I don't own Avatar the last airbender just my Oc.
Chapter 7
Liling decided to help Sokka forge for dinner, although Sokka said he'd be completely fine without her so he went by himself. She let her hair loose for a change of pace walking lightly looking around the small forest carrying a small basket with a few edible plants that she found.
In the nearby trees she spotted a few mushrooms, she inspected one of them. And saw large puffs growing around the ground that looked like sheeps wool.
'Grandma told me about these puffballs. But I have to be careful if it's the small ones they can be confused with another ones that could be poisonous.' Liling thought she picked one up and cut it open to inspect the inside.
'Easy to slice like freshly made white cheese and no gills, it doesn't have a stalk.' Liling thought ' So it is a puffball and it's pure white so it's safe to eat, I'm sure Aang would like these.'
A light breeze was blown Liling closed her eyes enjoying the wind blowing. 'It's always relaxing forging for food. ' she thought 'I remember helping mom and dad forging all the time, I wasn't as experienced as they were but I at least know as much as I could from them.'
After about an hour Liling manage to get a few things for dinner, once she got back to the camping ground she heard Her friends voices.
"Great you're back!"Aang said "Where's Liling? Didn't she go with you?"
"She'll be fine."Sokka replied "She's probably off picking flowers or something."
Liling's eye twitched when Sokka said that, she's usually the one getting more plants and edible stuff while Sokka gets the meat or fish. She glanced at them while Sokka pulled out a pouch.
"What's for dinner?"Aang asked
"We've got a few options." Sokka replied, reaching into the bag and pulling out a nut, "First round nuts and some kind of oval shaped nuts and some rocked shaped nuts that might just be rocks."
Liling couldn't help but smirk most of those nuts are rock! she watched Sokka continue to dig in the bag after tossing what looked like a rock over his shoulder, which Momo looked at curiously.
"Dig in." Sokka said, smiling proudly at Aang and Katara after emptying the bag.
"Seriously," Katara asked, looking at the nuts or rocks in her hands then at Sokka, "What else ya got?"
Sokka frowned and dug into the sack while Liling got back to the camp.
"Hey guys!"Liling said cheerfully.
"Lils! What'd you find for dinner?" Aang asked
Liling smiled proudly showing them her small bounty.
"I manage to find some mushrooms that are safe to eat, some burdock root and some chives. " Liling said "And for dessert fruit!"
"You were just lucky."Sokka said
"Yeah, very lucky that little old me was able to find them without a big strong hunter like you."Liling said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Liling is always good at finding stuff around the forest, by her parents and grandparents." Aang said
"Really?" Katara said
"Yeah, my grandmother was a medicinal herb expert in the village and my grandpa took me out to different forest with him we'd pick all kinds of stuff so that my grandmother would teach me about it." Liling explained "I remember getting a bit ditzy by some weird cactus juice that I drank thinking it was safe to drink. My mom got worried when I was very loopy making a mess around the house, I told her that I was being chased around by a giant banana."
"A giant banana?" Katara repeated.
"A giant banana wearing a pink kimono chasing me around with a small banana on its hand." Liling explained. "I have no idea what was in that cactus juice but I never want to drink it ever again no matter how thirsty I get."
Katara lightly smiled as Liling laughed at the memory. Suddenly a loud boom sound startled the four teens, Momo and Appa.
"What was that?" Sokka demanded, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the noise. The foursome got to their feet.
BOOM! Momo chattered and his ears pinned back.
"It's coming from over there!" Aang said excitedly, pointing in the direction of the noise.
Katara and Aang ran to where the noise was, leaving Sokka and Liling alone. Sokka was kneeling on the rock.
"Shouldn't we run away from huge booms not toward them?" Sokka demanded as he waved his arms over his head only to groan when Momo flew after the other two teens.
"Someone could be endanger." Liling said she ran off after her friends with the basket she had.
Aang and Katara peered over a fallen log, looking at the source of the loud noises. Liling manage to catch up to them then Sokka appeared next to them. Liling and her friends watched a young man use Earthbending to slam a large boulder into the side of the small ravine he was in, the loud booming sound reaching their ears when the boulder connected with the wall.
"An Earthbender." Katara whispered in awe.
"He's kinda cute." Liling whispered softly glancing at the earthbender who was concentrating very hard.
"Let's go meet him!" Aang suggested eagerly, smirking over at Katara.
"He looks dangerous, we better approach cautiously." Sokka warned.
Liling and Katara were now standing a few feet from the mysterious Earthbender.
"Hello there!" She called out, "I'm Katara. What's your name?"
"Hi! I'm Liling! " Liling cheerfully said "That's some bending!"
His expression wasn't what Liling expected from him, he had a worried look as the boulder he'd been raising dropped back to the ground and he turned around. The boy ran down the ravine and jumped, lifting his arms briefly which caused a bunch of boulders to fall into the ravine and block the path behind him.
"Nice to meet you!" Aang shouted as he and Sokka approached Katara and Liling.
