Well guys, here's the last Boiling Rock chapter. I know, finally right? As much as I love this episode, it was kind of a bore writing it out.
disclaimer - I don't own ATLA
Sokka, Zuko, and Suki quickly split up when they saw Sokka's father leaving the gondola. Sokka left to get to the tower where the new prisoners were at and Zuko and Suki were running back into the prisoner holding tower to blend in with the other prisoners. The guards were forcing the prisoners back into their cells, using firebending if they weren't being quick enough. A guard pointed at Zuko and Suki.
"You two! Back in your cells! This is a lockdown!"
The two glanced at each other one last time before running to their cells.
The cell door slammed shut behind Zuko as soon as he rushed inside. He could hear the sound of running from the stragglers hurrying into their cells and the shouting orders the guards were giving them. Then there was silence.
Zuko lay down on his cot with his hands holded behind his head. He would like so much to just fall asleep he was so tired but he was too anxious to sleep. Now that Sokka's father was there how were they all going to escape now? There was no way they could risk using another cooler for a boat. Now they had to come up with a different escape plan. His eyes began to droop and he immediately fell asleep
"Zuko, are you there?"
The firebender's eyes opened when he heard Sokka talking to him.
"Zuko?"
Zuko hurried out of his cot and went to the slot on the metal door. He could see Sokka with his visor up.
"I'm here." he answered
"I just got done talking to my Dad." said Sokka, "We came up with an escape plan together."
"What are you doing here?"
Zuko jumped away from the door when he heard the guard's voice. He prayed to Agni they weren't going to get caught.
"I was just telling this dirty lowlife what I think of him!" Zuko heard Sokka say to the guard
"Well, you'll have to do that later, he's coming with us."
The firebender's heart started beating hard. What did the guards want with him? He hadn't done anything since the day before. Did Chit Sang tell on him and Sokka?
"Why?" asked Sokka
"Because we have orders straight from the Warden. That's why." said the other guard, sounding very annoyed
"Could I just get ten more seconds to rough him up a bit?"
Hearing this, Zuko rolled up his mat. He had a feeling that he and Sokka were going to need to make Sokka beating him sound real.
"Fine, ten seconds."
Sokka entered the cell, shutting the door behind him and Zuko held up the rolled up mattress. The Water Tribe boy understood what the mattress was for and started punching it while Zuko pretended to grunt in pain.
"Take that!" Sokka yelled out for the guards outside to hear. "And this! We have a new plan," he added in whisper to Zuko, "But it's gonna need a big distraction. Be in the yard in one hour."
The cell door started opening and Sokka lunged at Zuko's head as the firebender dropped the mattress and tried to choke Zuko. For a guy with a smaller build than Zuko, Sokka had a pretty strong grip.
"Alright, that's enough." The shoved Sokka off Zuko and he and another guard lead him out of his cell. Zuko rubbed the back of his neck where Sokka hurt it from trying to "choke" him
"What are you doing?" Zuko demanded while the guards lead him to a different room "Where are you taking me?"
The guards didn't answer his questions. He didn't like how this was going. Either he had to see the warden or the warden had contacted Ozai and told him his traitor son was in the Boiling Rock.
The female guard opened a door to a different room. Zuko saw that the room was a cell with a wooden chair in the middle of it before the guards shoved him inside. He fell on the ground, grabbing the chair for support.
"I didn't do anything wrong!" he yelled out to the guards
"Come on Zuko."
Zuko looked to the corner when he heard that familiar monotone voice.
Mai was standing at the corner of the room with her head down. She looked up and stepped into the light.
"We all know that's a lie."
"Mai."
"Hello traitor." she replied casually but with a piercing glare.
"What are you doing here?" asked Zuko
"We need to talk."
Zuko sat down in the chair with his head down. He had a feeling what Mai wanted to talk to him about.
"How did you even know I was here?" he asked her
"The Warden's my uncle you idiot."
This time, Zuko really did hit his forehead. Of course, the warden would have told Mai where Zuko was first chance he had. He suddenly realized something.
"Azula's here isn't she."
"And Ty Lee. But what I want to know is why are you here? How could you turn against us like this? Do you realize you threw away your life and your future doing this? For being with that-"
"Don't you dare say a word against Katara." Zuko interrupted in a threatening tone. "And I'm not just turning against you, I have to save my country."
"Save it?" Mai questioned incredulously, "You're betraying your country."
"That's not how I see it."
Mai folded her arms and turned away sulkily.
"Look, I'm sorry I broke your heart. I knew you had a crush on me when we were kids but I didn't think it was going to last this long, even after I was banished and everything."
"I never gave up on you, you know. I wasn't like your dad or Azula. I knew you were going to come back. I waited three years for you."
"I'm sorry."
"And that waterbender came along and ruined it all!"
"No Mai. It wouldn't have worked out between us. I've always seen you as Azula's friend who had a crush on me. Before Katara, I never felt anything, not even when you kissed me that night on our way back to the Fire Nation."
