Aang stuck his pinky fingers in the corners of his mouth and let out a shrill whistle.
"Hey! Over Here!" he yelled.
Both armies paused to look at him, then, all the color drained from their faces, as they saw a giant indigo monster, ravenous for devouring, behind him and Katara. They unleashed their gravitational grip on the water, and with two hand motions, the entire Fire Nation army was engulfed by the humongous wave that swept them out to sea. A few shields, swords, spears, and helmets were all that was left. Katara stared at her hands, truly amazed while Aang jumped around in an oversized helmet and shield that covered his body while Sokka mocked the firebenders.
A fire bullet searing through the air snapped the chain holding the two shackles together. Having weakened the iron shackle from fighting, swimming, and banging it on anything hard he could find, Zuko ripped it off and threw it overboard. Soraya, however, struggled to yank it off. Zuko turned to face the owner of the scorching projectile. Iroh returned the prince's gaze with a stern glare.
"Zhao is going to be furious! Why did you leave the battle? He can, without a doubt, have you arrested for conspiracy, treason, and leaving your military post during times of war and there will be nothing I can do!" his uncle firmly scolded.
"I'm sorry uncle. He only had one of his sentinels CHAIN MY LEFT WRIST TO THIS IMBECILE!" Zuko bellowed as he flung his finger in Soraya's direction.
"The island of JinOKai is right up there. Zhao will be furious!" Uncle Iroh muttered and lifted his palm to stroke his forehead. Soraya turned her head and dropped her jaw…To her surprise; not a single soldier was on the island. Only their armor, a stunned Earthen army, and rejoicing friends remained. Aang had a huge helmet on and a spear he could barely lift up and was jumping from boulder to boulder among those that were scattered around until Katara tapped his shoulder. He looked at her and she pointed to the ocean. Immediately the noise and cheer died down as Soraya did the only thing possible to avoid the wrath of the rumors that would surely lurk around the palace, questioning her place on the Fire Prince's ship. Already accused of being young, immature, female, and unfit for such a grand throne, she didn't need more reasons to have her dethroned. She jumped over the railing and dove in the water.
Everyone stood speechless until Zuko broke the silence.
"GET THE AVATAR!"
Soraya emerged from the water into Aang steel, gray eyes. They bore through her so fiercely she again was forced to look away. Before Aang could ask Soraya why she was on Prince Zuko's ship, Soraya interrupted Katara's outbreak of panic.
"Come; quickly! We can board an Earth navy ship!"
"But I can call Appa from here!" Aang said, as he pulled out his white Flying Bison whistle and showed Soraya with a confused stare.
"NO! He gets tired easily and is too slow! We need to leave now!" Soraya said hurriedly.
She yanked Aang's arm and rapidly climbed up the vine Katara had left hanging on the wall. She ran on a sentry's lookout, and jumped from platform to platform until she reached a giant boulder blocking the dead-end platform. Soraya earthbended it over their heads and signaled for them to all look down. Emerging from the ground below was a small iron trapdoor.
"Hurry!" Soraya whimpered in anguish as she strained to lift the heavy boulder hovering over them. Aang opened the door and jumped down to a dark, narrow stairwell carved from the stone under the palace. Sokka and Katara followed Aang as Soraya quietly closed the door shut and earthbended the rock back to cover the entrance. She sprinted past them and groped the walls as she ran. Tiny droplets of water were suspended from the ceiling, threatening to fall any second. They splashed on the floor at different times, creating an eerie symphony. A cool, musty smell, lingered through the passageway. Finally, arrived at the end of the trail, where they all gasped.
A giant cavern carved out from the Earth lay ahead of them. A giant, barred iron gate was at the end, and beyond it, such massive boulders they blocked sight of what ever was past them.
"So this is where the Earth navy stores its vessels… Sokka murmured.
"Don't worry, there's six other of these navy storages surrounding the palace." Soraya laughed. Bobbing up and down, hundreds ships of all shapes and forms were classified and arranged by size, type, weapons, and use were anchored near small wooden piers. Soraya ran out on one of the piers and boarded a ship.
"Beyond that gate is the sea, we will sail away from JinOKai, luring Zuko and his men behind us. But before he attacks, we'll sail away to your next destination, without him knowing, on one of the smaller iron ships installed in this one." Soraya said as she patted the side of the vessel.
As they neared the large, massive exit, Soraya earthbended four massive boulders into four tubes above the gate. They winded through the stone ducts and splashed out on the water, sinking to the bottom. Activated by a heavy pedal below, chains began recoiling as the iron gate creaked open.
