For a big pansy Lao sure moved fast! And it was not helped as he jumped down into the tunnel left behind by Toph as she had moved into camp with the others and now Zuko had to follow him which meant Zuko was in darkness.
Under normal circumstances he would just have lighted a fire in his hand to get some light, but he was to busy trying to catch up to Lao and as a result he tripped and fell down… More than ones. Which was really beneath Zuko as he usually would move with grace.
But usually in his own tempo and at a place where he could vaguely see his own surroundings.
As Zuko finally emerged from the tunnel Lao was not far away from him yelling at a guard.
"Didn't you hear me?! You need to evacuate now!"
For a moment Zuko looked stunned at Lao and then he remembered… Oh yeah right. This guy was an idiot.
A well meaning, caring and protective idiot… But still an idiot.
The guard huffed annoyed as he grabbed Laos armed making him scream.
"I don't know who you are or where you came from." The guard huffed. "But I'll be happy to put you in a nice cell."
"The magma is going to burst!" Lao exclaimed in a loud screech. "My daughter is in the mines under ground!"
The next moment Zuko game. He managed to grab the guard, throw him down on the ground and place himself in front of Lao. "You do realize you just made this a whole lot more complicated by revealing our presence right?!" he asked.
"What does it matter. This entire area is going to be filled with magma. Every body needs to get out!" Lao exclaimed.
"You're crazy man." The guard huffed from the ground. "There's no magma here you idiot!"
"Honestly." Zuko crouched in front of the guard. "When it comes to earth… And only when it comes to earth, stones and minerals. I would seriously listen to this guy." he said. "He could tell the amount and purity of iron here just by touching the ground. He could even tell you there is magnesium deeper down."
The guard huffed. "You could have gotten that information from anywhere." he stated.
"Really?" Zuko said. "He said you were idiots for mining here because the impurity of the iron ore is really high. Making the amount of pure iron won from them minimal. Isn't that right Mr Beifong?" Zuko asked as he turned only to realize… Lao was gone. He was long gone.
Zuko closed his eyes and he inhaled. "Where's the mines?" he asked.
The guard huffed.
"Where is it?!" Zuko shouted.
And the guard yelled. "HELP! BACK UP! I NEED BACK UP I NEED!" the next moment suddenly the ground started to shake right beneath their feed, they both halted and looked up at each other.
The guard swallowed. "Are you telling me that's…"
"The magma coming up. I believe so yeah." Zuko said. "My advice… just evacuate."
The guard was quiet for a moment as he looked at Zuko then turned around as he ran.
"Smart guy." Zuko nodded as he turned to follow Lao instead quickly fining the mine entrance and entered as well.
Toph hissed annoyed as she was moving across the mine, they had come across a lot of young women all ready but none of them were her mom.
"Hi ladies." Sokka grinned at them. "We're here to get you out! Don't you worry!"
Toph just growled as she grabbed another chain and broke it in her bare hands freeing multiple women at ones. "My mom isn't here!" she muttered annoyed.
"It's okay. We'll find her." Katara assured.
"Maybe use your super sense and concentrate a little bit more." Sokka said. "You can usually tell who is approaching from miles away. I think you're just worked up. Take a deep breath, use your feet senses and if she's here. You will be able to see her right."
Aang nodded. "Like Zuko always teaches us! Breath and inner flame you can do this Toph."
Toph hissed but did what she was told, barely did she manage to stamp her foot though before she blinked. "Dad?"
"What?" Katara, Sokka and Aang all asked.
"Dad what are you doing here?!" Toph asked turning towards the darkness and finally a figure approached. Lao looking dirty and exhausted.
"TOPH!" Lao shouted. "Don't you feel it? Seismic shaking but localised, heat seems to come upward and the earth growing softer and that can only mean one thing."
Toph silenced then put her feet on her ground and she gasped. "You're right!"
"What… What are we talking about here?" Sokka asked.
"Magma!" Lao gasped. "There's a magma chamber underneath us. The mining and now Tophs earth bending has weakened the crust. It's going to burst! We need to get out of here!"
"Mom is still down here!" Toph exclaimed.