"I guess he's shy..." Liling concluded her arms crossed over her chest as she looked to where the boy had run to.
"I just wanted to say 'hi.'" Katara muttered with a confused shrug of her shoulders.
"Hey!" Aang exclaimed suddenly, "That guy's gotta be running somewhere, maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market."
"Great! We can find some fish to go with what Liling brought!" Katara finished Aang's thoughts excitedly and the two younger members of the foursome ran in the same direction that the mysterious boy had run in.
"Hey! What about what I brought?" Sokka protested, crossing his arms over his chest, "I worked hard to get those nuts."
"I know you did Sokka." Liling said patting him on the back. After a second she ran off after Aang and Katara while Momo flew over Sokka's head with a soft chatter.
Sokka's shoulders slumped and he trailed after the other three, "Yeah, I hate 'em too."
Liling looked around the small village curiously then smiled when she saw Aang holding a straw hat in his hands.
"Great hat." He said with a grin, "I'll trade you some nuts for it."
Liling then Stopped at a stall that had a few hair accessories one caught her eye. On the table had displayed a black beaded bun holder at the center was four red beads that looked like a flower.
"It's pretty...looks like a firelily."Liling whispered 'Mom's favorite flower...' she thought
"You have a good eye." The merchant said noticing Liling's gaze at the accessory. "It's durable enough to hold that long hair of yours for any occasion."
Liling stared at it, she always uses the white one she has, just maybe this once she could treat herself to it.
"Can I trade you that for some apples and blackberries for it?" Liling asked holding the basket.
"Hmm...throw in some of that burdock root and we have a deal." He said looking over the fruit and herbs.
"Deal!" Liling said happily.
Liling held the accessory in her hand, she could always forge for food later in the day. She looked over at Aang wearing the hat that he got.
"Nice hat."Liling said
"That's pretty."Aang said looking at what Liling had in her hand. "Kinda looks like a firelily."
"It's to hold my hair."Liling said smiling.
"Girls get so happy with the little trinkets."Sokka commented.
"Sokka always being the stereotypical male over anything that a girl does."Liling muttered she noticed Katara going in a shop across the street prompting Liling to go after her, Aang and Sokka followed suit. They saw the same boy from earlier talking to Katara.
"Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid." The boy stated, looking away from Katara as Sokka and Aang entered the shop through the still open door.
"No she doesn't." Aang said, stepping forward so he was standing beside Katara, "We saw you Earthbending."
The boy and the older woman gasped and suddenly rushed forward. The woman darted past them to slam the door then closing the windows.
"They saw you doing what?" The woman demanded, looking away from the small crack in the window and towards her son.
"They're crazy, Mom." He defend himself then gestured towards the four, "I mean look at how their dressed."
"Excuse me?" Liling snapped "I don't dress weird and here I thought you were cute." She pouted and crossed her arms over her chest being slightly offended at his comment. Aang started adjusting his hat while Sokka and Katara looked at their Water Tribe clothes self-consciously adjusting it.
"You know how dangerous that is!" The woman scolded her son in a fearful tone, completely disregarding what he said a moment ago, "You know what would happen if they caught you Earthbending!"
"I'm completely lost here."Liling said "Who's 'they'? And why is it dangerous?"
"Open up!" A male voice demanded from outside followed by the sound of banging on the door.
The mother and son tensed while Sokka moved over to the window and opened the blinds slightly.
"Fire Nation!" He hissed, closing the slats quickly, "Act natural."
Liling did just as he said she started to just act casually by looking over the products. Her eyes glanced at Aang he leaned against a barrel, her eyes shifted towards Katara eating a berry from a bowl of colorful fruit, while Sokka and Haru examined an apple.
"Seriously? You call that acting natural?" Liling murmured just as Haru's mother opened the door and a large man in the Fire Nation military uniform stepped into the store and looked around, observing the group of teenagers.
Liling saw the lid of the barrel Aang was leaning against flipped, causing him to lose his balance and fall against the barrel.
"What do you want?" Haru's mother demanded angrily, "I've already paid you this week."
"The tax just doubled." The Fire Nation soldier said as he looked over at the woman with a sneer as fire formed between his hands, "And we wouldn't want an accident, would we?"
'He wouldn't dare!'Liling thought tightening her fist. 'He's just like that scarred boy.'
"Fire." The man said darkly as the fire dance around between his hands before disappearing, "It's sometimes so hard to control."
Haru's hard expression faded and became a defeated one as she looked at the ground, before walking around the counter and taking out the money box. Aang, Katara, Sokka, Liling and Haru all watched as Haru's mother took the small amount of money from the box and placed it in the Fire Nation soldier's hand.
"You can keep the copper ones." He sneered and dropped the copper coins on the floor as he walked out of the store. Liling really wanted to punch the guy but that would only make matters worse and she couldn't risk it.
"I don't like him." Liling said the older woman pick up the copper coins from the floor.
