Chapter 6: Imprisoned

"Zuko!" I called as I boarded the ship, if I was going to get Suna's father out of jail I wasn't going to leave this city on this ship. "Zuko!"

"Aren't you supposed be in your room?" He accused. He was leaning on the doorway at the end of the deck.

"I know. But you know how much I hate being locked up, and don't blame me, Uncle's the one who let me out." Zuko rolled his eyes at the mention of Uncle. He walked over and gently put his hand on my shoulder. "At least this time you're here in time for us to leave."

"Yeah about that…" I couldn't look him in the face. "I'm not going with you." There I said it.

"What!" He sounded shocked. I still refused to look him in the eye, but he forced me to by holding my chin. "I thought you said you wanted to be here?"

"I do!" unintentionally shouting at his face, batting him away from me. "It's just that I met these people in town, and one of them, their father was put in prison just because he used to be the mayor, and I promised I'd get him out."

"And how do you expect to do that!" He yelled. I didn't answer. "You don't have an actual plan do you? You never do! You don't think about these things before you do them. You think you can just do whatever you want without consequences, but you can't!" He took hold of my wrists, shooting pain into my left arm. "You don't know how to really bend and you aren't the best fighter, what do you think you can do?"

"Ow, Zuko, you're hurting my wrists." I complained. He looked down on them, just noticing the bandages on my arm.

"What happened?" Suddenly he was worried about me.

"I got burnt, Ok? And it really hurts." It really hurt… it hurt… Oh, my…How did I not notice this before? Nana was right, I should be confused. "Zuko it really hurt. It hurt!" he looked at me as if I had gone insane.

"Yeah, I know the feeling."

"No Zuko, you don't get it, it hurt me. It's not supposed to hurt."

"What are talking about?" He came behind me, trying to calm down because I had started pacing back and forth mumbling to myself.

"This is supposed to be a dream Zuko! I shouldn't feel pain. And if I did, since I did, it means that this isn't a dream." He grabbed me by the shoulders, keeping me in place as he studied my face.

"Tell me what you mean." And I did, I was the most honest I have ever been since I got here. I told him about how I was from a different world or dimension or something and how I was skiing and crashed into a cave and was knocked out as I fell through a hole. I told him that when I woke up I was in the middle of nowhere in the South Pole and rescued by the Avatar. I told him how I had thought that this was all a dream, based on stories where I'm from(I didn't mention TV because he doesn't know what that is).

"Do you believe me, or do you think I'm insane?" I asked.

"I don't know." He had been silent the whole time. "It would explain your unusual hair color though."

"It doesn't matter anyway." I said, "I'm leaving now."

"You can't." He looked determined to make me stay. "Not after telling me that. Not with that wound."

"I'll be fine." But I couldn't even convince myself of that. "I made a promise and I'm not going to break it." I turned and ran off the deck onto the port. Zuko was calling me back, but I ignored him. I ran all the way back to the hole where Suna and the others waited.

"You're back. Where did you go?" Min asked.

"I just had to get rid of something." I turned to Suna, "Now show me where this prison is."

The prison was meant exclusively for non-benders, but by the looks of it, it also temporarily held earthbenders too. The tower itself was made entirely out of metal, but it was surrounded by giant rocks.

"Which one of you is the earth bender?" I asked Min, Chan, and Suna, but they all shook their heads as if saying not me. "Oh, come on. One of you had to make that cave. I doubt it came about naturally."

"Our friend Shan was the earth bender, but he got caught and sent to a prisoner ship." Min said sadly.

"So how are we going to get in again?" Chan asked still skeptical of my plan and trying to change the subject for his sister.

"More importantly, how are we going to get out?" At least Suna had some faith in me.

"The getting in part is easy. Getting out, that'll be more difficult, don't know yet." I think I crushed all the faith Suna had in me. "Anyway, there isn't any 'we' in this. I'll get your dad out without any help Suna. I promised."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Chan said, "We're a team. And this is about Suna's dad. We're not gonna let some strange new girl do what we should be doing."

