Chapter 11

Fire Nation Prison

"Agh!" A Fire Nation guard fell to the ground, unconscious.

Avin spat out blood as he looked around. "Nice job, everyone, remember, we need this to be as quiet as possible. Now…" He saw a soldier crawling away, and ran over to him.

"It's you! Get away!" The soldier cried, as Avin grabbed the man's shirt and pulled him up.

"Calm down, I just need to know something," the airbender said, "I need to know where a girl named Rixama is. She was being kept here." Avin closed his fingers around the man's throat, "I don't think I need to explain what might happen if you don't cooperate."

"Down the hall," the trembling guard said, "First door on the left. There are files on everyone who has been in this prison."

"Thanks." Avin said coldly as he threw the guard aside, "It might be a trap. Aang, Toph, stay here and make sure this guy doesn't sound the alarm. Katara and Sokka, come on."

The group walked down the metal hall, leaving Toph and Aang behind with the terrified guard.

"Hmm," Avin said as he and Sokka broke the door down, "Something doesn't seem right."

"What is it?" Katara asked, as the airbender walked over to a desk and started rifling through the papers.

"It's nothing," Avin said, as he looked through the papers littering the desk. He threw some papers aside and went on to search the wooden cabinets.

Tsk, damn…Feizhi should have reported back by now. At the very least we should have seen some sign of a battle, if she was found out. Avin looked out the window, but the sky was calm. Some storm clouds seemed to be forming but there was nothing resembling fire.

I'm sure it's nothing. Still, it wouldn't hurt Feizhi to come and report already!

After all, in retrospect, she had the easiest job. All she had to do was take out a few soldiers along the way to the prison and intercept anyone approaching, as well as anyone who might try to escape. She didn't actually have to get in.

"I've got it," Avin said, pulling out a few sheets of paper, "Rixama…the last name is smudged, but I'm sure this is her…"

Though it worries me I can't remember her last name myself…

"Okay…give me a second to write this stuff down…she's being kept in a minor Fire Lord's palace, in the 'servant's quarters.'" Figures they wouldn't want to call it a prison in case people like us came to read these files.

"A minor palace?" Sokka asked.

"Sure," answered Avin, "It's normal for a Fire Lord to have more than one palace, ever since Sozin. You have more than one place to fall back to in the event you get invaded or something. Not like that would EVER happen anyway."

An awkward silence filled the room. Sokka finally broke it, saying, "Huh. You really know your Fire Lord."

"Been working on it for a long time." Avin muttered, putting his pen away and looking over what he had written. "Okay, let's go. Luckily enough, there's no way the Fire Lord is in this palace, so it won't be very heavily guarded. There will still be guards, though, so we'll have to stay alert."

Avin felt a pang of guilt as he said it, as he knew he'd have to be the only one following his advice.

Well, me and Feizhi, at any rate.

Avin rushed down the hallway, waving to Toph and Aang. "Come on guys, we're done here."

"Okay," Aang said, following Katara and Sokka.

"Toph, just knock that guy out. By the time he wakes up we'll be long gone."

"Got it," Toph said, hitting the man lightly on the head, and he crumpled underneath her. She ran after the rest of the group, her bare feet clanging against the cold metal of the prison. As she turned the corner, a hand clamped over her mouth.

She let out a muffled yell as she struggled against her captor, but fell silent at what she heard:

"Listen. This is very important. No matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone does, do NOT deviate from the plan. Stay loyal to Aang, and everything will work out. Do you understand?"

Toph nodded, and tried to recognize the voice. It was muffled, and the metal hindered Toph's "sight", but she could almost make out her captor…

Suddenly she felt pressure on her neck, and fell into unconsciousness.

Outside the Prison

"You guys, wait," Aang said, as everyone stopped and turned to look at him, "Toph hasn't come out."

"You don't think something's happened?" Katara said, worried.

Avin smiled faintly.Everything's gone off without a hitch. Time to start the show.

"Better safe than sorry," Avin said, "We've got a bit of time. Go back in there and find Toph, and me and Aang will meet you at the loading dock over there." He motioned over to a dock down the path.

"Got it," Sokka said, running back into the prison. Katara followed.

