Tenzin looked at Lin and knew he had to say something to help her.

"You are the best earthbender I know." He said. She snorted.

"Don't try that Tenzin. I know that is a lie."

"Okay, to be fair your mom and my dad are better earthbenders…now."

"And they always will be. I can never hope to reach Uncle Aang's level…and don't even get compare me to mom…" Her voiced broke as she last the last part. Tenzin couldn't take it, hearing her talking about herself like that.

"Lin, listen to me-"

"No! Tenzin you listen to me. There isn't anything you can say that can convince me that I'm as good as my mom. She trains me, or tries to because I can't get anything she teaches me. I can barely see with my eyes closed. It takes all my concentration just make metal dent. I am a failure."

"Lin…"

"I thought I told you-"

"Lin! Stop feeling sorry for yourself and get a grip!" He yelled. Lin was shocked; Tenzin wasn't the kind to explode.

"So you're not as good as your mom. SO WHAT! I'm not as good dad. Kya is nowhere near mom. Ursa isn't as skilled as Uncle Zuko. And Bumi and Piandao, like they could even touch Aunt Suki. But we are good. I really can't talk because there are no other air benders. But Kya and Ursa are at the top of their bending classes, most guys are scared of them. Bumi can take down grown men; Piandao is more dangerous with a boomerang than most persons are with a sword. And you…" His voice soften. "You may not be your mom, but you are one of the best earthbenders I know." He smiled at her. She blushed slightly and looked down.

"Tenzin…"

"I'm not finished yet. You say you can't see with earthbending like your mom, or metal bend very well yet. There are earthbenders who can't even make metal budge, let alone try and see with earthbending. I'm seen you do things with earth that grown earthbenders can only dream off."

Lin didn't say anything for a few moments. Then she said softly, "Thanks Tenzin, but I still don't think I can do it."

"Lin, what did your mom say to you before we left?"

"She told me keep my stance low and don't allow myself to be pushed off balance."

"Then why are you letting your feet hang there, why are you throwing yourself off balance."

Lin didn't respond looking down at her feet.

"Did I ever tell you what I heard your mom tell my mom?" Tenzin asked but continued talking before she could answer. "A while back mom had business in the city and I went with her. We stopped by your place. When we came Aunt Toph was training with you. Mom thought she was pushing you too hard. Your mom said you wouldn't push you so hard if she didn't think you could take. Your mom said you were a better bender than some of the men on her force." Lin's head shot up her mouth open. "She believes in you Lin…and so do I." Tenzin said. Lin looked down not specking.

"Lin?"

She looked up suddenly a fierce look in her eye.

"Then I better make sure I live up to both your expectations." She said, stood flat on her feet. She closed her eyes as her feet hit metal. She felt the vibrations coursing below her.

'Focus…focus…' As much as she tried she couldn't quite get a clear picture. She opened her eyes and sighed.

"There is too much movement…I can't pin point anything."

"That doesn't sound like an earthbender."

Lin nodded at him and tired again. This time she picked up one of her feet and slammed it into the metal below her. This time she could feel the waves flowing away from her like water and then they came back, feeding her with information. She gasped and opened her eyes.

"What? What is it?" Tenzin asked.

"Tenzin, we have to escape now."

"Why?"

"Because everyone else has, we don't want to be left out do we?"

Tenzin's eyes widened at her words but a grin quickly appeared on his face. "No we do not…you think you pull yourself down a little?"

"Yeah, why?" Lin asked leaned her weight down. Tenzin didn't answer instead taking a breath in. He let out a powerful breath that hit Lin head on. But the wood above her hands cracked and split, enough for her to break out.

"Why didn't you do that before?" She asked.

"I didn't think I could do it, but I can't let everyone else get ahead of me."

"Alright, let's get you out."

Ten minutes later Tenzin and Lin where running from their cell.

"Nice job breaking the bars." Tenzin said.

"It would never havetaken mom so long." Lin said.

"But it would take another metal bender longer."

Lin just smiled.

"Which way to the others?" Tenzin asked.

"I saw Piandao and Bumi not far from that room we woke up in, this way…" Lin and Tenzin stopped dead as they rounded a corner. In front of them were these machines that stood at just about three feet. They were rounded and had strange gaps in the metal near the top.

"Lin you think you can do something about those."

"Maybe…" She slowly moved toward the machines, she was about a foot away when they suddenly started spinning, water was shot of the gap in the metal as high speed. It caught Lin and threw her back.

