Chapter 10

Zuko nearly dropped his bowl.

"What did he say?" asked Toph.

"Hell. I am guessing they mean Tuzai Island," Zuko answered.

"Where's that?" she responded, blowing on her bowl of food.

He explained. Tuzai Island was part tropical paradise, part volcanic inferno. The locals had begun calling it Hell when the resident volcano had taken to dusting half the island with ash, chunks of fiery rock, and the occasional fast-moving lava flow.

"It is only a matter of time before the entire island is blasted apart. Everyone was resettled off of it three years ago," he explained.

"It's been uninhabited for three years?" she asked.

"It's hard to predict a volcano," Zuko continued. "They can rumble and threaten for years, then go completely silent. Or they can blow an entire island apart, killing everyone on it, without making more than a few hiccups. It's safer to just relocate the population."

"You seem to spend lots of time relocating people," Toph pointed out.

"It seems to be a Fire Nation theme lately," he responded dejectedly.

A few hours later, Toph was asleep next to him. Actually she was practically on top of him since the bunk was very narrow. His arm kept going numb, but that was a sacrifice he was prepared to make to have her close to him. He'd already determined that no matter how he felt about the matter, once they were back in the capital, she would be on her way back home to safety as fast as he could manage it. So, he would treasure every moment they were together as if it were their last.

How could he get them out of this safely? he wondered. Tuzai Island was pretty remote—out in the middle of a long chain of volcanic islands, all of whom were forbidden to settlement because of the geological unrest. Unless rescue was already on its way, following them, they were far from help. Their best option was to take over the boat and hope there was enough fuel to get them back to civilization.

If not, they'd have to put in at one of the islands and hope to find some forgotten coal in one of the abandoned villages. It was a shame, really, because apart from the near certainty that the islands would explode at some point, they were very beautiful and productive. He believed they even were home to stands of gan trees. Toph would like that.

He forced his mind back on planning. They still had the drugged dart, but that would probably only be good for one of the men. His pick would be the older man, or Yung, as Toph had managed to find out. Apparently, Zhiang, the younger, didn't mind a bit of conversation with a pretty girl and she'd used all her wiles to pump him for as much information as possible.

She had been very persuasive when he'd come to collect the dishes, so innocent and sweet. Zuko had kept his mouth shut and listened as she managed to discover both men's names, how far out they were from Tuzai, and how many people were living there. Zuko was surprised to discover that an island forbidden to settlement was home to nearly two hundred people—mostly refugee families from the colonies. They had apparently taken over the abandoned homes and farms and were making a fresh start.

Unfortunately, they'd run into a number of issues, medical needs being primary. Medicine costs money and there's no money without trade. As fugitive settlers, they had no way to trade produce for necessities and had taken to theft. The ransom money for Toph and himself would go to purchase these necessities and make it possible for them to continue to live there—at least until the island blew apart, Zuko thought fatalistically.

Toph stirred a little in her sleep. Zuko rubbed her arm and shoulder, hoping to soothe her, but she woke with a start. "Zuko?" she whispered.

"What is it, sweetie?" he answered.

"Nothing. I dreamed we were in the gan forest and I couldn't find you," she murmured. Then she yawned a little. "Please don't leave me."

"I won't, sweetie. Go back to sleep. I'm right here," he responded, brushing her hair back.

"I love you," she said sleepily.

"I love you, too," he answered. "Go to sleep."

As her breathing settled back, he tried to still his own breathing and rest. At dawn, they would take over the boat, then make their way home. Then she would be on her way back to the Earth Kingdom, safe and free. With Toph's safety determined in his mind, Zuko managed to go to sleep.

Hours later, even in the windowless darkness of the cabin, Zuko could feel the sunrise and awoke feeling like himself, if a bit achy from the hard bunk. He was glad that he finally seemed to have shed the aftereffects of the drug and slipped out from beneath Toph to stretch and meditate.

Some time later, over on the bunk, Toph began to stir. "Good morning, sleepyhead," he said, cheerily.

"Why are you such a morning person?" she groaned. "I never dreamed I would end up with a morning person."

"Glad to see you're in such a good mood. I have an idea to get us out of this cell," he began.

"Fire away, Sparky, I'm all ears—seeing as how I can't see anything I might as well be a good listener," she replied sourly.

"Believe it or not, your ill mood is actually going to be useful," he stated, then began to explain before she could protest.

