Chapter 56: Dark Craters: Part 2

(Third Person POV)

Toph smirked with satisfaction as she stared at the man she had sunk into the dirt. His head was the only thing above, and he struggled in a panic. "Out of explosives, eh bud?" He growled at her in response, his sound echoing from the helmet that covered his whole head.

Seeing her opponent was restrained, she turned to help the others. However, an explosion sounded from nearby followed by the feeling of metal smashing against the earth. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what was happening. She recalled what Crystal had told her about the man Sokka named Sparky Sparky Boom Man. He had a metal boot. The sensation beneath her feet was that of a metal boot on the earth. Near that vibration was the familiar feel of Crystal's feet. Another explosion sounded a moment later, and Crystal's feet left the earth, followed by her body sliding against the ground.

"No!" Toph turned and raced across the battlefield realizing what was occurring. It was a set up. The Rough Rhino men were a decoy. Toph quickened her pace as she rushed through the battlefield dodging Katara's water whip that was headed towards a man with chains, running behind Sokka who was getting the upper hand of a man with a spear, smashing stone into the man who was firing missiles at Aang, and shouting to Zuko as she raced by, "He's here!"

Zuko, who was blocking another flame, was stunned by Toph's statement. His eyes followed Toph as she took off into a dark haze of smoke that appeared from the explosion that had just occurred. She jumped through the smog, disappearing beyond the abyss. Another flame shot towards Zuko as he realized what was happening. He didn't see Crystal, and the realization made him fill with dread. The familiar explosions, and the panic from Toph was all he needed to understand what was happening. He turned back to Mongke with rage. Blocking the man's oncoming volley of flames, he snapped as the smoke dissipated, "You're working with the Assassin!"

Colonel Mongke smirked. "Only for the moment. We owed him... And I don't like being indebted to others, if you know what I mean?"

Zuko growled. "You'll regret it!" He jumped up in the air with fury and shot a harsh flame at the firebender before him. His rage and determination was enough to overpower Mongke's own flame and send him flying back into the crater's wall hard. As Mongke slumped to the ground disoriented, Zuko took off in the direction Toph had gone. Breaking through the smoke, he was horrified to find Toph fighting off a guy with a giant mace with her boulders, while Crystal was dodging blasts from a large giant man with three eyes and a metal boot.

Zuko had heard rumors of the infamous Three-Eyed assassin, but seeing the giant man in person was enough to stop him in his tracks. He watched as the man breathed in through his nose, and then he bent his head down shooting a blast through the tattoo on his forehead. Zuko was horrified as the blast coursed towards Crystal. She darted to the side as the fire hit the spot she'd been standing, and the power behind it caused the earth to shake and rocks to fly. Zuko snapped out of his observation, and then rushed over to help. "Get away from her!"

His shout alerted the Assassin who turned his way and fired a blast at him. As the stream of fire came his way, Zuko jumped up dodging the attack and flew towards the giant. The fire hit where he had once stood, exploding behind him, and the force pushed Zuko forward more. Zuko shot his own fire down at the assassin as he moved towards him. The man was forced to stop his attack in order to throw his arms up and block the blast from the infuriated Fire Nation Prince. Zuko's powerful stream hit the man's arms and caused him to slide back against the dirt. As Zuko landed, he shot more fire at the man who was disgruntled from Zuko's last attack. The assassin threw his arms up again blocking the attack once more.

Water shot at the enemy abruptly as Crystal attacked as well. She'd managed to draw more water from a bush growing out of the crevice of the crater. She hated having to kill the plant, but she knew she needed to fight. As her water soared towards the assassin, the man didn't have time to block having just deflected Zuko's attack. Her water hit the man hard sending him off his feet and onto his side. As he was down, Zuko rushed forward again and shot more fire at the man on the ground. The Assassin rolled out of the way managing to evade the attack, but his metal boot made it difficult for him to get back to his feet. As he attempted to do so, Zuko shot more fire and this time it hit the man on the side knocking him over with a grunt.

As the man lay on the ground, stunned from the pain of Zuko's attack, Zuko approached him with his fist pointed ready to fire. "Enough! Who sent you? What do you want with her?!"

The Assassin sneered as he stared into Zuko's infuriated gaze. "A message from the Fire Lord." He spoke through grit teeth. "Give yourself up or you'll never see your waterbender again."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. His father really was the one behind these attacks, and he would pay. "Shame that message won't matter anymore. You lose," Zuko hissed. "I have you cornered now."

"Really," a voice spoke with thrill. "Because I think we have you cornered."

Zuko looked back at Colonel Mongke with question, and then his eyes widened when he saw someone was restrained by him with fire held near her face. Crystal struggled in the man's hold as his arm was wrapped around her body locking her arms to her side, and a flame danced inches from her skin.

"Let go!" She tried to kick back at the man, but he didn't budge from her attack.

Zuko growled, turning to the one that restrained her. "Unhand her!"

Crystal met Zuko's gaze, and her terror was shown to him. However, her terror was not for her own wellbeing but his.

"Zuko! Look out!"