"Nice guy." Sokka muttered then turned to Haru and his mother, "How long has the Fire Nation been here?"
"Five years." Haru's mother responded as she stood. "Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships."
"They're thugs." Haru snapped suddenly, glaring at the floor and crossing his arms over his chest, "They steal from us and everyone here is too much of a coward to do anything about it."
"Quiet, Haru!" His mother instantly scolded, "Don't talk like that."
"But Haru's an Earthbender, he can help." Katara stated, looking at the mother and son in confusion.
"Earthbending is forbidden." The woman snapped harshly, "It's caused nothing but misery for this village. He must never use his abilities."
"How can you say that?" Katara demanded as she walked towards the young Earthbender, "Haru has a gift. Asking him not to Earthbend is like asking me not to Waterbend. It's a part of who we are."
"It's your heritage it's something that you can't ask him not to do it." Liling explained softly, her arms folded over her chest as a small memory of both her parents passed by her head. 'Especially if you're have two bendings...' she wanted to say it but didn't have the courage to even add that part.
"You don't understand." The mother said firmly with a shake of her head.
"I understand that Haru can help you fight back."
"They could take Haru away." Haru's mother said sadly, pressing her hand against her chest, "Like they took his father."
Liling's eyes widen when she saw Haru frown and close his eyes, looking away from Katara's compassionate gaze.
Around an hour later...
"My mom said you can sleep here tonight," Haru said after leading the four teens to a barn on their farm, "But that you should leave in the morning."
"Thanks." Aang said with a smile, then gestured to Appa who was already munching on the hay in the barn, "I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay."
Appa paused on his chewing and turned to look at Aang for moment before continuing to eat the hay, as if he didn't hear that last part.
"I'm gonna go look for some more food in the forest to stock up." Liling said picking up an empty basket and left.
Staring at ground realizing so many things changed everything that she thought that she knew of the firenation, just what happened? She thought letting out a depressive sigh.
"I bet if dad saw his nation now he'd be rolling in his grave..." Liling muttered she looked up at the night sky the orange, red and yellow color signifying that then sun was setting. She lightly smiled at least there was a few things that didn't completely changed.
After she manage to find a few fresh fruit she found herself near a cliff hearing Katara's and Haru's voices.
"My father was very courageous." Haru commented, "When the Fire Nation invaded, he and the other Earthbenders were outnumbered ten-to-one, but they fought back anyway."
"He sounds like a great man." Katara complimented, giving Haru a soft smile.
"After the attack, they rounded up my father and every othern Earthbender and took them away." He explained quietly. "We haven't seen them since."
"So that's why you hide your Earthbending." Katara concluded.
"Yeah." Haru said as he picked up two pebbles from the ground and making them move in a circle with his Earthbending, "The problem is, the only way I can feel I close to my father now is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know."
'Just like me...both of them taught me everything i know...'Liling thought eavesdropping at their conversation.
Katara took a seat beside Haru in the large rock she touched her necklace, "See this necklace? My mother gave it to me."
"It's beautiful." Haru said softly as he looked at Katara.
"I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid." Katara looked to the side, away from Haru, "This necklace is all I have left of her."
"It's not enough, is it?" He questioned, looking back at the sunset.
"No…"Katara said sadly. "I'll never forgive them for what they did."
'Katara...'Liling thought she slowly turned around leaving them alone. 'Just how can I tell them?'
Once she reached the barn she packed up the supplies. She sigh and just leaned back her back hitting the hay, Sokka was fast asleep snoring away while Aang looked at Liling.
"Lils are you okay?" Aang whispered taking a seat next to her.
"I can never look at the firenation the same way...everything is so different."Liling mumbled softly not wanting to wake Sokka up.
"I know, I'm surprised that you haven't told them yet."Aang said "I didn't say anything because it's not my right to say it."
"I know...but they're still feeling like all firenation people are bad...and..."Liling stopped glancing away avoiding Aang's gaze.
"Lils..." Aang whispered
"It's late, I'm going to bed."Liling said "We have to leave at dawn, the earlier the better."
The next morning Liling and the others got up early, Katara went to get some water while Liling was checking their supplies, Aang and Sokka were packing up their sleeping bags.
"They took him!" Katara cried out as she pushed the barn door open, "They took Haru away."
"What?" Aang said
"Who took him?" Liling asked
"The old man turned him in to the Fire Nation." Katara exclaimed "It's all my fault, I forced him into Earthbending."
"Slow down, Katara." Sokka soothed, stepping towards his crying sister and wrapping his arm around her shoulders, "When did this happen?"
Katara took her hand from her face and looked up at her older brother, "Haru's mother said they came for him at midnight."
"Then it's too late to track him." Sokka stated, "He's long gone."
"We don't need to track him." Katara said as she stepped away from her brother and began pacing, "The Fire Nation is going to take me right to Haru."
