Chapter 38: The Rescue

Inching around a corner, I gripped the metal of my stolen blade hard as I maneuvered through the dark halls within the Dai Li's headquarters. I kept trying to convince myself I knew where I was, but honestly I was lost. The halls that seemed endless were all the same, and each door I passed looked like the door Appa could possibly be behind. Interestingly, I hadn't crossed paths with a Dai Li agent since I'd left the room where Long Feng almost caught me. Part of me felt wary about the lack of security, while the other side of me wanted it to be a good sign that I would find Appa and escape.

Just as I went towards another corner, a door swung open and a man stepped out carrying a small wooden bin. The man before me did not appear to have the traditional Dai Li clothing, and actually looked like a normal citizen from the lower ring. He appeared to be in his late twenties and had messy black hair with dark brown eyes. He was shocked when he saw me, and went to speak. Without hesitation, I pointed my sword at his chest and tried to find a firm tone. "Don't. Call for help and I'll attack."

He shut his mouth and dropped the box in his hand. The package broke open and small metal pieces fell out. Holding his hands up in surrender, he stated desperately, "Don't… Please."

Sweat formed on my forehead as my arms shook. I didn't want to hurt him, but I also didn't want him alerting the Dai Li. "Are you a Dai Li agent?"

He shook his head drastically. "I'm just one of their messengers. I swear!"

From his appearance I believed him. I stayed alert though, and asked, "Do you know where they're keeping the Avatar's bison?"

He was puzzled by my question, and shook his head. "No. I don't. I've never heard anything about a bison or the Avatar." The look of terror in his eyes, and the sincerity in his tone made the hold on my sword waver. He was telling the truth, and that fact made me disappointed. My determination started to dim.

However, I quickly gestured for him to go back into the room. He did so quickly, and I followed him into what appeared to be another storage room. This one had metal equipment inside that looked to be used for repairs and machines. Grabbing the door, I shut it behind us while keeping my sword up in case the man lashed out. Stepping forward, I kept my voice strong. "Where would they keep a giant sky-bison?"

He continued to look puzzled. "I swear. I don't know anything." He stared at the tip of the blade with horror. "I was hired about a week ago. One of the rules was to never ask questions or snoop around. I go where my superior tells me to go and that's it."

The thought of brainwash had me doubting his words, but I also could see his panic. Lowering my sword, I asked, "Would your superior be Long Feng?"

He shook his head. "No… I've never met the man. He usually doesn't associate with the messengers they hire… My supervisor is Tang Ju. He's the one that speaks to the Dai Li agents and Long Feng."

I took in what he spoke for a moment, and then let out a heavy sigh. This man was of no help at all. It was just my luck. Backing up, I fell back against the door with exhaustion. Dropping the sword to the ground, I wiped my forehead as my whole body shook. I was so tired, and my muscles ached from being thrown around so much in the last few hours.

Trying to compose myself, I looked back at the man who was surprised by my moment of weakness. I asked softly, "Why are you working for these monsters?"

He stared at me for a moment, puzzled by my question. Then he answered, "I need the money… My wife is pregnant, and I don't want our child to be born hungry. When I first took the job, I had no clue I was going to be working underneath a lake."

I couldn't believe my luck. "So you don't know anything about this organization?"

He grimaced. "All I know is Long Feng doesn't want any of us to speak about the war."

Nodding, I turned and placed my ear to the door to listen for any sign of life. There was nothing from what my ears could pick up. Shutting my eyes, I tried to feel around the room for any source of water. My senses caught a small amount from somewhere behind my company. "Do you have any water in here by chance?"

He didn't answer, but instead nodded and walked over to a barrel in the corner of the room. Lifting the lid, he looked back at me. "I don't know how safe it is to drink. They don't refill this barrel like others."

I ignored him, and walked over to the source. "I don't need to drink it." Looking down at my blurred reflection, I frowned when I saw the tired face below me. Dipping my hand into the cool liquid, I cupped some of the water and splashed it onto my tired face. I had to get myself alert if I was making it any further to Appa. Standing straight again, I glanced around the room scanning the shelves for anything I could use to carry the water with me. Remembering the man who stood a few feet away, I looked over at him with guarded eyes. "I need a flask or something."

He looked at me with question, and then pulled something from his side. He held in his hand a metal canteen. "What are you going to do with it?"

