Disclaimer: All rights belong to Nickelodeon, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, and all the men and women that created the A:TLA show, books, and comics. I take no credit, and I do not mean to break any copyright rules. This is simply a work of fiction made for enjoyment. No money is being made. The lyrics are from the song "Hey Brother" by Avicii

Rating: General Audiences. Warning: some scenes contain dark themes and minor violence

Author's Note: Surprise! Early update! I hope you enjoy reading this book finale as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I'll see you back on Thursday with the beginning of Book 3 :)

Chapter 16 - The Prison Break: Part 2

Hey brother

There's an endless road to rediscover

Hey sister

Do you still believe in love, I wonder?

Oh, and if the sky is falling down

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

What if I'm far from home?

Oh brother I will hear you call

What if I lose it all?

Oh sister I will help you out

And if the sky is falling down

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

"The firecrackers are making a trail," Mai says, nudging at a burned husk with her toe. "We should follow them."

"It won't lead us to whoever set them off," Ty Lee says. "These are the newest ones. Whoever set them off ran in a different direction."

"It might not lead us to whoever set them off, but it might lead us to their origin." Mai starts walking, her eyes roving the ground for the tell-tale scorch marks. "If we're lucky, they left someone or something behind that will identify them."

"That's a good idea!" Ty Lee bounds ahead. She reaches down and holds one up in the air. "I found another one!"

The two girls follow the trail for a while. When they finally reach the last piece, they find themselves on a little pebbly beach in a hidden cove.

"There's nothing here!" Ty Lee exclaims, throwing a charred firecracker piece. "Just an old fishing boat."

Mai gets a tiny smile on her face. "Not just a fishing boat," she corrects. "This is an escape route. Look."

She steps into the boat and pulls out a bag of supplies from under a bench, holding it aloft so Ty Lee can see.

Ty Lee's eyes grow wide. "So the firecrackers were a distraction! Do you think they're attempting a prison break?"

Mai shrugs. "What they're trying to do isn't important. What is important is that they're going to be unsuccessful."

She steps back out onto the beach. "Come help me sink this boat."

The two girls push it off the beach and into the water. Then they start picking up stones on the beach and throwing them in. As the rocks pile in the bottom the little boat begins taking on water. Finally it's barely visible at the waterline.

"Now what?" Ty Lee asks, wiping her hands off on her tunic.

"Now we wait. When they come back to try and escape, we'll be waiting for them."

"Right through this door."

The Fire Nation guard unlocks an old wooden door and pushes it open. Suki pushes Sokka through, having to resist the urge to cover her nose. The room they've entered is dry and smells like it hasn't been aired out in a hundred years. From the looks of the cells hewn into the rocky mountain, it hasn't.

"Third cell on the right. That's where we keep our last Waterbender. She's a tricky one. But she's not going anywhere."

Sokka's hope soars as Suki escorts him past the cell. They pause and he peers through the darkness and sees a figure lying on a bench.

The guard hits his sword against the concrete. "Hey, you've got some visitors," he calls in. "Another Waterbender. One closer to your age this time."

The figure moves. Sokka watches, his throat closed up, as Katara's face is illuminated in the dim lighting. Her eyes grow wide when she sees him. He winks at her, trying to convey with the gesture that he has a plan.

The guard turns around to unlock the next cell. Suki releases Sokka and then kicks out the guard's knees. He falls and she punches him hard enough to knock him out. Sokka unties his own bonds and then grabs the keys from the guard.

Katara waits impatiently by the door. As soon as it's unlocked she bursts out and hugs Sokka tightly. He returns the embrace, joyful beyond words. Their quest wasn't for nothing. Katara is here, alive, and in relatively good health. All they have to do is escape the prison now. In her arms, that doesn't sound like such a difficult task after all.

"I'm so glad you're alive," Katara says, wiping her eyes. "I tried to come looking for you, but…"

"It's okay," Sokka assures her. "What matters is that we're here together now."