Zhiang came down the hall to the sound of raised voices. Surely the lovebirds weren't having a tiff, he thought.

"You sorry bastard!" the woman was screaming. "I was ready to give everything up for you—you know that!"

"I'm sorry, Toph," the prince was trying to calm her down but it wasn't working. "She doesn't mean anything to me! It's an arranged marriage! We can still be together!"

"Like hell we will!" Toph, apparently, would have none of it.

"Hey, settle down!" Zhiang called into the cell.

Toph ran up to the door. "Zhiang, you have got to let me out of here," she pleaded. "I can't stay in here another second with this lying, two-faced, ugly pervert!" she screamed these words back at Zuko.

Zuko took the opportunity to add a little fuel. "I am not a pervert! She's fourteen! That's legal age in the Fire Nation!"

"You are low, you know that," Toph growled. "You are a low, despicable, filthy-minded creep. How could you think for a second I would go along with that? I am going back home just as fast as I can and I hope I never see you again. I hope you rot!" she finished with a screech, then burst into tears. Zuko thought he'd never seen a performance of such caliber.

Then she delivered the final blow. She turned her face up to Zhiang at the door and whispered pitifully, "Please, Zhiang, please let me out of here. I just want to go home," and one big tear rolled down her cheek.

Without another word, Zhiang lifted the heavy wooden beam that held the door closed, letting Toph out of the cell. Within seconds, he was unconscious on the floor, the dart sticking out of his back.

"My dear Toph, you were magnificent." Zuko gave Toph a very formal bow and kiss on each hand. "Remind me never to make you angry."

"We'll get along just fine as long as you never look at another woman as long as you live," she replied.

"I'll keep that in mind," he answered. "Now how can we take care of Yung?" he wondered aloud.

They explored the small boat, keeping an eye out for the older man. Zuko wished it had been Yung to take the dart, but in all likelihood he wouldn't have taken the bait anyway. There were only two cabins, fore and aft, and a center galley. Yung wasn't below, which meant he had to be in the wheelhouse above.

They made their way quietly through the door, Zuko in the lead, holding Toph's hand tightly. Ahead of them in the morning sun lay a beautiful island, all green and lush. The beaches glittered darkly in the sun and the water was a sparkling crystal blue. The boat was apparently anchored a hundred feet or so offshore along with four or five small fishing boats. To his dismay, he realized that Yung now had reinforcements.

He turned back to Toph just in time to see Zhiang grab her from behind, placing a crude, but effective wooden dagger at her throat, just under her chin.

"Very clever, lady," he rasped. Zuko realized that the drug must have lost its effectiveness as it dried. "Step out on deck—slowly," he commanded.

Never taking his eyes off Toph, Zuko backed out onto the deck. He knew from the look in her eyes that Toph was casting out around her for something bendable. His hands were quickly bound in front of him with rough rope. He began concentrating heat against the bindings, hoping to be able to burn the tough strands in two. Unfortunately, he knew it would take a while.

Yung stepped around him and Zuko glanced around to see several other men standing on the deck. They were all dressed in tattered red and green with the same trademark black bandanna. Many held blowguns at the ready.

Zuko was furious. This had been very well planned, very well orchestrated. Someone had clearly fought benders before and knew the rule--keep 'em unconscious and/or tightly bound at all times.

"We're just going to take your girlfriend on ahead, your highness," said Yung slyly as he reached over to exchange places with Zhiang. The point of the crude dagger pressed even more tightly to Toph's throat in his hands. "I know we won't see any trouble out of you as long as we have her."

"I can take care of myself, Zuko," Toph began, then froze as the point of the dagger brought a drop of blood to her throat.

"No false moves, little girl, or I'll give you a scar to rival your boyfriend's," Yung snarled.

"Just play along, Toph, it'll be fine," Zuko told her softly. "There are men with blowguns surrounding us." He could see in her face that she checked their positions by the feel of the metal darts. She frowned in concentration for a few seconds, then gave him a little smile.

"You'll be okay, baby," she said. "Just be sure to check your fly."

Yung forced her over to the side. "Are you taking the launch?" asked Zhiang.

"No, I think our little guest will be more cooperative in the water. I hope you know how to swim," Yung laughed harshly.

Zuko saw Toph's eyes open wide in panic, then he watched helplessly as Yung dragged her over the rail of the boat.

"Zuko!" she screamed in terror as she fell out of sight.