The Earth King


 * This article is about an episode. You may be looking for the political position.

Writer:	John O'Bryan

Director: Ethan Spaulding

Guest Stars: Clancy Brown (Long Feng), Marc Graue (Xin Fu), Phil LaMarr (The Earth King), Jim Meskimen (General How)

Synopsis
Less than an hour after the events of "Lake Laogai," Aang and his friends are on a small island, recovering and discussing what they should do. Katara and Toph both want to leave Ba Sing Se, as they have found Appa and thus have no reason to remain there. On the other hand, Sokka wants to stay to inform the Earth King of all that is taking place within Ba Sing Se, as well as the approaching solar eclipse, since this was their entire reason for heading towards Ba Sing Se in the first place. Aang agrees with him. Ultimately, the others agree to do so, and all four ride Appa back to Ba Sing Se's upper ring, and manage to break into the palace, tearing their way through the Royal Earthbender Guards despite a strong defense.

Meanwhile, Iroh and Zuko arrive back at their apartment after their escapade at Lake Laogai. Iroh congratulates his nephew on freeing the Avatar's bison, stating that it was the right thing to do. However, Zuko does not respond to this comment; instead he tells Iroh that he doesn't feel right and then collapses, unconscious, to the ground, Iroh rushing to his aid.

At the palace, Aang and his friends finally reach the Earth King's throne room, where they are encountered by Long Feng and many Dai Li, who stand before the Earth King as a last defense. They attempt to inform the King about the war, of which he knows nothing, and Long Feng's conspiracy, but have difficulty due to their position as well as his trust in his adviser. Long Feng attempts to arrest them, until the Earth King realizes that Aang is the Avatar; he then decides it best to at least hear out Aang and his friends after seeing his pet bear, Bosco, acting friendly towards the child.



Aang goes on to explain the various events going on that the Earth King is unaware of: a war outside Ba Sing Se's walls, Long Feng and the Dai Li's conspiracy, the imprisonment of Appa, and the brainwashing of Jet and countless other individuals. Long Feng denies all the charges brought against him, even claiming that he has never even encountered a flying Bison. As the Earth King ponders over the apparently unlikely allegations, Long Feng whispers in his ear that Aang and his friends are part of an "anarchist cell" attempting to overthrow him. The Dai Li bind the group with earthbending, and The Earth King orders the group to be detained, but Sokka has an epiphany and, with Aang's Airbending, exposes a bite mark that Long Feng received from Appa in their encounter at Lake Laogai. Long Feng claims it's a birth mark, but Aang then produces Appa to compare the mark to the bison's teeth. The Earth King is unconvinced of the larger accusations of conspiracy in the city, but expresses a willingness to investigate more closely into the matter. Long Feng frowns sourly at all this, and shuffles off quietly with his Dai Li.

Meanwhile, Iroh watches over Zuko, whose condition appears only to be worsening. He is feverish and incredibly thirsty. At the same time, Aang's friends and the Earth King ride Ba Sing Se's train to Lake Laogai. The Earth King states that he has lived his life in isolation, having never been outside the palace before in his life. When they arrive at Lake Laogai, they find that the entrance to the subterranean facility, and likely the entire facility itself, has collapsed. They decide to show the Earth King the outer wall, which was earlier penetrated by the Fire Nation's drill, but the King has had enough and decides to return to the palace. Aang quickly convinces him to continue the investigation, however, by letting him ride on Appa.

Zuko dreams and hallucinates: in the first dream, he sees himself as the Fire Lord. Two dragons, one blue, the other red, coil around his throne and whisper advice to him. The blue dragon, speaking in Azula's voice, tries to persuade "Fire Lord" Zuko to rest, while the red dragon, in Iroh's voice, tells him not listen to the blue dragon and to instead "get out of here." The scene then crumbles around Zuko and the blue dragon attacks, fading to darkness as Zuko sees images of his vanished mother calling out for help. In both dreams, he is missing his scar.