Suki picks up the guard's sword. "I don't want to cut your meeting short, but we still have to escape." She smiles at Katara and bows quickly. "I'm Suki, by the way."

"Katara."

Suki takes a water pouch from around her body and offers it to her. "There's not much here, but hopefully it will help. We're going to try and scale as many levels undetected as possible, but eventually they're going to notice."

Katara nods. "I know the best path."

"They let you out of your cell?" Sokka asks.

Katara shakes her head. "I've tried breaking out two times already."

"Well, let's hope the third time works," Suki responds. She holds a fan in one hand and the torch in the other. Sokka holds his boomerang and his bludgeon. And Katara has one hand on the cap of the water pouch, ready to react at a moment's notice.

They begin their ascent. The other prisoners watch apathetically. The first two prison break attempts were interesting, but now they're just getting tiresome. Katara leads the way through the maze of cells. As they pass more prisoners, Sokka wonders what all these people did to deserve being here. How many of them are actually dangerous criminals? And how many are like Katara, innocent people who got on the wrong side of the Fire Nation?

There's no way of knowing so they just keep pressing on. Suki knocks out the first guard they encounter with a series of precise movements. A second guard hears the commotion and comes running. Sokka prepares himself.

"Don't waste your water on just one guard," he tells Katara. "I've got this."

Katara is already stepping forward to intersect the man. "Don't worry," she calls back. "I don't need my bending."

She blocks the first punch by the man and twists his arm to her side, using his momentum to throw him against the wall. He stumbles to his feet again and tries to knock her off balance. She sidesteps him and smashes her palm against the center of his chest. A loud groan comes from him and he crumbles. She finishes the job with a swift kick.

Suki smiles. "So you can fight. Good. Maybe we're not as screwed as I thought."

Sokka stares with an open mouth. "Wha-Why-Where did you learn that?"

The glow of satisfaction on her face fades quickly. She turns away and continues walking. After a moment, she quietly says, "From the prince of the Fire Nation."

Sokka remembers the commander on Whale Tail Island telling him and Suki that he had seen Katara with the prince of the Fire Nation. She was his bodyguard, he said. Sokka wants to know how she went from being the prince's bodyguard to being locked up deep under a mountain, but he knows now isn't the time for story telling. They'll have plenty of time after they escape.

They continue working their way through the prison. More and more guards come running. An alarm goes off. The three of them fight their hardest. Sokka's boomerang is flying like crazy, bouncing off walls and men alike. His club is swinging wildly. Suki is twirling and jumping, each sharp and elegant movement signaling a painful blow to the guards who are unfortunate enough to be on duty tonight. Katara is also fighting hand-to-hand. At some point she picked up a spear from a fallen guard and swings it around like a staff, keeping the guards at bay.

When they finally clear the hall, they're all sweating. Katara collects the sweat and creates a ball of water with it. Suki had used the torch to swing at a guard and it had fallen on the ground and been extinguished, leaving the corridor almost completely pitch-black.

"We're almost at the exit," Katara promises. "We just have to go a little further up this tunnel, turn right, and then the entrance is on the left."

A brilliant blue light suddenly flares up in the direction Katara had pointed. They all cover their eyes and a cold voice says, "Oh, you mean this tunnel?"

As their eyes adjust to the light, they see the silhouette of a girl standing in the middle of the tunnel, a ball of blue flames in her hand. She's smiling cruelly. Sokka notices almost instantly how young she is - she can't be older than them. Probably younger.

"Yeah, that tunnel!" Sokka says, turning to humor like he always does when he's actually terrified. "Thanks for giving us some light! We owe you one."

In the corner of his eyes, he sees Suki shaking her head slowly. Even she looks scared. That's how Sokka knows this is serious.

The girl with the fire laughs. "I'm the light at the end of the tunnel, all right - the tunnel of death."

And then she sends a wave of fire roaring down the tunnel, straight towards them.