Zuko's firebenders retreated on the ship, having been chased back by the spirited earth benders. Suddenly, they had become courageous, and stubborn, refusing to yield to the Fire Nation and resisting their power. Prince Zuko squinted and shielded his eyes from the afternoon sunlight. What was that small gray shadow, rapidly sailing the waters? He trotted to the telescope. The symbol on the silhouette!
"FORWARD!" Zuko roared. With a sudden burst of speed, the ship blasted forward.
"We've got company!" Katara screamed as she looked over the back railing.
"I CAN'T CONTROL THE SHIP!" Soraya shrieked. Aang leapt up to the Lookout's Mast and gave a quick, roundhouse kick, slicing the air. A large gush of air shot from Aang's boot, accelerating them faster and slowing Zuko down.
Soraya spun the wheel to the left. "I CAN'T CONTROL IT! Sokka jumped from the highest balcony and ran down the steps to the helms room where Soraya was screaming trying to control the ship. Sokka took the wheel and grunted as he roughly spun it to the right. He turned and smiled pompously at Soraya. She stared at him; astonished.
"How did you manage..?"
"He got dance lessons from a girl!!" Katara snorted as she ran by the door of the helms room trying to speed the ship up by waterbending. Sokka scowled.
"Ahh Aub'Zohriev! So motley with imprisoned benders, yet such a prosperous castle!" Zhao snorted with laughter. Four master waterbenders and two master earthbenders stood glumly, their arms roped.On my mark!" Zhao readied the benders. "Ready…"
"UNGH!" Zuko was suddenly thrown across the deck and grabbed the right railing for support. He glanced a few yards behind him. Large, stone shards had been raised from the ocean floor and knocked the boat roughly. He stared ahead. It couldn't be… Soraya would have never… A large wave smashed on the deck battering the vessel. Zuko was washed off the deck. His uncle caught his arm by surprise.
"Zhao's behind us!"
"Do you forgot! Recall why Aub'Zohriev is so significant to the Fire Nation! Inside its adamant walls are the most powerful benders of all elements! Except for air and fire of course. He probably has summoned them! It wasn't strategically placed though, the Fire Lord's advisory council thought it imperative that it remained hidden, so no one would dare attempt to venture out and rescue the masters it held! Little did they know that JinOKai was next door!"
Forgetting how he had been thrown all over the ship a few minutes ago, Zuko widended his eyes, a rare expression to cross his face. "All this time, no one knew about the Palace of JinOKai?"
"It was known alright; a legend to the Fire Nation! The Palace of JinOKai and the island of JinOKai have been the home of the Grand Emperors of the Earthen Empire! They ruled every powerful king of all the cities among the empire. At the start of the war, Emperor Sargon moved his home to JinOKai, yet no soul except his family knew where it was. For years, Fire Nation generals sought its location but never found it. After you found JinOKai, the Fire Nation army was to seize it, forcing Emperor Rayeed to surrender for the sake of his home, but we didn't know he had already died. Anyways Zhao could have all sorts off benders from Aub'Zohriev" ready to attack the ship!"
Zuko glanced down. If he had found the long-lost palace, why hadn't his father recognize his gallant, naval efforts in some way? "Does father know?" Zuko asked.
"What?"
"Lord Ozai, does he know about my triumph? My finding the palace?" Iroh cringed but was spared answering the question when another wave rocked the vessel. Zhao's ship, now caught up with Zuko's ship, raced past him.
Rampaging on the water, Zhao's ship had quickly beaten Zuko's. If you glanced long enough at the blurred, rushing water, the currents seemed to gradually regain their form. Turning her back to the Island of JinOKai and her relentless pursuers, Soraya glanced up at the now indigo sky and winced. A crimson echo was left, painted over the horizon, fading by each passing second. Panic swept over the vessel as quickly as an unleashed current of water. While Aang tried to speed them up by shooting blasts of wind, Katara used the water. Soraya ran back up to the helms room.
"Get ready! I'm letting out the smaller ironclads!"
"Now! But Zhao is almost--" BAM! The ship swayed from the impact of the projectile. Several similar thunderous explosive sounds followed, then, tense silence. Soraya ran out of the room.
"Is everyone okay?" she had begun to ask, when her ears perked at the abrupt roaring sound. Katara shrieked and Aang tried to slow them down. Leaping down the steps, Soraya grabbed the railing and peered over. The deadly azure maws of a monstrous, swirling whirlpool were nearing to the ship. Torrents of water spun around, threatening to sink the ship any second. Before even giving her the chance to breathe, she felt an unstoppable force grasp her and drag her down to the dark, churning depths…