Stepping over to him cautiously, I held my hand out for it. "I need something to fight with. To be honest… I have no clue how to use a sword."

Bewilderment painted his expression, but he handed the object over to me. As soon as I had the container, I took off the cap and threw my hand towards the barrel. Water followed my movement as I jerked a stream into the metal holder. Looking back at the man who was stunned by my bending, I backed towards the door putting the cap back on.

"I have some advice for you…" I began. "You may want to quit and find some new employment. The Dai Li won't be around much longer."

He was stunned. "What… what do you mean?"

"Once I get out of here, I'm breaking into that palace and knocking some sense into the king." I reached for the door. "Long Feng's controlled this city for too long."

He observed me with puzzlement. "Who are you?"

I gave a small smile to the man. "No one really... Just a girl trying to end this war." Turning, I shoved the door open and rushed into the hall.

Third Person POV

The sun was at the center of the sky by the time the group made it to the giant lake of Ba Sing Se. Zuko stayed silent as he took in the personalities of the other teens around him. The three Freedom Fighters kept behind Zuko as they glared at his backside with hatred and distrust. Aang kept asking Zuko questions about his interests, excited to get to know someone new. Katara rolled her eyes at the Avatar's enthusiasm. Momo rested on Sokka's shoulder, searching around for Appa with anticipation. Sokka kept his eyes on Toph with determination. Toph led the group, searching through the earth for the entrance.

"We're getting close," Toph spoke. "I see the hideout under the lake. There's a passage not too far from here."

"I just hope Crys hasn't gotten herself into too much trouble," Sokka muttered.

Zuko grimaced. He recalled times in the past when Crystal had tried to defy authority during her captivity. Not only had Zhao been brutal with her, but he had as well. He remembered the time he'd cruelly chained her after she tried to stop him from capturing Aang so long ago. He couldn't believe she'd opened her heart to him after everything he'd done to her in the past.

"Knowing Princess, she's probably smashing holes into walls right now."

Katara crossed her arms. "I feel like after all of this is over we need to set some ground rules for her."

"Not like she'd follow those," Aang commented. "She seems to do her own thing."

This made Zuko sigh. "Yeah. She definitely does…"

Sokka glanced back at Zuko, still finding it unreal that the Fire Nation Prince was walking along the border of the lake with them. "So tell me, Prince Zuko…" He fell back into step with the firebender he'd usually run away from. "What did you do to get my sister to swoon for you? Flowers? Candy? Or was it that necklace?"

A blush formed on Zuko's cheeks, and he looked anywhere but at Sokka. "Um… I think it started with reading lessons."

The group fell quiet at Zuko's big reveal. Then Toph burst into laughter. "HA ha! That sounds just like her!"

Katara growled and snapped at the group, "Can we just focus on getting her back!"

Zuko cringed at the distaste from Katara. Aang noticed and nudged him in the side, speaking so only he would hear. "Don't worry… She'll come around." Zuko nodded, but wasn't convinced.

The group continued only a few more meters, and then Toph stopped. The others stopped with her in question.

"We're here," she spoke softly. Then she stamped her foot down and a long bridge appeared before them, parting the water as it rose up, coming to a stop fifty feet ahead. "From what I can see the place has tons of people inside it. Be ready to fight."

Sokka reached for his machete and unsheathed it. "I'm so ready to knock some Dai Li creeps around. They've been thorns in our side since we got here."

Momo hopped over to Aang's shoulder, who nodded in response. "I'm usually one for peace, but these people stole Appa and imprisoned Crystal. They deserve a pounding."

"Especially Long Feng," Katara muttered.

Jet stepped in front of the group then, stating, "I know the path to Appa from here. Let's get going." He started to lead the way across the bridge, and Longshot and Smellerbee followed without hesitation.

Katara looked back at the others feeling uncertain though. As the three Freedom Fighters stepped out of earshot, she asked, "Are we sure we can trust Jet?"

Toph stood firm to the ground. "He's not lying, but part of me questions if the brainwashing has something to do with that."

"I'm definitely not letting my guard down," Aang muttered. He then glanced over at Sokka, who gripped his weapon hard, and then at Zuko who looked distracted with worry. Stepping over to them, he placed a hand reassuringly on each of their shoulders. "She's going to be fine guys. Crystal is stronger than we give her credit for. She's probably figuring out a way to escape as we speak." He let go, and then began to follow the freedom fighters along the bridge.

