And now the fun begins… As a note, I have Mai arriving separately from Azula and Ty Lee, because her uncle wrote her first by about a day.
The Boiling Rock… outside the coolers…
Zuko struggled against his captors. Both guards were larger than him, and both were probably benders. He hoped to lure them into a false sense of security by struggling, when he was mostly waiting for the right time. He needed to get as close to the upper deck as possible before making a break. They had gone up three flights of stairs, and at the landing, the guards began to pull him inward.
He struck at the left foot of the guard closest to the staircase with his foot. Uncle's advice ringing in his head, 'Break their roots'. Jamming his heel onto the top of the guard's foot was enough to disbalance the guard. Zuko quickly ripped his left arm free from the guard and jabbed his elbow into the gut of the guard. The push was enough to send the disbalanced guard down the staircase with a discordant clashing of metal. At the sight of his companion falling down the stairs, the other guard let Zuko go and drew his blade.
Having lost Suki's stolen knife in the yard, Zuko knew he was outmatched martially, but since the guard in front of him resorted to steel, he was not a bender. Zuko pulled his right hand back so that his forearm was parallel to the ground and his palm was up. With a quick thrust forward, a small yet bright fireburst spread out toward the guard. The guard raised his hands to shield his eyes from the light and dropped his blade.
Ignoring the guards, Zuko took off up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He was almost home free. All he needed to do was get to the fifth floor. That should take him onto the main level. He was almost to the fourth floor when the doors above swung open and the sounds of people entering the staircase echoed down.
Knowing he couldn't take an entire company of guards unarmed and from the low position, he ducked into the door on the fourth floor, pushing the door open with his back. He slipped into the hallway, now facing the closing door. Just as it had swung shut, he felt a hand cover his mouth and a cold sting at his neck.
Out in the yard…
Suki disappeared into the fray, using the chaos to buy time. She wasn't entirely sure how she planned on getting up to the upper levels, but now was the best time. She ducked as an errant fireblast from a prisoner flew past her head.
'The balcony is terraced. If I could get high enough, I could maybe scale the walls. I just need a boost to get up there.', she thought as she weaved through the melee.
The guards on the second level had almost completely returned into the prison. She looked ahead and saw the the guards had managed to form a line, while the prisoners were still in disarray.
'It won't be long before they retake control. I have to go now', she thought while frantically searching for an out. As she scanned the yard, she noticed a rather large firebender prisoner was launching flames in all directions, distracting the firebending guards. They were conveniently crouched down, trying to avoid the blasts. A little ways behind them, next to the wall were a row of guards struggling to get a shield wall in place.
'This is it', she thought, and with a silent prayer to Kyoshi, she burst into a sprint towards the firebending guards. She dodged the crossfire and allowed herself to drop into a deep squat before leaping across the field onto the heads of the firebenders. Each one dropped under her weight as she pushed off their heads.
With another leap, she was falling through the air towards the standing guards. Most of them were holding shields. "For Kyoshi Island", she let loose a battle cry as she smashed into the first one. Her challenge had its intended impact. The other guards looked up at her, at least two raising their shields in front of their faces.
'Not the best platform, but it will do', she thought as she pushed off the flat shield with all she had. She stretched out as the wall came near. She managed to grab the ledge with her right hand, left hand clawing against the bricks for purchase. Quickly, she managed to get both hands on the ledge and pulled herself over.
A quick glance back showed that the prisoners had overrun the contingent of guards she had just passed through. Looking around, there weren't any guards left on this level, and the stones to the next levels were rougher and easily climbable. Without much further delay, she had climbed most of the way up to the third level when she heard a voice.
A shiver went from the tip of her head down through her toes. It had been many moon since she last heard the voice of the woman who had bested her and her sisters. She fought back the urge to jump over the ledge and have a round two, but common sense go the better of her.
'There will be another day. If you get through this day and escape in one piece', she convinced herself.