Her shout made him realize he'd let his guard down, and he turned just as the Assassin shot a blast of fire from his forehead at him. As he threw his hands forward to block the fire, the push from the flames sent him flying back and hitting the earth hard. As he slid back, he stopped after a few feet and lay on the ground in pain. His whole body vibrated, and his arms were sore from blocking the hot blast that had come his way.

"STOP!" Crystal begged. "Don't hurt him! Please!"

Zuko's eyes, which were unfocused, slowly came back and as his vision was restored he was horrified to see the Assassin standing above him ready to fire again. The man smirked and then inhaled. As he prepared to fire down at Zuko, Crystal shouted again, "Please! I'll go with you! Just don't hurt him!"

Crystal's statement made Zuko's eyes widen. He grit his teeth then and used his upper body to lift his legs up. Shooting fire from his feet, his flames hit the man in the stomach shooting him back. As the Assassin stumbled backward, Zuko jumped back up to his feet and shot more fire at him. The Assassin stumbled back again, trying to block the flames. He'd been burned by Zuko's previous attack in the abdomen, and didn't want to feel the intense pain again.

"Hey!" Toph shouted from where she was still fighting the battle mace guy. "I don't know about you, Sparky, but I've had it with these guys!" She smashed her foot down suddenly and the battle mace guy sunk below the earth getting trapped like the last guy she attacked.

Zuko grit his teeth. "I agree." He turned to the man who still restrained Crystal. Crystal was relieved to find Zuko was still unharmed, and also that Toph was okay too. "Let her go!"

Colonel Mongke made his flame grow, and Crystal's eyes widened when she realized how close the heat was to her. "Surrender, or she gets burned!"

Zuko and Toph both stepped closer, but they knew any sudden movement would do more harm than good. Colonel Mongke saw their hesitation and grinned. His hold on his captive tightened, causing Crystal to cringe in pain. "I'm afraid the girl is coming with us." He whistled, and only a moment later a giant shadow emerged from the smoke. His rhino charged towards Zuko and Toph, and Toph shot her foot down sending the two of them shooting through the air. As they jumped out of the rhinos range, the Assassin shot a blast at them in the air. Zuko used his fire to block the attack, but the force sent him flying back into Toph. The two crashed back against the earth a few meters away.

"Zuko! Toph!" Crystal watched with horror as her friend and the man she loved hit the ground hard. They made no movement, and she feared they were seriously hurt.

"Let's go!" Colonel Mongke's order made her blood go cold. Realizing her situation, she struggled against Colonel Monkge harder. He had cut his flame off, and used his other hand to snap his fingers which made his rhino approach. The three-eyed assassin stepped over to Mongke and Crystal with satisfaction as the fighting commenced beyond the darkness around them. As his shadow fell over Crystal, she stared up at the man with horror. Her nightmare approached her, and he looked like he scored a prize.

Mongke began to force her towards the rhino, and she twisted and kicked back in a panic. As she did so, Sparky Sparky Boom Man stepped the remaining distance and grabbed behind her neck with his large hand. Pressing down on her pressure points, she gasped from the sensation. He pushed harder though, and her body slumped over in Mongke's hold as she was forced unconscious. Mongke grunted as he was forced to catch and hold up the girl. "Hey! Little warning next time!"

As they managed to get Crystal on the giant rhino, with the Assassin taking the reins while his prize rested unconscious in front of him and against him, the beast let out a loud roar to let the others know it was time to retreat.

The men who still fought Katara, Sokka, and Aang took the hint and rushed away from their opponents towards their rhinos. As they hopped on the beasts backs and grabbed the reins taking off, Sokka shouted as they disappeared into the darkness of the crater, "And good riddance!"

Aang and Katara were stunned by the sudden retreat, and stepped over to Sokka with question. Katara asked with confusion, "They're giving up?"

Aang let out a breath of relief. "Thank goodness… That arrow guy was just like the archers that captured me and took me to Zhao."

Katara nodded. Then her eyes widened. "Hey… Where are the others?"

They looked about fifty yards across the crater, and saw the dense smoke from fire blocking their view. Aang let out a harsh gust of air from his mouth, and his bending pushed the smoke away revealing the scene beyond. They all gasped when they saw two bodies slumped on the ground. They rushed over to the figures only to find Zuko and Toph, unconscious beside one another.

Katara was horrified. "Toph! Zuko!"

Aang rushed over and knelt beside Toph, while Katara raced to Zuko's side. As they shook the both of them, the two slowly came back to consciousness. Toph muttered something, while Zuko groaned from the pain on his back. Opening his eyes, he saw Katara above him. As he took in the waterbender's concerned gaze, his eyes widened in horror as the events of before returned to him.

Sitting up quickly, Zuko looked around the dark area around them for the one person he hoped to find. To his horror, she was nowhere to be seen. "CRYSTAL!"

Katara's eyes widened, and Sokka looked horrified. Toph managed to stand, although slightly unsteady. Her feet pressed to the dirt though as she tried to concentrate. She could feel the vibrations of the rhinos as they raced off away from the crater they were in. The sensation was blurred since she was disoriented, but she had enough stability to know which way the large group was headed.

"They're not too far…" She spoke tiredly, and her body shook in pain. She grabbed Aang by the sleeve to steady herself. "We can catch up to them if we go now."

