So, in this chapter, we are introduced to an OC created by Another Dead Hero. I hope I did him justice. Azula has a hallucination (Though not exactly a terrible one) and otherwise. But, first, let me get this out: Part of this chapter is hinting at some dark, controversial material. I do mean hinting, but if that bothers you, I do not recommend reading the latter part of this chapter. As always, feedback is appreciated.

Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender, nor do I own Hattori. They belong to their rightful owners, and I'm merely manipulating them

Chapter Ten

"Sokka, aren't we going back?" Toph asked from where she sat on Appa's saddle, her face was turned towards the air that whipped by. "What if they escaped?" The thirteen year old girl spun around and slumped down, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Sokka?"

The Water Tribesman was grinding his teeth, staring blankly ahead. His hands were clenched tightly on Appa's rope. "No, Toph, we aren't going back. They won't be there. No one's going to be there, everyone either escaped or they were killed. By now, they are dead, Toph. Every single one of them."

Toph shook her head fervently. "No they're not. Katara promised me that she would never be too far away. She's your sister, how can you give up on her like that?" Her sightless green eyes took on a glare that bore into Sokka's back.

"Because, Toph!" Sokka exclaimed, suddenly turning to face her. "Katara doesn't keep every promise she makes. And I'm not giving up on her, I'm just not…" He fell silent, suddenly at a loss for what he really meant to say.

The blind earthbender let out a wordless shout, venting her frustrations. "What happened to the Sokka I used to know? The Sokka that would do anything to protect his friends and his family, because it was his duty? What happened to him, huh? What happened to you?"

Sokka threw his hands up into the air, grabbing several locks of his hair and yanking, before breathing slowly. "That Sokka," He said carefully, "died when Aang fell from the sky. That Sokka would have done all those things, but that Sokka is dead, Toph. He's dead!"

Toph was unsure if Sokka was referring to himself or Aang. "I miss Twinkle Toes, too, Snoozles. I miss him a lot, but that's why we're still fighting. In his honor, so we can bring down the Fire Nation." If she could see, she would have been meeting Sokka's gaze. "I miss him, too."

"You didn't know Aang like I did. I was there when he was found in the iceberg, I was there when he learned waterbending, I was there more than you were," His voice was not harsh, but rather it was cool and collected. "And why are we still fighting? It just leads to more pain."

The blind earthbender crawled across the saddle and grabbed where she thought Sokka's shoulder might be. "We're fighting for everyone, Sokka. If we don't do something, who will? We have to kick as much Fire Nation butt as we can." She punched him, "And when we go back and rescue the others, we're going to make sure that those firebenders get what's comin' to them!"

Sokka's lips turned up into a brief smile. "Thanks, Toph. I needed that." He suddenly sat bolt upright, jerking on Appa's reins. "It's a cave! We can hide there for now. Appa, to that cave! Yip, yip!" The great bison slapped the air with his thick tail and changed course, descending to the dark blotch on the earth below them. If we don't do something, Toph's words resonated around his head, who will? He furrowed his brow. I will.

Azula grinned as Ty Lee and Mai approached her. She was seated on the Fire Lord's dais, her azure flames flickering lowly. At her side was the wolflion kitten Kaz, who had curled into the flesh of her thigh. She stroked his silky fur gently, tugging at his ears. "How is your heartburn, Mai?"

The quiet girl rolled her eyes, folding her hands into her robe. She pursed her lips as Ty Lee let out a squeal at the sight of Kaz. Mai winced at the loud nose and squeezed her eyes shut as her chest constricted. She sighed, looking down at her shoes.

"Azula! You got a kitty!" Ty Lee cried as the young Fire Lord stood, taking Kaz into her arms. "It's so fluffy," She grinned as Azula approached. "Can I hold it, please, Azula? Please, oh please?" She opened her arms, bouncing on her toes.

Kaz had his nose pressed into the crook of Azula's neck. When Azula attempted to pry him off, the kitten dug his claws into her robe, turned his head, and promptly hissed. He narrowed his eyes at Ty Lee, as if the very thought of her holding him was repulsive.

Annoying, the Fire Lord grabbed Kaz by his scruff and flung him to the ground. "No." She glared at Ty Lee as Kaz bit her foot. "Ow, get off of me, you little beast!" She shook her leg, wobbling unsteadily on one leg. "Get off!" Being as unbalanced as she was, Azula stumbled and fell backwards, landing on her back. The air was pressed out of her lungs and the Fire Lord gasped in surprise. "You little monster!"