"And why would they do that?" Aang questioned
"Because they're going to arrest me for Earthbending." She said
Sokka, Aang, and Liling exchanged glances then looked back at Katara having a very determined look on her face standing in front of them.
"I'm in." Liling said "It's better if the two of us go in, you don't know what could happen inside that prison."
Katara gave Liling a grateful smile and turned to the boys to start planning on how to get the girls in the prison. It took around an hour until they came up with a plan.
"I thought you were crazy at first, Katara." Sokka stated as he, Liling and Katara rolled a large boulder over one of the mine vents in the ground, "But this might work."
"There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines," Sokka explained, placing his hand on Katara's shoulder, "All Aang have to do is send an air current from that vent to this one right here. The boulder levitates and ta-da! Fake Earthbending."
"Aang did you get all that?" Katara asked, turning to look at the young Avatar who was leaning against the rock the other vent was behind.
"Sure, sure." Aang agreed, using Airbending to play with a butterfly, "I got it."
"Do you remember your cue?" Sokka asked skeptically.
"Yeah, yeah, just relax." Aang stated, "You're taking all the fun out of this."
"By this do you mean intentionally being captured by an army of ruthless Firebenders?" Sokka asked drily, hands on his hips.
"Exactly." Aang agreed, "That's fun stuff."
"Aang you better not mess it up."Liling warned "Or else."
"Lils it's fine, just relax." Aang reassured
Liling shook her head praying to the spirits that this will go well.
"Here they come." Sokka called out, "Get in your places."
Aang quickly crouched to the left side of the vent and waited for his cue, while Sokka, Liling and Katara purposefully ran into each other.
"Get out of my way, pipsqueak!" Sokka snapped in a fake angered voice, pointing at Katara's face.
"How dare you call me pipsqueak, you giant eared cretin." Katara snapped right back.
"What did you call me?" Sokka demanded, glancing at the Fire Nation soldiers that were watching them with curious expressions.
"You heard her!" Liling snapped "Or does she need to speak louder?!"
"I said you're A. Giant. Eared. Cretin!" Katara said, enunciating each insult then gesturing at Sokka's ears, "Look at those things. Do herds of animals use them for shade?"
"You better back off!" Sokka yelled then leaned forward, using the back of his hand to hide his mouth as he whispered, "Seriously, back off."
"I will not back off!" Katara shouted, leaning forward to tower over Sokka, "I bet elephants get together and make fun of how large your ears are!"
"That's it! You're going down!"Sokka snapped
"Don't finish what you can't start buddy!" Liling snapped "We'll show you!"
"We'll both show you who's boss!" Katara cried out dramatically, "Earthbending style!"
"I said, EARTHBENDING STYLE!"
Aang quickly stopped what he was doing he slammed his hands down on the vent, sending a powerful gusts of air ventilation pipes, causing the boulder on the other vent to rise up right when Momo happened to be raising his arms.
"That lemur…" The lead soldier said in awe as he pointed at Momo, "He's Earthbending."
Liling really wanted to smack them. She wondered if all Fire Nation soldiers or non bending soldiers were stupid,gullible or just clueless.
"No you idiot, it's those girls!" Sokka snapped, gesturing to Katara and Liling with his hands and an exasperated look on his face.
"Oh," The soldier said, a blush forming on his face, "Of course."
"I'll hold her and you girl you better not move." Sokka said as he stepped behind Katara and grabbed her by the shoulders as Liling stood there motionless, then leaned down to whisper in her ear, "You've got twelve hours to find Haru. We'll be right behind you."
The Fire Nation soldiers grabbed Katara and Liling started leading them away, leaving Sokka, Aang to stare after them worriedly. Katara glanced back at them, Liling glanced back and gave them a soft smile as if telling them they'll be fine.
Aang and Sokka watched the soldiers lead Katara and Liling away with worried expressions on their faces, until Sokka started tugging on his ears.
"Momo, you have some big ears." Sokka said pointing at the lemur who pinned his ears against his skull.
Katara and Liling glanced back at the harbor where they could see Aang and Sokka standing amongst the villagers with straw hats covering their faces as they rode in a cart with the Fire Nation soldiers towards a Fire Nation ship at the end of the dock. The soldiers had forced the females to wear a long, brown tunic that was tied with brown belt over Katara's water tribe dress, and covered the pink kimono that Liling was wearing she secretly wished she wore her other outfit that had a weapon hidden away.
Sokka looked over the edges of the saddle, keeping the prison rig in his sights while Aang steered Appa through the sky after the metal ship, which was heading towards the large rig miles from the small village in the middle of the ocean.
Aang flew Appa closer to the prison rig, "I hope that both of them are okay."
"They'll be fine, Aang." Sokka said in an attempt to reassure the worried boy, "Katara and Liling know what they're doing?"
Aang remained silent and steered Appa back towards the village where the duo would wait until nightfall before going back to the rig and getting the girls.
