Chapter 5

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Chapter 5 I need time to think, to plan. We failed at Ba Sing Se, and I have no intention of returning to the Fire Nation with news of another failure. My father gave me far more leeway than he ever gave Zuko, but he is not a patient man. I left Ba Sing Se feeling a little depressed, but immediately felt better when, while traveling through the Earth Kingdom, we came upon more of the fur from the Avatar's beast. Odd that the bison is so far from Ba Sing Se—it must be separated from the Avatar. All at once I feel inspired. We will finally get the Avatar, and I will not have to waste any energy seeking him out: If I can capture his beast, the Avatar will come to me. We followed the trail of bison fur into a thickly wooded area. It led us to a forest stream, where we eventually came upon three girls dressed in bright, colorful ceremonial costumes, standing in the stream bathing the Avatar's bison. This search couldn't have been any easier! I fired a bolt of lightning to announce our arrival. It split a tree and startled the girls. The bison growled and snarled, but I could smell its fear. I

waved a handful of its fur in the air. "My, my, you're easy to find," I said. "It's really astounding that my brother hasn't captured you yet." The beast roared as the girls struck warrior poses— with fans! "Who are you, the Avatar's fan girls?" I asked. "If you're looking for the Avatar, you're out of luck," one of them said. "That's okay, any friend of the Avatar is an enemy of mine," I replied as I fired a flaming blast at the girl, but the bison slammed the water with his tail, sending up a huge wave that extinguished the fire before it reached her. While Mai and Ty Lee fought the other two girls, I launched a series of fiery attacks at the beast, and this time I could see fear in his eyes. "Afraid of fire, I see. That's good, you should be," I said, before creating a ring of fire around him. Now the bison was truly terrified. But one of the warriors doused the fire with mud from the stream. Now the animal had a way out. "Go, Appa!" she shouted to the bison. "Get out of here! You have to find Aang. We'll be okay!" The beast took to the sky. I turned my attention to this warrior, and knocked her off her feet with a leg sweep. I learned that these

girls were warriors from Kyoshi Island—and quickly a plan took shape in my mind. Ty Lee, Mai, and I returned to Ba Sing Se dressed as Kyoshi warriors. I was amazed at the warm reception we were given. The guards at the outer wall threw open the gates and welcomed us. An elaborately woven carpet was rolled out leading up to the palace. It was a little infuriating that Kyoshi warriors would garner such a welcome, but I will not complain just yet. It's strange to think that all along I had only thought in terms of bigger and better weapons, of more complicated schemes to capture the Avatar. Yet all it takes is the right dress and makeup to open the door to the throne of the Earth Kingdom. And when all is said and done, that's exactly where I'll be seated. The fancy carpet led directly to the king's throne. He stood as we approached. We paused before him and bowed respectfully. "In our hour of need, it is with the highest honor that I welcome our esteemed allies, the Kyoshi warriors!" he announced to rousing cheers and applause from the gathered throng. I bowed again and spoke softly. "We are the Earth

King's humble servants." Following a formal welcoming ceremony, we joined the king in his throne room. There, he filled us in on the latest goings-on in Ba Sing Se. "It's been a difficult week. My most trusted adviser, Long Feng, and his Dai Li agents tried to take control of Ba Sing Se from me." Tried? I believe we will have more luck than they did. "It's terrible when you can't trust the people who are closest to you," I said politely. "But there is good news," added the king. "The Council of Generals is meeting to plan an invasion of the Fire Nation this summer—on the day of a solar eclipse, when Firebenders are at their weakest!" Ah, that's their plan! All Firebenders dread the Day of Black Sun. It only comes every few years, but its effects are devastating. And while this news is shocking, I do not allow it to change my expression. Stupid Earthbenders; their plan will never come to pass—now that I am aware of their intentions. The king has also foolishly told me all I need to know in order to successfully overthrow him. The key is the Dai Li. They are the elite members of an agency that keeps order in Ba Sing Se. I will gain control of them and set up a coup from within. And the delicious part is that the king won't even know

who is taking over his throne! Silly Earth King, you have handed the Fire Nation the ammunition it needs for its final victory. I must avoid eye contact with Mai and Ty Lee. They wear their emotions on their faces more overtly than I do. And I can't risk having the king suspect anything. "Really? Now that sounds like a fascinating and brilliant plan," I replied with a smile. We were led to the palace's most beautiful guest chambers, where I presented my plan to Mai and Ty Lee. "We have been given an extraordinary opportunity, girls. The chance to conquer Ba Sing Se." I can see that I have shocked them. They are loyal companions and fine soldiers, but they lack any capacity for thinking beyond what is right before their faces. "I thought we just wanted to capture the Avatar," Mai replied. "Why settle for the Avatar when we can have the whole Earth Kingdom? For one hundred years we have tried to break into Ba Sing Se from the outside. But now we are here, inside, and we can take the city by ourselves."