Soon Toph, Zuko, and Sokka were the last three on land. As they watched the five other teens reach the end of the bridge and hop down below, Zuko shut his eyes to calm his quick paced heart. "I really hope she's here."

Toph took a step towards the bridge and began to head to the opening Aang had made. "There's only one way to find out."

Sokka looked over at Zuko, who nodded back at him. The both of them followed Toph's steps as they prepared to enter the unknown. Once they managed to jump down into the lower hall of the Dai Li's headquarters, Toph concentrated on her surroundings. As she searched the halls for any sign of Crystal, she was shocked when she felt through the vibrations of the earth a lot of activity a few halls away. A tremor in the earth convinced Toph that there was a fight happening not too far, and she assumed the small steps in between could only belong to one person.

Toph grabbed Sokka's arm and jerked him as she took off. "This way!"

Crystal POV

Running through the hall, I dodged another attack as the Dai Li agent tried to fling a large stone slab at me again. A few moments before, I'd miraculously found the original hall I'd been dragged through when I was first brought to Long Feng's crazy prison. With eagerness and determination, I headed towards the direction Appa was being held knowing it wouldn't take long for that messenger to tell someone about me. Unfortunately, a Dai Li officer was standing guard at the door to Appa's cell and started attacking me as soon as he saw me. Remembering the lesson's Zuko had taught me during our many spars over the months, I managed to dodge his attacks with ease, but struggled to undo the cap of the flask I'd acquired.

As I gasped and dodged another large boulder, I finally got the cap off and jerked the water out. Dropping the flask, I took the water I'd managed to maneuver in front of me and shot a narrow stream at the man. He jerked to the side, and my water hit the wall he stood by. Without hesitation, I took the water back before it soaked into the crevices and flung it to the side where the man had stepped. He wasn't expecting my abrupt recovery, and before he had time to dodge again my water hit him and shoved him back off his feet.

Rushing in front of him as he tried to recover from his fall, I jerked my water back up and then crashed it back down on the man. Once the water covered his torso and hands, I froze him to the stone floor.

His eyes widened as he was stuck, and his lack of movement made it impossible for him to earthbend. "Hey! HELP!" He shouted out for someone to come to his aid. In a panic, I pulled some of the frozen element off him turning it back into water, and then placed it over his mouth. Freezing his lips together, I backed off with relief when his shouts were cut off.

Trying to catch my breath, I backed away from him. Finding my voice, I muttered, "I would say sorry, but then I'd be lying."

Turning, I grabbed the latch to the door and jerked it open. Rushing inside, I found Appa just as I first had when Long Feng brought me to this horrible prison: chained up and scared.

Appa's eyes widened when he saw me, and then he let out a groan of delight. Rushing over, I took some water from the trough that still was in the room and did the exact thing I'd done before. Using the water, I cut each of the chains off Appa releasing him from his restraints. Once he was free, I went to grab more water from the trough to break the ceiling above. Pulling out the rest of the contents, I hardened it into a ball of ice and pulled the heavy floating element to the middle of the room. Then with as much strength as I could, I shot the firm piece up at the ceiling and it crashed into the stone breaking an opening above. Fragments of the ceiling dropped down towards me, and I stumbled back missing the falling pieces of earth by a hair.

Once the echo of the crashing rocks came to a stop a few moments later, silence fell over the room as sunlight from above fell over me and Appa. Looking up, I saw a blue sky and the path to freedom. My whole body was on the edge of exhaustion and collapse. I felt my head pulse painfully and my body beg for rest, but I knew it was far from over. We still had to fly out and pray that Dai Li agents weren't already outside ready to attack.

The door creaked open from behind though, and I tightened my fist in irritation and preparation. The universe kept throwing challenges at me. Just as I prepared to fight again, the intruder spoke stopping me from my attack. "So much for rescuing her. She's one step ahead…And she's found Appa."

Looking over at Sokka's figure with bewilderment, I saw him step into the large room looking around at the pieces of ceiling on the floor with amusement.

"And she's blown a hole in the wall like you said she would, Toph."

"See. Told you guys she'd be fine," Toph exclaimed, stepping in the room as well. "Princess knows what she's doing."

