Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or dialogue from Avatar: The Last Airbender. I don't make any profit from writing this story.
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Hakoda heard a sharp whistle and then felt someone poking his back. So he could feel his back again, huh. He wanted the numbness back.
"They did a number on you, you know," said a high-pitched voice above him. "And here I thought I got it bad."
He opened his eyes to see a pair of small feet in dirty slippers. One ankle had a metal ring around it with a chain attached. He did not try to turn around and see the rest of the girl. He wasn't sure he could manage it anyway.
"Are you a pirate?" asked the girl, now poking his ribs. "I'm sure I heard someone call you a pirate. Though I'm not sure why would they put a pirate in the same cell as me. Maybe Firelord thinks it's funny," she chuckled without any real mirth.
"I'm not a pirate," answered Hakoda, his voice raspy and weak.
"You don't seem like a pirate," agreed the girl. "Pirates are supposed to be exciting. You look boring."
"Water..." he finally had to ask.
"What? Are you telling me you are from water tribes or are you asking for water?"
Hakoda groaned, then said "Both."
He was rewarded with a real laughter this time.
"You are funny," said the girl standing up. "Water tribe asking for water. It's going to make a great joke to tell my friends later. Here, you have to raise your head a little."
Hakoda managed to drink from a small metal cup she offered without spilling too much. The girl continued softly, "If I ever see my friends again anyway."
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Azula chucked another stone in the pond and watched little turtle-ducks dashing away. She glanced at Mother who smiled at her indulgently. Azula smiled back and picked up another stone. When she frowned.
"You just came to my room and it was night. How come we are here now and it's day?" she asked Mother. "And you told me you had to leave!"
"Don't worry about it, Azula. The morning came, you got up and we came here, don't you remember?"
Yes, now Azula did remember it.
"As for leaving, I decided to stay for awhile. How can I leave you when you need me so much?"
At this Azula scowled. "I don't need you! I'm all grown up now! I don't need anyone!"
Mother came and knelt before her.
"Of course you need me. Everyone needs their mother sometimes."
Azula's lip quivered. "When why did you leave me?"
"I never left you, my dear," answered Mother hugging her. "And I never will."
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Mai had to stop her eel-hound and make a camp near the coast line. Her mount would be able to cross the strait with little trouble, but it needed to rest first. She wouldn't get to the temple before either Zuko or the Avatar, but she might get there before Zuko revealed himself to the group. If only she was able to speak to Zuko first, then... Then what? Nothing. Zuko ran away and abandoned her to face the consequences. She would never trust him again.
She did not try to send a message to her uncle from the capital, and certainly not to her father. She had no access to messenger hawks and any servant loyal to her would not make it past the gates. She could probably abandon both Ty Lee and Azula and try to reach her family, but she had to admit – the Fire Lord surely had longer reach and a lot of informants. She had to hope her family was safe for now and try to contact them when she had the means.
She woke up to the sound of a twig breaking and immediately threw a knife in the direction of the sound. She heard a dull clunk, the telltale sign of a blade hitting a stone wall.
She sprung to her feet and waited. No need to waste her projectiles on an earthbender who had an advantage. If he wanted to kill or capture her he had the opportunity earlier, so he probably wanted to talk.
"Lady Mai." The speaker was a man, and a familiar one. She relaxed slightly.
"Agent Wil, what do you want?"
"We want to assist you with your mission," said another voice to the left.
"Agent Du," she acknowledged. "You both are still loyal to princess Azula?"
"Yes," both of them answered in unison.
"How do you know about my mission? And what do you have to offer me, aside from interrupting my rest?" asked Mai, sitting down and picking up an apple from her supplies. If she couldn't sleep she may as well eat.
The agents came to the clearing, both dressed in unassuming Fire Nation garb. They bowed.
"Information," said Du, answering both of her questions.
It turned out earthbender spies were the best when it came to stone buildings. And Fire Lord surely liked the sound of his own voice, because he talked to himself a lot.
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The water swirling around Azula's head finally started to glow. It faded after a few minutes and Katara slumped tiredly, but the princess' breathing became somehow easier and some color returned to her cheeks. She showed no signs of waking up though, so Aang felt it safe enough to ask Toph to rearrange the metal bindings into a more comfortable position.
He helped Katara onto Appa, then helped Toph to move Azula and then the great bison rose up and flew north so they could catch up to Sokka and the guys.
TBC