Mai looked at Zuko for a moment before rushing forward and kissing him full on the mouth. Caught off guard, Zuko pushed Mai away gently.
"Nothing?" she asked quietly though she already knew the answer.
Zuko shook his head. "I'm sorry." he whispered.
Mai looked down and turned away from him again. A tear threatened to fall.
"How is she? Katara?"
"She's fine. We think she might be having a baby."
The tear fell and rolled down her pale cheek.
"That's good news. Have you decided on any names yet?"
"Kya if it's a girl. Lu Ten if it's a boy."
Mai breathed out a shuddering sigh. Zuko went to her and gave her a hug. She tried pushing him away at first but when he wouldn't budge she accepted it.
A guard rushed into the room Mai and Zuko were in. "Ma'am, there's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you."
"I don't need any protection." the knife thrower told him in annoyance
Zuko chuckled a little at this. "Hah, believe me. She doesn't."
"I'm sorry but I'm under direct orders from your Uncle to make sure nothing happens."
When the guard was close enough Mai pulled out some knives and threw them at him, pinning him to the wall.
"Go while you still have the chance." she told the surprised Zuko.
"Thank you." he said softly
"Go!" she repeated urgently and Zuko ran out of the room without hesitation
Zuko caught up with Sokka, his father, Suki, and Chit Sang away from the riot. Sokka told him that they just needed to grab the warden and get to the gondolas, though he had no idea how they were going to do it. Luckily, Suki was so much of a skilled warrior she was able to get through the riot unscathed by running on the prisoner's heads, scaled the walls, took down some guards easily, and had taken the warden hostage.
"That's some girl." said Sokka's father when he and the other guys caught up with her and started catching their breath.
"Tell me about it." Sokka said looking at Suki proudly.
The group ran to the platform where the gondola was, taking down any guard who got in their way. Chit Sang carried the bound and gagged warden on his shoulder. When they made it to the platform the guards at the gondola firebend at the group and Zuko shoved Sokka out of the way to intercept the flame, dissipating it immediately. More guards joined in to help the other guards.
"Back off," Zuko warned them, "We've got the Warden." He stepped aside so the warden would be noticable to the guards. The guards lowered their stances. "Let's go."
The group slowly and warily walked past the guards in case the guards attacked them. Zuko stopped at the end of the platform in front of the lever for the gondola while the rest ran toward the gondola. Suki opened the door and they all rushed in save for Zuko who grabbed the lever and pushed it down to get the gondola moving. When it started move off he kicked the lever to break it and keep the guards from stopping them from escaping. When he saw the guards running to him he kicked the lever harder and this time broke it. He ran toward the gondola and jumped off the platform. Multiple fireballs flew over his head while he was in the air. Sokka reached out to catch Zuko. He caught his arm and struggled to climb up while Sokka struggled under Zuko's weight. The firebender took hold of the sides of the gondola and was able to climb into the gondola.
"What were you doing?" Sokka asked Zuko as if he was crazy
"I'm making it so they can't stop us." answered Zuko
"Way to think ahead."
"We're on our way." Suki told the others, looking at the other side of the crater
"Wait. Who's that?"
Sokka and Zuko looked out the gondola with Sokka's father to see who he was talking about.
"That's a problem." Zuko answered. "It's my sister and her friend."
"I thought you said Ty Lee was your friend." said Sokka
"I guess she isn't anymore."
Azula used her firebending and a guard's manacle to get herself to their gondola while Ty Lee ran on the ropes.
Suki had the look of determination on her face as she watched Azula and Ty Lee get closer. "This is a rematch I've been waiting for."
"Me too." Zuko climbed up to the roof of the gondola with Sokka and Suki and prepared themselves for the fight. Sokka unsheathed his sword and Zuko and Suki got into fighting stances. Ty Lee cartwheeled off the line and landed on the roof, facing Suki. Azula landed in a crouch in front of her brother and Sokka. She got into a stance and the fight was on.
Together, Sokka and Zuko took on Azula while Suki and Ty Lee fought. The acrobat attempted to chi block Suki but the Kyoshi Warrior blocked all her attacks. Not long after the fight began the teens all suddenly started losing their balance; the gondola stopped. Sokka lost his footing and started sliding off the roof. Zuko rushed forward and grabbed Sokka's arm just when he was at the edge of the roof. Once the gondola stopped moving, Zuko pulled Sokka up. Ty Lee jumped to the top of the metal extension to look back at the tower to see what was going on.
"They're about to cut the line!" she shouted to Azula.
Everyone looked back at the tower and sure enough two guards were sawing the line. Azula saw another gondola coming in.
"Then it's time to leave." she said with a cruel smile on her face. She propeled herself from the roof with her firebending and did a back flip, landing on the other gondola's roof. "Goodbye Zuko."
Ty Lee looked down at Zuko. He was surprised to see that she was worried.
I'm so sorry! She mouthed to him before flipping onto the other roof as well.
Suki, Sokka, and watched the other gondola sail back to the tower. Ty Lee and Azula looked back at them. Zuko flipped back into the inside of the gondola followed by Sokka and Suki.
