Author's Note: Kind of a boring chapter that was just here to explain some things and lay the foundation for the next chapter :) I'm surprised I was actually able to get around to writing this for you because my AP English class is starting to get absolutely crazy with the amount of work I have to do XP Anyway, enough complaining from me, I hope you enjoy Chapter 14 of my Taangy little story! :p

Also, I think this marks the 20,000 word mark, so I just want to say 'Woo-Hoo!' to that XD I honestly never thought it would continue for this long, but I'm glad I was right :D

Now, this is important to any actual fans I may have out there. I will not update again until someone other than 'I'm Solo' comments on this chapter :3 I hate to do this, but I hate seeing how many favs and followers it has compared to the reviews even more. So if you actually want another chapter, review review review! ;D (Btw, thank you again to 'I'm Solo' XD)

"Katara, what a pleasure it is to see you again. How's Zuzu doing with that scar of his?" Azula sneered, a creepy grin plastered on her face. She was, of course, referring to the time she had hit him with lightning when he had protected Katara.

Kazuo moved to stand next to her, almost protectively, leading Katara to believe that he was somehow involved with Azula, whether the maniacal princess was in agreement with it or not. "I'll enjoy murdering each one of you, even if Zuzu and that worthless Avatar decide to valiantly give their lives for yours. I mean, that would be much too generous of me to just let you go after everything you've done to me. I was powerful, feared, and respected, but then you had to go and stick me in an isolated prison cell for years! Luckily, Kazuo here was my personal guard at the time, and he understood my views. Busting me out, he vowed to help me in any way he could. He's done so well, I'm considering making him my husband when I become Fire Lord, but who knows." As she spoke, Kazuo watched her with a sort of reverence that Katara could easily understand.

Kazuo was in love with Azula.

What it was that had attracted that man to her, Katara couldn't figure it out. Then again, did love really have to have a reason? You couldn't really decide who you fell for after all, it was just something that happened, and you just have to go with it.

"Now, I did promise them twenty-four hours before any of you were harmed, so I won't kill any of you yet." Azula smirked as she walked over to Toph to lift her chin up with a finger, "However, I want you to think of nothing else but the fear you feel for me as you sit in your confinement, crying and praying to whoever you think will come to save you. Nothing would bring me greater joy than that."

Walking away with a laugh, Kazuo quickly gave orders to the guards to lock the gang away before heading after her, nothing but admiration in his gaze. Each of the cells were perfectly fitted to keep them contained.

Toph's cage was wooden, with wooden shackles set as a precautionary measure. Suki and Sokka were in your everyday cell, the only two who were allowed to be together, but their arms were closely shackled to the wall so not even their feet could touch. Katara had her arms shackled behind her back to prevent water bending, and the guards orders were to never allow to her feed or drink by herself. Whoever had developed their cells had put a lot of research and thought into developing them, ensuring there would be no means of escape. And this plan had obviously been in the works for a very long time.

Aang POV

Meanwhile, Aang was frantically filling Zuko in on what had happened, pacing back and forth as he spoke and tried to come up with a plan to save them. The Fire Lord simply gaped through the whole story, Ayla comfortably sleeping on Appa as he did.

"You mean they were waiting for you?! How is that even possible? How could they have been so prepared that they took out some of the nation's best fighters within a few minutes?" He demanded, standing to his feet as his blood began to boil dangerously. "Why didn't you save them?!"

Aang listened to Zuko quietly, only shaking his head in utter misery as he continued to pace. "Trust me Zuko, I wanted to… It physically hurt me to see them like that, and to know I couldn't do anything to help them." He said quietly, fighting the urge to sob. Crying would solve nothing, he knew that. He had to think.

Zuko angrily turned away from him, running a hand through his hair as he struggled with the news. He blamed himself for their capture, knowing he should have just stayed behind when everyone was fleeing the palace. If he had just sacrificed himself, they wouldn't be in this mess. "We need to come up with a plan… We can't just hand ourselves over on a silver platter, how do we know they'll keep their end of the bargain? We need help."

Aang nodded in agreement, "Yes, but where are we gonna get it? Even if we send letters to the Kyoshi Warriors, or the Earth King, or even the Water Tribes, it would take them far too long to get the reinforcements over here. We'll have to do this ourselves."

As much as Zuko didn't want to admit it, Aang was right. They would have to do this on their own. Looking over at Ayla, Zuko spoke again, "What do you propose we do then?"

Aang froze as an idea hit him, "I'm gonna challenge their leader to an Agni Kai. The winner takes all." He decided, sounding as if he had just undergone an epiphany.

Zuko shook his head, quickly disagreeing, "No way. I'm not gonna let you kill yourself like that. I'll challenge him; I've competed in enough of them to know how to win. This would be your first, since it would be the only battle you've been forced to use only Firebending. No offense, but Firebending isn't your best element, air is. You would be out within minutes." He argued, voicing his worries.

Aang smiled at his friend, "You always take things way too seriously, Zuko. You don't have to worry, I can handle it. You just sit back. You suffered a very bad injury during your last Agni Kai against Azula, it would be stupid to fight in another one. I can handle it, I learned from one of the best that ever lived."

Rather reluctantly, Zuko gave a tiny nod of approval, still looking worried. "Rest for a few hours, the suns setting as it is and you'll be no good tired. We'll leave as soon as dawn breaks, and we'll make sure to save our friends."

As much as Aang wanted to rush over there now, he knew it would be a brainless move. It would do more harm than good to go over there when he was tired.

Toph POV

It was dark. As dark as her early years had been.

She was terrified as she curled up against the wooden wall, wanting nothing more than to hear Aang's voice as he offered a hand to her, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he led her to sight. No matter how hard she wished though, she was still alone. Sleep evaded her as the hours passed, and she had no semblance of time, so they just seemed to pass even slower than usual.

Toph could hear voices every once in a while as guards switched duties, and others went by to double check that nothing was wrong. Food, or so she thought, was thrown into her cage in front of her by a bunch of laughing morons, but she didn't touch it. A lot of them came to mock her, as well as the others from what she could here, and she had never felt more like a freak than she did at that moment. No smart-aleck comments would help her now, so she just took it silently reveling in the silence when it came.