"Lin!" Tenzin held her up. "Are you okay?"

"Look out!" Lin pushed down as more water was thrown their way.

"We have to move!" Lin stood up and pulled Tenzin behind her. The machines followed them, spinning faster now. The water was coming out in thinner faster waves now. One caught Tenzin on the shoulder and he stumbled and fell. He looked at his shoulder where there was line of blood. The water had actually cut him.

"Run!" They tore down the hallway, the machines right behind them.

A level below them Bumi and Piandao were facing two very strange looking machines. One looked like it was made from wood. It was standing on four legs that were bouncing up and down quickly. It had a basket that had rocks in it. The next one was on wheels and looked like it was made of metal tubes.

"Dao…what do you thing they do?" Bumi asked.

"Let's find out…" Piandao took out his boomerang and threw it, as soon as it got close the pile machine shoot out a blast of air and forced back the boomerang, Bumi and Piandao. The other one moved a wooden arm and a rock was hurled at them. Bumi skated back and opened his legs just in time. The rock smashed in the space between his legs.

"That was too close…" he said looking at the rock shuttering at would could have happened it had fell just a few inches higher.

"Let's not stick around to see if we have another close call." Piandao grabbed his boomerang and ran Bumi right behind him. The machines following them.

Kya and Ursa were running through a maze of hallways. Kya cursed when they came to a dead end.

"Where is Lin when you need her?" Ursa said. They turned around and backtracked to the last the turn they had made. They followed another hall that lead to a split path.

"Which way do you think…do you hear something?" Kya asked. Both girls grew quite as a humming noise grew louder. It came from their left. Ursa lit her palm and held the flame above her head. The light extended down the hall and at the very edge of the light small tank like things rolled into view.

"What are…" Kya ducked as one of the tanks shot a cannon ball at her. Ursa jumped back as two came her way.

"I say we go right…" Ursa said turning away from the tanks.

"Yeah, good choice." Kya followed her, ducking and weaving in and out of the attacks as the tanks moved forward at a frightening speed.

They ran out into a large open area with metal walk ways above them. A cry drew their attention upwards.

"Kya! Help!"

Kya's head shot up at the sound of Tenzin's voice. She saw him and Lin running from machines of their own. Tenzin's sleeve was stained with blood. Kya forgot that she was being chased and all thoughts turned to her brother.

"Hold on Tenzin!" She yelled. She ran up a flight of stairs and came up behind the machines that were chasing Tenzin and Lin. She saw that they were using water as their weapon.

She jumped over one and blocked a jet of water that would have hit Lin. She frove the water as it came out of the machines causing the spinning to becoming jerky and inconsistent. One if the machines toppled over on itself knocking into the others.

"Are you okay?" Kya turned to Tenzin and Lin.

"Yeah, I think so." Lin said. Kya knelt next to Tenzin examining his arm. But before she could do anythink Ursa called up to them.

"Hey still have these things after me!" She could escape the tiny tanks. She tried blasting them with her flames but even if they were knocked over they just righted themselves. She was backed into a corner.

"Hold on Ursa." Kya said running to the stairs Lin and Tenzin behind her. The tanks fired on her and she flinched but before the iron ball could hit her a boomerang defected it. Piandao caught the boomerang still running from his machine. He threw his sword, cutting right through two of the tanks. Ursa picked up the blade and hacked threw the rest.

"Am, can someone help us?" Bumi said ducking as a rock flew his way. He swore it was going to hit him but it stopped a foot above his head. Lin tossed it to the side along with the other rocks from the basket in the machine. Ursa burnt the legs of the machine. Tenzin turned to the pipe machine and knocked it over with an air slash.

"You're okay." Ursa hugged Piandao tightly. "I was so worried."

"I'm glad you're safe." Piandao said.

"You two can kiss later….we have to get out of here." Kya said. "Lin can you see the way out?"

"I think so, this way." Lin took the lead running down a hallway. She took two sudden turns and headed up a flight of stairs. At the top they encounters a small group of men, but they didn't slow them down for long. They ran up three more levels and came out in a huge room with hundreds of different machines, some they recognised as one that had attacked them, others they hadn't. At the far end was the gateway where a group of men were moving the machines. Jin spotted them.

"They got past the machines, stop them!" He yelled.

"We don't have to fight them all, just get past them." Tenzin said.

"No, guys you don't understand, we can't just leave this place." Piandao said.

"What do mean?"

