"You're both traitors. Dishonor on you, dishonor on your family, dishonor on your nation."
"I may be a traitor, but at least I don't betray my conscience."
"You could've been the most honorable firebender in the nation, yet you gave it all up. I pity you."
Placing her fingers at the other's chest, she pushed her off of the gondola and into the boiling hot water.
"Goodbye."
Everyone gathered around the campfire, laughing about the times where Zuko and Yiyi would chase down Aang and how the two firebenders clearly had feelings for each other but never realized till it was almost too late. Sokka continued to stare far off into the distance, chatter drowned out as he was deep in thought. Seeing this Yiyi questioned as to why Sokka was being so quiet when he was normally the chattermouth of the group.
"Sokka? Sokka…? SOKKA!"
"Huh?" Sokka snapped out of his trance and looked at the group who were all staring back at him questioningly.
"What are you thinking about?"
Sokka placed down his tea cup and asked to talk to Zuko off to the side, much to everyone's dismay. The two male's walked towards Sokka's room where he had been sleeping in after arriving at the penthouse where Zuko and his family once lived in.
"Where do they hold war prisoners?"
Zuko's eyes bulged for a split second before returning normal, "Why do you want to know? What are you up to?"
Sokka stared into Zuko's amber eyes, "Answer the question Zuko. Where do they keep war prisoners?"
Not once had Zuko ever seen Sokka so serious before, he often kept a lighthearted persona and joked around without a care in the world. However, once Sokka had a serious tone, Zuko felt obligated to answer the question he demanded.
"I suspect it would be at the Boiling Rock. It's surrounded by boiling water, unable to get in or out. It's inescapable." Zuko replied.
"Boiling Rock? What's this all about?" Yiyi walked up to the two male who seemed tense, placing a hand on her Prince.
"Nothing." Sokka replied before turning away from the couple and walking back to the rest of the gang.
"Something's up." Zuko whispered in her ear as the two watched the back figure of the watertribe male.
After dinner, Zuko and Yiyi hid out at the war balloon that Zuko hid behind his penthouse shed. They had a feeling that Sokka would be going to the Boiling Rock to search for someone as he had been so demanding to know the whereabouts of where the war prisoners would be held. As they had thought, Sokka indeed planned to sneak out by himself at night.
"Hey." Yiyi called out, causing Sokka to freeze in shock, slowly turning his head to look at the two firebenders nervously.
"Hey...uh..you two..Just out for a nice...walk?" he chuckled anxiously, rubbing at his head.
"Sokka. Spit it." Yiyi demanded, walking up to the male dressed in all black. Sokka sighed in defeat, setting his bag down onto the floor and ready to attack if necessary.
"I'm going to save my dad. Don't stop me." his eyes bore a flame, something that they both had never seen before.
"We won't stop you Sokka, we're coming with you." Zuko replied reassuringly, grabbing the other's bag off the floor and throwing it into the war balloon. The two hopped inside the balloon with a confused Sokka who nervously got in as well. After traveling for a few hours, the air around them went from a cool breeze to spicy hot air. A single building stuck out in the middle of boiling hot water with a single power line where a gondola slung across.
"That's it." Zuko whispered, pointing to the prison. Yiyi quickly descended the balloon a safe distance away from the views of the guards. Many guards stood perched on the top of the prison, scanning for any signs of escape or unwanted visitors. The three sneaked past the guards and into the break room where the uniforms were kept. Opening the cabinet, Zuko tossed Sokka and Yiyi their own uniform so they would blend in with the rest of the guards.
"Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard. Move!" a man yelled as he slammed the door open, causing the three to jolt with fear. "Move it!" Following the man, they were led to the outside where a ring of prisoners watched as a single tall buff man stood in the center facing the warden.
"Firebending is prohibited." the warden called out, clicking his tongue and smirking. "Throw him in the cooler."
"You heard him newbie, throw him in the cooler." a guard nudged Zuko and Sokka. Not knowing what to do, it was as if they were actual newbies, the first day on the job as fire nation guards. "Newbies...go!"
Yiyi watched as her two friends led the tall man away and into the distance where she couldn't see.
"Hey, what's your name?" a male's voice questioned, as the circle of prisoners dispersed and headed back into their proper cells.
"Ruolan." she replied, bowing properly to her senior guardsman.
"Ruolan eh, nice name. Let's grab lunch." he smiled, guiding her to the canteen where other guards lounged around and ate their grub. Once they sat down, Ruolan took off her helmet, shocking the male by her beauty despite the scars that were evident on her arms.
"You don't look like you belong here." he smiled, drinking his soup.
"If I don't belong here, I don't know where else I would belong." the female replied smartly. "Can I ask you something?"
The male across from her rose an eyebrow curiously, "Nope. You can't date the prisoners. Nor the male guards. Too bad for me, would love to date such a beauty." he chuckled.
"No. I want to ask about the war prisoners." she smiled, taking a sip of her tea calmly. "Since that invasion, who's been transported here?"
"Why...are you asking about that?" the male questioned feeling slightly off about the female.
"There's someone I'd like to personally watch over." Yiyi replied in a disturbing tone, smirking as she narrowed her eyes evilly. Seeing this, the male softened his expression, realizing that the girl simply wanted to do something unspeakably evil to a prisoner.
"God, you never want to underestimate the girls that are beautiful. Their hearts could be as evil and dark as magma." he laughed. "So far we have received one of the Kyoshi Warriors, quite pretty I'd say. Is she who you're looking for, perhaps a love rival?"
Yiyi scoffed and shook her head, crossing her arms smugly, "I believe no one can resist me, love rival? Don't make me laugh."
