Chapter 13- Rescue: The Easy Version

Soon, we were sneaking around the halls of the ship; Katara, Myra, and me. The hall that we were making our way down was strangely quiet. I don't know how long it has been since we left Zuko, but we were sure that he could handle himself. Unless Zhao was… drunk, then you've got something going there. And then, there it was: the door leading outside.

"Okay, we're almost out. Just stay behind me." I was about to make a dash to the door, when suddenly –

"And let me guess – we're all going out for fresh air?" Turning around, we grinned at our wonderful prince.

"Yeah… if that's how it looks, then that's how it is." Myra pointed out, trying to cover up – badly.

"My uncle took in a worker, not an actress." He said flatly.

"We're going to get the avatar." I said. Then added, "Do you have a problem with that?" Zuko didn't say anything for awhile and just looked at me. I could feel my face reddening. What the hell was he looking at? I diverted my gaze at Myra, trying to avoid him.

"Then let's go. We're not going to get him standing here." He said and opened the door. Outside were two guards and he quickly dismissed them before waiting for us to come out.

"Do you think that it might be a trap? To kinda catch us when we're least expecting it." Myra whispered to me as we slowly went toward him.

"Why would he do anything now? He knows that we could beat him."

"Are you sure? Or do you think that he might be waiting for the opportune moment to get us? Or maybe he'll trap us in that ship when our back's turned and give us to that drunkard – I don't want to live with that guy! – I'm too young – Or worse –"

"Myra, Myra stop. Nothing's going to happen." I said to calm her down. Wow, can she imagine the worse or what? "We'll just go in and rescue Aang and get out."

"Are you coming or not?" Zuko called impatiently.

"Yeah, yeah we're coming." Myra replied. Katara followed us silently as we exited the boat.

Outside, the island was almost invisible if it weren't for the moon. It cast down a light that provided us a black and blue picture of the island and the ships. Zuko held a small firelight in his hands and made sure that we were following. The way to the other ship was longer than I expected. We were making our way along the beach when I noticed that the light that Zuko carried was gone and that we were stranded in the dark.

"Zuko, where are you?" I said out loud. What was he up to?

"See? – I told you. It was a trap!" Myra whispered to me.

"Don't be silly –"I turned suddenly. I felt something was behind us. In the brush, a few feet away, I could feel something was there. Was it the thing that was following us earlier? From the place we were staring at, something growled. Myra and I scanned the area we heard the growling coming from. Our eyes flew wildly trying to find out what it was in the darkness. Katara clung on to us.

"What do you think it is?" She asked.

"Nothing we can't fight." Myra stood ready for whatever would lunge out at us. I steadied the water. Then, it came. The leaves rustled and out came… Zuko.

"Whoa! What's wrong with you?" He said puzzled.

"Don't you play confused with us!" Myra said, angry. "What were you thinking; playing 'monster'? You scared the heck out of us!"

"Oh that." Zuko chuckled. "I was wondering when you were going to loose your minds. Fortunately, it didn't take long." I feel Myra fuming. She was about to say something when Katara pointed out:

"There it is." Lights flickered through the leaves and as we walked further on, we at our destination.

Zhao's ship was bigger and somewhat better than Zuko's. It appeared to be cleaner from the outside and had lights from the fire that the guards carried. Zuko went up to the ship and a guard looked down.

"Who's there?" He said shining a bright light at us. "And what do you want?"

"It's your prince. Now open up! I don't need to tell you why I'm here!" Zuko yelled back.

"Oh sorry! It's just my job." He opened the bow of the ship and we all went inside. Unlike Zuko's boring ship, inside was a group of entertainers. All of them naturally fire benders. They all looked gloomy as if all of their happiness were gone. As soon as they saw Zuko, all were bowing. We passed by silently.

"Some happy troopers we have." I said sarcastically.

"Can't you tell? They're all afraid. No doubt Zhao hurt them." We looked at them again. If their pain hadn't shown on their face, then the bruises and the scratches on their arms and legs would tell us the whole story. We needed to get Aang out of their fast.

Zuko walked up to a guard holding a whip. He stood up straight as soon as Zuko addressed him.

"Guard, where do you keep your prisoners?" The man pointed down the hall.

"The second door to your left. But, I must ask, why –"

"Don't. It will be better that way."

"Sir!" He saluted and we left. As soon as we opened the door a boy flew out of the room. Clearly, he was feeling better.

"Aang! You're alive!" Katara ran to him as soon as he landed on the floor. The two hugged as if they hadn't seen each other for years. Ahh, young love! Nah – the two can't possibly be that love sick. Could they?

"Come on you two, we've got to get you out of here, before Zhao wakes up?" Zuko said he looked around.

"Wakes up! What did you guys do to him?" Myra asked bewildered.

"A few strong drinks here and there – no harm done."

"A few?"

"Okay, maybe a lot. He got a bit tipsy. But the point is that we safe for now and we have to get out now before he suspects anything."

Why is it that the way back is always shorter than the way there? We were back at Zuko's ship and found it the same as we left it. We snuck Aang in as if nothing had ever happened and pushed Zhao out the door.

"Thanks for the food." He said before he let and walked the way back. After his fading figure, Zuko immediately ordered that we leave the island as fast as we could and so the ship quickly disappeared into the night. Surprisingly, tricking Zhao into getting Aang was easy. I wonder how long it will take for Zhao to notice his disappearance – after the collapse … hangover… and the blinding morning light.

But, was this little boy more important to save than those entertainers?


Well.. yeah. How's that for a chapter? Now... what to do next... hmm.