Summary: This story takes place just after the incident on The Boiling Rock. When Mai and Ty Lee escape from prison, will they be accepted with open arms by the Avatar as allies to end the war? Or will they be rejected for their past crimes?

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar or anything pertaining to Avatar besides the plot to this story.

Author's Note: Hope you enjoy! Reviews are greatly appreciated!

I will not bow

I will not break

I will shut the world away

I will not fall

I will not fade

I will take your breath away

~Breaking Benjamin

The Escape, Part 1

MAI

It was perhaps on my fourth day in the cell that I had decided that I needed to leave. I do not believe it was by chance that I saved not only Zuko, but friends of the Avatar. The opportunity that presented itself by the circumstances was unmistakable. Ty Lee and I were destined to join the Avatar.

I found that idea far more exciting than when I think about what would have been if I had stayed at Azula's side. Since I was rarely stimulated by many things, I saw this also as a sign of my fate. Though anything was better than staying home with my family in the city my father governed, Azula had only been the first step to a greater, much more exciting calling.

Azula was cruel and borderline insane, driven by power and her own selfish desire for greatness. Perhaps if she had spared me the torture of betraying her, I would feel guilty for turning my blades on her. And I would feel guilty about joining the enemy in destroying her.

I'd heard enough from the guards to have a vague idea where Ty Lee was being held.

The plan was simple, really. Something I was sure hundreds of prisoners had thought of hundreds of times before, but that I alone had the skill and finesse to pull off successfully.

I would trick the guard into opening my door, and simply, walk out.

I had not been stripped of my normal clothing, so that if I were to escape they would recognize me immediately. This meant that the guards had missed a few poison needles I had sewn into the sleeves when they had searched me for weapons.

Though the poison in each needle was only enough to knock its victim out for a few minutes, I had stashed them in case I was ever in a situation where I needed to end my own life.

It was something we learned at the academy to do, to end our lives for the sake our nation if we were ever caught, to prevent being forced to talk or cooperate in treasonous activities. If all the needles penetrated the skin at once, there was enough poison to kill me almost instantaneously.

Now, on my eighth day in the cell, I was prepared to enact my plan.

The guards had given me insufficient amounts of food and water. That, on top of the punishment I had suffered from Azula, had definitely taken its toll on me. However, the adrenaline that would burn through me during the course of my escape would make up for it.

''Guard,'' I said weakly, leaning up against the wall. Since my mouth was dry from dehydration, my voice cracked when I spoke. I made sure to make it look like my weight seemed to be leaning mostly on the wall, but in truth, it was all in my feet, ready to move.

The slot to view into my cell slid open with a jerk. ''What?''

''I am not feeling so well,'' I whispered, feigning such weakness that I could barely speak. ''I think I need a doctor.''

''Speak up, traitor! I cannot hear you.''

''Please,'' I breathed, ''Please.''

''Ugh,'' with a grunt, the slot slid shut, and the door clanked loudly as he turned the key to unlock my cell. He opened the door slowly, and walked inside. ''What do you want?"

He didn't wait for me to speak. His eyes roamed over me, and he laughed. ''I can't believe a weak little thing like you is in here for high treason. You don't look like you could hurt a fly.''

It was my turn to assess him. He was tall, probably well over six feet, with short-cropped hair and a wide forehead. His body was rippled with muscles, the bulge on one arm twice the circumference of my waist.

''Yet they posted such a large man to guard me. I wonder why,'' I said in perfect monotone.

His eyebrows went up, and he took a step back.

He was down the next second, as I shifted from my spot on my bed into a crouch, the needle flying from my fingers, right into the side of his neck. Just as he collapsed to his knees, I caught his shoulders, and lowered him quietly to the ground. I took the sword he had on his waist, hoping it would suffice, since I did not have a large supply of needles.

I stood from where I knelt beside the guard's unconscious body, and walked from my cell.

Author's Note: I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I will be posting the next soon. I hope Mai is not out of character? I think I am keeping to her character petty well, but it would be nice to know from my readers if I am to their standards as well. Anyways, Ty Lee will be in the next chapter! PLEASE REVIEW!