K15: Okay, lets try this again.

Zuko: Did you all see…

Me: Ha ha, very funny Zuzu. The next all new Avatar isn't until July! Yeah!

Zuko; Oh.

Me: Anyway here's my 20th try on this chapter. Hope it works. Later. K15

Disclaimer: Lets try a simple: I don't own Avatar.

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Chapter 9- Rescued

He should have seen it coming. After three Music Nights in a row, the crew was bound t to be drunk. Personally Iroh thought they were celebrating that Zuko wasn't around to boss them around any more. But one this was for certain, they were taking full advantage of the prince's absence and that was all about to change.

The retired general figured that Zhao and the other boy had to be about three days ahead of them, if not more. And since the flying bison was now gone, he had to rely on good old instinct. Something Iroh hadn't done since the battle of Ba Sing Se.

It would be simple, stop at the next port, gather supplies, ask if Zhao's stopped by, then back on the open sea. Iroh nodded at his plan, it was bound to work. Even though it wasn't the best plan and his nephew was better at thinking about plans, it had to work; Zuko's life was on the line.

He glanced over at his crew. Most of them were passed out on the deck. Iroh was sure some of them made it back to their bunks, which he was grateful for. He was able to tell which men had the common etiquette to throw up in their own privacy.

Momo ran up and curled himself around Iroh's neck. The lemur had been running around and acting all nervous ever since Appa left. Maybe it had something to do with being on a ship with a bunch of firebenders. Especially since most of the time they were attacking the group, trying to capture Aang. Iroh was personally glad that the flying lemur had taken a liking to the old retired general.

"General Iroh, what's your call?" Jee questioned, walking into the room.

Iroh looked up from the map and back at the Lieutenant. Jee had refrained from participating in the last two nights, which Iroh was grateful for. It gave him someone to talk to, as well someone to discuss their current predicament. Plus, Jee was a good traveling companion.

"We've got to get a new crew." Iroh sighed, looking out a window. The crew was now starting to move and head inside, most of them wobbling from the ships waves and the drunkenness.

"But wouldn't Prince Zuko…" Jee started.

"Zuko doesn't give a damn who is on this ship; only if they're helping him catch the Avatar is he happy." Iroh replied, but it came out more like a snarl more than anything else.

"Oh."

There was an awkward moment of silence between the two of them. With most of the crew, including the cook, taking advantage of Iroh his temper was about to be unleashed. Jee had heard rumors about the old man's temper, and he was sure it was something he didn't want to witness.

"Sorry, I love my nephew, I really do. He's not the same since his father scarred him." Iroh said, mentally blaming himself for the incident.

Jee placed a hand on Iroh's should. "So General Iroh, do you have a plan of action?"

Iroh shook his head. Which surprised Jee quite a bit, because it was usually Prince Zuko or Iroh who came up with the plans to capture the Avatar. Maybe the general was more affected by Prince Zuko's kidnapping then anyone realized.

Jee decided to voice his other question, "How much longer until we get to the next port? We are running out of supplies."

Iroh looked down at the abandon map. "If we stop at the next Earth Kingdom city, then by the time the sun's in the middle of the sky. There's only one problem though."

"What is it sir?"

"There's a rebel camp just outside of the city."

"And the city?"

"Ba Sing Se."

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When Katara awoke, she was in a dark, cramped, little box (actually the correct term was cage, but it was too dark to tell). She looked around and found Smellerbee sitting by it.

Great now she was in a room with one of Jet's lackeys.

"Do you mind letting me out?" Katara questioned. "I kinda can't move." After a moment of silence she tried again. "Please let me out."

"No, I'm sorry Ponytail, but Jet doesn't want you trying to escape again." Came the boy's reply.

A beam of blinding light crept into the room, as the sound of footsteps could be heard entering the room. They stopped right in front of Katara's cage, and then Jet's face appeared in front of her cage.

"I hate to do this to you Precious, but you're too feisty for your own good." Jet smirked, hitting the top of the cage. "I'd like to see you get out of this one."

Katara glared at Jet before spitting in his face. She didn't like him, and calling her precious did not put him on her good side. The rebel leader staggered backwards before kicking Katara's cage.

"You little wench! Don't feed her." Jet barked at Smellerbee. "Maybe if she goes hungry, she'll learn respect." He then turned on his heel and exited the room, slamming the door behind him.

Katara let out her breath, that she apparently had been holding all this time, and tried to get comfortable. But with a small cage, with there hardly any room to begin with, it looked like comfort wasn't an option.

"I guess you're not even going to move me to a bigger cage?" Katara questioned, already knowing the answer.

"You've got that right Princess." A female voice said. "Smellerbee, Jet needs to see ya."

Smellerbee nodded and jumped off the cage. "Make sure she-"

"Yeah I heard his orders. I'm not deaf stupid."

He nodded one more time before leaving the two girls. "Who are you?" Katara finally asked.

"My name is Toph."

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Iroh looked out and to see the grand city of Ba Sing Se. IT seemed like only yesterday that he was trying to destroy it. He finally let out a depressed sigh; he remembered how that battle caused the death of Lu Ten.

"A father isn't supposed to live longer than his son, no matter what the cause." He whispered, allowing a tear to roll down his face.

Iroh took out a white lily and dropped it into the ocean. He watched it float out to sea before walking towards the other side of the ship. He was waiting for someone to return.

"How long are you giving her?" Jee questioned.

