Chapter 6

Aang, while all along the way back, had given considerable thought to what his predecessor had advised him, and he had reached a conclusion: Roku was right, he needs his friends! And together they will succeed in saving Katara. Even if deep down, he still doesn't want to endanger them.

Sokka was sitting on the terrace and taking a sheet in hand, he was turning it in all dimensions and watching it carefully by rubbing his head when Aang landed and folded his stick. He had kept his promise and returned before sunset.

"-Aang! You're finally back, where have you been all this time?

"I've been to the mountaintop, it's a good place to meditate, and I talked to the Avatar Roku.

-Oh yeah? What did he tell you ?

"He told me that I need you tomorrow against Long Feng, and that I should not refuse your help and face him alone. I'm going to listen to your plan and let you come with me.

-And you needed to go to a mountain and disturb the spirit world to understand that? Since the time I was telling you we're doing this all together! And even if you had not changed your mind, we were still coming!

-Uh ... actually ...

-Oh forget it, come inside I found a brilliant plan! And more than you expected!

- Have you shown the others your plan?

-No, not yet, I waited for you!

They passed the door that led to the inside, and everyone saluted Aang, Toph gave him a blow on the shoulder, it was her way of showing affection .

"So, how was your little trip?

"- well, I went to…

-We don't have time, cut Sokka, he will tell you everything after I show you my plan.

They experimented in a circle around a table in the tearoom that Iroh had closed erlier today, all eager to discover Sokka's famous plan . The uncle, himself, served them a delicious jasmine tea. Sokka pulled out the sheet he was holding and placed it on the table.

"Here we are, that's Lake Laogai ...

They didn't let him finish, they all began to laugh at the sight of his drawing.

- This is not the time to laugh, you can't just be serious for a minute? The tone of his voice was raising more and more and showing that he was really impatient to begin, then everybody was silent.

-Go for it, Toph said, we are listening! "

For two long hours, Sokka told them every detail of his action plan, and they continued to debate for a long time, found flaws in the plan, then solutions, then any further problems and solutions. After a while, they had red eyes and a long yawn went across the room, everyone was exhausted! And they ended by declaring that the plan was perfect, and that Sokka was a pure genius!

The plan itself was simple, but it was still necessary to think about it: They knew that Katara was in the lake, and as they had at hand an exceptional master of the earth, and that he can quickly identify the location of the prisoner , they would use it! Toph would dig a tunnel and lead Sokka and Zuko to Katara's cell, meanwhile, Aang will face the Daili, and make a diversion, he will try to occupy him as long as possible and Suki and Mai will remain hidden, ready to fight. When Katara will be safe, the battle will begin, and with an avatar on hand how could they lose?

All were captured, except Aang, he was disappointed because he wanted to be the one who would save Katara, not just to create a diversion while the others would do all the job. Suddenly an idea occurred to his mind: what if Long Feng did not let Katara in his cell, what if he brings her with him? This is probably what he will do, to force Aang to obey him! The whole plan would fall to the water ... What would they do then? He decided to share his fears to his friends:

"" Well in that case ... they will be very easy to beat!

-Sokka NO! You don't understand! You don't get it ! He doesn't expect to see you, he thinks I will be alone and if you make the slightest movement, he will hurt her, he can kill her!

- Who told you that he will see us? The trick of the tunnel still works, will be so fast that this monster wouldn't even realize what is happening . "

Aang was still not convinced, he knew something was wrong, and that this plan would eventually go wrong, but Sokka looked so proud of him and the others seemed so confident,that he tought he would better remain silent for fear of passing for a paranoid.

Everyone went to his room , they tried to just close their eyes, not think about what will happen tomorrow , and sleep well to be ready for the battle.

Zuko couldn't sleep, he tried every means, even the most stupid like counting sheeps, but nothing helped, every time he closed his eyes, he saw Katara's face, and imagined himself in the middle of the battle . So he went out to the terrace which had become over time his favorite place in moments of solitude. Zuko was surprised to find Aang, he sat near him, and both began to discuss:

"- What are you doing here? , You should go get some rest for tomorrow!

"I can't! ... I am afraid of having nightmares as before Sozin's Comet, so I'd rather stay here and watch the moon, "said Aang.

"I know what you feel , I can not sleep either, I keep thinking of what will happen tomorrow.

-Me too, and in these moments, only Katara can help me!

Zuko was embarrassed, how was he going to compete with Katara, she had a gift!

-Aang Listen, I'm not very good at encouragement, but I know you're strong enough to do it, you'll see everything will be fine!

-Thanks Zuko, Aang said before getting up and going to his room.

The master of fire remained a few minutes and went to bed too, there were only a few hours before sunrise, tomorrow was the big day!