Zuko runs through the palace, searching for the guard who just changed shifts out of the throne room. Azula and the girls were already gone by the time he had started looking for them, but maybe the guard heard something.

He finds him in the armory, hanging up his uniform. As soon as the guard catches sight of him, he bows deeply.

"How may I be of service to you, your Highness?" he asks.

"I need to know where my sister went," Zuko says.

The guard darts his eyes around. "I, uh- I don't know, sir. I just finished my shift in the throne room."

"I know. My sister was in there with my father. I need to know where she went afterwards."

The guard presses his lips together. "I'm sorry, Prince Zuko. I can't help you."

Zuko steps closer. The guard's eyes widen.

"Let's try this again. I am the crown prince of the Fire Nation, and I want to know where my sister went. We have...something to discuss."

The guard finally caves. His face breaks and he stares at the floor while he speaks. "There were reports of a disturbance in the forest by the prison. Your father sent the princess to see what was happening."

Zuko's mind instantly runs through the possibilities. He can't understand why his father would send Azula and not him. He's the crown prince! Why doesn't his father trust him?

Unless...unless there's something his father doesn't want him knowing about. In which case Zuko has to find out.

"You have been most useful," he tells the guard.

The guard looks terrified. "Please, sir. I need this job. I have a family to support."

Zuko waves his hand. "This is between us."

"Thank you, sir!"

But Zuko is already out the door.

Katara steadies herself right in the way of the wall of flame and uses her ball of water to create a wave that douses the fire. Then she summons the water back and assumes a defense position.

She's hated Azula since the moment she met her. Now she finally has the chance to stand up to her.

Azula smirks and takes a few steps closer. "Ooh, a real challenge. I've never fought a Waterbender before. Oh, wait - that's because you're the last one."

Katara sees Sokka moving out of the corner of her eye. She waves him back. "This is my fight," she tells him. "Azula is too dangerous."

"You may be strong, Avatar, but you're not strong enough to beat me. You weren't even strong enough to beat my pathetic brother."

Katara's eyes narrow. "I never fought your brother for real. If I had, I would have beaten him."

"Then do tell, how did you end up here? Don't tell me he tricked you. My brother is far too weak to use manipulation."

Katara is silent, staring the other girl down. After a moment, Azula's eyes widen.

"Oh. He did trick you then. I'm honestly shocked. Didn't know he had it in him." Azula smiles widely. "Perhaps I misjudged him. Please, tell me how he did it. I'm actually quite curious."

"You're just stalling for time," Katara accuses. "You won't trick me."

"Me? Stalling for time? I have all the time in the world. I'm not the one breaking out of prison. I can fight you now or tomorrow or next week - it's all the same to me. You're the only one who stands to lose as time passes."

Katara straightens up. "Fine. I guess I'll have to start this fight."

She spins and sends the water shooting towards Azula, turning into thick ice spears as they fly through the air. Azula counters with well-aimed fireballs that explode on impact with the spears. She sends a whip of fire hurtling towards Katara. Katara throws up a shield of ice to block the ribbon of flames.

"It's a shame you aren't on our side," Azula says. "We could use bold fighters like you. What a waste of potential."

"It's a shame that you're evil," Katara shoots back. "You're wasting your power."

"I don't see how expanding my power is wasting it." Azula sends more fire. Katara counters with more water. Blue flames and blue waves clash and fizzle into steam. Katara is already tired from fighting off the other soldiers. Azula is fresh and aggressive. Katara is weak from the rationed prison food. Azula is well-fed and nourished. But Katara is fighting for her freedom and Azula is fighting for enjoyment.

Katara is fierce. She doesn't think she's ever fought this well before. All her movements are clean and precise. She bends without thinking; she bends by feeling. In her mind, she discovers a tranquil state that allows her to fight without emotion getting in the way. A part of her can tell that Azula's excitement at the prospect of a good fight is starting to fade and she's beginning to get frustrated that Katara is fending her off so successfully. That's the problem with people who grow up getting everything they want: they don't know how to handle it when things don't go their way.