"Earthbenders, it is my pleasure to welcome you aboard my modest shipyard," A man in his late forties with gray hair greeted the newly arrived prisoners, his hands clasped behind his back as he stopped in front of them, "I am your Warden. I prefer to think of you, not as prisoners but as honored guests. And I hope you come to think of me as your humble and caring host."
'He speaks very highly of himself...I don't like him.'Liling thought watching him.
"You will succeed here if you simply abide by-" The Warden paused when the prisoner next to Katara began to cough violently into his hands, his face turning sour as he whirled around and set a blast of fire from his foot at the man who uhad coughed.
The man gasped quietly and jumped back with a cringe, only a foot or so from the edge of the metal platform they stood as he stared at the scorch mark in the metal with fearful eyes. Liling tighten her first wanting to punch the warden.
"What kind of guest dishonors his host by interrupting him?" The Warden demanded before waving his hand at the man, "Take him away! One week in solitary will improve his manners."
'All he did was cough! What's so wrong about that?!'Liling thought angrily glaring at the warden.
Katara watched as the man was led away by one of the guards on the rig just as the Warden began speaking again.
"Simply treat me with the courtesy I give you," The man said sarcastically as he stopped in front of Katara and Liling he leaned closer to the two girls, "And we'll get along famously."
Both girls glared up at him with pursed lips and the Warden smirked slightly before turning and gesturing for the guard to lead them to the rest of the prisoners on the rig.
"You will notice, Earthbenders that this rig is made entirely of metal. You are miles away from any rock or earth." The Warden explained smugly, "So if you have any illusions of employing that brutish savagery that passes for bending, Forget them. It is impossible."
'That's what you think.' Liling thought. 'Apparently he doesn't know who he's dealing with.' She glared at the warden she and the other prisoners were lead to where the hallway where the rest of the prisoners where once they stepped inside those doors locking them in.
Katara looked around the area, Liling glanced hearing the other prisoners talking very quietly and softly.
"He's gotta be here somewhere."Liling whispered softly to Katara.
"We just gotta keep looking."Katara whispered
"Katara?"
"Haru!" Katara exclaimed quietly, rushing forward and hugging the older boy happily. That made Liling raise an eyebrow, hugging someone that you just met yesterday sorta raised a few flags.
"What are you two doing here?" Haru asked, looking at Liling then at Katara curiously as she pulled away.
"It's my fault you were captured." Katara admitted sadly before looking at him with determination, "I came to rescue you."
"You mean 'We' came to rescue you."Liling corrected.
"That's what I said."Katara said
"No, you said that 'You' came to rescue him, leaving me out like chopped liver."Liling said dryly.
" 'You' 'We' it doesn't matter." Katara said trying to change the subject but Liling somehow came to a conclusion that something must've happened when she left so she decided to just drop the topic, it was wasting time for them.
The young man jolted in surprise, his eyes widened as he looked at two girls in front of him, "So you got yourselves arrested?!"
"It was the only way to find you."Katsura admitted
"You make it sound as If it was hard."Liling said
"You guys got guts, I'll give you that." He stated with a soft chuckle as he crossed his arms over his chest before reaching out and taking Katara's shoulder, "Come on, there's someone I want you to meet."
Katara smiled as Liling nodded and let Haru lead them to where four people were sitting in a semi-circle on the hard metal floor of the rig near the food table.
"Katara, Liling this is my father Tyro." Haru introduced, catching the attention of a older man with shoulder length grey-white hair and beard, "Dad, this is Katara and Liling."
Tyro turned slightly to look at the two females standing next to his son curiously as both bowed slightly to him.
"It's an honor to meet you." Katara stated sincerely.
"It really is, Haru mentioned you a lot."Liling said
Tyro smiled slightly and took two bowls lying beside him, holding it out to The girls.
"Have some dinner, Katara, Liling." He offered, then chuckled when he saw Katara's eager expression turn into a disgusted one when she looked at the contents of the bowl, Liling didn't even want to look at the bowl in her hand, "It's not as bad as it looks."
Katara sat down beside the older man, she took a spoonful of soup in her mouth, gagging a moment later. Liling took a seat handing her soup to another prisoner not wanting to eat it by Katara's reaction.
"It's still pretty bad though." Tyro said with a slight smile.
Another older man suddenly appeared and touched Tyro's shoulder, causing the man and three teens to look up at him.
"Tyro, the prisoners are complaining that there aren't enough blankets to go around." The man informed Tyro.
"I'll talk to the guards." Tyro assured him. "In the meantime make sure the elderly are taken care of. The rest of us will simply have to hope for warmer weather."
Once the man had left, Katara and Liling looked over at Tyro curiously.
"If you don't mind me asking, what's your escape plan?"Katara whispered
Tyro quirked a brow at the young girl and uncrossed his arms, "Excuse me?"
"You know the plan to get everyone off the rig?" Katara clarified, "What is it? Mutiny? Sabotage?"
"A big distraction and we hit them where it hurts?" Liling added.