Iroh raised an eyebrow. How dare Jee question his decision? "I believe she knows what's she's doing." Iroh calmly replied. "If she comes back empty handed, then I know I've got the wrong ship."

"Oh."

A few hours travel had actually turned out to be nearly half a days travel, and both men didn't realize how low on fuel they were. They had actually spotted the Fire Nation ship on the horizon a while back. So, naturally they gave chase after the ship, hoping it was the one Prince Zuko was on.

The girl that had been sent on the ship named Toph. She was a blind twelve-year-old earthbending master. Even though she was blind, Toph was not to be taken lightly. Frankly Iroh thought she over came that disability quite well. What she lacked in sight, she made up in talent and spunk. Maybe that's why Prince Zuko had kidnapped her, or maybe it was he was worried she might be the earthbending master the Avatar was looking for.

"Do you think Toph got in there alright?"

"No doubt about it." Iroh replied. "The girl is very skillful so any doubts that you have about her being weak you should take back."

"But aren't you worried…" Jee tried to ask.

"No, I'm not worried. Not at all."

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"Oh good another one of Jet's lackeys to tease me." Katara rolled her eyes.

"Not exactly." Toph said, feeling the cage. "General Iroh sent me to rescue anyone who they were holding prisoner. You wouldn't believe how dense some of these boys are."

"Oh great, now Prince Zuko is going to use me as a bait for Aang again." Katara rolled her eyes once again.

"And again she got the same reply, "Not exactly. It turns out that your precious prince has been kidnapped by Admiral Zhao."

"Oh and Momo?"

"Safe with Iroh. Now do you mind holding still and shut up? I'm trying to concentrate." Toph snapped.

Katara's eyes widened in realization, "You're blind!" She blurted out.

"Yeah, now shut up." Toph snapped. "I know what I'm doing, so don't even think I'm weak."

"I'm glad." Katara scoffed.

Toph raised her foot and kicked the lock. A jingle sound echoed throughout the dungeon. She then raised her hands and focused on the dirt around them, creating a good size rock. Then she slammed the rock on the lock, breaking it.

"Oh good," Katara said, pushing herself out, "I thought I was going to be stuck in there forever."

"Look here Sugar Queen, we're not out of the woods yet." Toph chuckled at her own joke. "Well actually, we were never in the woods."

Katara allowed the comment about being a Sugar Queen to slip. But only because she wanted to get out of there without…

"Hey! Where are you going with the girl?" Longshot yelled. Katara didn't even notice she had left the room they were in. And now they were in for it. Katara was going to get shoved back into that cage, and Aang and Sokka were never going to find her!

"Jet wanted me to bring her to him. Something about a punishment." Toph replied. Inside, Katara was doing a happy dance. Though her head was telling her not to count her chickens before they hatched. They weren't off the hook quite yet.

"How do you know she's not going to escape?" Longshot questioned.

"Trust me, Bow Boy. I'm a master earthbender. There is no way Princess is going to escape." Toph assured Jet's lackey.

"Fine, but if…"

Toph waved off the boy as she pulled Katara down the hall, He was of no importance anyway. As long as they didn't come across Jet himself then it would be all right, they could keep using that excuse. But if they came across Jet himself, then they would have some major problems.

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Now Iroh was starting to worry. The sun was beginning to set, and it was starting to get both dark and cold. A bunch of what-ifs were going through his head. What if she got caught? What if she was killed or lost? What if Zuko was hurt or not even on the ship? Or the worse one: What if Zuko was dead? Iroh could never forgive himself if that was the case.

"General Iroh, most of the men are in bed and apologize for their lack of help the past few days." Jee said, walking up to the old general. "The cook made you some Ginseng tea."

Iroh graciously took the cup and drank down most of it. Without so much as a thank you, he handed cup back to Lieutenant Jee. Then, he went back to leaning on the railing, and worrying about his nephew and Toph.

"General Iroh!" Toph yelled, waving her hands up and down. "I found the girl Prince Zuko is always talking about!"

A blush crossed the girl's face, but Iroh didn't care. He had a smile on his face and it felt like a great amount of pressure had been lifted from his shoulders. Momo flew over to the girl (what was her name again? Oh well, he'd have to ask her later). "Lets get out of here and shop. She's probably dying for new clothing and hunger as well."

"That would be much appreciated, sir." Katara said, bowing.

"So lets head into the city of Ba Sing Se." Iroh said, helping both girls get on the deck. "Jee set a course for the port."

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K15: I did it! My trip proved successful!

Zuko: Yeah 11 days without Internet doest that to ya.

Me: Though it only took about a week to post it up. You wouldn't believe how many different ideas came to me. But none of them seemed to fit.

Zuko: Yeah,
Me: My goal was to write a chapter to either Kidnapped or Fearing the Storm, and I did it! I guess I'm the only person who'd work on fanfiction while I'm in Chicago supposed to be enjoying the sights.

Zuko: Yup.

Me: Anyway, the reason this chapter is focused on Iroh was because I kinda forgot about him.

Zuko: Surprise Surprise.

Me: did you like how I added Toph? I thought it was a cool twist. Anyway, Sokka wants at least 7 reviews and cookies.

Zuko: He's asking for cookies now?

Me: Yeah, and we must give Sokka what he wants.

Zuko: I want Katara but that…

Me: No one cares Zuko. Anyway. At least 7 reviews before I update again. Or even think about updating. And I've got the first page of the next chapter written. Later. K15