Ty Lee stifled a giggle as Azula rolled to her feet. As the Fire Lord pushed her body up, the acrobat knelt down and clucked her tongue. The wolflion kitten turned and sauntered towards her, tailing sticking straight up in the air. Ty Lee ran her hands down his rounded sides, smiling as he purred and licked her fingers. "Isn't he just adorable, Mai? Aren't you so sweet?"

Mai shrugged, watching Azula from the corner of her eye. The younger girl was glaring at Ty Lee, her top lip rising to expose her teeth. "Just a bundle of carnivorous joy. Absolutely adorable." She said caustically, crossing her arms. "Just wait until Azula gives him his own feast, we'll see how adorable he is, then."

Frowning, Ty Lee breathed softly against Kaz's fur. "Oh, don't be a sour poo, Mai. Kazzy is the most adorable, sweetest, innocent, peaceful wolflion kitten…" She blinked as the kitten's teeth closed around her ear lobe, "Just…with a nipping problem."

Azula suddenly let out an enraged shout. "Shush! You talk too much, Ty Lee!" The flames behind her leaped to the ceiling before dying down. "Put Kaz down!" She snapped, stomping over to the acrobat. "Mai, you act like a lizard sloth, stop standing there!" She was not entirely sure why she was screaming at Mai, but Azula was never one to make logic of trivial things when there were better things to do.

Mai stared at her with an emotionless glint in her eyes. "What do you expect me to do, Azula? You did call us in there, or have you forgotten?" She reached up to pat her hair into place, twisting the small, round bun on the side of her head back into shape.

The Fire Lord stepped toward the blade wielder, narrowing her eyes. "Who do you think you're talking to, Mai?" She glared dangerously at the woman, clenching her fists. The azure flames on the dais were blazing, heating the room to an almost unbearable temperature.

And suddenly, Azula remembers.

She stared into Mai's eyes, and suddenly she sees the face of an older woman, with kind brown eyes and a saddened look. No. No, not again. Azula fell back, scrambling away from the woman. "No, no, no! No, no, go away! You left me!" She whined, grabbing her hair and pulling it from her topknot. "You liked him better, when I needed you! And now you come back! But I don't need you, haha! I don't need you anymore than you needed me back then. Who needs you?" She let out a keening wail and bumped into Ty Lee's knees. "No one!"

Ty Lee stepped back, her grey eyes glittering in surprise. "What's wrong, Azula?" She asked fearfully, her face falling. The young girl's eyes widened and she backed away, looking fearfully at her motionless friend. She was trapped in an illusion that Ty Lee could not see, and the more Ty Lee watched, the more her stomach turned. "Azula…don't do that….please?" Clutching Kaz to her chest, the eccentric noblewoman ran from the war room, crying out wordlessly, leaving Mai to stand near the writhing firebender, silently watching.

Appa landed gracefully on the ground, slapping his tail flat with a roar. He had descended in front of the cave, and as Sokka loosed the ropes on his horns, the great animal groaned. They stood at the entrance of the cave, peering into the silent black of its mouth, gaping like the maw of a starving animal. Sokka gulped before stepping forward, swallowing his uncertainty.

Sokka gently guided Appa to the mouth of the cave, wrapping the bison's rope around his wrist. "Come on, big guy, you can relax your muscles in your tail, and…whatever else you use to fly." He stroked the giant animal's velvety nose before turning to Toph. "It's mighty dark in that cave."

"Gee, I couldn't tell!" Toph waved a hand in front of her face. "Let me lead the way, Snoozles. I can navigate through the dark any day, any time." She grasped Sokka's hand and walked forward, her other hand brushing the damp interior of the cave. "See, how hard is that, Snoozles?"

The Water Tribesman snorted, not bothering to strain his eyes. Holding onto Appa with one hand, he allowed Toph to lead him deeper into the cave. "I'm surprised no hermits live here or anything. This would be a perfect place to live an antisocial live. Filled with darkness and dampness, that's my forte!"

Toph was about to giggle, but all of a sudden, her little shoulders tensed and she pulled her hand away from Sokka's. She clenched her fists and stomped her foot, bringing up a sheet of earth in front of them just as a red flame slammed into the hastily drawn up wall. She flicked her wrists, crumbling the earth into a ball and sending it into the darkness that had brought the flame forth. "Come out, whoever you are!"