"Well, too bad Chan." I said stubbornly, taking off my scarf and wrapping it about my waist."Just be sure to wait at that rocky hill over there." I said, pointing to a hill behind the prison. I looked back to the prison; the guard that had burned me earlier was there. I suppose I should be more afraid of him, but I wasn't. I only saw opportunity. "See ya guys later." I waved away their protests. I jumped out from behind the rocks, standing in the middle of the light of the sunset.

"Hey, citizens aren't allowed to visit the prison." He said as I walked up, and then he noticed my blond hair and remembered who I was. "You. You're under arrest!" he called the other guards to bring shackles.

I suppose the inside of the prison was standard: metal bar cells, with beds hanging on the wall, and a pot to go to the bathroom in. There weren't that many prisoners here, that was a bit surprising, but I guess the majority of the prisoners are benders like Shan and therefore sent to metal prison ships.

Shit! I forgot to learn anything about Suna's dad. I don't even know his name. I'm starting to feel really stupid right about now. I look side to side at the passing cells to see if I can notice any similarities between the men in here and Suna. I can't tell for most of them. The majority are too sad and sullen, hidden away in their cell. I'm prepared to give up when I'm put into my cell. The guard is going back towards the front of the prison for his guard duty when a prisoner speaks up.

"That girl," His voice was hoarse, like he hadn't spoken in a long time, "was that my daughter?" I was confused, I don't look anything like anyone's daughter around here, and it's not like the lighting is too terrible. Anyway, the guard didn't say anything to the prisoner, opting to ignore him and carry on. "Suna!" The man yelled his voice cracking. "Is that you Suna!"

I wanted to reply back, but the guard had rounded back and told the man to be quiet, that any more yelling or loud noise would result in punishment and the man became silent. I still smiled though, at least now I knew who I was breaking out.

I hate this prison. The food's terrible. The bed hurts my back. I can hardly move around in this tiny cell. It's boring. I can feel my burned arm throbbing, because there is absolutely nothing to distract me. And the worst thing is that I have to pee in a bucket. I'm not sure how long I've been in this awful place, hours probably, but it feels like days.

Either way I'll be moved from this cell sometime soon.

Apparently, since I'm a waterbender and not a non-bender, I have to be transferred to a proper prison that can 'accommodate' me. It's obvious these guys don't know how to deal with a waterbending prisoner, they keep giving me water without restraining me. I'm fine with that.

Anyway, the move will be the perfect time for me to break out Suna's dad.

"The girl is over here."

"Great. I've been looking everywhere for her, she is quite troublesome." Oh, no, I know that voice. The guard came up and unlocked my cell. Zuko stepped in. "Leave us."

"But… Prince Zuko—" I took this moment to use whatever waterbending skills I did have to stealthily steal the guard's keys.

"No buts! Leave us alone to speak privately." Zuko ordered. The guard appeared flustered, like he wanted to protest. But whether he wanted to point out that even if he left we still wouldn't be in private or that it was against regulations to leave us he still went.

"What are you doing here?" I sounded annoyed.

"Helping you, because obviously you've only planned on how to get locked up with all the other prisoners." He whispered.

"Why would you help me?" I whispered back.

"Because, like it or not, I need you." My eyes widened in shock. Zuko blushed as he realized exactly what it is he said. "You're my only link to the Avatar." He corrected.

"Riight. So how exactly are you going to help?" I stared him down, waiting.

"Um…"

"Ha!" I laughed, "You're as bad as me!"

"Shh…" He shushed me with a finger over my lips. "There's an exit at the end of the hall around the corner to the right. It's much less guarded than the front door."

"Thanks now let me get my guy." I said stepping out.

"And how are you supposed to do that?" he grabbed me, thankfully by my good wrist.

"With these." I showed him the guard's keys.

"H-how did you…?" he gapped.

