Rise from the Ashes Chapter 12: The Kyoshi Warrior

"No one has ever escaped from the Boiling Rock. Some of you may try. It would be a fruitless endeavor and we have harsh ways to punish rebellious actions. I would sooner jump in the boiling lake myself than let my perfect record fall. I will certainly send you into the lake in order to keep the record perfect. Never forget that."

That was the greeting that Suki had received upon her arrival to the Boiling Rock prison. She had been separated from her comrades and been trapped into the most notoriously feared prison in this foreign land.

Suki allowed herself the slightest smile at the memory of the ominous threat as she put more distance between her and her former place of captivity. She had been running for a full day, but her adrenaline had pushed her past her usual limits. If the Warden had thought that she would submit meekly to life imprisonment, then he clearly knew nothing of the Kyoshi Warriors.

The moment of satisfaction was short-lived when she collapsed from exhaustion after she found a secluded cave opening where she could safely spend the night.

She sustained herself through some (hopefully) edible vegetation and a small creek of running water that had looked clean enough. Although at this point her head was spinning so perhaps she was seeing what she wanted to see. Perhaps she did not have to run quite so far in a single day, but she had not been prepared to take such a chance.

She fell into a deep dreamless slumber, a welcome change from the insomnia she had endured during imprisonment.

Suki awoke bright and early the next day and thanked the spirits for the opportunity that she had been given. An opportunity to make a difference and to help those she considered as friends.

She prepared to set out again after gathering her strength. Unfortunately the immediate area around the prison was sparsely populated. That was not too surprising. Who wanted to live near a boiling lake after all? Hopefully, there were villages nearby where she could get new clothes and change out of the prison guard uniform that she had stolen.

As Suki set out, her mind wandered, as it so often did, to her defeat at the hands of the Fire Nation Princess. It was why she was in the Fire Nation to begin with and it made her bristle with anger. The Avatar's sky bison had been saved, but all six Kyoshi Warriors had been easily dismantled by the Firebending prodigy and two teenage companions. The Warriors had been forced onto the defensive immediately and had been disarmed in less than a minute. It had not only been the ability to summon fire that had caused the warrior's defeat. Suki's lone sword thrust had been dodged by the Princess with shocking athleticism.

Her comrades had been imprisoned separately. The Princess had quipped that as the leader, Suki should receive special treatment apart from the others. Ironically this would indirectly lead to her freedom. Suki clenched her fist in frustration and considerable guilt at the thought of her fellow warriors continuing to suffer in prison. She felt helpless, as she had no way of knowing where they could be. Leaving alone felt as though she was betraying them.

All I can do is honor their sacrifice by aiding the Avatar and all those that help him. To return one day with the power to help them. I cannot do it alone, but I can lend my strength to a resistance that will liberate them one day.

The Kyoshi Warriors did not regret their self-sacrifice, but the ease of their subjugation bothered their leader. They had outmanned their assailants six to three, but the Princess had not even seemed to take the fight seriously. As if the Kyoshi Warriors and their proud history were nothing more than a joke. The encounter had been a grievous insult to the young warrior's honor and pride.

"Who are you? The Avatar's fangirls?"

"Afraid of fire I see. Good, you should be."

"Don't you know fans just make flames stronger?"

"I suppose your outfit does have some charm. I think I will take it. It will be useful in Ba Sing Se."

"Any friend of the Avatar is an enemy of mine."

I was not going to remain trapped on that damned rock. I will not let you harm Aang, Katara, Toph…

Her heart fluttered.

Or Sokka

The memory of them so close together under the light of the full moon frequently invaded her thoughts.

Her internal drive had pushed her to mull over dozens of possible escape plans. Each increasingly less likely than the last. It would not be easy, but a proud Kyoshi Warrior would never shy away from a challenge. A Kyoshi Warrior excelled most not when they relied on their own strengths, but rather when they used their opponents' force against them. While the enemy's focus was elsewhere, there would be an opportunity to slip away.

It had been the talk of the whole prison when the new inmate arrived. All Suki knew of him was that he was old and more disheveled then the typical prisoner. No one had been allowed near him and he attracted constant scrutiny from the prison guards. This mystery facilitated rampant speculation throughout the prison.

At the beginning of the previous morning, Suki would never have expected that it would be the day of her escape. Security had never been tighter. She had heard rumors that apparently a comet was coming that would give firebenders incredible power. She was no bender, but the whole prison was on high alert to contain the prisoners who had that ability.

Then without warning there was pandemonium.

Guards were scared and were scrambling around in a panic. It had sounded like there was intense fighting going on elsewhere in the prison. The guards in the hallway of cells she was located in rushed away from her and in the direction of the commotion. The last guard in the area had passed by too close to her cell.

The cells had the smallest opening at eye level. It was not much, but it was enough.

Seizing upon the opportunity, she thrust one arm through the opening and was able to grab the guard around the mouth.

Thankfully luck was on her side. As she had hoped, the guard was not a bender and tried to pry away Suki's fingers. But the Kyoshi Warrior's grip held as firm as iron and in a panic the guard grabbed a baton from his belt. His head was pinned to the side away from Suki, so he could not see his attacker and gave a desperate weak swing.

