Author's Note: I am Sooo sorry about the delay for this, this chapter was kicking my butt.I have so many ideas but most of them won't really work until later in the story though... I'd Also like to take the time here to thank ZarosKnight and Invisible Firebender for the reviews. normally I'd respond to them personally but couldn't find the time. And thanks to those who added this story to their alerts or favorites. anywhoo here we go...

The Fall

Part 1: Summer

Chapter 2: Zuko

He liked to think of himself as a reasonable man. Yes, the things he wanted and things anyone should really have were well within reason. Really, he never asked for this war, nor did he really want it to exist in the first place. Really most people wouldn't. He also just wanted his family, who was tragically separated again, because of this war. His Mother killed in the war, Father, prisoner of The war, himself, prisoner of the war. All that is left is his sister, the only one with their freedom still. "She had better use it well." he thought. "to honor all of us." for the last few hours he had been making amends with himself. He honestly believed he was to die very soon, saying his last words to them... If they were to be able to hear him. Oh, he was going to miss them. Although he accepted his fate. A reasonable decision really, no man would want to leave the earth with regrets. A man of reason, that's who he was, reasonable, sarcastic and meat loving. He was to go into the fire nation military, involuntarily of course. Sent straight to the front lines as the quelled the last of the earth kingdom, rebels mostly. He could respect that, rebelling. He just couldn't imagine himself fighting those he had been fighting for, for so long. It was either kill or be killed at this point. He could get lucky and run away, maybe even get captured by the rebels. Although Sokka himself isn't a lucky person. If only he could talk to his friends, one last time. There he stood in an open hangar ready to be taken To some other location. To make this entire situation worse, this is all Playing into Azula's plans. The gang would come for him, but he would not be there. Only Azula. He just prayed to Yuethey wouldn't meet the same fate as he, himself did. He isn't dumb, he knows this will happen, but he just doesn't know the outcome. Reasonable enough really, don't want to count your turtle-ducklings before they hatch. He still couldn't believe he was going to go like this. He always pictured himself going down while giving his enemy hell, looking them straight in the eye. "there has got to be a way out of this..." he mentally told himself. Then it dawned on him... He may be able to escape, but it'd be all about timing... It would have to be random, not premeditated. He'd have to strike the iron while it was hot. That is if a spontaneously convenient happening were to occur... Not entirely likely, but it's all he had. His thought were stopped by the deafening hum of a colossal war balloon. The docking platform lowered and he was promptly led into the beast's interior.

"Finally! Land!" Toph exclaimed as she collapsed onto the earth. It was odd... Hearing someone sounding normal, let alone someones voice after going so long without what now seemed like a luxury. It was more odd than it should have been. Considering this pretty much had developed into a routine whenever they chose to travel by Appa, which was most of the time. If she had thought about it, she wouldn't have said it. Aang and Katara just stared at her for a second. They then realized what they were doing and began to unpack, leaving a palpably awkward atmosphere. "Why don't we talk anymore?" Toph asked quietly. She heard the ruckus of material shifting from Appa stop.

Katara exhaled "What do you want to talk about Toph?" she asked in what sounded as an exsasperated and maybe rather annoyed tone.

"...I-I don't know... really..." Toph said, The awkwardness no longer like an atmosphere but more like an unseen physical presence looming over them. "Do you want to talk about...?"

"No." Katara cut Toph off. "I don't want to think about that."

"You know that won't get him back." The tension eased somewhat to the fact that the conversation was running more smoothly.

"I-I know! It's just... too hard right now..." Katara said, her voice wavering and shaking. If she were actually crying, Toph wouldn't know. Katara was still on Appa. getting the last of the things off of him.

"We're going to have to talk about this some time you know... The longer we wait the worse this will get." Toph said walking away from the bison. She heard them speaking to each other but was so far away from the two she couldn't make out their words. With quick arm movements two thin blocks of earth came from the ground and formed a tent-like shape. She threw her bag down inside and laid down. deciding to think.

"Sokka... Why do you have to be so stupid? Why didn't I stay with you?" she thought these things but knew the answers to the questions."Where's Suki?" He yelled at Azula. "Where are you keeping her?" "Yes, he loved Suki, and she didn't want to stay and hear him worry about some other girl... That wasn't me"she thought to herself, she put some of the blame on herself for not being there for him, and abandoning him when he would need the most help. If she were there then maybe this whole mess wouldn't be as much of a mess. Sokka would be here to come up with a new plan, he was smart, and that was something she and everyone else loved about him. "I'm sorry Sokka..." she said in a pitiful voice. Her evaluation of past events were interupted by Katara. "Toph!" she yelled out in a panicked voice. "We're in trouble!"

"What in the world do you think your doing here?" Katara's voice, wavering in angry spikes of earthquake like vocal fury.

Toph ran up to them "What's going on? Who is this?" she noticed Katara in an offensive stance, probably ready to bend at him.

"Please! I just want to help!" Zuko put his hands up defensively.

"Yeah, help yourself maybe..." Katara's snapped at him, "... How stupid do you take us for? Or maybe you've changed again but for real this time?" Katara said unrelentingly and sarcastically bashing at Zuko, who in turn awkwardly began to rub the back of his neck in embarrassment.

"I-I have changed!" he exclaimed desperately.

"Oh really? How can we trust you? We've done that before but that obviously was a mistake!" Katara furiously retorted.

"I can help you..."

"And how could you possibly do that?" Katara interrupted.

"I can teach the Avatar to firebend and I may be able to find your brother..." Katara stood flabbergasted. Was this too good to be true? There's probably many prisons or other holding facilities all over the world for war captives. She felt Toph tug on her sleeve.

"He's being sincere." She whispered to her. "Maybe we should take a vote?" She suggested. Katara had a conflicted look on her face. She really hated Zuko, Toph could tell by the way her body reacted to his presence but this could be the only lead as to Sokka's whereabouts, not only that but they also could get someone to teach Aang to firebend, something very important to their cause. To her the pros out weighed the cons. "I say we should let him help us... What do you guys think?"

He sat in his new cell. Now mobile off to Spirits knows where. He'd have to get out of here, escape without his friends and with very limited resources. Maybe he could take this giant metallic monstrosity over or destroy it somehow. He did it to that drill he could probably do it again... He'd just need a Sokka way of doing it, for example, NOT waterbending. He'd have to keep a close look at some things. Monitor how this thing works... Luckily he has some of an idea, he had helped in the development of another version of the war balloon, although not as enormous or metallic. Perhaps this plan will work better than waiting for a random opportunity. Although that he may have to carry out that plan if he runs out of time. Sokka felt horrible about the monstrous things he would have to do just to survive. It's not that he was afraid of dying, he just felt that there would be so much for him to do to help end this war. Not like he wanted to for the pride, but for the good of everybody. There he remained in his cell thinking, plotting, to slip by. desperately hoping his demise would be prolonged to some time in the far, far future.

Author's Note: Also, again, I feel obliged to opologize for this. Ugh... I hope to update more frequently than this. Anyway... And does anyone wonder how they'll react to Zuko, I mean I'm still unsure as to how I'll do this part.

anyway I hope you enjoyed this installment, but regardless of liking it or not a review would be very nice. And I plan on responding to reviews personally. You may feel free to make suggestions too. I may consider it. ZarosKnight is proof of this. So yeah...