"Are you saying the Rough Rhinos took Crystal?" Sokka was stunned and confused. "Why?!"

Zuko grit his teeth as he shut his eyes tight. "Because of me… This is my fault..."

Toph scowled. "Don't credit yourself, Zuko! The only person responsible is Sparky Sparky Boom Man!"

Katara covered her mouth in horror. "No! That's why they attacked us?" She stood quickly from where she knelt beside Zuko. "Let's get on Appa! We may be able to catch up if we go now."

Sokka agreed, fury filling inside him. "He's not getting away with my sister!"

Aang nodded. "They just left, so we can definitely catch up if we follow now."

Zuko opened his eyes, and he managed to find his feet. Tightening his fist, he snapped with determination. "Let's go!"

The group scrambled to get on Appa, who looked ready to inflict more pain on the rhinos that tried to hurt his friends. As they took off in the direction Toph pointed them towards, they looked down from above seeking out the beasts that had just retreated from them. After only flying for a few minutes, they saw the dark shapes of five rhinos as they charged away from the crater they'd all previously been in. As the group flew above, Aang jerked Appa's reins making him head a straight beeline towards the retreating enemies.

As they flew down, Toph jumped from Appa and landed firm on her feet. Throwing her hands forward and towards the sky, she brought the earth before the retreating men upward and created a large wall to block them from escape. As the five rhinos and six men were brought to a stop, Appa landed behind Toph and the others jumped off with their weapons in hand.

Sokka prepared to rush forward to save his sister, but he stopped when realization hit him. His gaze found Colonel Mongke was not on his own rhino but riding with the fully armored explosive throwing man. As he looked at the group around them, he saw no sign of a tall metal booted man or his sister. One rhino was gone, and he understood then what was happening. They'd been led away from the direction Crystal had gone. They were given a false trail. "This was a trick… She's not here…"

Toph was horrified as she realized this also. "I'm sorry… I was out of it after being knocked out… Finding these guys was hard enough…"

Aang squeezed her shoulder. "It's not your fault… We were all tricked."

Zuko went to step forward as fury built inside him, but someone beat him to the punch. He stopped as the youngest Water Tribe kid stepped past him. Katara had realized their situation, and she lost her cool. An image of her sister came to her mind and her eyes burned with hot tears. She had been so focused on fighting her opponent back at the crater, she hadn't thought her sister was in danger.

She failed once again in protecting Crystal.

She stepped in front of the group with a sudden fire within her. "Where is she?!"

Colonel Mongke stood ready to fight. He wasn't worried about the young woman's sudden rage. He knew he could take her no problem. "Not here." He smirked. "You kids are too late."

Tears fell down Katara's face as his words sunk in. No… They couldn't be too late…

Crystal watched as her younger sister went to teach her another move. She had just mastered the water whip, and she was excited to learn more. As Katara went to teach her the next set, Crystal stated, "I'm so lucky to have such a powerful teacher… I knew you would one day be a great waterbender. Mom would be proud of you, Katara." She glanced down at the water before them. "No wonder Aang likes you so much."

Katara dropped her water in surprise, and looked over at her sister with a blush. She turned back to the water, trying to return focus. She snapped in defense, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Crystal giggled. "Katara, I've been with you all for over a week now. I can see the way he looks at you."

Her blush deepened. "He just looks. There's nothing behind it. He… He's just a friend."

"A friend, huh?" She looked back at something behind them. "Oh! Hi Aang!"

Katara gasped and turned around expecting to see the young Avatar. When she turned though, she saw nothing. Crystal broke into laughter at her sister's gullibility. "Just a friend, huh? What's with that reaction."

Katara glowered at her sister. Then an idea struck her, and she smirked. "Okay. You're right. I like him." She shot her hand forward then and brought the water towards her sister's foot. As the water wrapped around Crystal's ankle, she gasped as she was lifted from the earth and forced up in the air.

"AH! Katara!"

Katara laughed as her sister hung upside down above the water. "That's what you get for messing with me."

Crystal looked at her upside down sister with surprise, and then she laughed again. "Okay! You win! I'm sorry. Now put me down!"

Katara slowly lowered her sister and then dropped her into the water. After a splash, and a gasp for air, Crystal sat up in the small pond with the water covering her up to her chest. Her hair flowed around her. She pouted at her sister, who smiled with satisfaction on the shore. "Shall we resume training?"

Crystal went to argue, but then she shook her head in disbelief. Standing with the water surrounding her, and her hair clinging to her skin, she said, "Yes, my great sister and waterbending Master Katara."

Katara smiled with satisfaction. "I like that… Has a nice ring to it." She stepped forward. "Of course, the sister part is the best."

Getting out of the water, Crystal bent the liquid off of her sending it back into the pond. "I have to agree with you on that one. I like you as my sister the most."

As despair and disbelief fell over her, Katara felt her anger grow. The sky started to lighten as dawn broke the horizon. As the moon faded, one would've expected the waterbender's strength would've as well. But it didn't… It only grew with the waves of fury that built inside her.

Her sea blue eyes darkened and her blood boiled turning her body hot. Staring at the group of men and rhinos around her, she lost her cool as concern for her sister clouded her judgement.

