After some talking it over, The Hunt (minus an injured Halaku and pregnant Nanashi) joined forces with Ozai's Angels in order to corner the gAang in Ba Sing Se. Using a series of underground tunnels built by earthbenders for the Galgori leading into Ba Sing Se, the newly allied group entered the great fortress of a city and set their plan in motion.

Azula, with Toph and Shijin's earthbending help, manages an audience with Long Feng, the force behind Ba Sing Sei and it's police force, the Dai Li. Jun, Yuan, Jiao, and Kenji spend their days in leisure, while Mai and Ty Lee stick close to the Princess.

It is a fateful day when the Avatar's flying lemur falls into their clutches. A devious Azula, now in cohorts with the Dai Li, gives the hapless Momo to the city's Zoo for nothing but the assurance that the creature will not be given to anyone, no matter what their story. She also instructs the frightened keeper to inform her if anyone asks for the creature. He agrees.

Some time passes, and things begin to happen very quickly. The zookeeper sends word to Azula that a boy with a blue arrow on his head had begged him for the lemur. Also, Jun sent word that a certain red-haired traitor, along with her brother and uncle had set up a tea shop in Ba Sing Se's lower ring. Azula knew that with Zuko and Iroh in the city, Karena and the baby were not far behind.

With the help of the Dai Li, Azula captures the gAang, all at once. Azula instructs the Dai Li to wait until the Avatar went out on his own before capturing his friends; when Aang went to the zookeeper to beg for Momo again, the Dai Li struck, taking the gAang off to jail. As they're being dragged away, the whole lot screaming at Azula, the Princess writes out a note to Aang, telling him it was her, and to meet her at the palace.

Aang returns empty-handed, and finds the teashop bereft of life, a single piece of parchment on the table. Reading the note, the Avatar becomes furious and sets out for the palace.

Meanwhile, in the jail cell, Toph "watches" as Azula mocks her captives; when Karena began screaming, she shifted and realized that the Princess was taking the woman's baby. A bit of her is touched, and she feels terrible for taking part in the whole mess. Waiting for Azula to be well out of vibration range, she metalbends the bars open and begins to lead them to the Galgori Tunnels.

Unfortunately, they are caught mid-escape as Toph is leading them to the Galgori tunnels. Azula smirks, and sends the Dai Li to attack the gAang and the Hunt. Jun is upset that Toph interfered, and upset at Azula for breaking their pact, but fights valiantly nonetheless. The gAang and the Hunt make a temporary truce to fight the hordes of Dai Li; the damage is staggering. Shijin and Kenji are dead, and Yuan severely injured. The gAang's troubles aren't as tragic, but are by no means any less. Karena, having given birth to baby Nikuro hardly two month's prior, is quickly weakened; Katara is holding her own, but barely. The others work together to try and stay alive.

Just when all hope looks lost, Aang comes in, lead by Toph. He enters the Avatar state, but unfortunately is struck in the back by Azula before the process is complete. Toph, with the help of the other earthbenders, summons enough power to cause an unstoppable cave-in.

Much to Karena, Zuko, and Iroh's distress, they are forced to leave baby Nikuro in Azula's possession. The gAang --unconcious Aang carried out by Lakano-- accompanied by The Hunt, escaped through the tunnels just before the way back is completely caved in.

Once on the surface again, The Hunt --now only Toph, Jun, and Jiao-- regroups and calls off the temporary truce, leaving the gAang to tend to their wounds. Katara, Zuko, Sokka, Iroh, Karena, and an unconscious Aang fly of on Appa, while Hatsuharu, Kanea, Quan-Li, Akita, Kei, and Lakano agree to meet them elsewhere.