But as the fight wears on Katara begins to lose more and more water. Azula's flames get hotter and hotter. They inch closer to Katara - and to Sokka and Suki, who have pressed themselves against the wall behind her, watching in terrified anticipation.

Finally, as Katara turns and jumps to send a water whip, she's shocked that nothing happens. Her water is gone. She desperately shakes the flask for more, but there's nothing. The air is dry. All of her sweat has been used up. There's no source of water here. Nothing for Katara to tap into. And it's not a full moon, so she can't even use bloodbending as a last resort.

Azula realizes this and grins victoriously. "That was a good fight, Avatar. But it looks like you need to master more elements before you're ready to fight me for real."

Katara glances around desperately. There has to be something. Anything. She's not giving up this quickly.

"Katara! Here!"

She turns around and sees Sokka holding up a water flask he'd scavenged from an unconscious guard. He throws it and she summons the water out of it mid air. She turns back to Azula, streaming the water threatening around her body.

"I'm not going down so easily," she warns.

Azula sighs. "Alright, then. We do this the hard way. It's more fun, anyway."

She raises her arms, hands full of blue flames. She's just about to attack when a voice calls out behind her.

"Wait!"

Azula lowers her arms and turns around incredulously. Katara also loosens her stance immediately, although she doesn't drop the water.

A face appears from the tunnel behind Azula. Katara feels like the wind has been knocked out of her lungs. She feels both violent rage and a deep sadness. The two conflicting emotions collide inside of her and she feels tears sting at her eyes.

"Zuko?" she calls out softly, her voice mysteriously disappearing.

Azula grins triumphantly. "Well, look who came to join the fight. It's almost over already, but I expect no less from you."

Zuko steps closer. He's staring at Katara. She can't stop staring at him either. Too many feelings are bubbling up. She wants nothing more than to whip all her water at him right now, to demand to know how he could betray her, to ask if he's happy now with his wretched life. But she's frozen.

He finally shifts his gaze from Katara to his sister. "What's going on here?" he demands.

"What does it look like? The Avatar and her little friends are making a prison break. I'm stopping them. I figured you came to claim last-minute credit, but I'm not telling Father anything for you this time. This is my victory."

Zuko looks back at Katara. Through her red haze of anger, she's surprised to see that he looks troubled. Almost...conflicted.

"Where are Ty Lee and Mai?" he asks.

Azula waves absently. "I didn't need them. They're off chasing another lead. This is my moment. You can stay and watch how a real Firebender takes down their opponent. The Avatar told me how you manipulated her instead of fighting her. Normally I'd say that's cheating, but I'm actually quite impressed with you."

Zuko's mouth opens and then closes. He looks between the two of them again.

Katara wants to have hope in him. She really does. But she can't unsee his face as his guards dragged her away. She can't unhear the emotionless tone in his words as he explained that he was betraying her.

He had to make the decision between her and his family before. He chose his throne. Why would he change his mind now?

She remembers Iroh making her promise to give Zuko a second chance if the opportunity came up. Is this the moment he was referring to? Katara doesn't want to look foolish calling out to him for help. And she knows Zuko is too far gone now. He's not just going to change his mind after sacrificing everything for his Fire Nation life. Especially not with Azula here.

But she promised Iroh. For Iroh's sake. And after all the kindness Iroh showed her, she has to keep her promise.

"Zuko?" she calls out. "It's not too late to make the right decision. We could really use your help right now... I could really use your help right now."

Azula looks between the two of them with a confused expression. "What's going on here? Zuko?"

He doesn't say anything. Katara isn't surprised. She expected nothing less. Somehow it's still disappointing. A tiny part of her had hoped that the boy who had watched fireworks and looked at the stars with her would find his way back to the surface. But the waters of familial politics are too deep. The boy she had feelings for drowned a long time ago.