"NO!" Her arms suddenly moved swiftly as she grabbed water from the grass that sprouted from the rocky cracks filled with dirt around her. As her water grew before her, the rough rhinos were shocked by the massive element. She thrust her hands forward then, and her water shot in six different streams hitting each man before her. The hits forced every single man off of their rhinos. They all crashed into the wall that Toph had formed to block their retreat. As each man hit the structure, they fell to the ground in a daze and were soaked. Their rhinos grew nervous and backed away from the girl with whines.

Mongke, who had hit the stone wall hard and landed beside the man he had been riding behind originally, growled and stood to his feet. "You'll pay for that little girl!" He thrust fire towards Katara, and she grabbed the water that surrounded his men yanking it in front of her. His fire sizzled as it hit her firm whirl of water, and dread fell over him as the swirling shield that stretched ten feet in diameter shot straight at him. Unable to dodge, the water hit him again and sent him flying back against the wall once more.

Landing in a puddle of water, the Rough Rhino leader groaned in pain and shut his eyes in exhaustion. "You're wasting your time," he hissed, shakingly getting back to his feet. "She's not here… We've led you away from them."

His statement only made Katara irate. As she pictured her sister, a flash of the South Pole returned to her. She remembered watching Zuko force her struggling sister up the Fire Nation ramp. She remembered watching the large metal ramp lift as her sister was trapped within the Fire Nation vessel. She recalled Crystal's fear as she was forced into the pit of the enemy.

She'd failed in protecting her sister that day, having been too weak to stop her. She'd been stronger today, and still failed. As her thoughts rushed through her, Mongke saw she was distracted and went to fire again. As his hand moved out to shoot the blast though, he stopped as his fire never came. Instead, his arm was forced to a halt as the blood inside him pushed against his veins.

Katara held her hands in front of her, the darkness in her gaze deepening as she stepped forward forcing the man's blood to send him stumbling back. As she took control of every vein of his existence, his comrades watched in terror as their leader became her puppet.

Sokka viewed the events playing out with astonishment as his youngest sister used bloodbending. Zuko was shocked to see the ability, once thought only possible under the power of the full moon, was being used as the sun started to rise and the moon's power faded. Toph felt the vibrations of Mongke's men as they backed in fear and the slowing heartbeat of Mongke as his blood was restrained inside him. Aang was concerned as the woman he loved lost her cool and used an ability no one thought possible without the help of the moon.

"Where is she?!"

Katara shoved her power against the man harder, and Colonel Mongke was lifted off the ground and forced back against Toph's wall. He shook in terror as the young woman overpowered him with an ability he'd never seen before.

"WHERE IS MY SISTER?!"

Katara shoved the man harder against the stone as she moved the blood inside him to do so. Tears streamed down her eyes as her hatred grew. The other men stepped further back as their leader was controlled by the young woman before them. Their rhinos whined more from fear.

"TELL ME!" She forced Mongke higher up the wall, and he stared down at her with terror.

"Please… whatever you're doing… please stop!" Mongke wanted to struggle, but he couldn't move.

Zuko, Sokka, and Aang watched with wide eyes as the waterbender did something that no one thought to be possible. She was bloodbending under the rising sun. Toph frowned, not liking the side of Katara that had come out.

"Not until you answer me!" She slowed the blood in him, one step away from killing him by crushing his heart.

Colonel Mongke gasped as he stared in fear at the young woman before him who had taken control of him and was not yielding. "Stop… Please…"

She shoved harder making his body press against the stone more and his heart ache from the pressure of the blood pushing against his organ. "Where is she?!"

He shut his eyes in fear, and managed to splutter, "She… She's headed to the Fire Nation Capital… The Three-Eyed Assassin took my rhino and headed west. They are probably almost to the boat by now. He paid someone to have passage ready." He shook his head. "I told you! Now spare me!"

Katara growled and flung her arms to the side sending the man flying to the ground. He landed hard, and groaned from the pain that vibrated through him. His men scrambled onto their own rhinos, flicked the reins, and took off away from the group around Toph's wall. Their leader scrambled to his feet disoriented, backed away from the waterbender that had taken control of him with terror, and then turned running away after his men.

As they retreated, Sokka went to chase after them. Aang grabbed his arm to stop him. "No, Sokka! They're not the ones we want."

Aang looked over at Katara who stared at the retreating Rough Rhinos with fury. Her hands were tightened and her face was covered in tears. Aang looked over at Zuko, who had his eyes shut in agony. He then glanced over at Toph, who nodded over at him as if reading his mind.

"We may be able to catch up," Toph stated. "If we head west we can possibly find them. I can't sense them, but that doesn't mean we've lost them."

Katara shook her head. Her eyes were shut as her heart ached. The anger in her only grew as she internally beat herself up. "It's too late. The suns up… if we head west we'll be spotted...We've failed again… First Zuko… Then the Dai Li… Azula... Now this Assassin..." Her fists tightened. The ground started to shake and the group gasped as water suddenly shot up from the earth below in multiple geysers. "WHY?!"

