Katara

When Joo Dee said those words Katara couldn't help but want to smash her head against the dungeon wall. The phrase, 'You learn something new everyday' had since her capture taken on a new meaning and she knew for sure that she didn't like it one bit. "Ok.. but how come they didn't kill you?"

Joo Dee set the cup of tea she had been drinking back on the tray, "Long Feng thought he could find a use for me. I started off as one of the first test subject for his brainwashing experiments."

"Why not just kill you after that?"

Joo Dee replied, "I'm not entirely sure….but as days pass and the war goes on, the unrest of the people grow. Long Feng is losing his grip. He's afraid and desperate. It wouldn't be entirely impossible if he brings me back, under his control of course, claiming to have found the lost princess."

"I guess that makes sense." Katara could see what she was getting at.

"Long Feng doesn't think like us. He's prideful but also extremely manipulative. With the brainwashing system near-perfect, Long-Feng has created a second army, one that's virtually undetectable but as dangerous as the Dai Li. He recruits young women, brainwashes them and turns all of them into his spies. They roam the city collecting information and suppressing revolt, with no violence, or anything. He's named all of them after me: Joo Dee."

"That's so twisted." Katara could barely wrap her head around it. But before either of them could say anything, the door slid open again to reveal a Dai Li agent.

Joo Dee stood up, "Time for my 30 minute walk."

Katara couldn't help but feel like these princess privileges were slightly excessive. She watched dully as Joo Dee's hands were securely fastened behind her back and she was led down the hall out of sight. With time to kill though, Katara's mind began to wander…..

It was the night before the gang was to depart for their 'vacations' (whatever Sokka meant by that). As of now though, Katara's brother was snoring, Toph was in her Earth tent, and after asking if Katara needed help, the Avatar was snoozing on a patch of grass. Wind stirred up the air around her. Katara was preparing everyone's stuff for their departure. She picked up Zuko's bag, making to place it on Appa's saddle with the others when something caught her eye. A blue mask poked out from the top. Some part of her recognized it, and without entirely realizing what she was doing, Katara took out the mask. A voice called out from behind her.

"You couldn't sleep either?" Katara whipped around in surprise to see the firebenders silhouette against the moonlight

"What-oh yeah…" She awkwardly held up the mask, "This looked familiar. Sorry for going through your stuff."

Zuko didn't look angry, instead he just shrugged, "The Blue Spirit mask. I haven't used it in a while. Just before when I had to do stuff without being recognized."

"The Blue Spirit?" The gears in Katara's head started turning, then her eyes widened, "You mean you're the one that saved Aang."

"Well I guess….if we don't count what I would have done to him after." The prince replied, noncommittally.

Katara couldn't help but a laugh a little, and in response a smile even shone on the firebenders lips-

The prison doors slid open again and though it had felt like only minutes, the half-hour had passed and the princess had returned. Katara hurriedly shook the image of smiling lips and vivid gold eyes from her brain. It was to no use though, the princess walked in silently and sat down facing away from her, as if they had never spoken before. The bars slid closed and the Dai Li retreated. The second he was out of sight Joo Dee turned toward her in earnest.

"The King's having a party!" Joo Dee whispered excitedly, her eyes wide.

"Um...ok….? Are we invited?" Prison had started to make her sound like Sokka.

"No, no you don't get it. I heard the staff talking. Tomorrow's party for the pet bear is the biggest event of the year. They'll need almost all the Dai Li and guards on duty." Joo Dee explained hastily. She looked like she expected some reaction but Katara gave none. Joo Dee groaned, "Don't you see? We can escape! There won't be as many guards and I know a way out through the catacombs."

"Ok…" Katara was skeptical, "But how exactly do we get out of the cell?"

Without responding, Joo Dee moved to the back wall and with some struggle, pulled out a block from the cell wall. From inside the cavity she removed a cloth package. Unwrapping it she revealed a single metal key. Breathless with excitement she turned to Katara, "I've been keeping this for years since I was first captured, but there were always so many guards and no place to go. But now, the two of us can get out of here and I can join you and your friends to take this city back."

At Joo Dee's words, Katara felt something inside her that she thought she had lost when those agents took her: hope. "Maybe we can do it."

Joo Dee rambled on with a possible escape plan but Katara could barely hear her. She was getting out of here. To her brother, to Aang, to everyone else. To Zuko. Resolve joined budding hope. She looked at the key now lying on the dirty floor: she was coming home.

A/N: WAIT. If Zuko plans to rescue Katara at the same time Katara plans to escape….will they collide horribly or even worse, miss each other completely? Ideally the result would be an awesome mid jail-break reunion full of kicked Dai Li asses, but the best never seems to happen for our duo. Sorry for not updating in a while but hopefully what comes next will be worth it. Thank you again for all the support and reviews; they really help a lot. And as always I love to hear more feedback!