The Earth King arrives at the outer wall, and is shocked to see the remains of the Fire Nation's drill leading right up to and through Ba Sing Se's outer wall. Long Feng makes a hurried attempt to pass the drill off as part of a construction project, but the Earth King is clearly unconvinced and orders the Dai Li to arrest Long Feng. The two Dai Li agents accompanying Long Feng share a conspiratorial glance, and then bind Long Feng's arms with metal manacles. When they return to the palace, he also agrees, after some persuasion to support Sokka's plan to invade the Fire Nation on the day of the solar eclipse (dubbed by Sokka The Day of Black Sun), when the Fire Nation will be helpless.

The Earth King's top generals, the Council of Five, raid Long Feng's office and discover files about every person in Ba Sing Se, including Aang and his friends. Included is the note from Guru Pathik that was attached to Appa's horn prior to his capture, informing Aang that he can teach him information about his powers, and even how to control the Avatar State; a letter from Toph's mother, saying she is in the city and wants to meet her daughter; and an intelligence report giving the location of Southern Water Tribe warriors led by Hakoda, Sokka and Katara's father.

At Iroh and Zuko's apartment, Iroh informs his nephew that he is going through a spiritual crisis because letting Appa go went so strongly against his self-image. Iroh tells Zuko that he is going through a phase of metamorphosis that will be a hard toll on him, but that in the end he will emerge as the person (the "beautiful prince," as Iroh says) he is truly meant to be.

Elated by the news they have all just received, Aang and his friends try to decide what actions to take. Katara suggests, albeit reluctantly, that the group split up. Aang initially objects, but, finding no other reasonable course to take, all of them agree. Sokka, however, sadly states that he will stay in the palace, as the Earth King will need guidance in the days to come. Katara quickly cuts him off, knowing that her brother's desire to meet their father is greater than her own, and states that she will stay with the Earth King instead. Thus their actions are decided- Aang drops off Sokka with Hakoda's group before proceeding to the Eastern Air Temple on Appa, Toph will go to meet her mother, and finally Katara will stay behind to assist the Earth King. The next morning, Aang and Sokka prepare to make their journey. Before departing, Aang attempts to tell Katara his true feelings for her, but is interrupted at the most untimely of moments by Sokka. The Earth King, while bidding farewell to Aang and Sokka, receives word that a group of Kyoshi warriors will be arriving. Sokka, in a moment of excitement, realizes that the group must include Suki, and falls off Appa. He quickly recovers, and vouches that the Kyoshi warriors are strong and trustworthy allies. The Earth King responds that he will welcome them with open arms. Katara hugs Aang and kisses him on the cheek in farewell, getting a blush from the Avatar in return. Toph expresses a rare moment of compassion for her friends, and all four engage in a group hug (Sokka reluctantly) before the boys take off.

Zuko awakens from his dreams, and, seeing that Iroh is asleep, goes to the bathroom to splash some water on his face. When he looks up at the mirror, he is shocked to see himself without his scar, replaced by the shaved head and blue arrow tattoos of an Airbender, making him sharply resemble Aang. Zuko then wakes up-the entire sequence has been another dream. He reaches up and touches his scar, as if to assure himself that the blemish is still there.



Aang and Sokka make their way over the plains surrounding Ba Sing Se on Appa, convinced that things are finally going positively for them. However, back in the city, the circumstances take a suddenly negative turn. In prison, a Dai Li agent delivers Long Feng his meal, but also quietly reassures that the organization retains loyalty to him, not the King. Meanwhile, Toph goes to meet her mother, entering an upper-ring building that she finds empty. She enters, but only suspects trickery at the last minute, and is captured in a metal coffin. Master Yu and Xin Fu emerge from the shadows and prepare to return Toph to the Bei Fong family so that they may retrieve their reward. Afterwards, the Kyoshi Warriors arrive before the Earth King, who formally welcomes them. Unknown to the king, however, they are actually Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee, disguised in Kyoshi Warrior garments and face paint.

Series Continuity

 * This is the first time in the series a battle takes place in the beginning of a chapter. This also happens in "The Southern Raiders".

Goofs

 * When Aang mentions that Long Feng kidnapped Appa to blackmail him, Long Feng states that he thought that Sky Bisons were extinct. However, this is an error since he is trying to convince the Earth King that there is no war.  So, if the war doesn't exist, the airbenders should still be alive and the Sky Bisons shouldn't be extinct.