"Toph! It's too risky!" Lao exclaimed grabbing Toph's shoulder.
"DAD!" Toph shouted. "We don't have time! I'm the worlds greatest earth bender. I can handle it! Just don't slow me down."
Lao halted as he held Toph's shoulder. He looked at her.
"It doesn't matter if you agree or not! I'm not leaving without mom!" Toph exclaimed.
Lao swallowed and then he let go of Toph's shoulders. "I'm sorry." he whispered. "I'm sorry. I just.." he swallowed.
Just then Zuko came running too as he gasped. "There you all are!" he exclaimed. "Guys we need to get out! This entire place is going to be covered in lava soon."
"Yes we know Zuko! You're a little late!" Sokka exclaimed.
"WOULD YOU ALL QUIET DOWN!" Toph shouted. "I need to concentrate!" she took a deep breath as she held her hands in front of her. "Okay… I can do this. Mom where are you." she whispered.
There were all quiet and then. Toph stamped her foot on the ground and she raised her head. "Five feet beneath us and seven feet to the west! Mom!" she gasped.
"Okay here's the plan!" Zuko exclaimed. "Toph and I will continue going down. You guys will get everyone out now."
"Why you?" Katara asked Zuko.
"Because I can absorb and re-direct heat." Zuko informed. "Maybe that can slow lava down. I don't know. We'll see!"
"Good enough for me! Let's go!" Toph exclaimed.
"Toph wait!" Lao exclaimed.
"Dad! I told you." Toph exclaimed.
"I just… Come back safely okay?" Lao asked. "I worry about you."
Toph halted honestly stunned. "Oh… Okay." she blinked. "I'll come back. Don't worry." she said then shook her head as she turned around and ran. "Come on your royal flameiness." she barged at Zuko.
Zuko rolled his eyes but ran with Toph. "Coming!" and soon he was right in the heels of Toph as they moved downwards Toph quickly making a new path for the both of them.
"Phew." Zuko gasped as he swept his brow.
"You okay Sparks?" Toph asked.
"Yeah. Your father is just really quick to act. Without warning." Zuko said. "I didn't see it before but yeah. That's totally your dad."
"What?!" Toph gasped as she made a tunnel. "No way. You said it yourself. He's a pansy."
"You do realize you totally got your affinity for earth bending from him right?" Zuko asked.
"Huh?" Toph asked and Zuko snickered.
"He noticed the magma before you did." Zuko smirked only to get a fist right in the arm. "Auw!"
"Shut up and help me." Toph huffed blowing a hole open to a tunnel beneath them.
Zuko hissed as he rubbed his arm. He probably should have seen that hit coming, though he didn't get much time to think about it as Toph screamed. "MOM!"
Zuko looked down and saw around five women with one female guard down there. Toph had already jumped down and tore off the chains before the guard could even act.
A woman with delicate features and long black hair gasped. "Toph?! How?"
So that had to be Toph's mother! She did indeed look thin and delicate. Her skin very light for earth nation and her eyes pale green, very similar to the color of Toph's cloudy eyes.
Zuko jumped down as well landing among the others. "We need to get out of here now." he said. "These tunnels are going to be flooded with lava and soon."
The female guard shrieked just as the tunnels started to shake.
"This way!" Toph gestured. "Hurry."
The prisoners and the guard didn't need to be told another time as they ran the way Toph had gestured though all ready they could feel the heat and Zuko gasped as he turned around to feel the warmth coming towards them.
"Go." Zuko asked as he took a stance. "Hurry."
The prisoners all ran away behind him and Zuko took a breath and then he saw it. The lava! Coming at him at a rapid speed and Zuko inhaled then he thrust forward his arms to try and push it back and surprisingly… The Lava did move backwards. "Huh?" Zuko blinked then looked next to him and saw a little earth bender also making a stands. "Toph?!" he asked.
"You thought I would just let you handle lava all alone?" Toph asked. "No way you dipshit! Concentrate on the heat. I'll concentrate on the earth! Let's make a new path for it!"
"Sounds good to me." Zuko gasped and Toph smirked.
"Let's do this!"