Date: Monday, April 23, 2012


CHAPTER THREE

An old man climbed down the hole. He managed to find where the avatar was heading and followed. He was too far behind to catch up and he didn't attempt anymore. He'll let the avatar take care of the Dai Li while he'll look for his nephew.


"You have made yourselves enemy of the state. Take them all into custody."

The Dai Li attacked upon hearing Long Feng's order. They all split up fighting and defending themselves. Earth rose and fell. Swords and arrows clashed with rocks. A whip of water destroyed the formed earth and hit one of the men.

While on the ground bending, Toph sensed the footsteps of someone familiar. She sensed it even before and he is coming closer. She knocked out a few Dai Li before leaving them then headed out towards the old man. She knew she should focus with what is happening but she didn't and left them without notice.

The others didn't notice her disappearance since they were all focused on catching up to Long Feng that ran off to the next room. Smellerbee was the only one who noticed and followed her instead of going with the others.

"Hello there. Why are you here?" asked Toph casually.

"You're Li's uncle," said Smellerbee who appeared from behind.

"Do you know where my nephew is?" he asked with determination. It had been weeks after all since he last saw him.

"He might be here. We're trying to look for Appa. I'll help him out when we see him," said Toph understanding his worry and tried to reassure him.

"I am in your debt. I'll try finding the sky bison as well."

"Yeah. We need to get going now."

And they separated.


Aang and Jet were the only ones who managed to get inside before the doors were closed. They were ready to take him on until Long Feng said something.

"Jet, the Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai."

His eyes changed. The moment his ears heard those words, he acted all different and like how the others were.

"I accept the King's invitation," he said with a tone unlike his own.

He turned around started attacking Aang who was surprised by the sudden change of character. Aang tried calling the freedom fighter back while dodging the attacks.

The rest outside attacked the Dai Li who were conscious.


Toph along with Smellerbee looked through the cells. The path they came across was very dark so it's a good thing that Smellerbee took a torch to light their way although the earthbender really wouldn't have needed it.

"Everything looks empty," said Smellerbee as if giving up.

"To the far right, there's someone inside there," she said while pointing the direction. "You do know how he looks like, right?"

"I've seen him long enough and there's that scar he has."

"Scar? Never mind. It's not like I'll see it," said Toph dismissing the nagging feeling that she should know someone with that description.

They walked towards the cell.

"Male, height and build is similar by what you told me. It might be him but he won't look good even without the scar you said he has," said Toph.

"Why?"

"Hands and feet are chained to the walls real tight, probably bruised now besides other injuries they might have placed. His heartbeat tells me he is not feeling good physically and mentally. You did say weeks, right? He will really look bad. Stand back. I'll open the cell."

The door flew out from its place hitting the wall in front of it. Light entered the dark room making the prisoner visible.

"It's Li!" exclaimed Smellerbee. "He really looks bad. We need to get help."

The boy within the cell looked confused and lost. He didn't notice them despite the opened door until the young freedom fighter called out his name. Surprise showed on his face then fear suddenly took over.

"Who are you?" he asked nervously while shaking. "Don't come near me!" his voice changed to anger trying to hide his fear.

They may look different from the previous people who came there but he still can't trust them. He can't trust anyone. It always hurt whenever anyone came near him.

Besides the suffering of a dark room with no sun for a firebender and pain from the rarely removed the shackles that tightened to the point of bleeding and bruising, they would beat him up, try to brainwash him repeatedly making him lie and shove the food and water down his throat instead of letting him eat the food slowly and the right way. He would always feel so sick and nauseous besides being cold.

'You should just stop fighting it,' they said but he won't listen to them.

He'll never forget who he is.

He tried making himself believe that but at times he forgets. They make him forget and he hates that.

"Li, it's me Smellerbee. Don't you remember? Were you brainwashed too? Try to remember. We stole food off a ship together with Longshot and Jet," she said encouragingly.

"Li? I'm not Li. No, I'm... I can't tell you. Who are you? What do you want? Stop it. Just stop," he said looking worse. His voice was cracking although trying to be raised. He isn't Li but he can't tell them who he is.

Toph frowned at the situation.

"He is brainwashed and due to fighting it, it's messing up his mind. Stand back, I'll destroy the chains then you help him up while we find the others."

The shackles were still there but they are no longer connected to the wall. The boy fell to his knees when it was released.

This isn't good. They're going to bring him there again. They're going to make him forget again and he doesn't want that.

"Can you stand?" it was said kindly with concern. It was different but he can't trust them. He can't trust anyone.

"Stay away! I don't want to forget. I'm not who you say I am. Just stop it," he said angrily while backing away to the corner. He sounded loud and angry but it can be seen how he's slowly losing it.

"At least he can move," said Toph with a sigh.

"What do we do?"

The earthbender took a deep breath before raising her voice.

"Okay, Li. You're mind's pretty messed up right now. I know you were hurt both physically and mentally. You're in a really bad shape but we need to get going now. I would have just leaved you behind if you weren't the old man's nephew so get up now so we can catch up with the others and maybe ask Sugar queen to treat you."

"Fine, but I don't think I'll get far with these legs," he said grumpily but softer than his raised voice from awhile ago. He didn't want to admit being weak but he knew he'd fall with the strain his legs had to put up with for weeks. He still doesn't trust them or rather didn't want to trust them but he did want to get out of the place and have his wounds healed.

They helped him stand and acted as a support while they left the place.


The old man searched every cell in the west. There is no sign of his nephew. And then there was this large cell, he opened it to find the sky bison. He did say that he will try to help so he destroyed the chains with the swords he brought with him that belongs to his nephew.

The bison was weary of him at first but licked him after realizing that he wasn't there to hurt him and instead free him. He was dragged by the bison out of the cell bringing them out of the headquarters.

"I need to get my nephew back," he said still worrying how he is now.

The sky bison went on and then dropped him off. He somehow reassured the old man that his nephew will be back and safe. The old man gave a deep sigh then hoped that the blind girl and her companion who went into the other direction would find him.


Johari:Hello! Hope you like this one. Opinions are generally welcome. Constructive criticisms are appreciated for further improvement of writing. Please do tell me what you think of it. I would be really grateful and thankful if you did.

dragonwitch250, thanks for reviewing and twice at that. I must have updated already when you were reviewing so I didn't see the first one until later. Thank you so much. :)

ArrayePL, thank you & thanks for the review. Yup, poor Mushi/Iroh :( no teashop for him. It has to be that way though :) I guess this chapter answered your question somehow.

NakedKing, thanks for the review. I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Hope you like this one too. :)

rk, thank you for your review. :) really, thank you. I'm grateful by what you said.

To all those that reviewed and read the story, thank you lots and lots :) I'm happy and grateful. I was really jumping with joy when I saw that many reviewed and read the story. Thanks also to those that put this on their favorite list or story alert.

Thanks everyone, have a nice day or night depending on the time your reading this. ^_^