The voice rang out giving orders, "You five, go down and assist down there. Captain, take your best firebenders and start as sweep of each floor. Send half to the top and half to the bottom. Ty Lee, go find Mai. I know she is here somewhere. I have a traitor to find.
The sound of a door swinging shut gave her the courage to peek over the edge. No one was left. She pulled herself over the ledge and began climbing again. After a few tense minutes, she was finally at the top ledge. 'It's now of never', she thought as she pulled herself over the top.
Inside the upper levels of the Boiling Rock, Prisoner Intake Room, a little while earlier…
Sokka stood nervously. He could hear from the commotion that something was going on. He could only hope that Zuko and Suki were ok, and that the commotion was them trying to escape. Unconsciously, he rested his left hand on the pommel of his sheathed blade. He missed space sword.
The Warden blathered on to the prisoners in front of them the rules. Sokka tuned him out; Sokka's full attention was on Hakoda of the Southern Water Tribe. The only prisoner still standing tall, Hakoda had a defiant look in his eye. Sokka could see that his father was tired, and wouldn't be able to run far, much less fight.
Taking inventory of the room, there were twenty prisoners with rope bound hands and feet. The Warden had three other guards, not counting Sokka. Sokka knew he was good, but not fight off four other guards good. There were no windows, and the only doors out were to the main staircase and to the outside loading bay.
"Wang… Wang… WANG FIRE, For Agni's Sake! Are you here?", the Warden hollered.
"Huh, what? Of course I am", Sokka shook out of his own thoughts at the voice of the Warden.
"The Captain of the Guard insists that you are one of the best fire nation soldiers to have served, in particular against both the Northern and Southern Savages. I want you to break that one there. He has neither bowed nor kneeled yet.", the warden demanded.
Realizing this was probably his only chance, Sokka strode towards his father. He could tell that Hakoda did not recognize him. The look of fear on Hakoda's face was only masked by his determination. Sokka could hardly contain himself, being so close to his dad again. He marched straight to him leaning in really close to his father's face. His mask was almost to his father's nose, but Hakoda did not back down. Water Tribe Pride surged through Sokka.
Sokka whispered as low as he could a traditional Southern Water Tribe blessing, "May the Waves of La guide you safely home to shore."
Hakoda's eyes grew wide, then narrowed. Confusion showed on his face. After what Sokka thought could have been an eternity, Hakoda turned away from the fire nation guards to solely face Sokka. He dropped to his knees and bowed his head, before standing up again. He spoke the response to Sokka's earlier blessing, "May the Waves of La keep you from the darkness of the deep until we meet again."
Something in his father's tone made Sokka believe that Hakoda trusted Sokka. He wasn't sure if Hakoda knew who Sokka was or not, but it was a start.
The warden began to rant anew, "Why you insulting barbarian. Bringing in your inferior spirits and refusal to show reverence to the chain of command. I should have you brought to the coolers, but I imagine you would like it."
Seeing the fury in the warden's eyes, Sokka knew he had to act fast. He turned and bowed to the warden. He offered, "As you know, I have a certain, acclimation, with the more savage of the fire nation's enemies. If it would please your wardenship, I would take this particular prisoner and inform him of the benefits of civilization."
A look crossed past the warden's eyes that Sokka did not like. It wasn't because the warden was going to deny Sokka's request. It was more because the warden seemed to take a strange appreciation for Sokka's request. His reply came shortly, "I think it would please me. Take this one out of my sight." The warden then addressed the other guards, "Take these other prisoners down to block G and assign them to their new rooms. I have some important business to attend to with one of our special guests down the the coolers. I will be back here for my bow when I am done."
With that, the warden, the guards, and the other prisoners shuffled out of the room, leaving only Sokka and Hakoda. Sokka quickly took his guard helmet off.
In future retellings of the story, Sokka would insist it was a manly hug that was their first real embrace since the failings of the invasion. In reality, both men were in tears, sobbing loudly as they hugged. After a quick moment, Hakoda composed himself enough to ask, "Sokka, son. What are you doing here?"