"Come on, Aang," Avin said, running down the path, "We'll wait for them there."

"I don't know, Avin," Aang asked, "What if we're seen?"

"I wouldn't worry about that," Avin replied, "Feizhi's watching out for us, and she's got a good eye. No one's going to get within miles of us."

"Okay," Aang said, a bit reassured.

Avin sneezed. He sniffed a bit and rubbed his nose. "Someone's coming."

"What?" Aang asked, "How do you know?"

"Just a feeling. You've learned earthbending by now, right? You should know how to wait and listen. Try it now, see if you find anything."

"Huh. How about that. It's probably Katara and the others, huh?."

"Nah," Avin muttered, turning to face Aang, "I doubt it."

"How come?" Aang asked.

Avin wrinkled his nose. "Aang, I have to tell you something. I'm not into the whole Avatar spirit thing, but I've heard Avatars can sometimes contact their predecessor. So, if you really can talk to Roku…ask him about airbending. It's too complicated to explain now, but if we ever see each other again, I'll tell you."

"Wait, if we ever see each other again? What are you talking about?" The Avatar asked.

Avin smiled a sad smile, and walked to the other end of the dock. He looked out at the ocean, as the waves beat against the rock at the bottom.

"Okay, Azula, I'm ready," Avin said, as Aang's eyes widened, and Azula stepped out of the forest, with a platoon of soldiers in tow.

"Avin, what's going on?" Aang said as the soldiers surrounded him.

"What does it look like, Aang?" Avin replied bitterly. He looked at Azula, hatred etched in his face.

"I held up my part of the deal. Now pay up." Avin said to Azula.

"All right, all right, don't need to be so hostile," Azula said, holding a scroll up, "Take it, and you are no longer an enemy of the Fire Nation."

"Excellent. Well, if that's all, Azula, I'd rather not stick around." Avin took a few steps towards the Fire Nation princess.

"Avin, where are you going? What are you doing?!" Aang asked, shock filling his voice.

"Aang, you know what's going on. Stop acting stupid." Avin replied, clenching his fists.

"Avin, why are you leaving?!"

"I SOLD YOU OUT, AANG!!" Avin yelled out, "Is THAT what you've been waiting to hear?!"

Aang lowered his head, as the soldiers closed in on him. "No."

"Yes." Avin muttered, looking over at the Avatar, "I betrayed you."

"I don't believe you!" Aang said.

Avin looked at his friend, expecting to see hatred, anger, fear. Something he was used to seeing.

But…all he saw in Aang's face was sadness, disappointment, disbelief.

"You wouldn't betray us, Avin. You're our friend."

See that? We have at least one friend, in Aang! We can't go through with this.

Azula turned to Avin. "Avin, take the scroll and get out of here. I'll take it from here."

We're already this far along. Let's just take the scroll and go.

Avin clenched his head and shut his eyes. "Shut up…shut up!"

"Avin!" Aang said as the soldiers grabbed Aang.

"Avin!" Azula shouted.

Avin! Avin! Avin! Avin! Avin!

Avin's eyes snapped open, and he yelled in anger.

The airbender shot a gust of wind at the soldiers surrounding Aang, and he raced to the Avatar's side. He helped Aang up, and the two airbenders stood side by side.

"Stay away from my friend!" Avin yelled.

Azula's face contorted in anger as she burned the scroll in her hand.

"You'll regret this, Avin," she said.

"Aang, here," Avin said, putting a piece of paper into the Avatar's hands, "Find Katara and the others, and then go find Rixama. Get her out of where they're holding her and meet me back here."

Aang's face fell, as he shook his head sadly. "Sorry, Avin, but you were willing to hand me over to them. I have no reason to help you."

Avin looked at Aang in shock. "Aang, I-"

Aang looked away, and jumped into the air. He landed at the foot of the path and started running.

"Hurry!" Azula shouted as her soldiers fell into pursuit, "Do not let the Avatar get away!"

She began to run after him as well, but Avin shot a blast of air at her feet.

"No, Azula. I'm going to be your opponent today."

A lightning bolt came down a few miles away, and thunder roared. Azula smiled and turned to face her opponent.