"You were the one panicking just now," another voice spoke from behind them. "I could barely keep up."

The last voice had me completely in shock. As Zuko stepped into the room, I felt my mind become muddy with disbelief. What was Zuko doing here with Toph and Sokka? Was I so exhausted to the point that my mind was playing tricks on me? Was I secretly brainwashed by Long Feng and his henchmen? Or had I just officially gone insane?

"Thanks for once again having me worried sick, Crys," Sokka said, stepping over to me and checking me over to make sure I was okay. "You not only disappear for days, but then I find out you've been captured by these twisted maniacs."

I was speechless as Sokka spoke to me. I kept looking back and forth from him and the guy who had been his enemy for months. Zuko noticed my confusion, and quickly reassured me with a small smile. "You're not crazy."

Appa stepped over to Sokka thrilled to see another friend. Sokka held his arms out and threw them around Appa's front leg with delight. "Hey buddy! It's good to see you."

Toph walked over and pat Appa on the neck. "Yeah. Good to see you again pal. You had us all worried."

As Toph and Sokka reunited with Appa, Zuko stepped over to me. Grabbing my arms, he looked me over with concern. "Are you alright?"

Staring at him in bewilderment, I asked softly, "What's going on…? Why are you with Sokka and Toph?"

He smiled weakly. "Because I've finally opened my eyes… You were right about everything… There is another path, and this is it."

Toph added from beside Appa, "Yeah! Your loverboy is part of the group now!"

Zuko cringed at the nickname she gave him. I was utterly lost and confused. I'd only been gone for a day. What happened in that time?

"Wait…" Sokka suddenly spoke up. "If Crys and Appa are both in here… then where did Jet take the others?"

Once more, my mind fell into a mess of puzzlement and disarray. Jet? They had come here with Jet?

"Shoot!" Toph shouted. "He's probably leading them into a trap! He must still be screwed up from Long Feng's brainwashing!"

Sokka immediately went into leader mode. He stepped over to me and Zuko, saying, "We need to find the others." He spoke directly to Zuko as if they were war pals and not yesterday's enemies. "Get Crys and Appa out of here. I don't think she's in much of a state to fight right now. Toph and I will go find them."

Zuko was horrified. "What? I don't know how to fly a giant sky-bison!"

Sokka rolled his eyes. "Yet you can steer a giant rough-rhino no problem."

"That's different! Rhinos are on the ground!"

"Just say yip-yip, and Appa will mostly fly himself. Aang has his bison whistle, so he'll blow it once we're back outside so we can find you all. Just make sure neither of you fall off."

Toph grabbed Sokka's arm again. "Yeah. You got this, loverboy. Come on Sokka." As they left the room to help the others, I continued to stand in silent amazement. Everything felt like a dream.

A deep sigh came out of Zuko, and he looked over at me with focus."Come on. Let's get out of here."

As his words hit me, and I realized my part to the fight was over, I felt my legs turn into liquid. The composure I'd maintained since I'd escaped the second time completely evaporated. The anxiety and fear that had coursed through me before turned into exhaustion and relief. Tears filled my eyes, and I dropped my head letting my hair cover my face. Everything that happened in the last few hours rushed back to me, and my body began to ache in every place imaginable. Warm protective arms encircled me, and I moved forward letting his hold comfort me and be my crutch. My body shook against him as my tears soaked into his shirt.

"I'm sorry I'm late," he whispered, pressing his face into my hair. "I wish I could've gotten here sooner."

Somehow Zuko encouraged me to get onto Appa's back so we could fly out before Dai Li officials swarmed on us. As Appa let us clamber up his tail and onto his back, Zuko held onto me as he grabbed Appa's fur as well. My own hands automatically grabbed some of the fur in front of me to hold on.

"Uh… What was that word again…? Yup Yup?"

I smiled slightly as Zuko stumbled over sounds trying to recall what Sokka had said. Softly, I spoke, "Yip Yip, Appa."

At my words, Appa let out a groan as he jumped and lifted from the ground up towards the sky. As the wind rushed past us, Zuko and I grabbed on to Appa's fur harder. He shot straight up, flying us right out of the chamber's broken ceiling into blinding sunlight. He let out another groan as he felt freedom around him at last. He'd been down there longer than any of us, and I knew he was thrilled to be released. As he hovered above the lake, I found the strength to pull myself up and glance around for somewhere we could land until Aang called. Spotting a small island of tall grass with some birds perched by the water, I said, "Down there Appa."

