Disclaimer: refer to chapter 1
Chapter 7: The Rescue
That night, about half an hour after sunset, Zuko and Aang got onto Appa preparing to head out for the city. Over dinner, they had talked of the sewage tunnel that led into the city, including a small warning of the purple pentapus. They'd discussed just flying over top of the city to get him, but decided that it made Appa too much of a target for too long and risked them all. Aang would stay hidden with Appa outside the city until he saw some sort of signal, at which he would move in to pick the two up.
Katara came up to them with a worried expression on her face. Aang jumped down to meet her, while Zuko stayed on the saddle checking his gear.
She said, "Listen, I want you guys to be careful out there, both of you."
"Don't worry, we'll be right back with Bumi, safe and sound." Aang smiled.
She smiled back at the boy, and looked up at Zuko. She said, "Good luck."
He replied, "I don't need nor want it. Lets get going, Aang."
"Thanks Katara." Aang said, before jumping onto Appa. "Yip, yip."
As the bison rose into the air and moved away, Iroh came up beside her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, as he reassured her, "They will be fine. This will be simple compared to some of the stuff you all have told me about. And don't take Zuko's words too harshly. He has never been comfortable on the issue of luck, and thus prefers to not rely on it." He stroked his beard. "Perhaps that's the reason why he wasn't able to capture you all. Well, except for you."
Her eyes widened and quickly asked, "What do you mean by that?"
He seemed confused for a moment then answered, "I was simply referring to the time when he caught you with that stolen waterbending scroll."
"Oh yeah, heh heh, I kinda forgot about that one." She laughed, a slight blush to her cheeks.
"Well come sit by the fire and we can share a cup of tea. You can tell me more about your life growing up in the South Pole. You know, that time we found you all was the first time I'd ever be down there."
Aang looked back as they reached the sewage outlet. Obviously, they hadn't done too much work on it, if any, as the grate was still detached. Zuko had removed his brown tunic, strapped his dual broadswords to his back, and was tying something onto his face.
Aang looked as the older boy rose, revealing that blue and white, ogre like mask. It seemed that the Blue Spirit would be making an appearance that night.
"Remember, when you reach the wall use the bison whistle and we'll be come running, well flying. You know what I mean." Aang said.
Zuko quickly nodded, stuffing the whistle into his pocket. He then climbed into the tunnel and began the revolting climb up to the city streets. It was slow going, and he felt like retching a couple of times. He soon found the manhole and lifted it slightly, peering around to see that the coast was clear. Seeing no one around he moved up to the street, replacing the cover, and darted for an alley. In the darkness, he swiped as much of the gunk off as he could, burning a bit as he went.
He began slinking from shadow to shadow, avoiding the sight of guards wherever he went. It took him about half an hour to reach the base of the palace. He snuck into the building through a window that led right into a maid's chamber. He crept to the door to find it locked. He was beginning to think that he should have accepted that wish good luck from Katara. He saw the glint from the set of keys over top the woman's head.
'Of course.' He thought wryly rolling his eyes under his mask.
With a nightstand next to the bed he could not reach the key ring with his hand. He quickly decided against reaching over with his swords. That would make to much noise as they slid down the blade. As softly as he could, he stepped onto the side of the woman's bed and placed one hand on the opposite wall to steady himself. He quickly snatched the keys from the wall, moving away as soon as his fingers gripped them. He soon made his way down the hall searching for a way upstairs, and cursing the last key being the one to let him out.
Aang sat beside Appa on a ledge along the canyon wall. He hated just sitting back waiting for others to do something like this. He was the Avatar, and Bumi was his friend. It should have been he that risked his life to save the old king. It would no doubt impress Katara, and Aang was worried that the older boy was getting too close to her. She had shown signs of affection for himself, Aang was sure of it. She had even kissed him in the cave. True, it had only been a short touching of lips, but to him that was all the proof that he needed to show that the two of them were meant to be. Zuko could just go find his own girl because Aang had seen her first.