"We need to stop them from getting these machines out of here. They are planning on using them to attack Republic City."

"What?" Tenzin, Lin, Ursa and Kya yelled at the same time.

"While we decide our next move, how about we defend from the angry mob about to attack us!" Bumi said. They jumped into the oncoming squad.

"I know how can we stop them." Kya said. "We destroy their ships. That must be how they are moving these things."

"That's brilliant. Lin, Kya and Bumi you three head to the dock and do as much damage as you can." Piandao said. They nodded, Tenzin used an air blast to clear a path and the three of them ran off.

Piandao knocked out two men by hitting them across the head with the bud of his sword. Ursa was employing the skills taught to her by Ty Lee, leaving behind a score of men at her feet. Tenzin was blast their attackers into the air, high enough that the fall left them unconscious.

"No! I can't let you destroy all of Sari's dreams!" Jin ran forward with sword drawn. Piandao and he clashed swords.

"It's a little late for that. My friend would have already reached your fleet. Good luck repairing the damage they do." Piandao said. Jin yelled as slashed down in a wide arc. Piandao blocked and parried. Jin slashed again, this time catching Piandao on his right leg, drawing blood. He fell to his knees still swinging his blade. Jin kicked him causing him to land on his back. Jin swung his sword towards Piandao's head. Piandao rolled out the way and got to his feet. Placing his weight on his left leg he lunged forward catching Jin's blade along it's spine. Jin twisted his fist and knocked Piandao's sword from his hand. It slid along the floor out of Piandao's reach. Jin kicked him in his injured leg.

"How is it a bunch of children hinder our plans so?" he lifted his blade and swung down.

"Piandao!" Ursa threw his sword for him. He caught it and blocked the attack.

"Because, we have to will of our parents." Piandao swung his sword and hit Jin behind the knees with the flat of his blade knocking him to the floor. He lifted his blade above his head and brought it down. Jin yell out a cry and covered his face. When he felt no pain he opened his eyes. Piandao's blade hovered an inch from his face.

"I'm not going to kill you. It is not my place to pass judgement on you. You are coming back with us and will face the council." Piandao said. He indicated with his other hand to stand up. Jin slowly got to his feet, his sword at his side. Piandao took a step, but the pain made his close his eyes. Jin took the opportunity to attack driving his blade forward.

Tenzin deflected the blade with an air blast, and Ursa struck Jin's pressure points making him slump to the ground.

"Thanks…" Piandao said. He stumbled forward and Ursa caught him.

"Let's get you to Kya." She said placing his hand over her shoulders. Tenzin stood on his other side helping him walk.

"What about them?" Tenzin said.

"We'll have to send someone back from them. Right now we need to get back home." Piandao said.

"Why?"

"Let's find the others and then I'll explain." He said. They walked as fast as Piandao could to the cove. When they got there all of their jaws dropped. The ships in the cove where either on fire or encased in ice.

"Hey guys, looks like your finished too." Bumi said waving down at them from the deck of a flaming ship.

"What…when…how…" Tenzin struggled for words.

"Little brother, you of all people should know what to expect of children of the Avatar." Kya said appearing next to Bumi. He grinned at them.

"Where's Lin?" Piandao asked.

"Getting our ride." Bumi said pointing in the air. Oogi was flying towards them.

"Buddy!" Tenzin jumped on the bison as soon as he was close enough. "I was so worried about you." Tenzin said.

"Come on…we have to go." Piandao said.

"What's the rush? We won. A maker only took a small part of her fleet, there is no way she can go through with the plan now." Kya said. Piandao shook his head.

"You don't understand. Get on we don't have time to waste." He said. The other hopped on Oogi.

"Yip yip."

"As fast as you can back to Republic City."

"What's the problem?" Ursa asked.

"I found some papers with Sari's plans. This shipment of machines was meant to be the last one."

"What do you mean 'last one'?" Lin asked.

"I mean she has been moving machines for weeks to a small island near Republic City. What's more, from what read she moved the ones that where more difficult to ship first, as in large one. Very large ones."

"Where is this island?" Tenzin asked.

"If my calculations are right only a few hours from the city. We don't know how long the maker left, but we know she has a head start. Those boats of her are quite fast, it may not take her more than a day or two to reach the island from here. It took us three days to fly from the fire nation to this island. It's a bit closer to Republic City, but we need the winds with us if we had any hope of getting home in time to warn everyone."

Nardragon~ until the next page