The newly-released prisoners walked towards the gondola that was going to ferry them to their freedom. As they got on, two prison guards entered the gondola. The teens were too happy about the fortunate turn of events that they paid the strangers no notice. When they reached the top of the volcano, they were surprised to find that the guards were still following them.
"Why are you following us?" Ty Lee asked, positioning to fight.
"We aren't escaping if that's what you're thinking," Mai told them coolly. "My uncle told us we were free to go."
"Of course, madam," the guards saluted Mai. "We were simply ordered by the warden to accompany you on your journey back to the fire nation and to man the airship which will transport you and your friends."
"Oh in that case," Ty Lee said brightly, suddenly at ease. "We're very happy to have you two aboard."
The journey back was quicker than they had expected. They were all pre-occupied with discussions of the events that took place in the battle. They still did not know everything, yet it did not matter so much. They were all so happy to be free and to be going home that the trip was filled with jokes and laughter. Mai and Ty Lee smiled at each other when they finally saw the familiar skyline of the fire nation capital. The Kyoshi warriors could not wait to land so that they could look for their leader whom they knew had escaped and helped the avatar.
When the air ship landed, they quickly thanked the guards who had accompanied them and ran off to look for their friends. Seeing as they didn't really have any friends or family members to look for, Ty Lee, Mai and Yan Zu went with the Kyoshi warriors. This would give the two girls a chance to formally meet their former enemies and get the story of the battle straight from the source. As they ran through the street's capitals, they saw a few families rejoicing and others worried and fearful. Several fire nation soldiers were being treated. Although they were happy that the war had ended and that peace and balance were restored, they knew that the hardships weren't completely over yet.
After several minutes of searching, Kinta spotted the avatar and his gang. "There they are!" she exclaimed. The second the Kyoshi warriors saw where Kinta was pointing, they took off screaming with joy at having finally been reunited as a group once more. The avatar and his companions all turned their heads to see the groups of Kyoshi warriors coming at them. Aang, Sokka, Katara and Suki ran to meet their long-lost friends.
"How are you guys?" Aang asked as they all crashed into a big group hug.
"I've missed you girls sooo much!" Suki squeezed her friends tightly.
They were so wrapped up in their reunion that they forgot about the new friends they had left behind. Mai, Ty Lee and Yan Zu walked towards the avatar's group hesitantly. Toph felt the vibrations of familiar footsteps approaching and said, "There are people coming towards us."
All attention was turned towards the outsiders. Their expressions of joy were replaced with looks of distrust and confusion.
"You guys lost already," Katara sneered. "I helped defeat your precious princess. You're lucky you missed it."
"We don't want to fight anymore," Aang told them.
"We don't want to fight either," Ty Lee defended their group.
"Don't worry about them," Kana told Aang and the others. "They're with us."
"Yeah, and for your information, waterbender," Mai narrowed her eyes at Katara. She still hadn't forgotten the news about Katara fighting Azula alongside Zuko. "We were imprisoned in the Boiling Rock for betraying that so-called 'precious princess.'"
"Mai's telling the truth, Katara," Sokka turned to her sister.
"What?" Katara looked at her brother disbelievingly. "You know her name? How do you know they're telling the truth?"
"Well, I know Mai's innocent. Remember when Zuko and I went on that little trip to get dad and Suki back? Mai's the reason we were even able to get out of there. She stopped the guards from cutting the cable of the gondola we were riding to escape. She did that while Azula and the other one were trying to stop us. She turned her back on them to help us, well Zuko. That's how I know she's telling the truth. I don't know about the other one though, Ty Lee is it?"
"Thanks for the glowing recommendation, waterbender," Mai said dryly. "I can vouch for Ty Lee. She was imprisoned for stopping Azula from killing me. We're basically both traitors to Azula."
"Yeah! We can vouch for all of them actually," Maru added. "Ty Lee was with us in the other prison for about a month. Suki, she's really cool. She even taught us her chi blocking skills. We made her an honorary Kyoshi warrior."
"Hmm, I don't know," Katara said doubtfully. "So we're just supposed to forgive and forget all the stuff they put us through?"
"You gotta chill," Toph shrugged. "Didn't we already go through this trust issue thing with Zuko? I say if Sokka and the lady fighters say they're okay, they're okay."