Sokka, overwhelmed with emotion, began to explain from the beginning, "Well, it started when I was trying to sneak off to go find you but then Zuko found me and insisted that he come along, even though he can be kinda a downer he and I spoke a lot while he flew us here in his airship but then we…"
Hakoda cut his son off, "Sokka, the short version. Shortest version."
Sokka blushed and bashfully replied, "Of course. Short version. We are breaking you out. Well, I suppose I am breaking you and Zuko and Suki out, technically speaking. Oh, and the crazy crown princess of the fire nation is here. As well as flippy bone hurty girl. And since they are here, I would assume that the grey lady of pointy things is here too."
Hakoda just blinked at his son, "I understood about a quarter of that. Let's just go with getting out of here and catching up after we have left this place, Ok?"
Sokka nodded and headed for the door back outside, "Good, come on."
Fourth Floor Corridor, The Boiling Rock a little while earlier…
"Well, well, well. Look what I have here", a flat voice echoed across the halls. As it continued, it picked up in anger, frustration, and volume until it was booming in reverberation, "Now the real question is what do I do with you? Hmm? A couple weeks ago you said you wanted emotion, huh. So I guess here it goes. What in the everloving fuck were you doing. What is wrong in your addled brain. Did your Uncle give you one too many firewhiskeys while you were at sea! I swear Zuko. A letter. An Agni forsaken piece of paper."
Silence followed by a few deep breaths. The blade at his throat continued to remain steady despite it wielder's outburst. It was odd to see Mai lose control, but as evidenced by the blade, it was only a partial loss of control. She was still collected, ready, and deadly.
He dropped his head in shame as the hand covering his mouth released him. The blade remained at his neck. Quietly, he replied, "There is nothing better I could have done. It was all for you. When I left, it was going to be more than an exile. It would be treason. And anyone associated with me would have that cloud. If we fail, if I fail, I would have brought you down with me. Can't you see that I was only doing what was logically best for you?"
Her voice was again flat and dry, "Zuko, just because I don't show them often doesn't mean I don't have feelings, emotions. Because I do. And what you did was rip every one of them out of me. You thought you were saving me, but you broke me. Why didn't you have the common decency to do it to my face."
With the conclusion of her statement, she released the blade at his throat at the same time her other hand grabbed his shoulder and spun him around. They were now face to face. He looked into her eyes and could see the troubled storm. Despite her cool exterior, he could see that his childhood friend was not alright behind her eyes.
"I am sorry that I hurt you. I wish there was another way. But I do not regret what I have done. I can only hope that one day it will all work out. I couldn't meet with you. It would be too suspicious. Azula would think things. Ozai would think things. Everyone would have ideas. And then you would be caught alone", Zuko explained.
"Zuko, I wouldn't have been alone. I would have been with you. I would have been able to help you, or go with you, or talk you out of it, or at least known that you were alive. How are we supposed to do this. You can't just go disappear whenever you feel like it. I had just gotten you back after three and a half years. Three and a half long years, Zuko.", she retorted.
"I am sorry Mai, but I just am not the person I was before I was banished. I have seen the world. I have stumbled. I have fallen. I have done things that I am ashamed of. I have dishonoured myself and my family", he replied as thoughts of his last three and a half years tumbled through his head. Uncle had been with him every step of the way, especially when he had tried to push Uncle away. Zuko thought of his first visit to the Western Air Temple all those years ago. Then of his next visit only a few weeks ago. Of the music nights on the ship that he ignored and dodged. Of the night in the crystal catacombs where he broke what may never be fixed. Of the day that he burned a village.