Sokka tightened his grip on Appa as a glow approached them. He could see a small flame, as though it was being held by a torch, and two smaller dots of red. "T-Toph, I think it's a Spirit. And it looks pretty darn mad, judging by its eyes!" He stepped back into Appa.

"Why does everyone say that? Just because my eyes are red, that doesn't mean I'm some vengeful Spirit coming to each your brains. First, that's ridiculous, and it gets pretty old." A masculine voice grumbled and the torchlight grew larger. "Ooh, look, he has red eyes, nah nah nah!"

The man-though he was more of a very large boy-came closer and the light of the torch brightened even more, until the area was relatively lit. Standing before them was a boy who couldn't have been more than fourteen, though he was taller than average. Aside from his height, he was average size for a boy who was active, Sokka could tell that already. His hair was black and fell to the nape of his neck, and his skin betrayed his Fire Nation heritage. Thin hairs were growing from his chin in the beginnings of a beard. He had rings of silver above his eyebrows and through his ears, as piercings.

Sokka stroked his own clean face, and couldn't help but feel envious of the boy. But his eyes. The boy's eyes were as red as rubies, and as deep as a pool of blood. They unnerved Sokka, for he had never seen such a thing. "You look pretty rough looking, whoever you might be. Too mean to be a hermit, too."

"I wish I could say the same about you, though. So, are you done checking me out?" The boy asked, chuckling. "What are you here for? If you're selling anything, I'm not interested. If you're looking for a place to stay, I recommend you leave right now, before I decide to kick your-" He paused, mouth agape. "Wait…you…wow, it's really you guys!"

Toph jerked her head up, shrugging. "Yeah, yeah, you suddenly realize who we are and then you drop down to your knees and whatnot. I bet you though we would be a little bit taller." She snickered at her own joke before pointing in the boy's general direction. "Who are you?"

The boy grinned broadly. "The name's Hattori!" He pointed at himself. "I thought you guys would look better in person, but I guess we all can't be this good looking. Where is the rest of the crew? You know everyone else we've heard about?"

Sokka's face fell and he looked away, biting his bottom lip. "W-we, don't really want to talk about it right now. It kind of hurts, kind of like a fresh wound. So…since it's apparent you live in this cave and all, do you allow rent? We need space for a bison," He reached back to pat Appa, who snorted.

Hattori blinked, scratching the back of his head. "I guess so? If it'll fit." He grasped the torch, taking a step back. "Follow me. But you have to be very quiet. She's sleeping."

"Who's sleeping?" Toph asked, though none too quietly. She trotted after Sokka, gripping Appa's fur in her fists. "Who's sleeping?" She repeated."

The boy, who was named Hattori, smiled. "You'll see."

"How long has it been?" Katara asked quietly from her corner of the cell, eyes downcast. It's dark, and every sound is too loud. Her wrists were chafed and her feet numb from the robe, which she had tugged at relentlessly until her teeth were sore. At least she could talk, unlike Zuko. Her friend lay bound like a rabid animal, unable to sit comfortably. We have to get out of her.

Suki shook her head, staring up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure, but I know Jianjun will be back. I hate that man already." She looked down at her wrists and rolled her shoulders, struggling to loosen the binding. "This has to be high quality rope, I can't break it!"

From his stomach, Zuko let out a sound that sounded like annoyance. He raised his head as high as he could, meeting Katara and Suki's gazes. I'm sorry; He said silently, I'm so sorry. The firebender closed his eyes and ducked his head, squirming uncomfortably.

Katara shuffled towards him, throwing her legs sideways and dragging her body along. "Maybe if we work together, we can untie each other and then fight our way out…" She looked down at her clothes, "But they took all of our weapons. Maybe, we can trick one of them and…I don't know."

It was then that the door of the cell was slammed open. Katara raised her head and felt her heart jump to her throat and her stomach plummet. Standing on the threshold of the cell was the woman, who had conducted their capture, and Jianjun.

"Look at them, Major. Perhaps you should have gagged all three of them. Prince Zuko looks so uncomfortable." The woman smiled cruelly as she stepped into the cell, swinging the ring that held the keys on her fingers. "Maybe they'll talk. Especially the Water Tribe one, she looks like she'll crack easily."

