oppose what our great nation was doing.
I'm not that man anymore.
You cannot escape the Dragon.
You and he are one and the same.
Those actions are your actions,
no matter how long you run from them.
I served under the Dragon.
I deserted the Dragon.
I left a regiment leaderless.
Many of those I abandoned perished before the retreat was ordered.
One of them was named Lu Ten.
The Dragon would consume me in the fire of vengeance.
What will this old man do?
I ask your forgiveness
for the things I ordered you to do.
I forgive you.
Seconded?
-Aye. -Aye.
Welcome, Iroh,
to the White Lotus.
There's work to be done.
Toph!
Hi, Mom.
You.
Hi again!
I really messed everything up,
huh, Momo?
I failed
everyone.
I had to feel everything
so that I could feel nothing,
which is the key to feeling everything.
Appa.