Suki's other hand shot through the opening and intercepted the blow. Then with all her might she slammed his head into the cell and knocked the man out. Grabbing the baton as he fell, Suki then used the long length of the weapon and swung it downwards where the latch was on the outside of the cell. She was able to break it clean off with one blow. Forcing the broken door open she dragged the guard inside the cell, and with a stroke of luck the man was smaller and the uniform fit her halfway decently.

Pulling the visor down fully to cover her face she assumed the identity of a guard. Not intending to be a victim of her indirect savior, she kept her distance as she entered the courtyard. She arrived just in time to see an old disheveled man striding forward and effortlessly repelling anyone who stood in his way. With astonishment, she saw the man launch himself into the air with nothing but the propulsion of the flames he was generating.

It was pure chaos. Most of the guards were unconscious and those that were not were stunned into inaction.

Then the Warden had arrived in the courtyard, and he was delirious with both anger and fear. He had been strict and arrogant towards Suki and all the other prisoners, but despite this she did feel a bit of sympathy for the man who would have to answer for this disaster.

The Warden ordered every able bodied guard he could find to mobilize and search the surrounding area for the escapee. Seeing how most of his guards were unconscious, their odds of success seemed low. Suki leapt at the opportunity to join the search party and then slipped away from the others afterwards, thereby finally earning her freedom.

It still felt like a nonsensical dream as she thought about her escape. Who was that man who wielded such incredible power?

Suki endured another tiring day traversing the area. The open uninhabited area seemed to be never ending and her apprehension towards getting caught increased with every passing minute. She had no idea where she was. Her only hope was to keep near the coast line. Eventually she should come across some place where she could slip onto a ship bound for the main continent.

After hours of frustration she internally rejoiced upon seeing a settlement in the distance with ships that looked non-military docked along the shore. She could not let her guard down, surely there would be a search party on the lookout near a major port. But, if she was careful, there would be an opportunity to get out of this spirits forsaken nation.

She took a cautious scouting position on the outskirts of the village in order to evaluate potential threats. It looked like a nondescript fishing village, but it did have military patrols within the town. No doubt this was due to the recent escape. Any ship leaving would be thoroughly searched if not outright grounded.

She surveyed the area thoroughly and evaluated any potential risks.

That is when she noticed him. She was not alone. It was from a distance, but her keen senses picked up the figure of a man who was alone in the barren land.

It's probably nothing. A shepherd or a farmer.

Fearful of a search party, she kept a cautious distance. But upon seeing the general outline of the individual, her curiosity went into overdrive.

It cannot be him can it?

Upon closer inspection, it had to be the old man who had given her the opening to escape. What were the chances that the two escapees would cross paths again?

This man has to be important. Being on the run he must have no love for the Fire Nation. Perhaps he could help us?

Approaching him could be dangerous however, not to mention that she was still dressed as a prison guard.

Suki bit her lip in apprehension, but then made up her mind. It was worth the risk. As an escapee of a Fire Nation Prison, an enemy of her enemy could be a friend. She did not know the surrounding area, and she felt her chances of returning to the Avatar's side would be much better if she could sway such a powerful ally.

She took off the remains of the guard outfit which left her in her prisoner's attire. She had kept it as she was fleeing in case it would come in handy later in infiltrating a town. But now there was no sense in getting off on the wrong foot by appearing as an enemy. Cautiously, she slowly closed the distance. Keeping herself secluded from him by using a rock formation. But while she was still a ways off, farther than anyone should have been able to hear her, she heard an amused voice call out.

"Hello there." It sounded warm and inviting. Like an old kindly grandfather. A sharp contrast to what Suki had seen him do in the prison courtyard.

"Come on down. Don't be afraid."

Her cover blown, Suki stood up and faced the man. He was now close enough that she could make out his features. A long white beard was blowing in the wind. His prison garb looked like it was wasting away, which revealed a powerful muscular frame.

Suki made her way down the rock formation in order to approach him, using her athleticism to make the descent quickly and with ease.

"I apologize on behalf of my nation that they would imprison someone so young in that awful place." The man said, making note of her prisoner attire. "And the fact that you are standing here now and not there tells me there is something special about you. I am Iroh, it is a delight to make your acquaintance."

Well, this could not have possibly gone any better.

She gave him a smile and was close enough to see the whites of Iroh's eyes as she prepared to return the introduction until suddenly she heard loud, frantic footsteps approaching towards the pair of them at Iroh's back.

By reflex, Suki assumed a defensive posture, but Iroh did not seem concerned at all.

"No need to rush nephew." Iroh called out. "There is no threat here."

However, Suki's expression hardened when she saw the two individuals come into view.

Speak for yourself. The Kyoshi Warrior thought.

A young man and woman approached at a dead sprint. They wore black clothing, ill suited for the heat of summer. As they got closer, their garments were torn and worn down by travel. But it was clear that the clothes had been expensive.

The man had an inflamed scar over his left eye that ran down to his cheek. The woman had a pale complexion with long black hair and a stern expression.

Without her warrior attire and face paint, the pair would not be able to recognize Suki.

But Suki certainly remembered them and their actions.

"You have got to be kidding me."

A/N

There was no way I was going to leave Suki locked up. Team Avatar is not complete without her.

I watched Appa's Lost Days for preparation in writing this and wow, Azula absolutely wiped the floor with the Kyoshi Warriors. Her dialogue was perfect in that scene as well.

BTW, the Ben Kenobi Star Wars reference at the end was intentional.

Thank you for reading.