Zuko opened his eyes, having felt the earth shake beneath him. He'd jumped back in enough time to dodge the geyser that broke through the dirt beneath him and shot fifteen feet in the air. He watched the waterbender before him with amazement. He'd never seen someone so powerful before, apart from the Avatar. He recalled what Crystal had spoken to him about her sister awhile back.

Bending some water at the small stream Crystal stood by, she let the liquid form into a ball of ice before her. Zuko, who was trying to catch some fish for dinner for them and Iroh, stopped and watched her with curiosity. He lowered his sharpened stick, and smiled at the waterbender beside him. "You know… For not having a teacher, you are pretty good."

Crystal sighed, dropped the ball of ice into the stream, and watched it float away downhill. "Actually… I had a teacher… She didn't know she was of course… I watched her daily though. I learned everything I know from Katara." She looked over at him with sincerity. "My sister is one of the strongest waterbenders I know." She grimaced looking back at the water. "Of course, she was one of the only waterbenders I ever knew growing up." She ran a hand through her hair. "I should've told her I was a bender, but everyone was so proud of her for her strength and ability. I didn't want to take away her importance to the tribe." She smiled. "I'm sure she is learning so much at the North Pole."

Zuko was surprised by her reveal, and also by her statement. He recalled fighting Crystal's sister back at the North Pole. He hadn't told her about his confrontation with her sister, and he didn't really want to. He had hurt Katara back at the Oasis, and he knew the information would upset Crystal. However, he would agree with Crystal in saying her sister definitely was a skilled waterbender. "She definitely is a powerful bender... " He looked back down at the fish that taunted him. "From my previous encounters with her, I can tell she has the making of a great master waterbender."

Crystal was surprised by Zuko's compliment towards her sister. She smiled with gratitude. "Don't let her hear you say that. She'll never let you live it down."

"Katara," Aang spoke, stepping over to her cautiously. "Calm down… This isn't you."

She kept her fists clenched and the geysers grew. Her eyes were shut tight as she pictured her sister in her mind. Aang yelped as another geyser shot up in front of him. "Katara! Stop!"

Sokka came to his senses, seeing his sister was about to blow them all in the air. Yanking from Toph, he maneuvered around the shooting spouts of water and made it to his sister. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he forced her to turn around and pulled her to him. Katara was stunned by her brother's sudden hold, and her rage slowly simmered. The geysers dropped back to the earth, and puddles surrounded their soaked bodies as things calmed.

As the water settled, and the anger evaporated, sobs escaped her, and she fell against her brother in agony. "Sokka… We lost her again, Sokka… We were supposed to protect her…"

"I know," Sokka whispered. "But we'll get her back… We have to…" Sokka shut his eyes tight, pressing his face into her hair. "Toph's right though… We have to go now. If there's any chance for us to catch her, we need to go."

Zuko knew what Sokka spoke wasn't truly an option. There was no way they could go after them on Appa without being spotted. The sun was up, and with it meant their cover would be blown. They were closer to the Fire Nation Capital now, and with that distance meant a greater threat of being caught. Crystal wouldn't want anyone risking their life for her, and he knew she definitely wouldn't want Aang to risk being captured. Or her family to be captured for that matter...

He knew what he had to do. Looking over at Toph and Aang, he stepped over to them both and whispered, "I need to talk to you." They were surprised by his secrecy, but nodded walking a few feet away from the embracing Water Tribe siblings.

"What is it, Sparky?" Toph crossed her arms. "Don't tell me you don't want to go after your girlfriend?"

Aang shook his head. "This is Zuko, Toph. Of course he-"

Zuko interrupted. "I need you to continue to the rendezvous. The eclipse is soon, and the warriors will be expecting you all. And they need the Avatar to lead them."

Aang's eyes widened. "What? Zuko! But what about Cr-"

Toph smacked him on the shoulder to shut him up. She then nodded at Zuko with understanding. She didn't like it, but she knew it was the right thing to do. "You're right. There's no way we're going to catch up to him now… Especially with the sun rising. Appa will be spotted…" She stepped forward grabbing Zuko by the shoulder. "We'll handle Katara and Sokka. You go save her."

Aang was surprised, and then he understood. Nodding, he hung his head in defeat. "I don't like it, but you're right… We have a mission." He then met Zuko's gaze. "Get her back, and after the eclipse comes we'll find you… if this mission fails... take her to the Western Air Temple. We'll meet you there."

"Let's hope it doesn't," Zuko spoke softly. He placed a hand on Aang's shoulder then, giving it a squeeze. "You're the Avatar… If anyone can defeat the Fire Nation, and my father, then it's you." He then looked over at Katara and Sokka again with a frown. Katara still cried, and Sokka brushed a hand through her hair trying to calm her more. "Crystal's my future, and that means Katara and Sokka are also important to me too." He stared back at Toph and Aang. "I can't risk them getting captured by the Fire Nation… If we all go after Crystal, we all risk being caught."