Appa took my suggestion and flew us down to the patch of green grass. Once he landed, I found my stability and released his fur. Turning to Zuko, I saw his eyes were wide in shock. It had been the first time he'd flown on Appa while being conscious. Back at the North Pole, he'd been knocked out when my family brought him back to the Northern Water Tribe after he tried to get Aang.

"Wow… That was pretty petrifying," he muttered.

Looking over at him, I nodded. "It's better with his saddle…I guess the sandbenders pawned that off too after they sold him." My voice was just loud enough for him to hear. I was so tired. However, I knew it wasn't over yet. We still had to get to the Earth King when the others caught back up with us. I had to show him the proof I had managed to tuck inside my left boot. Turning, I crawled across Appa's furry back and sat at his neck. Patting him on the head, I said, "Sorry it took me so long, buddy. I'm not going to let anything else happen to you again. I owe you that much."

Appa groaned to let me know he forgave me, and his ears moved up and down the way they usually did when he was happy. As he dropped lower to the earth to lay down in the grass and enjoy the warm sunlight, I turned back to Zuko who watched me from where he knelt on Appa's back.

"You look awful," he suddenly spoke. "They did a number on you."

I grimaced, looking at my arms and other visible skin that was covered in scratches and starting to bruise. My hair hung messily around me needing a good brush. "It was more so me doing a number on myself. This was my second escape attempt… The first one failed miserably."

He pondered over what I spoke, and then let out a heavy sigh. "I'm sorry I left you the other night. You wouldn't have been ca-"

"You can't protect me forever, Zuko," I said, looking down at Appa's fur to avoid his gaze. "Besides… I had no clue Long Feng would imprison me. I didn't know he was even after me."

He fell silent for a moment. "So Long Feng is the guy who took you," he finally muttered. "Looks like he's running this freak show circus."

Quiet fell over us for a moment, and then I took in a deep breath ready to get some answers. "What's going on, Zuko? Why are you with Sokka and Toph? I don't understand…"

He smiled weakly. "Actually, your brother found me first. I had every intention of looking for you on my own, but right when I was ready to get you back he crashed through the door… literally. We had a small scuffle, but then we both realized we wanted the same thing. He was worried sick about you, and so was I…"

I took in everything he spoke, unable to believe Sokka had put his hatred towards Zuko aside to work with him.

"And what about what Toph said… About you being part of the group now?"

He dropped his eyes from me as he fell into deep thought. Then he answered, "A lot has happened in the last few hours you were gone. I've learned some things about myself that opened my eyes. You were right about having two paths before me… And you were right about being able to earn my honor another way… I don't want to help my father hurt people anymore. I want to restore the balance like my great-grandfather before me tried to do."

His words puzzled me more. His great-grandfather? Sozin was the monster who started the war. What was he talking about?

He noticed my confusion. "I'm not talking about Fire Lord Sozin… I'm talking about my great-grandfather on my mom's side." He smiled again. "It turns out I'm the great-grandson of Avatar Roku."

The moment he said it, I was speechless with bewilderment. What kind of crazy dream was I in?

"I have to be dreaming," I suddenly spoke, more so to myself. I shook my head as if it would help me wake up. "This is all too good to be true."

Zuko suddenly crawled over to me, and his hands grabbed my shoulders. As he knelt in front of me, he leaned forward so his face was inches away. "You're not dreaming Crys… I'm as surprised by this as you, but it's really happening. Aang needs a firebending teacher, and he asked me to be his guide." His hand brushed my hair from my face and pushed it behind my ear. "I'm going to help you all stop this war. I'm done trying to please my father… He sent Azula to imprison me anyways…" He grimaced. "I've been wasting these last three years hunting down the Avatar, and in the end my father still sees me as a disappointment; a failure. I'm ready to make someone proud, and if that starts with you then I'll take it."

My eyes stared at his sincere expression with wonder. Then I leaned forward wrapping my arms around him. "I am proud of you." I rested my head on his chest as he returned my embrace. "The moment I saw you drop everything to help your Uncle when he was attacked by Azula showed me the real you. And the fact that you're here only proves my point."