"The plan?" Tyro looked down at the floor, "The plan is to survive, wait out this war. Hope that someday some of us can get back home and forget this ever happened."
Katara and Liling looked at the older man in shock, "How can you say that?! You sound like you've already given up!"
"You can't just give up! "Liling said
"Katara, Liling." Tyro said in a gentle voice, "I admire both your courage and I envy your youth, but people's lives are at stake here. The warden is a ruthless man and he won't stand for any rebellion."
"What?! He's just one man! You can't give up!" Liling said
The man bowed head and closed his eyes, "I am sorry, but we're powerless."
Katara glared at the floor. Liling tighten her fist, Katara got to her feet. "We'll see about that."
"Katara?" Liling said giving a questioned look on her face.
Tyro, Liling and Haru watched as Katara climbed onto the food table and started banging on a pan lid with a spoon to the attention of the prisoners. Liling immediately got up to assist her friend.
"Earthbenders, you don't know me but I know of you," Katara began, projecting her voice as the Earthbenders looked at her, "Every child in my Water Tribe village was rocked to sleep with stories of the brave Earth Kingdom and the courageous Earthbenders who guard its borders."
The Warden watched Katara and Liling from his spot on top of the wall surrounding the prisoners area, holding his hand out to the stop the guard that had been about to stop the girls.
"Some of you may think that the Fire Nation has made you powerless." Katara continued her speech passionately, "Yes, they have taken away your ability to bend, but they can't take away your courage. And it is your courage they should truly fear, because it runs deeper than any mine you've been forced to dig, any ocean that keep you far from home. It is the strength of your hearts that make you, who you are, hearts that will remain unbroken when all rock and stone has eroded away. The time to fight back is now! I can tell you the Avatar has returned! So remember your courage Earthbenders! Let us fight for our freedom!"
"We can all go and fight! Don't submit to them!" Liling chimed in with a determined look her eyes scanned the crowd.
But the Earthbenders looked away from them and remained where they were. 'Nothing...they've already given up...' Liling thought sadly. 'The fire nation broke their spirits...' Liling tightened her fist. 'I won't give up! I'm going to help them!'
Hours passed and everyone went to sleep, Liling was still lying awake. Memories passed by her mind thinking of her parents, there was one particular memory that just flashed in her head when she was just ten years old.
'Daddy...are earthbenders always so tough?' Liling said 'They look like they'll never give up.'
'All earthbenders are tough it's by their fighting spirit no matter how many times you knock them down they get right back up.' Her father said while using his firebending to start a small fire adding herbs in a pot.
'But what if they can't bend?' Liling asked 'Like when I couldn't bend any water when we travelled to Omashu.'
'If they can't bend then there's other things.' He said 'Even if your not in solid ground you can always find earth in other places some in unexpected places, sometimes you've got to discover it yourself.'
Liling nodded and smiled at her father, handing her a cup of tea.
'Jasmine tea for my little jasmine flower.' He said with a smile.
Liling dozed off a bit until she felt someone shaking her shoulder. She jumped awake thinking it was someone trying to take advantage of her, she raised her hand but was immediately stopped looking at the person, it was Aang.
"Shh…" Aang whispered, his finger to his lips and stealthily lead her to get Katara.
"Your twelve hours are up." Sokka said from Appa's saddle when Aang reappeared with the girls. "Where's Haru? We've got to get out of here."
Aang jumped onto Appa and sat beside Sokka.
"I can't." Katara admitted softly, looking at Sokka with slightly pleading eyes.
"Well..."Liling said
Sokka ignored what his sister said and held his hand out of her to take, "We don't have much time. There are guards everywhere. Get on."
Katara glanced at Liling as both of them were a bit apprehensive.
"Katara, Lils what's wrong?" Aang asked, looking up at the girls with concern.
"I'm not leaving." Katara stated, her expression determined as the boys looked at each other in shock then back at them.
"Me either." Liling agreed.
"I'm not giving up on these people." Katara vowed firmly.
A few minutes later...
"What do you mean, you two are not leaving?" Sokka squawked quietly, giving his sister an annoyed look.
"I can't abandon these people!" Katara snapped then looked down, "There has to be a way to help them."
"There just has to be a way." Liling whispered
"Maybe they're right." Aang whispered and looked at the older boy.
"I think you're all crazy." Sokka hissed before the four ducked when the light at the top of the guard tower flashed over them.
"Last chance." Sokka continued once the light had passed, "We need to leave. Now!"
"No." Katara stated unwaveringly.
"You'll have to drag us out of here." Liling said menacingly.
"I hate when you get like this." Sokka said with a shake of his head, only for his eyes to widen slightly when the light passed over them again, "Come on we better hide."
Aang whispered for Appa to go and Momo jumped onto his shoulder before he followed after his friends, just as two guards rounded the corner.
"Tell me exactly what you saw." The Warden commanded as he turned to face two of his guards, his hands clasped behind his back.
"Well, sir, it looked like a flying bison." The older guard explained warily.
"What?"