Aang sighed. "I want to make Katara and Sokka happy… But it's too dangerous. If he gets to the Fire Nation Capital with Crystal, you'll be the only one who can sneak into the Fire Nation undetected. You know it the best, and you look the most Fire Nation. Also…" He looked back at Katara with a frown. "Katara and Sokka aren't in their right minds at the moment. Their anger could break our cover if we go now…" His mind replayed Katara's previous actions. "Katara needs to rest… she's at her limit…" Aang jumped up on Appa's saddle then and grabbed Zuko's bag as well as a canteen of water. Jumping back down, he landed in front of Zuko and handed it over. "If you catch up before they make it to the capital, meet us at the rendezvous… if not, get her out of there."

Zuko took the bag and tossed it over his shoulder. It rested against his dual blades. "Get Katara and Sokka to their father… I'll save her… I have to… this is my fault, so it's my duty."

Toph frowned. "You're wrong… the only person at fault is Fire Lord Ozai." She then shot a wall between them separating Zuko from the group and blocking the Water Tribe siblings from following. "GO!"

Toph's order, followed by shouts of protest from Sokka and Katara, made Zuko turn quickly and rush off from the group. Running towards the dark sky as the sun rose behind him, he pictured Crystal in his mind.

"I'm coming, Crys… hang on…"

Katara stared at the raised wall with fury, and then turned to Toph with tight fists. "What are you doing?! Zuko can't go alone! I'm going with him!" She stepped forward. "Let me pass!"

Aang intercepted her path, stating, "Katara, calm down. This is for the best."

Sokka stepped over with equal irritation. "For the best?! Our sister needs us! If we take Appa now and fly west we can catch up to Sparky Sparky Boom Man and get her back! Zuko will never catch up to them on foot!"

Toph crossed her arms. "Look, guys… I know you're worried about her. We all are. But Zuko made a valid point. If we hop on Appa and fly west, we will be getting closer to the Fire Nation Capital. As we do so, there will be more and more Fire Nation soldiers. We've already lost our stealth by night, so there's no way we can fly after them without being spotted under the sun."

Katara grit her teeth. Sokka looked ready to argue again. Aang knew he had to make peace.

"Please understand… Crystal asked me to do something long ago… She asked me to keep you both safe. This is my way of fulfilling her plea. If we head towards the Fire Nation Capital now, we lose the element of surprise and risk all of us being captured. If there's one thing I've learned about Crystal these last few months, it's that she will never forgive Toph and I if we let you risk your freedom for her sake." Aang stepped up to Katara, who shut her eyes again with agony. His hand gently caressed her cheek as he saw the pain flooding through the woman he loved. "Katara… Please let Zuko do this. You have to trust him, and trust me."

Katara opened her eyes slowly, and met the soft orbs of the young Avatar she loved. Putting her hand over his, she squeezed it for comfort. The anger within her simmered and she let out a deep sigh. "I don't agree with you about not going after them, but I do agree that she would want us to continue with the mission… You're right… It's already hard enough traveling by day through the empty valleys of the Fire Nation… If we try to head to the Fire Nation capital we'll definitely be spotted, and the whole mission for the eclipse will be ruined." She dropped her hand from Aang, and crossed her arms for comfort. "My destiny is to help you restore peace to the world… It has been ever since I found you in that iceberg. As much as I want to pound both you and Toph's faces for stopping me from saving my sister, I know going after her is not the path I'm meant to take." Katara looked back at Sokka, who was stunned by his sister's sudden change of heart. "They're right Sokka… Dad and the others will be expecting us. We have a mission we need to fulfill. We have to help Aang, and trust that Zuko will save Crys."

The Water Tribe warrior was shocked by his sister's statement, but after a moment he hung his head in defeat. He remembered something Crystal had told him a while ago.

Crystal sat on the grass in observation as her brother swung his new meteorite sword in perfect movements. Zuko and Aang were discussing firebending, while Katara and Toph were sparring. Sokka didn't mind having an audience, and he showed off a bit more to impress her.

"Master Piandao told me that if I practice every day I can be a master swordsman in a matter of weeks!" Sokka swung his sword down as if he were slicing an invisible enemy.

She smiled, pulling her knees to her chest. "I'm so glad Piandao agreed to teach you. You've always deserved to have a teacher. After everything you've been through with Aang and Katara, it's only right you finally got something out of the deal."

Sokka stopped swinging his sword, and looked back at his sister with a smile. "I'm just glad I finally have a way to feel useful to the group." He walked over to her and sat down beside her. Holding his sword out in front of him, he said, "The day Zuko captured you and Aang was the day I realized I knew nothing about fighting. Even during my journey with Aang and Katara, I always felt like the weaker link. I had my navigation and leadership skills, but I was always pretty useless in the fights we faced. That's why learning from Master Piandao has been the best opportunity of my life. I finally feel like I can help Aang defeat the Fire Nation now."

Her brother's passion and confidence filled Crystal with joy. "You have always helped Aang, Sokka. The moment you left the South Pole to help Katara free him from Zuko was the moment you became an important ally to the Avatar. Without you, who knows where Aang and Katara would be right now." She placed a hand on Sokka's arm tenderly. "I am so proud of you for choosing to help Aang. Even though our paths pulled us apart, I'm happy you kept focused on getting Aang to the North Pole rather than risking your freedom to save me."

