Aang and his friends rest at an Earth Kingdom outpost. They are to be escorted to Omashu, where Aang intends for King Bumi to teach him earthbending. But General Fong, inspired by Aang's battle-determining actions during the Siege of the North, suggests that Aang can defeat the Fire Lord and end the war immediately by triggering the Avatar State. After many failed attempts, General Fong finally succeeds in triggering the Avatar State by faking Katara's death; Aang nearly destroys the base in anger. The spirit of Avatar Roku tells Aang that the Avatar State is a defense mechanism that empowers Aang with the skills and knowledge of all his past lives, though there is a catch: if he is killed in the Avatar State the reincarnation cycle will be broken, causing the Avatar to cease to exist. The group decides to travel to Omashu alone. Meanwhile, Zuko and Iroh are visited by Zuko's sister, Azula, who has come bearing a message from the Fire Lord, requesting their return home. Iroh is skeptical, but plays along with Zuko's enthusiasm. A guard accidentally reveals that the summons is a ruse in order to imprison Zuko and Iroh as traitors to the Fire Nation while boarding Azula's ship. They manage to escape, but are forced to become fugitives. The episode ends with Zuko and Iroh cutting off their top knots and discarding them in the river.