His thoughts soon started to shift. He thought of his lessons with Uncle about the nature of the elements. Of learning how to redirect lighting and breathe fire. He thought of the time with the poison tea and the Jasmine Dragon and the time in Ba Sing Se. He thought of the smile on Jin's face when he lit the lanterns. He thought of his balloon flight with Sokka and the stories that Sokka told. He thought of the Avatar and their trip to the Sun Warriors and the Old Masters. He thought of the tiny earthbender who was like a second sister. He thought of the other earth kingdom children back at the Western Air Temple who were starting to not hide from him. He thought of the Waterbender, who was ready to hold him accountable.
He continued speaking, "But I have gotten back up. I have grown. I have done things that I am proud of. I have found myself. I have brought honour back to myself. I have decided to make my own fate and have become no one but who I want to be. And I am no longer going to stand by as the world passes by. I know what I have to do. But I do not want to hurt you. I never did. I respect our shared past too much."
For the longest time, his statement was met with silence. She held eye contact with him, unblinking, unmoving. He could feel her tossing over his words. Finally, she spoke again, "Then it seems that maybe we are not longer right for eachother. It would seem that I have no other option than to break up with you, Zuko."
He let out a sigh of relief, "I am glad you see it the same way I do. When we get out of here I will…"
She cut him off, "Oh, just because I accept what happened doesn't mean I'm not still fucking furious with you. I just don't know what to do with you yet."
'Shit.', he thought to himself. "Mai, I am again really sorry about this", he said as he leaned in close. When he was about half a foot away from her, he hooked his left leg around her right leg and pulled. She was knocked onto her backside, knife skittering down the hallway.
Before he could hear her reply, he whipped open the door, no longer caring if the entire guards staff was on the other side. To his good fortune, the stairway to the upper floor was clear. Bolting up the stairs, he could hear shouting coming from below. Again with blatant disregard for what could be waiting for him, Zuko slammed open the door to the main level.
The gondola deck, The Boiling Rock…
Sokka threw the door open, the bright light welcoming him out. Hakoda followed him out. This was his first time up on the Gondola deck, and he took in as much as he could. Two pairs of cables ran parallel from the deck to the outer station of the volcano. One gondola sat open at the base of the deck, the other was up by the outer edge. Two guards sat by the base control cable unit, unaware of the new visitors on the deck.
Sokka donned his helmet once more, and addressed the guards in his best Wang Fire, the guard, voice, "Guards, prep the gondola for transportation. I have special orders from the Warden himself in regards to this one." Sokka motioned towards his father behind him. He continued, "Also, I expect to be transferring some other prisoners for a special lesson in what happens to those who cross me. So I expect they will be arriving any moment."
The two guards looked at eachother, as if to mentally say, 'What the hell is going on. This is unprecedented.'
Sokka, picking up on their hesitation, rattled the blade in its scabbard and leaned in close. With no more than a horse whisper, he spoke, "Do you really want to risk the wrath of both the Warden and Wang Fire, right now. You career will be ended. You will find yourself on the frontlines. And I know you won't be coming home."
Both guards sprung to action, prepping the gondolas for transit. As soon as the gondolas were ready, the guards addressed Sokka. "We are ready for departure sir. Once you enter the car, they will switch places and you will be brought to the surface world."
Without further instruction, both guards went back to chattering with each other. Sokka and Hakoda kept nervously looking back to the door, waiting for it to open. Both were anxious to get on with the escape and both feared the worst. Looking back over to the guards, he was in for quite a shock. Suki was standing right behind both of them.
He immediately began waving his arms around, trying to say, 'We can't get rid of them. Not yet.'
She stopped and looked over at him with a shrug, as if to say, 'But why?'
Sokka replied by slapping his hand over his left eye, trying to imitate Zuko's marking. At the sound of the slap, both guards looked over at Sokka.
"At ease boys, everything is fine. Mosquito-fly. Nothing more", Sokka said to the two guards.
