Disclaimer: I don't own anything
Darkness was quickly approaching as the group began their preparations for the 'raid' as they had begun to call it. They had gathered themselves under a clump of trees near the sewer.
Appa sat hidden in the trees and shrubs deeper into the woods. Teo sat in a specially prepared seat for him on Appa's head. He had made a nearly last minutes decision that it would be safer for him and everyone else in he stayed with Appa. As soon as Sokka sent up the flair he would bring Appa for their getaway.
"Ok everyone remember the plan?" the grim faces of the group nodded around Sokka. "Alright let's go. Zuko, your up." The former Prince complied, warming his hands until the heat softened the metal enough to bend them.
As soon as they were all through, Zuko began leading them through the sewer. Their noses were assaulted by the foul smells. The flames in Zuko's hand sent eerie shadows along the wall as they quietly waded through the water.
"It shouldn't be much farther." Sokka whispered, after what seemed like hours.
As he spoke light began to appear ahead of them. It came from a grill set it a floor or in their case the ceiling.
Silently The Duke lifted Toph so she could 'see' if the coast was clear.
The group waited anxiously for Toph's report.
"It's clear "whispered Toph keeping her hand on the ceiling.
"Alright everyone remember what their suppose to do?" Sokka asked. the grim faced group nodded. "Ok let's go!"
Toph grabbed the grill and pushed it open before climbing through. Zuko and Aang came next before pulling Pipsqueak up. Followed closely by Katara and the Duke. Zuko couldn't help but notice that Aang seemed all the too happy to help the water bender.
Once Sokka and Haru were up the group began to head to fulfill their objectives. Sokka giving his sister a one arm hug before running to catch up with Toph
Katara turned and ran to join Zuko.
"Where will Azula be?" she asked upon reaching him, having nearly to sprint to keep up with Zuko's fast strides.
Zuko frowned, thinking. He really didn't want to fight with his sister, but he knew where she would be.
"She'll be in the main hall." he replied running slightly faster. Azula had her theatrical tendencies. She loved to perform. Only her performances were meant to hurt those she was performing with and intimidate those who might.
The corridors seemed endless. Katara was just about to ask if he actually knew where he was going just before they came to a pair of great wood and steel double doors.
Azula was behind those doors. Zuko looked at the water bender. He hoped he hadn't made a mistake involving them. He took a deep breath and together they pushed open them open.
There sitting in a chair- which looked so much like a throne- at the end of the hall was Azula. "Hello ZuZu. Did you have fun, running around in the wilderness? " She saw Katara and frowned slightly.
"I see you brought back the little water witch." Katara bristled at being called that. Even Zuko hadn't stooped that low. "Bribes won't make father take you back now Zuko." she said standing up, smiling- if you could even call it that- at Zuko. Before returning her eyes to her perfect finger nails.
"Though we can find something for her to do after your execution." She finished, smirking, before shooting a bolt of lighting at Zuko. Quickly he threw up a barrier deflecting Azula's fire. Katara uncorked her water skin, drawing a water whip.
Zuko was dodging fire blasts when Azula suddenly went flying.
He snapped his head toward Katara and nodded his thanks before turning back to his sister.
Sokka you better hurry!' thought Zuko before launching several fire blasts at Azula's back, while Katara attacked her from her front
On the other side of the compound Sokka, Toph and had just reached the barracks where the cells were. From their spot they could see aang and their friends causing chaos among the sentries. Two guards stood before the entrance to the cells. Quickly Toph bended a hole and proceeded to push the two guards in before closing it.
"Come on!" Sokka ran through the door. They ran looking for anything that would indicate a high security cell, which was where Iroh was most likely to be.
"Down here!" whispered Sokka? The corridor was dark and damp. A chain rattled so often and squeaks that sounded like rats rang off the walls along with their footsteps. No one in these cells resembled the old general. Frantically they searched the corridors. "Where could he be?" asked Sokka frantically after what seemed like hours.
They found a guard. Before he could run off, Toph caught him.
"Tell us "demanded Sokka, putting his machete, under the man's chin." Where is general Iroh?"
The man looked down at the machete. Sokka pressed it lightly to the man's throat.
The man hesitated.
"I repeat where General Iroh is?" Sokka growled pressing the machete a little more firmly against the man's throat.
"The … the general isn't here!" he stammered. "The princess said it was not to be known outside the guards that he wasn't here!"
Sokka looked at the man stunned, like someone had punched him in the stomach and had knocked the air out of him. This had been a set up. Azula had set them up. Iroh had never been here at all, it had all been a lie. A set up…
"Sokka?" asked Toph a bit timidly.
"We have to get out of here now!" his voice was cold; like the ice he grew up on. Before the poor guard knew what was happening Sokka hit him over the head with his machete letting the man fall to the ground in heap.
Quickly Sokka grabbed Toph and started running back toward the exit.
"We need to get everyone out of here!" panted Sokka who was practically carrying Toph out the corridor. It all made sense. Azula had suspected that they would all come for Iroh not just Zuko.
They wound through the corridors heading for the exit in what was like a maze of cells.
"Where in La's name is the damn door?" Sokka practically shouted after what seemed like hours.
"It's over to the left straight down that corrid-" Sokka cut her off before she was even finished.
There! There was the door! Sokka squinted as the light from the fading sun hit his eyes. Just a few yards away Aang the Duke, Haru and Pipesqueak were corralling the guards in to what looked like a giant earth tent.
Sokka eyes quickly swept across the courtyard.
Katara and Zuko weren't here.
He lighted the flare and sent it into the sky. Hopefully wherever they were they would be able to see it. Silently he prayed to Yue to make sure his sister and the prince made it out.
Katara fell hard as Azula pushed both her and Zuko into the walls on separate sides of the room and winced as her head hit the wall.
Zuko was stooped over holding his head. Katara couldn't see whether or not he was badly hurt or not from her place on the floor. And Azula was in her way
It was silent in the room the only noise was the sound of all three teenagers panting as they caught their breath.
Azula slowly walked up to Katara turning her back on Zuko. Either she was being stupid or she thought Zuko was no threat to do such a thing.
"Well witch, I am glad you were able to give my letter to ZuZu. He needed to be reminded what happens when you betray family. I have to say finding your little ragtag group wasn't hard." She smirked down at Katara
"You were the one who I heard that night, you where the one that went into my room?" Katara was slightly stunned. "Yes. I must say, peasant, you must learn to keep your doors locked from now on."
Katara growled at her. Her eyes darted quickly to Zuko, and then back to Azula.
Zuko had a plan.
Realizing his intent Katara, did without thinking probably the stupidest thing in her life: she started to mock Azula.
"I'm actually surprised that you could find us all on your own Azula, with out any help at all. I never thought you could do something on your own with out of one of your daddy's little helpers."
Azula's chin came up a little; the barbs had hit.
The air crackled slightly. Revealing Zuko's actions a little to late for Azula to redirect it.
Katara threw her self to the side as Zuko's lighting flew at Azula…and collided with the wall causing it to disintegrate into a pile of rubble.
Azula had jumped out of the way at the last second.
As the dust settled, Katara and Zuko made out the forms of their friends as they fought to get to Appa.
And Iroh wasn't with them.
Author's note
Sorry most esteemed readers that this took so long. I was having writers block. You can thank my brother, who got me the complete season 2 collection for christmas. watching them got me back on track, thank you, bro!! ok back to buisness- this chapter took forever. simnce their is a bit of action. there are probably a few typos and for that I am sorry.Yes Iroh was never with Azula in the first place! But where is he? Where in the world is Iroh!? please review !! a few reviews might get the next chapter out faster!