"It was a giant, flying buffalo, sir." The other guard clarified in an attempt to be helpful, "With an empty saddle."
The Warden gave his subordinates a stern look, "Which was it, a buffalo or a bison?"
"Uh…" The first guard said confused as he looked at the ground, "I'm not really sure what the difference is, but that's not really the point, is it, sir?"
"I'll decide what the point is, fool!" The warden snarled then grabbed the guard and tossed him over the railing into the ocean below before turning to the remaining guard, "You! Wake up the Captain. Search the entire rig."
"Uh, sir…"
"What?!" The Warden snapped harshly.
"That was… the Captain that you just threw overboard, sir." The guard explained warily.
"Then wake up someone I haven't thrown overboard and search the rig!" The older man hissed, "There's something going on here and I don't like it."
Liling and the others were hiding behind a few giant crates.
"We don't have much time." Sokka stated, lifting his hands in a helpless gesture, "What are we gonna do?"
"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane." Aang muttered, causing Liling,Katara and Sokka to give him flat looks.
"Aang, I don't think it would be a good idea right now." Liling said
"But Lils think about it, the Warden would run away and we'd take his keys." Aang explained easily.
"Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?" Sokka asked
Aang looked away with a pout, "I'm just tossing ideas around."
"I know you are but it's not a good idea in this type of situation." Liling said she turn her attention to Katara.
"We tried talking the Earthbenders into fighting back, but it didn't work. If there was just a way to help them help themselves." Katara said
"For that they'd need some kind of earth or some rock." Sokka stated, looking up at his sister, "Something they can bend."
"But this entire place is made of metal." Katara sighed, touching the metal floor.
Liling looked around and there was just metal. Her fathers words repeated in her head.
' Even if your not in solid ground you can always find earth in other places some in unexpected places.'
Liling's eyes glanced at the sky the smoking coming from the chimney stacks catching her attention. Her eyes widen having an idea.
"Guys, look at the smoke." She said, pointing at the dark cloud from the chimney. "They must be using the coal they gathered at the mines."
Aang's eyes lit up at what Liling said. "And coal is a type of earth!"
The four looked up at the smoke then back at each, they formed a plan being careful not getting caught.
"It's almost dawn." Katara whispered to her brother, as they crouched beside one of the vents on the ship, "We're running out of time. You sure this is gonna work?"
"We've only got one shot."Liling added. "If they find us we're toast."
Sokka nodded slightly, "It should work, These vents reminded me of our little trick back at the village. We're gonna do the same thing but on a much bigger scale."
Liling, Sokka and Katara looked up at where Aang stood on the narrow platform high above where the three smoke stacks were located, waiting for the signal.
"There's a huge deposit of coal at the base of the silo and the whole system is ventilated. Aang closed off all the vents except one." Sokka explained quietly, "When he does his Airbending, the coal only has one place to go. Right back here."
"I hope it works." Liling said
"There's the intruder!"
Liling, Sokka and Katara jumped and moved back-to-back, Sokka pulling out his boomerang as Liling got in a defensive stance the guards surrounded the three teens while the prisoners looked on.
"Stay back!" Sokka demanded, holding his weapon, "I'm warning you!"
"You better stay back!" Liling threatened
"Katara, Liling stop!" Tyro ordered firmly as he looked at the two girls." You can't win this fight!"
Katara's blue eyes met Haru's worried green ones but her attention was pulled away from the young Earthbender when the Warden suddenly appeared.
"Listen to him well, child." The Warden drawled coldly, "You're one mistake away from dying where you stand."
"You know what, I'm tired of you!" Liling said
The guards began to close in on The trio, causing them to tense until a sudden rumbling began to come from the vent they were standing next to, causing them to look just as a geyser of coal came shooting from the vent, followed by the soot covered Aang. He landed on the large pile of coal and started coughing, the soot falling off of him.
"Here's your chance, Earthbenders!" Katara cried out as she climbed the pile of coal and held up a lump of coal, "Take it! Your fate is in your own hands."
Haru made to step forward but his father blocked his path by raising his arm and the rest of the Earthbenders began to back away. The laughter of the Warden caused Katara to tense and slowly lower her arm. Liling turned to look at the cackling man standing behind them with his arms crossed and six masked Firebenders behind him.
"Foolish girl," The man drawled mockingly, "You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago." The Warden continued to taunt, "Oh, but you still believe in them, how sweet. They're a waste of your energy, little girl. You failed."
Liling couldn't take it anymore she took a few coals and threw them at the warden.
"Hey warden! I don't care what you say!" Liling snapped. "You guys are a bunch of stupid hogmonkeys! And you warden! You can just suck it!"
The warden glared at Liling's outburst,he raised his fist about to send a fire blast at her but someone stopped him by throwing a few pieces of coal in the side of his head.
Liling turned her head to see Haru glaring at the Warden, coal spinning above his hand. The Warden snarled and punched his fists towards the young man, sending a strong fire blast at him. Haru jerked backwards, but instead of feeling the heat of the flames, a wall of coal stood before him he turned to see his father standing with his arms raised.