Zuko stood upon the scaffolding gazing into at the large stone resemblance of his father's face. It had been over three years since he had seen it, back as the man had given him the scar that was now so much a part of him. The last memory of him that Zuko had was of him walking away pronouncing his banishment. He had worked so hard for over two years to try to regain the man's acceptance, to gain his pride and love, but now here he was aiding the people that wished to overthrow his father.
He shook his head clearing it of such thoughts for now. He needed to concentrate on the now, on his mission. There, just a matter of yards away, was the controls for the crane, and following its arm he saw the metallic box that had to hold his target. He moved quickly toward the controls. This would possibly be the worst part. There was no doubt someone would hear the machinery as he worked it. Once he did this it would only be a matter of time. There was no since hesitating, so he moved the crane arm and lowered the box onto the wooden walkway.
He rushed over and asked the exposed face, "Are you King Bumi?"
The old man thought for a moment. Then he smiled, "Well that's what I had written onto my underwear so I must be him."
'The old man is crazy.' Zuko thought. Aloud he said, "I'm with the Avatar, and I'm getting you out of here, now."
"Wait, I've already told Aang…" Bumi started.
"Don't care, we need your help." He said as broke the lock on the box.
As he helped the old man out and onto his feet, Bumi saw the mask. He gasped as a memory came to his mind. He had been visited by a fortuneteller that went by the name of Aunt Wu not too long before the Fire Nation had come to Omashu.
"You will be helped by a blue faced man, and I suggest you go with him." She had said to him.
The young man began to pull the old king behind him, moving as quick as his companion would allow. He knew alarms had already been set off; the machinery was just too loud not to be noticed. They'd made it to the next to last level when a group of soldiers came onto the roof. Zuko grabbed a hanging rope and swung straight into the lead soldier, rolling into a ready stance with swords drawn. As the others stared at him in disbelief he launched into them. He made sure not to kill them, as he had made sure of when he'd rescued the Avatar from Zhao. These were his people, and he would not kill them, not after being banished after speaking out to protect them.
A soldier who had gotten back up was about to swing his spear into the masked man when a large rock sent him hurtling into a wall. Zuko turned to see the crazy old man smiling at him, and then crack his back.
Bumi frowned, "I've been cooped up too long. Hmm, funny, I had thought that box was actually rather comfy."
"There'll be more coming. You know another way out of here?" Zuko asked, looking around for a way.
"How are you with fast rides?" Bumi asked before laughing like a maniac.
"I can't believe I agreed to this!" Zuko shouted as the two slid down the mail system slide. He was blowing into the whistle as hard as he could, but wasn't sure how effective it was with all the air moving past. He looked back to see blasts of fire and arrows coming their way. Shoved the whistle at the king and shouted, "Blow into this as hard as possible!"
He then turned to start blocking and deflecting the projectiles with his swords. As he worked a large concentrated blast form more the one bender soared straight at the two. Zuko swung as hard as he could and forced the ball of flames skyward. An arrow had followed right after, travelling in the flames' wake, and he fell back onto Bumi as it stuck his stomach. As he righted himself, he saw a curve in the track that led to another part of the city.
"What are we going to do about that?" He yelled.
"Watch!"
Bumi shot his arms forward then up slightly, making the rock obey his command. Zuko gazed as the wall of the slide broke and a new straight slide formed. He realized what was to happen. The old fool was going to send them flying out over the wall and into the canyon. Bumi laughed as they cleared the slide and flew over the wall. He grabbed the startled young man beside him, and kicked the cart back toward the wall, smashing one of the catapults installed there. Zuko shut his eyes, expecting death, but smashed onto the large saddle on Appa's back.
"Welcome aboard, Bumi!" Aang shout as he steered Appa away from the large city, already firing with other catapults.
"Aang, what a pleasure to see you again. I can tell you've found, and been working with your earthbending teacher. How's that coming? From this young man, I can see you've also found a firebending teacher. He fights with as much fire in his heart as you, if not little more." Bumi replied.
As the two continued to talk, Zuko broke the shaft of the arrow and threw it over the side. He was tired, and didn't really care what they were saying. He just needed to sleep, and quickly dozed off against the back of the saddle. He had completed his mission, but it was strange how little pain there was in his gut.