He pressed his face into my hair. "You always saw the good in me… It took me a little longer to see it too."

Appa suddenly let out a grunt, and he started to move back to his feet. Zuko and I gasped quickly, grabbing his fur again so we wouldn't fall off his back. With a groan, Appa took off into the air once again and headed in a direction towards the bridge that led into the Dai Li's headquarters. As we flew over the lake, I saw on the shore a crowd of people surrounded by three giant walls. Getting closer, I could see with horror that the crowd was my family, Aang, and Toph. The others that stood on the tops of each wall were the Dai Li agents.

"They're surrounded! We have to help," I cried.

Appa took my suggestion and lifted us higher into the air. As we began to pass over the ambush, Appa shot down hitting one of the walls which sent five Dai Li men flying forward into the lake's water. The other wall was destroyed only a split second later sending more agents flying in different directions. Appa must've been as annoyed with the Dai Li as me, because he landed hard and used his tail to shoot a gust of air at the other agents on the ground sending them flying back from impact.

As Appa attacked, Aang and Toph took out the final wall causing the Dai Li agents to all be catapulted towards the lake's water. Appa took out the majority of Long Feng's henchmen, while others panicked and retreated from the scene. Eventually all that was left were myself, Appa, Zuko, Momo, Aang, Toph, Sokka, and Katara as we squared off against Long Feng who looked irate. Zuko and I dropped from Appa's back, and I tightened my fists as I stared at the man who had imprisoned me.

"I see you've escaped again," Long Feng hissed. "You've truly gotten on my last nerves."

Narrowing my eyes, I took a step to attack. "I never asked you to imprison me!" However, Appa intercepted my advance by placing his foot in front of me. He growled at Long Feng to defend me.

"Protecting her, eh?" Long Feng stomped towards Appa with fury. "I can handle you myself!" He launched a kick at Appa, who easily bit his foot and lifted him in the air. Then with a violent swing of his head, Appa threw Long Feng off land and the man hit the water hard several times before making a final splash and sinking below. My eyes stayed on the spot where Long Feng had sunk, and a moment later I saw him resurface from far off. Instead of swimming towards us, he turned and swam in the opposite direction. I had a strong feeling he was going to either get back up, or go guard the King.

Looking back over at the group, I saw everyone but Zuko were embracing Appa with delight. Aang had tears as he was reunited with his lost pal. Momo sat on Appa's head between his horns glad to have his friend back. As I saw the reunion before me, I let out a deep and heavy sigh of relief.

"Thanks for keeping an eye on them Zuko," Sokka spoke, stepping over to him and nudging his arm with an elbow.

Zuko nodded, asking, "So I guess Jet did lead you into a trap… Where are those three?"

Toph answered with a sad tone. "Jet was hurt… His friends stayed with him."

As the group continued to converse, I looked out towards the lake with a heavy heart. As much as I hadn't been a fan of Jet, I felt sorry for what happened to him. From the way Toph spoke, I had a feeling I wouldn't be seeing him again.

"Crys!" Katara's hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder to get my attention. "I'm so glad your okay! You had us so worried!" She grabbed me into a hug as if we'd been apart for months like before.

Pulling from her, I gave her a small smile. "Sorry to worry you… I'm glad Aang had his sky-bison whistle on him."

"Me too." She looked me over then, and her eyes landed on the scratches and bruises all over my arms. "You look awful," she commented, going into her usual worry mode. "You're covered in scratches. Did they hurt you?"

Part of me wanted to lie, but the aching in my body grew worse by her mention of pain. As the pain surged through me, I grimaced feeling the worst of it in my back. The throbbing only intensified the longer I stood. "My back is the worst… Long Feng attacked me from behind with a boulder… I think it's bruised up."

She nodded. "I'll heal it as soon as we get somewhere safe."

The thought of our next steps returned me to the true goal we all needed to focus on though. With sore muscles, I bent over and grabbed the parchment I'd shoved inside my shoe. Pulling it out, I handed it over to Katara who watched me with amazement. "Actually... There's time for that later… We need to get to the King as soon as we can. He needs to know about the war."

She looked at me with shock, and then down at the parchment she held in her hands.

I ran a hand through my hair trying to get my mind on track. "We still have a long day ahead of us."