"Show no mercy!" The Warden ordered as his Firebenders lined up on either side of his, taking a Firebending stance then sending streams of fire at the Earthbenders.
Katara, Liling ,Aang and Sokka watched other earthbenders joined Haru and Tyro in bending a large wall of coal up to block the flames.
"For the Earth Kingdom!" Tyro yelled as he and the other Earthbenders slammed their hands on the ground and sent the coal flying at the Firebenders, "Attack!"
The other Earthbenders quickly attacked the Firebenders, ducking the blasts and countering with fists of coal. Katara, Liling and Aang run after Sokka as he uses his boomerang to snap the non-Firebending soldiers' spears in two with his boomerang, tossing the broken spearheads up to Momo who was flying overhead.
Haru and Tyro moved a large amount of the loose coal and began to bend it into a hard rock which they launched at the only entrance into the former prisoners' housing area, knocking two guards from the wall in the process.
"Get to the ship!" Tyro commanded the other Earthbenders, "We'll hold them off!"
"Do not let them escape!" The Warden shouted when he saw his former prisoners racing towards the hole in the wall and he kicked a stream of fire at them.
Liling quickly bended water from the ocean to make a wall defending herself and her friends, she made a wave as a distraction giving them a chance to run faster through the hole. Aang stopped and spun around, creating a funnel of wind and holding it between his hands.
"Guys! Throw me some coal!" Aang calls out to his three friends, Liling chuckled and smiled mischievously and she began to drop lumps of coal into the funnel along with Katara and Sokka, pelting the Warden and the other Firebender with the coals knocking them to the ground.
Tyro and two other Earthbenders work together to lift the coal that had gathered underneath the Warden and his men, moving them away from the rig until they hovered right over the ocean.
"No!" The Warden pleaded and turned to look at Tyro, "Please, I can't swim!"
"Don't worry. I hear cowards float." Tyro growled and then drops the Firebenders into the ocean below.
"I want to thank you for saving me." Haru said as he stepped closer to Katara, who had been watching the rig shrink in the distance, "For saving us."
Katara turned to face Haru, rubbing the back of her head, "All it took was a little coal."
"It wasn't the coal, Katara." Haru stated sincerely, "It was you."
"Aww! I take back what I said about you not being cute." Liling said "He's sweet, I think he's a keeper." She whispered that last part to Katara.
Katara blushed brightly and looked off to the side then looked up at Tyro when he placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Thank you for helping me find my courage, Katara of the Water Tribe." The older man said gratefully,he turn his head towards Liling. " And you Liling, thank you. My family and everyone here owes you much."
"So, I guess you're going home now." Katara stated more than asked, looking up at Tyro with a slight smile.
"Yes, to take back my village." Tyro agreed then turned to face the other ships, "To take back all of our villages! The Fire Nation will regret the day they set foot on our land!"
The other former prisoners cheered loudly, raising their fists in the air. Katara smiled at the scene before Haru's voice suddenly grabbed her attention.
"Come with us."
'Ehhh?! Is he saying what I think he's saying?!' Liling thought flabbergasted at what Haru said, her eyes glanced at Katara waiting for an answer.
Katara turned to the young man with a shake of her head, "I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Aang to North Pole."
'Aw...he got shot down...'Liling thought 'But it was very bold of him to ask her to go with him.'
Katara looked over at Appa, swimming alongside the ship, smiling when she saw Aang sitting on Appa's head, using Airbending to keep a piece of coal away from Momo while Sokka relaxed in the saddle.
"That's him, isn't he?" Haru asked, looking over at the Airbender."The Avatar?"
"Yeah, he is." Liling said smiling. "My best friend is the Avatar."
"I still can't believe you actually said those things to the fire nation telling him to suck it." Haru said glancing at Liling.
Liling rubbed the back of her head. "I sometimes can be a bit too hotheaded at those situations." She admitted. "My mom always said I have a bad temper just like my dad."
Haru nodded and glanced over at Katara standing beside him, "Katara, thank you for bringing my father back to me. I never thought I'd see him again. I only wish there was some way…"
"I know." Katara murmured, looking away and reaching up to touch her mother's necklace only for her eyes to widen in panic when she realized it's not around her neck and she began searching her body, "My mother's necklace! It's gone!"
"What?!" Liling's eyes widen. "It can't be gone!"
A familiar blue necklace lying on the coal covered floor of the rig before being picked up. Lifting his head, Zuko looks away from the necklace and at the setting sun, his scarred face set into an expression of grim determination as he clenched the necklace in his fist.
There you have it you guys! Sorry it took so long it was a long chapter and I had help with it from a friend. I'll try to post the next one when I can so please leave a review and tell me what you guys think, I tried really hard to incorporate Liling in it this chapter, so any comments and suggestions are welcomed Pm me if you have any.