Chapter 8: Escape!

Quasimodo ran across the rooftops silently and swiftly. He was like a shadow. Suddenly He heard a gong in the distance. It was an alarm of some sort. Aang must be here! He jumped from the roof and into a nearby ally. "Quasi" He turned to see Aang behind him.

Your alright, the boy said relieved. Of course, I am. "Where are your friends?" Are they here with you? There waiting by the gate, come on! He followed after Aang as fast as his legs could carry him. He saw a girl waving at them in the distance. He recognized her. She was dressed in fire nation clothing though, but he recognized her.

Its Katara! Aang said. "Aang! She threw her arms around him, hugging him. You shouldn't have run off like that I was worried. I know. But I found someone. He motioned to Quasimodo. Katara this is my friend Quasimodo. Quasi this is Katara. Its nice to finally meet you Aang talked about you quite a lot. He did, did he? Aang blushed. "Well its nice to finally meet you to."

Suddenly he heard the sound of guards in the distance. "The guards are coming!" We have to go! I know a short cut. How do you- I studied a map of the city. Come on hurry! Quasimodo saw the rest of Aang's friends waiting near the gate. Aang one of them shouted. The boy looked a lot like Katara and was dressed similarly to her. His hair was held back in a ponytail.

He had the same dark hair and eyes. The rest of the group was an odd mix as well. There was a boy with a scar covering his eye and a girl who appeared to be blind. I see you found your friend Aang, said the boy with the ponytail.

Though gotta say, not what I was expecting. Sokka! Katara said shocked. What? What did I say? She turned to look at Quasimodo. "You'll have to forgive my brother, he an idiot." I-Its alright I'm used to it. She frowned at this and looked as if she were about to say something when a ball of fire struck the wall behind them.

While they had been talking, they hadn't bothered to notice that they where surrounded. Azula stepped from the group of soldiers. "Leaving so soon Quasimodo?" "You don't scare me Azula." Tell your men to stand down. "Were leaving!"

Are you? But aren't you forgetting something. She snapped her fingers. The guards dragged someone forward. He recognized who it was Instantly. It was….Ty Lee! Her face was a bloody mess. "Or should I say someone?" She gave him a wicked grin. I saw that kiss. I know what you to were planning.

"Did you really think it would be that easy?!" He growled. "Let her go!" Surender and I might consider it. Tell your friends to surrender as well. He looked at his new friends with large pleading eyes. He kneeled on the ground. "I surrender." Quasi, what are you doing?"
He looked to Aang a look of pure determination ablaze in his eyes. Trust me, he whispered.

Azula grinned. "that's better." But I don't need you. "You are of no further use to me." You where just bait to lure the avatar here. You've done your part. "Kill him!" She shouted at the soldiers. No! Shouted Ty Lee. A wall of flames rose toward him he couldn't move he was trapped. He threw his arms up to shield his face as the flames roared towards him.

He waited for the flames to burn him, but nothing happened. He slowly opened his eyes. His jaw dropped. Standing tall in front of him was a wall of solid rock! His new friends looked shocked. "Did he just Earthbend!" Said The blind girl shocked.

"You can Earthbend?!" Aang said shocked. I- suddenly the rock wall exploded. On the other side stood Azula shocked and furious. KILL HIM! She shouted enraged. Quasimodo dodged the flames the best he could, but he couldn't figure out how to bend. He had enough trouble when he was practicing moving a rock. He'd never been taught how to fight another bender!

He needs help said the blind girl. Toph be carful said Katara. A flame narrowly missed his face as he tripped and fell on his back. "FINISH HIM!" Azula shouted. He shielded his face as the flames rushed towards him suddenly a rock wall rose in front of him stopping the flames.

He saw the same blind little girl standing in front of him her hands raised. He realized she had created the wall. She was an Earthbender! But how she was blind. She lowered her hands and the wall sunk into the ground.

He she helped him up. "Follow my lead." She said. He followed every move exactly as they fought against the firebender. With a swift motion of his hand he sent a wave of rocks crashing towards them. He felt strong, Powerful. He had never felt this way before.

Suddenly he felt a wave of pain run through his body as he fell to the ground. Standing behind him was Azula, her finger tips crackled with Electricity as she aimed a bolt of lightning at him however this time someone jumped out in front of him.

It was the boy with the scar. He was about the same age as him. As the lighting raced towards him the stranger caught it redirecting it back at her. She jumped out of the way as the lightning hit a wall behind her. I'm Surprised at you Zu Zu! Defending an Earthbender! Its beneath you. You're a prince!

He wanted to laugh at he strangers ridiculous nickname but then it dawned on him. She called him Zu Zu. Hmm….He realized immediately who he was. He was Azula's brother prince Zuko the son of the fire lord and heir to the throne of the fire nation!

"Join me brother." Why waist your time with these losers when you can rule! I'll never help you! She raised her hand preparing to strike again when someone grabbed her hand and redirected the lightning. It was general Iroh! His teacher and friend, and Zuko's Uncle. Go I'll hold them off! Run!

Zuko leaned down to help him up. Quasimodo weak and exhausted struggled to stand. He placed his arm on Zuko's shoulder for Support. T-Thank you. He felt some one take his other arm as he looked back. He saw Ty Lee standing amongst the guards. "T-Ty Lee." He said. He struggled to break free so he could run to her.

"There's nothing we can do for her; we have to leave!" We have to take her with us, he cried. Well figure out how to rescue her. Said Katara who was holding him back. You will see her again I promise. He gave her tearful nod he looked to Ty Lee who gave him a firm nod.

"W-What about your Uncle?" How'd you know he was my Uncle? H-He told me. He taught me everything I needed to know. They climbed a hill. His vision was blurry, but he could see some sort of massive animal with horns.

As he got closer and his vision cleared, he saw what the animal really looked like. It was a massive fury creature that closely resembled an ox or bison. He felt the ground underneath him shake as a pillar of earth rose underneath them.

Katara and Zuko laid him down on the massive Saddle. His eyes began to slowly drift shut. He was unbelievably tired. He felt Katara lift his head as she place a bundle of fabric underneath his head like a pillow. He was in so much pain. Tears ran down his face.

"Katara, is there anything you can do to help him?" Aang pleaded with her looking at his injured friend. She nodded I can try. Katara lifted a skin filled with water from around her waist. Near the spot where he'd been hit was a burn mark. A hole singed in his shirt.

The burn didn't look so good. She needed to heal him and fast! She placed a hand on his shoulder causing him to flinch. He pulled away from her wincing in pain. "Its alright I'm not going to hurt you." I can heal you. "Most waterbenders have the ability to heal." " I just want to help you."

He relaxed slightly watched her out of the corner of his eye. She raised her hand a small tendril of water rising from the bottle. He flinched when he felt the cold water against his skin. The pain however soon faded. He looked to her, giving her a weak smile. T-Thank you he said before passing out.

Katara smiled at her new friend as he drifted of into sleep. She hoped he would be alright. She had never met anyone so afraid before. It broke her heart. What had those firebender done to him. At least there was one firebender she could trust. She turned to look at Zuko out of the corner of her eye.

She grabbed a blanket and covered Quasimodo with it. She sighed. It was going to be a long flight back to the ship. She wondered what her dad was up to. Probably going over her brothers invasion plan with the others. She sighed, the sooner we get this guy back to the ship the better she thought looking over at the strange boy fast asleep. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. Meanwhile Quasimodo woke throughout the night dew to terrible nightmares. He shivered unable to fall back asleep. He was startled when a strange creature curled up next to him . It seems that Momo likes you said Katara. He smiled at the cute little creature. He yawned and curled up in the blanket and fell asleep.