Sokka ripped his arm from her, snapping. "That's ridiculous! I should've done that! I followed Aang because I was too weak and a coward to face Zuko. It had nothing to do with risking my free-"

"Sokka… Stop," Crystal begged, cutting him off. "It had nothing to do with you being weak. Your destiny has always been to help Aang. My destiny was to help Zuko. I know you may not agree with what I'm about to say, but your path right now is to continue to follow Aang and save the world. You, Katara, and the Avatar started this journey together. It's only right you end it together. Having Zuko, Toph, and I to help is only a small plus. In the end, the ones who have faced it all from start to finish are you three. And it's up to you and Katara to finish what you started with the boy we found in the iceberg. Aang depends on you both… He can't win this battle without you."

He stared at his sister with amazement. "You were there at the beginning too. We all found Aang in the iceberg."

Crystal smiled. "Yes… But out of all of us, Aang trusts you and Katara the most… That's why he needs you both right now. You two are his strength."

Sokka stared at Aang with understanding as his sister's words floated in his head. Releasing the fists he had been clenching, he let out a heavy sigh as he understood what Aang and Katara were saying. "You're right… Crys won't forgive us if we turn our backs on the mission for her." He looked over at Katara. "We have to help Aang and meet up with the others. The eclipse is four days away… We can't lose this opportunity."

Katara nodded slowly. "I hate not being the one to save her, but I trust Zuko. If anyone has enough determination to rescue Crystal from the Fire Lord, it's the prince that stole her heart."

Toph sighed with relief. "Glad you both see it clearly now." She stepped up to the group. "If anyone is capable of saving the damsel in distress, it's her Prince Charming."

Crystal POV

My body was heavy as I came to. Trying to open my eyes, I grimaced as doing so sent a pain through my head. Taking in a deep breath to calm my discomfort, I finally opened my eyes. When I did, I found my eyes staring across the deck of a sunlit steel boat. My cheek was pressed against the warm flat surface, as I lied on my stomach with my hands tied firm behind my back. The rope around my wrists dug into my skin causing the area to feel raw from the friction.

"Can't believe this guy," a raspy voice spoke softly from across the deck. "Pays me barely enough to have my steamboat ready, just so I can lug him and a lass across the ocean. When I refused he threatened to kill me. That's no way to do business."

"Pa! Hush. He may wake up and hear you!" A younger voice snapped at the man. "Don't anger him. He's the three-eyed assassin we've heard about. He'll kill us both if you anger him."

The older man grumbled at his son's plea. My eyes managed to shoot across the deck to the middle-aged man who stood at the wheel of the ship. His comrade and son, a young man in his early twenties, shot fire into the vent of the ship to give it more steam. "We promised mom we'd come back with money this time. You know how she hates us going to the Fire Nation Capital to do business. He said he's paying us the rest of the fee when we reach the Capital, so we just have to be patient." They were both wearing sea worn clothing. The older man had his graying hair cut short, while his son's black hair was tied up in a topknot similar to how Zuko used to wear his.

As the two men continued to talk, I moved my head enough to see on the other side of the ship, sleeping against some bags of feed, was the metal booted man. As I took in his figure, slightly disoriented from exhaustion and thirst, I tried to recall the events from earlier, as much of it was a blur. As everything replayed in my head (getting attacked by the Rough Rhinos; watching Zuko and Toph hit the ground and fall unconscious; feeling the assassin squeeze my neck and knock me cold) I gasped and started to struggle.

The two men fell quiet when they heard me move, but I didn't let their silence stop me. As I squirmed from my position, I managed to find my strength and roll my body over. Landing on my bound hands was painful, but I found my stability and managed to sit up so I could fully see my situation. The Assassin made no move as he slept on from his long journey to capture me. As he slept, a pair of footsteps approached me.

Turning my head, I saw the young man come my way and I panicked at the stranger before me. Trying to use my legs to scoot away, I was relieved that my captor hadn't tied them together either. As I went to distance myself, the boat swayed and I lost my balance falling onto my side. Cringing from the pain, I bit my tongue to keep from making too much noise. I didn't want my captor to wake up.

"You're not going to get anywhere, kid. We're miles from any shore." The young man spoke softly as he grabbed my arm and pulled me back to a sitting position. Staring at him with panic, I looked back at Sparky Sparky Boom Man realizing at last what was happening. I was on a vessel, and I was headed to the Fire Lord.

Looking at the Fire Nation citizen before me, I begged softly with a dry voice, "Please… You have to help me."

He looked at me with his golden eyes, and instead of offering to do so, he held a canteen up to my face. "Sorry kid… Whatever you're in the middle of, my dad and I don't need to get involved. I'll help you drink though. You look like you really need it."

He went to put the canteen to my lips, but I narrowed my eyes and kicked him back with my foot. He stumbled a bit, but caught himself. "Hey! What the Agni is your issue! I'm trying to help!"

I snapped, "I don't want your damn water! I want off this boat!"

A growl came from across the vessel then, and my eyes widened as I realized my yell woke the man I didn't want to face. The Assassin slowly sat up, stood from where he was laying, and his metal boot approached with loud 'clomps' as he came across the deck. The man I pushed away backed up with irritation. "Take better care of your captive." He extended the canteen towards the giant. Sparky Sparky Boom Man stared at the container with an unreadable gaze, but grabbed it from him. The man walked off to return to his father.