"That's my secret" I winked. Then I was out the cell door. The other prisoners didn't appear to have paid attention to us even though it was way too silent in this place not to eavesdrop.

"Suna?" the man whispered as I approached his cell.

"No, sorry, but I know her." I put my finger to my lips to tell him to be quiet before motioning him to follow me.

"I'm sorry miss," He whispered, "I can't see very well." I sighed, and took his arm to lead him out the back.

There weren't any soldiers guarding the door from the inside, but I knew it couldn't be that easy so I opened the door a crack to scout the outside, there appeared to be one soldier standing guard, but his back was turned to us. If we were really quiet and lucky he won't notice us sneaking by.

"Stay quiet." I led Suna's dad outside and down the opposite way that the guard was looking. We reached some giant rocks that were perfect to hide behind. I hid Suna's dad with every intention to follow.

"Stop!" The guard called from behind. The second I turned around to face him he blasted fire at me. I dodged. Rushing forward I had to dodge several fireballs, particularly conscious of my left arm, but by the time I reached the soldier he had crumpled to the ground unconscious. In the guard's place stood Zuko.

"Go. Hurry." He waved me off.

"Zuko, th—"

"I said go!" He commanded under his breath.

I did as I told. I ran back to Suna's dad.

"Hey you can run right?"

"I am not too sure anymore." It was true that three years in prison without exercise has caused the old man to wither away.

"Well you better try. Come on!" I helped the thin man up. We ran as fast as he could, towards the rocky hill where I had told Suna and the others to wait.

"Dad!" Suna called the second we were in eyesight. The trio ran to meet us, Suna in the lead obviously. She hugged the atrophied man so hard I thought she was going to break him. "Here is your glasses daddy." She revealed a pair of slightly cracked glasses from her pocket; she must have kept them with her since her father was taken away. How sweet. The sentimentality made me feel like I was an intruder, so I turned away, wandering back up the hill. I was followed by Min and Chan.

"You know I didn't expect you to actually do it. Good job, and thanks." Chan put his hand on my shoulder. I had an odd instinct to push it off.

"Yes, it was quite unexpected. I don't know how we could ever repay you." Min said sweetly.

"Don't worry about it. But I have to admit, I probably couldn't have done it without help." Chan glanced at Min knowingly, but remained silent as I continued. "Remember what I told you about this war ending soon, and then remember that the person who assisted me with rescuing Suna's father was the future Fire Lord."

They shared looks of astonishment and disbelieve. As they were busy looking at each other I slipped away like a ninja, running back to the ship.

"Zuko!" I exclaimed as I run up to the ship's deck and surprising him with a hug. He tensed up before awkwardly returning my hug. After a brief moment I released him. "Thank you Prince Zuko." I even bowed respectively.

"No need, now we're even." He said.

"Even? For what?"

"Saving my life." I looked at him shocked.

"What!? We so aren't—Not even!" Zuko ignored my nonsense as he ordered crew members around. Apparently we were leaving somewhere in a hurry. Zuko wouldn't tell me where though, in fact he wouldn't even acknowledge me, so I gave up trying to get anything out of him.

"Uncle, what's happening? Where are we going in such a rush?"

"Oh, Zuko heard a report at the local prison that there has been a riot at a prisoner ship not too far from here. It was supposedly caused by the Avatar."

"Of course." I leaned back against the ship's railing, poking at my bandaged burn even though it hurt a little bit each time. At least it wasn't as bad as before. Now it doesn't hurt like hell, just a bee sting.

We were on the deck of the cold metal rig that was covered in soot. Not too long ago it was sad with a bunch of prisoners. Now it was a sad excuse of a prisoner ship, empty with only a soaked crew.

I see Katara's blue necklace standing out against the gray metal deck. Zuko notices it too, managing to pick it up before I could even think to try and hide it.

"That's Katara's necklace." I said absent mindedly. I don't know why I said that, he realized whose it was before he even picked it up. So I decided to protest. "You can't keep that."

"Don't worry, I'll return it." He said ominously.