The seconds quickly passed by into minutes, which dragged on forever. Suki remained silently behind both guards, ready to strike as needed. Hakoda also remained tense, ready to run. After what felt like an eternity, the prison door slammed open. All eyes immediately trained on Zuko, who had emerged. At the sight of the fire nation prince, both guards immediately drew their blades. Before Zuko could move, Suki had sprung toward on of the guards, grabbing his helmet from behind. The sudden move knocked one of the guards backwards to the ground hard. The other had already started to advance on Zuko. The guard called out, "Wang, now would be a great time to draw that sword of yours."
Sokka replied, "I don't think you fully understand, my friend. This is one of the special prisoners that I have for transport. And I think you will be meeting the other very shortly."
At the culmination of his words, he nodded to Suki, who had taken the blade from the downed guard. With a resounding thwack, she hit the guard with the flat of the blade in the back of his helmet. The second guard also toppled as quick as a brick.
No sooner did that guard hit the floor than did the door slam open again. This time, the warden, surrounded by multiple guards, emerged. Pointing to Zuko, he demanded, "Get that man!"
As the guards rushed forward, he could see Suki raise her blade and Zuko drop into a stance. He also pulled the blade out from its scabbard, again wishing it was his trusty space sword.
Two guards advanced on Suki, who dropped back into a defensive stance, parrying blades and sidestepping towards the open gondola. At least four guards advanced towards Zuko, who snapped his left arm outwards, creating a thin snap of fire that blasted towards the guards. Two were able to bend the fire away, while the others recoiled in fright.
One of the guards fighting Suki overextended on a thrust, and she kneed him hard in the stomach. With the odds a little more even, she began to push the offensive, swinging aggressively at the guard. Slowly she managed to push her opponent back towards the door. Ducking beneath the guard's blade, Suki managed to spring up and punch the guard in the mask, sending him sprawling out backwards.
Zuko remained busy with his small contingent. Three nonbender guards stood with blades drawn, behind two bender guards. Fire flashed back and forth across the field as the benders battled for superiority. Working as a duo, the guards kept up a constant barrage of blasts and bursts. Sokka could see that Zuko was struggling to keep up. He would dodge more that he would block. Between incoming blasts, Zuko would send out quick short punches of flame, more to keep the nonbending guards back rather than to take out the benders.
Realizing that they were losing quickly, Sokka brandished his blade high as he approached the Warden. He looked over at Suki before speaking, "It seems that now is the time that you all learn, I am not who you think I am. You may know me as Wang Fire, but I am actually Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe. And since we are on introductions, Mr Warden, sir, that is Suki, of Kyoshi."
At her introduction, Suki pushed through the guard between her and the Warden. With a quick motion, she drew her blade up to his neck, other hand slapped across his mouth, muffling his words.
Sokka continued, "And if you want to have your Warden back, you will do exactly as I say. One, we get into that gondola, and you send it up. Two, you do not pursue us."
With a large blast of fire, Zuko pushed back the guards that were facing him, and he backed slowly into the gondola, next to Hakoda.
Sokka pointed his blade towards the Warden and motioned with his head for them to move towards the gondola. Suki and he lead their prisoner to the doors. Once they had crossed the threshold, Sokka turned again to the guards, "We go up, now. Now delays!"
When no one acted, Sokka turned and pointed his blade toward the Warden. Within seconds, the deck was aflitter with action as the door swung shut and the cables sprung to life.
They were about halfway across the chasm when a fireblast rocked the gondola. In the blast, all the occupants were thrown against the far wall of the lift. Picking themselves up from the floor, they all heard a voice ringing out.
"Zuzu, running away again. You coward. Come and face me. Or are you too afraid you will disappoint your new little friends, just like you disappointed father, and me, and Mai."
A moment of silence was then punctuated with another fireblast at the gondola. "I always knew you were a coward."
The Gondola, halfway across, just after the second fireblast…
'She is just trying to get into your head, Zuko. Remain steady. Remember the teachings of the Masters', he thought to himself as he approached the window opening facing his sister. To her sides were Mai and Ty Lee, both looking up at Zuko as well. Standing tall, he called back, "And what are you going to do about it? We are already on our way up?"