"They're cutting the line." he told Sokka's father and Chit Sang. "The gondola's about to go!"
"I hope this thing floats." said Sokka's father.
Zuko knew there was no hope at all; they were all going to die.
Agni watch over our friends. He prayed Please help Katara take care of our baby and please watch over Uncle.
The gondola lurched again but instead of it falling into the lake it started moving again to its destination.
"What just happened?" asked Suki
"Who is that?"
The others joined Sokka at the window to look back at the tower. Zuko could see the guards being blown backwards off their feet. A figure stood in front of them, throwing something.
"It's Mai!"
"Why is she helping us?" demanded Suki. "She helped Azula put me and the other Kyoshi Warriors in jail!"
Zuko smiled at Suki.
"She's a friend of mine and Katara's." he answered simply. Suki didn't say anything after that though she didn't look ready to drop the subject.
The gondola soon reached the outer part of the crater. Suki opened the door and rushed out followed by Sokka, Zuko, Hakoda and Chit Sang, leaving the warden behind in the gondola and making their way up the rocky incline.
"Well, we made it out." said Suki. "Now what?"
Zuko stopped in his tracks and looked back at the prison. Azula was back there. She had to have come her somehow.
"Zuko, what are you doing?" asked Sokka
"My sister was on that island." said Zuko
"Yeah and she's probably right behind us. So let's not stop."
"What I mean is she must have come here somehow." He ran to the edge of the rocks and looked down. Docked at the shore was a Fire Nation zeppelin. "There. That's our way out of here."
"What shall we do with them, princess ?" asked one of the guards arresting Mai and Ty Lee. Azula was unable to move because Ty Lee had chi blocked her, making her completely paralyzed from the neck down.
"Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again." Azula said angrily. "And let them rot!"
The guards led Mai and Ty Lee away.
"Congratulations, by the way Princess Azula." Mai called out as she was dragged off, "You're going to be an aunt! And just so you know I'm not the mother! And neither is Ty Lee!"
Azula's eyes widened. No...there was no way...
Katara stared up at the moon. She wasn't tired enough to sleep; she only felt anxiety. She kept thinking about what was going on; the war, her being pregnant, and Sozin's Comet. She sighed. Katara hoped Zuko would be back soon, she really needed his company. A strange noise caught her attention and she looked around for the source. Something huge suddenly floated downwards in front of the temple and docked at the end of the platfom. It was a Fire Nation zeppelin!
"The Fire Nation's found us!" Katara yelled to the others, "We have to get out of here now!"
The kids scrambled to get out as quickly as they could. The door to the zeppeling opened and a ramp came out. Katara got into a fighting stance; she was ready to fight off whoever they were no matter how many firebenders were there. She had to make sure these people won't hurt her friends. Toph and Aang got into their stances next to her to help. Two people they didn't expect to see walked out of the zeppelin.
"What are you doing in this thing?" Katara asked Zuko and Sokka. "What happened to the war balloon?"
Haru, Teo, and The Duke stopped running when they saw who was coming out of the zeppelin.
"It kind of got destroyed." said Zuko.
"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip." said Aang
"Did you at least get some good meat?" asked Toph. Katara rolled her eyes.
"I did." said Sokka, closing his eyes. "The best meat of all." He opened his eyes again. "The meat of friendship and fatherhood."
Katara nearly laughed at how stupid that sentence was but she immediately silenced herself when she saw the people leaving the zeppelin; her father, Suki, and some other guy.
"I'm new." said the guy. "What's up everybody?"
Katara could feel tears forming in her eyes. "Dad." She ran her father and embraced him.
"Hi, Katara." he murmed.
"How are you here?" she asked. "What is going on?" She looked at her brother and Zuko. "Where did you go?"
"We... kind of went to a Fire Nation prison." said Sokka
Zuko nodded. Katara grabbed Sokka by his arm and pulled him closer into a group hug with their father.
"Seriously, you guys didn't find any meat?"
Zuko rolled his eyes at this comment.
"Sorry Toph but the prison was fresh out of meat." he retorted.
"Don't sass your grandma!"
"We'll explain later." Sokka muttered to Hakoda and Suki after seeing the looks on their faces.
Katara embraced Zuko. "Oh Zuko I don't know whether to kill you or kiss you!"
"Kissing would be nice." Zuko murmured before leaning forward to kiss her.
Toph chose this moment to say "So Hakoda, how does it feel to be a grandpa?"
Zuko and Katara froze. Neither Sokka or Zuko told Hakoda or Suki that Katara and Zuko were married and expecting a child.
"Excuse me?" Hakoda looked sternly at Zuko and Katara who were still in a weird position. "Grandpa?"
"Uh...time to go to bed!" Katara grabbed Zuko's arm and the couple ran out of the room. "Good night!"
Holy crap I've been working on this one all day! Thank you ZStar2010 for helping me out with how Hakoda and Suki can learn about Katara's marriage to Zuko and her pregnancy