"Yeah! I agree with Toph. Welcome Ty Lee and Mai! Any friend of my friends is my friend too!" Aang said cheerfully. He turned to look at Yan Zu and noticed that he did not recognize the teenage boy. "Who are you?"
"Oh that's Yan Zu," Lia introduced them. "Yan Zu, this is everyone. That's Aang the avatar, Katara and Sokka from the Southern Water Tribe, Toph, the amazing blind earthbender, and Suki, our leader." She pointed each one out to Yan Zu and they greeted him politely. "Yan Zu is a really good friend we made in prison. He was put there because he helped fuel an earth colony rebellion against the fire nation even if he's part of the fire nation."
"Wow," Aang said, impressed. "That's really cool, Yan Zu. Glad to know some decent fire nation citizens started rebelling even before I got here."
Yan Zu thanked him as everyone started talking again. "So what exactly happened in the battle? The prison guards were our only source of information on the war that was took place during Sozin's comet, and they didn't know everything. We just heard bits and pieces."
"Well what did you hear?" Sokka asked them. "That I single-handedly defeated the firelord? Because if you did, then that was true." Suki rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's endless attempts to make jokes.
"No, we didn't even think you would be of any help," Lin shot back. Everyone laughed, and Sokka scoffe and pretended to be mad.
"I'll have you know," he pointed at her. "Toph, Suki and I took down the entire fire nation air fleet. It was a close fight, but we did it."
"Fine, fine," Lin conceded. "I was only joking, Sokka. Aang, did you really face the firelord by yourself? Did you kill him?"
"Yeah, I did," Aang said before adding quickly, "I mean I faced him alone, not killed him."
"How did you defeat him then?" Ty Lee asked with great interest.
"I took his bending away," Aang informed them. "It was the only way I felt was right. My people didn't believe in killing others, so I couldn't kill him. At least I know he can't do great harm without his power."
"That's amazing," Yan Zu stared in awe, rather star-struck at actually meeting and hearing about the deeds of the avatar.
"Katara, is it true that you fought Azula with Zuko?" Lia asked, letting her curiosity get the best of her. She avoided Mai's eyes which she felt were boring through her.
"Yeah," Katara stated plainly. "He just needed someone to back him up since he knew that he couldn't face her alone. I guess I was the next best thing since he couldn't really ask the others for help. Aang had to face the firelord, and Sokka needed Suki and Toph for their air fleet attack."
"Oh so it was a strategic choice on his part," Yan Zu nudged Mai's arm discreetly, as if to say I told you so.
"Yeah, what else would it be?" Katara asked him confusedly. "It's a good thing I was there too. I was able to give him some immediate medical attention when Azula struck him with lightning. I don't like to think that he could have died if I didn't have healing powers, but at least I was able to do something."
"He was wounded with Azula's lightning?" Mai spoke for the first time since the beginning of the conversation. "How is he?"
"He was wounded pretty badly but nothing too major," Katara told her. "He was able to stand up after the fight, but he wasn't able to continue with the fight. I had to finish it by leading Azula to a drain. I used the water to freeze her before tying her up."
"Well, you're quite the hero, aren't you?" Mai said sarcastically, bitterness dripping in her voice. "You ultimately defeat Azula and save Zuko's life."
"Well, what else should I have done? It's kind of my fault he was hit with lightning in the first place. Azula was about to direct her lightning at him but then decided to shoot it at me. He jumped in front of me to save me, but he was too late to deflect it. He ended up holding it near his chest which caused his injury."
"I take it back then," Mai looked at her icily. "I guess you're not that great after all."
Before Katara could retort, Ty Lee decided to interrupt. "Mai, you seem really worried about Zuko. Why don't you go visit him?"
"Yeah! That's a good idea!" Sokka agreed as his sister and the knifethrower glared at each other. "I know he'd be glad to see you."
"Forget it," Mai cut him off. "I have no intention of seeing Zuko. He's alive. That's all I need to know."
Hmm, not the funnest chapter to write. Oh well, it had to be done. I know this doesn't follow how Sokka (and the others?) met Ty Lee (as a Kyoshi warrior) in the last episode, but whatever. I needed them to meet Aang and the gang before Mai goes to Zuko. It'll make more sense in the next chapter.