"Are you really that dumb? I will just shut this stupid thing off at the control panel.", his sister mocked.
Once again, Zuko reached inside to his inner fire. He let it grow, following the paths of energy throughout his body. With a carefully aimed blast, he sent a ray of fire blasting towards the deck, exploding the control panel.
Unfortunately, during the commotion, the Warden had managed to break free of Sokka and Suki. Zuko heard the Warden's voice ring out, "I have never lost a prisoner, and I damn well am not starting today. Blast this damn thing out of the air!"
"With Pleasure", came the reply from his sister. As she began the familiar sequence of separation and release, Zuko called out, "I need you all to brace for impact"
The lightning bolt ripped through the air directly for the gondola. Just before it impacted the vehicle, Zuko took in a deep breath and let the memory of Uncle's teachings guide him. The tingling struck his right arm as he grabbed the electricity mere centimeters from the metal exterior. Feeling the paths as he exhaled, he guided the energy down his arm, through the shoulder and down into his gut. It welled up as he gathered it all and held it for the tiniest of seconds. Shifting stances, he braced his feet on the ground and pointed his right arm just below the ledge that his sister was standing on. With the last of his exhale, he released the energy, allowing it to push him and the gondola further towards the edge.
The bolt blasted into the side of the prison, knocking Azula and Mai backwards. Ty Lee managed to remain upright. Picking herself up from the ground, Mai strode over to where the cables wound around the coil, and promptly stuck a knife into the mechanism. The machine let out a dreadful screech as the wires stopped moving. The gondola stopped ascending.
Azula stood up and looked up at Zuko, "Looks like you have learned a little trick. Too bad you won't get any further. You could give up now. Not that it would change anything other than you not humiliating yourself in front of everyone."
Zuko looked back at the other occupants of his gondola. "Do you trust me?", he asked.
"I don't think we have any choice at this point", Hakoda replied grimly.
Bracing himself against the metal rail, Zuko again looked out through the window. Forgoing the teachings of the Masters and his Uncle, he allowed himself a deep dive into his emotions. All of the years of torment by his sister. All of the times he disappointed his father. How he had really thought that he could restore his honour with the Avatar. Of his betrayal at Ba Sing Se and how he failed Uncle. Allowing all of that pent up emotion to convert into energy, he released a blast of fire from both palms. The blast traveled all the way to the deck before being dispersed by a wave of blue. The blast was enough to rip the gondola free from it's binding to the cable, and the now free box rocketed towards the edge of the volcano. It just barely cleared the edge and skidded to a halt.
Hakoda, Zuko, and Sokka all immediately made for an exit. Before exiting, Suki looked down at the Warden and stated, "Can't have you following us". With a quick smack, she introduced the pommel of her blade into the back of the warden't head. He crumpled into unconsciousness as she climbed out a window.
Zuko looked over at Sokka, wondering if he had a plan, "So, genius, how do you plan on getting us off this rock, huh?
Sokka replied, "I hadn't honestly thought that far ahead. I ran out of plan about the time we all showed up on the deck."
Suki called out, "Hey, Zuko, is that your sister's?"
Zuko turned to see where she was pointing. She was pointing to a nearby docked Fire Nation Airship. Unlike the scoutship that Zuko and Sokka flew in, this was a fully loaded bomber flagship. At least five times larger, its balloon was already inflated and the loading bay was open. Off the rear mast flew a fire nation red flag with a blue flame in the shape of the firelord's crown.
As they all piled in, the thought of the flag made Zuko chuckle to himself, "And you call me the dramatic one, sister"
As I said before, Plot Divergence is key. In particular I wanted to keep the ladies together. Also, Mai is still super pissed at Zuko for his letter stunt. Yes, a lot anti climactic, but the good battles are yet to come. (With any luck, I will be able to do them justice…)