Staring at the metal booted man with fear, I tried to scoot back to get distance. The man stared down at me and then reached forward with the canteen. "Drink."

His order surprised me. Staring at the canteen, I realized I was thirsty but also I didn't want to accept anything from the man that was sending me to my imminent doom. Turning my head, I muttered, "I'd rather drink the sea water."

He growled again, and then squeezed the canteen with his metal gloved hand causing water to splash between us. He dropped the empty canteen in front of me, and then turned heading away from me again.

"Why are you doing this?!" I tried to sound brave, but really I was terrified. "How can you be so willing to do the Fire Lord's dirty work?"

He said nothing as he grabbed something from where he'd been laying earlier. As his back was turned, I slowly tried to get to my feet. I had to escape. I had to get my hands loose somehow so I could bend and get back to my family. With just my legs, I managed to maneuver to my feet. Once I was up, I looked around for anything that could help.

The furnace that the younger man had been firing into shined in my line of sight. Fire danced within. I knew it would hurt, but the element would burn my ropes and allow me the ability to bend. And I could always heal my injuries once I escaped. A little burn would be nothing compared to what the Fire Lord had planned for me.

Backing up, I made my way over to the furnace where the fire roared. I knew what I was doing was stupid and an act of insanity, but I needed my hands to fight. And I knew if I didn't go for it I would lose my chance. I was already covered in burns. Another one wouldn't kill me.

Just as I made it to the furnace, the older man and owner of the vessel shouted, "What the Agni are you doing kid?!" Ignoring him, I went to put my hands back in the furnace. The hot element blew on my skin as I approached the flames ready for pain. Before I could though, someone ran into me and sent the both of us falling to the steel of the deck. The son shoved me down to keep me from getting back up.

"Get off!" I tried to wiggle out from beneath the young man, but he held me down with strength from years at sea.

"Are you crazy?! You can't go around shoving your hands into fire!"

I grit my teeth in frustration. Then I snapped, "I wouldn't have to if you'd untie me."

The sound of metal clomping towards me made me only struggle harder. The man holding me down snapped at the assassin, "Your prisoner is insane!" He got off of me then, and I went to maneuver back to my feet. However, a strong hand grabbed my right leg making me scream and kick instead. The assassin dragged me away from the furnace, my body sliding against the surface of the boat painfully. He dragged me back near the spot I'd originally been, and then used his metal gloved hand to hold my legs down while his other hand shoved my upper body down to the hot steel floor.

"Tie her legs," he ordered the young man.

As if he were terrified not doing what the assassin ordered would get him killed, the younger passenger grabbed the rope that my captor had tried to get earlier and proceeded to tie my ankles together tightly. I screamed and struggled with fear, even though I knew doing so was a waste of air. I guess screaming helped comfort me in a way.

Once I was tied up and no longer able to escape, the assassin pulled from me and then started to walk away. As he left me on my stomach, tied like an animal for slaughter, I cried, "Please! You can't do this! You have to let me go! If you think the Fire Lord will reward you, you're wrong. He'll probably arrest you when we get to the palace! You can't trust him!"

The giant came back over to me, and suddenly a scratchy rag was shoved into my mouth to silence me. I tried to spit it out quickly, but he was already using another fabric to tie around my head to keep the gag in place. Once I was gagged rough and tight, he left me where I lay on the steel returning to the burlap sack he'd originally been resting against. Sitting back down, he leaned back once more and shut his eyes.

My blood pumped loudly in my ears as realization kicked in. Shutting my eyes, I rested my head against the steel with frustration.

I'd failed. I had planned to face this man and defeat him. But he'd come with allies and I was outnumbered. My family and friends were fighting their own opponents , and knowing them they probably defeated their combats with ease. However, I failed in my fight. I wasn't strong enough to defeat my opponent. Even with Katara's training, and the strength I picked up two days ago from Hama's teachings, I still wasn't strong enough to defeat my enemies.

I was captured again. The damsel in distress once more. Only this time, I was probably going to the worst demon of them all.

The Fire Lord… who knew what Zuko's father had planned for me? Because of me his son chose to defy him and follow his heart. The Fire Lord probably blamed me for his son's betrayal.

I had a feeling Ozai wouldn't kill me. He needed me alive to get to Zuko… But that didn't mean I wasn't going to wish for death with whatever he had planned.

And Azula… once she caught word I was in her lair, who knew what she'd do to me.

I was being taken into the belly of the beast, and from my current situation I knew the only thing I could do at that moment was mentally prepare myself for the worst. With one final burst of energy, I screamed with rage through my gag just to let my emotions out in one heap. Although my sound was muffled, I knew the others could hear me. When the noise finally stopped, and defeat washed over me as the last of my strength faded, I dropped my head to the steel in exhaustion.

The only other thing on my mind- as the beating sun blazed above and my body lay bound and useless- was that I hoped and prayed my family and friends didn't come after me. The eclipse was a few days away, and if they came to my rescue instead, everything we worked for and planned would be for nothing.

Please, don't be stupid! Don't come try to save me!

Just save the world…