"How about water tribe prisoners?" Yiyi questioned further, staring into the other's brown orbs.
"Water tribe prisoner? I believe we do have a shipment of them coming in tomorrow…" the other replied, tapping his chin and thinking hardly. "Noon tomorrow."
The door slid open to the Kyoshi Warrior's cell, the female inside sat patiently as the guard entered with open arms. She immediately charged at him, knocking his helmet to the ground, preparing to strike again if needed.
"Suki! It's me!"
The female narrowed her eyes as the male brushed himself off and stood up with open arms once again. Seeing who it was, she immediately rushed over and latched herself onto the male, digging her head into his chest.
"I'm here, I'm busting you out of here."
"Sokka, how'd you get in here." she questioned, pulling herself away from the male and glancing out her cell.
"Forget that, the plan is to escape on the prison's gondola, using the warden as a hostage so they won't cut the cables. I have a plan set up. Wait for me." Sokka whispered, placing a hand on her head and smiling.
Knock Knock Knock
"You'll know when it's time." Sokka whispered further, gripping her hand worriedly
Harder knocking could be heard outside her cells with a quickening pace as Yiyi knocked erratically to announce guards were inching closer. Yiyi tried to stop the two guards from entering as they demanded her to move despite her creating excuses that they weren't allowed to enter. Soon a brawl started between the three guards as Sokka tried to slip away carefully. Not long after, Yiyi was placed in cuffs by the two guards, who led her away from Suki's cell and into the warden's room.
"We saw her sneaking around a prison cell. She's up to no good." one of them announced, shoving the female on the ground.
"Well look who it is." the warden laughed, dismissing the two guards. "What do I owe the pleasure of doing with the Fire Prince's lowly maid?"
"You're Mai's Uncle!" Yiyi gasped out as he kicked a chair over to her.
"Oh? You remember?" the elder male questioned, motioning for her to take a seat onto the chair. "So, tell me. Why are you here exactly?"
A few days have passed since Yiyi was captured by the Warden and kept in a cell of her own, away from the rest of the prisoners. While captured, Mai often visited the female and kept her company despite the two not talking. During this time Zuko and Sokka planned their escape with Suki and Hakoda while trying to figure out a way to help Yiyi.
"Yiyi." a low voice whispered as the door to her cell swung open. "I didn't expect to see you this soon."
Yiyi stood up from her spot and bowed down to the young princess who had arrived along with TyLee. Azula squatted down and lifted the female's chin up to face her before smiling softly.
"You've gotten sloppy. Captured this easily?"
Yiyi looked away from the princess, as she placed a hand over her eye, announcing to her that she saw the entire scene unfold back at the Beach Party. Without another word, the princess walked away from her cell and headed to find her traitor brother who she knew had to be in the prison somewhere. Not long after her departure a loud rumbling broke out and the floor shook beneath them as a riot broke out in the yard. Keys clinked as someone made their way to Yiyi's cell, after a few seconds, her cell door slid open revealing Mai who looked displeased.
"Go." she muttered, stepping to the side for the female.
"Why?" Yiyi questioned, looking at her "friend" in confusion.
"You know I like him right?" Mai questioned, throwing the keys on the floor. The other simply nodded, remembering how Mai had looked at Zuko from a young age. "You know I care about him right?"
"I know." Yiyi replied softly.
"Protect him Ruyi." Mai smiled sadly, turning away from the female.
"It's Ruolan, Mai. Remember it." Yiyi retorted, running out the cell and turning to give one quick glance at the other who still faced the opposite direction. "Thank you."
Dashing to the courtyard, Yiyi could see Sokka yanking at Zuko for him to run as the Prince looked around frantically. The five prisoners ran up to where the Gondola awaited for them, carrying the warden who was tied up and slung over the tall buffy prisoner's shoulders. Guards, seeing this immediately firebended at them as Zuko continued to look behind him in search for his beloved. Jumping from the top of her spot, Yiyi landed in front of the group and dispersed the fire that was being shot at them at full blast.
"Zuko!" she yelled, turning his attention ahead as she continued to block the firebending guards. Hearing this, Zuko immediately shot in front of her to help her, shielding the girl from any oncoming attacks.
"Back off, we got the warden!" Yiyi yelled, pointing to the man that was slung across the buff prisoner's shoulder uncomfortably. The team ran inside the gondola as Yiyi stayed behind to pull the lever, causing the gondola to shudder before ascending.
"Come on!" Zuko yelled as the female turned back around to firebend at the guards who were charging at her. "Ruolan!"
Breaking the lever so the gondola couldn't be stopped, Yiyi created a jet of fire that propelled her towards the gondola, landing on top of it safely. Suddenly, the slightest sound of footsteps landing on top of the gondola caused her to turn around cautiously.
"You should've stayed in your prison cell."
Blue fire shot out of the other's hands as the female growled with displeasure. Yiyi blocked the princess's attack as she was joined by Sokka, Suki and Zuko. Suki and Sokka battled TyLee as the two firebenders battled with the Fire Nation's young Princess. On top of the gondola, blue, red, and green fire whipped around furiously as the three firebenders dueled it out amongst each other.
"Zuko. Stay down." Yiyi replied, placing a hand in front of her beloved to stop him from attacking his sister.
"Wrong choice." Azula hissed, creating two fire streams that directed two powerful fire whips at her opponents. Both Zuko and Yiyi dodged out of the way creating a distance between each other for Azula to attack either one. The Princess, remembering how Yiyi had taught her how to lightning bend, used the same mindset to quickly conduct lightning. Pointing her fingers at Yiyi, she smirked before quickly averting it to Zuko, creating a stream of lightning that charged angrily at her brother.