Jianjun raised an eyebrow as he followed the woman. "Perhaps. There isn't much we can get from them, though, considering the old Avatar is dead. The child Avatar isn't my problem yet, and a message hawk is flying to Ba Sing Se as we speak. Gaining Omashu may not be important, but flushing out the White Lotus is. I knew we could rely on our green eyed spies." He smiled and walked forward. "Right, Kuzana?"

The woman, whose name was Kuzana, nodded as she bent down in front of Suki. "This one has an odd hair coloring, you don't see many with hair this light anymore." She grasped a lock of Suki's auburn hair and stroked it before tugging on it harshly. "Perhaps we should shave her."

"Don't touch me!" Suki jerked her head away, glaring dangerously at the woman. "And don't touch either of them, or I swear, I'll rip myself from these ropes and tear you apart!" Gaze smoldering, her bottom lip trembled as Kuzana threw back her head and laughed.

"Do you hear this girl, Major?" Kuzana screamed raucously, "She thinks she can play hero." She wiped her eyes. "Listen, darling. You're more likely to survive in this prison, instead of trying to play rebel with a bunch of other children against a force as great as the Fire Nation. Our victory is inevitable, and once the Avatar is slain in the Avatar State, the world is ours." She patted Suki's head. "Front row seats to the show?"

Jianjun chuckled as Katara spoke up. "The Fire Nation will never win!" Her words held determination and ferocity that surpassed her fifteen years. "I don't care what you do to us, but we'll never give up fighting!" She narrowed her eyes. "And you'll never find the next Avatar!"

"Oh really?" Jianjun smiled cunningly. "What a bold little girl you are, too." There was an unreadable glint in his eye. "If you were born as a Fire Nation citizen, you would have made an excellent firebender. But, you are a Water Tribe peasant." He looked at Zuko, "So low of him, to congregate with orphans. Then again, he was disowned."

Katara narrowed her eyes, "Leave him alone! He's a much better person than you! You're a horrible person!" If her tongue wasn't so dry, she would have spat. "Why won't you just leave all of us alone?" She turned her gaze to Zuko, whose expression was unreadable.

Kuzana giggled, "You know what they say about disobedient prisoners, Major? They say you break them down the best way you can. I can think of several ways to break their spirits. Let's start with our Water Tribe princess, yes?"

Katara's blood ran cold.

Jianjun smirked, "I believe you're right, Kuzana." He reached down and grabbed Katara by her forearm, hauling her up to her feet. "Perhaps if we set an example with this one, Little Straw Hair will see what happens when you can't keep your mouth shut."

With surprising ease, the man kicked Katara's legs from out under her and caught her by the underarms. The waterbender tensed as he slung on her over her shoulder. She was facing the front of the cell, but she could feel Suki's eyes on her.

"No," Her friend pleaded, "We'll be quiet. But please, just let her go. I won't say another word, just…don't hurt her." Suki's voice was desperate. "I promise, just don't…please?" Katara had never head Suki sound so weak and defeated before, and it frightened her.

Kuzana laughed again, "You should have thought of that before." She stepped around Jianjun and turned to face Katara, "You can thank your friends for this, Water Princess. Especially Little Straw Hair, it's her fault."

Katara could not find the words to express what she felt. So instead, she whimpered.

"Sokka's never going to forgive me!" Suki cried, pulling her knees up to her chest to the best of her ability. "Even though he never said anything, he expected me to watch out for her when he couldn't. I know he did, and now…" She looked over at Zuko.

The firebender had moved into the most comfortable position he could find. He mumbled something against his gag that sounded something like "I'm sorry", though Suki knew he had nothing to apologize for.

The Kyoshi Warrior shuffled towards him and leaned down, resting her head on his back. "Zuko, I'll never forgive myself if something happens to Katara. I just can't. Those people are evil." She let out a ragged sigh, "That's why we have to get out of here."

Zuko looked up at her, and Suki thought he resembled a dog that way, with hopeful gold eyes. "But it's still my fault!" Suki had never been the type to beat herself up about her mistakes, but right now, she felt like pulling her hair out.

Suki knows what happens during war. She knows what happens in prison, she's seen it before. She knows what is to come next. Her stomach churned in her abdomen, threatening to flip. Moving her hands up to her face, she cupped her chin and stretched her fingers up to her ears, blocking out the sound. Because she knows, if Katara goes through even half of what she's imagining, her cries could be heard throughout the whole prison.

I'm sorry.

Feedback is always heavily appreciated, whatever the content. Thank you. ~BananaSwirl