She's not sure what feeling is stronger - sadness for Iroh, who still believes in that boy, or anger that he pretended for so long, that he lied to her and manipulated her for so long. Anger that he's still pretending, even when he's obviously conflicted and miserable.

But that's not the issue at hand anymore. Katara has bigger problems. Like the people who actually care about her enough to put their lives and freedom at risk to help her. Those are the people who are worth her time.

Katara turns to Sokka and Suki. "I'll distract them for as long as I can. You guys run."

Sokka's eyes widen. "No. We came here to rescue you. We're not leaving you behind."

She shakes her head. She can feel the tears pooling over her eyes and dripping down her cheeks. It's not fair. She just got her brother back only to be separated again. But she has to look after him. And she can save him, at least this time.

"You have to. Otherwise we're all going to be imprisoned."

Sokka reaches his hand out half-heartedly. "But I just found you!"

"And you'll find me again. I believe it." Katara glances over to Suki, who has a hardened warrior's expression. "Take care of him for me."

Suki nods. "You're one of the bravest people I've ever met," she says.

"Are you guys done saying goodbye now? I'd like to get back to the fight," Azula calls out. Katara turns, wipes away her tears with the back of her hand, and repositions herself to fight.

"You want to fight?" she calls out. "Then let's fight."

Azula raises her hands to summon flames. Katara gets her water ready. Sokka and Suki ready themselves to run. And suddenly Azula is blasted into the wall. She hits the ground and then starts slowly pushing herself back up.

"Now, Katara!"

She doesn't even think. She whips her water Azula's way and imprisons the girl in a block of ice.

Everything grows still. Katara finally has time to process what had happened. She looks up in shock at Zuko, whose arms are still outstretched, pointed at his sister. He drops them and makes eye contact with Katara. There's a new kind of conflict in his eyes.

All of her anger melts away instantly. All the negative feelings towards him are banished. Just a few seconds ago she had been prepared to sacrifice herself so that her brother and Suki could go free. Now she doesn't have to make that choice. Now there's no one standing in her way to freedom - at least, no one that she can't defeat.

And a part of her is still incredulous that this is actually happening. She doesn't understand it, but it feels right. It feels like it was meant to happen. Maybe the boy she cares about is still there - buried deep, but still alive.

She breaks into a relieved smile. "Zuko, you - you- "

He stares at the ice block surrounding his sister. "What have I done?" he asks.

Katara walks up and stands in front of him. "You did what was right," she says. "Iroh would be proud. He always knew you had it in you."

"You didn't." His gaze bores into her.

She looks at the Azula ice block to avoid his eyes. She's shocked to see that the ice is already starting to melt - and at an alarming pace.

She turns back to Sokka and Suki. "We have to go! Azula is going to be free soon!"

They approach cautiously, looking suspiciously at Zuko. Katara waves them on. "You remember my directions? I'll be right behind you."

"We're not leaving without you," Sokka says.

She nods. "I'm right behind you," she promises. She watches them leave and then she turns back to Zuko. "I know what you've just sacrificed by helping me."

He shakes his head. "You have no idea."

She swallows. These next words are hard to get out. "Zuko...you can come with us. You'd be a powerful ally to have. And you don't belong here. Not with your sister and father."

He shakes his head again. "You're wrong." His voice is rough, raspy. "I don't know what I'm doing. I don't know where I belong. But it's not with you. Not after what I did to you."

Katara sighs. If this is hard for her, it must be even harder for him. "I'm giving you a second chance, Zuko. A fresh start."

"Fresh starts don't exist. Look me in the eyes and tell me you can pretend that nothing happened. Look at me!"

Katara looks away. She feels shame burn into her cheeks. She was always known for her compassion, for her amazing capacity to forgive. But she also knows how deeply he hurt her. If there's one thing she's learned since her parents died, and especially here in the prison, it's how vast her capacity for anger and bitterness is, as well. The words coming out of her mouth sound rehearsed, and Zuko knows it. She's not inviting him along because she wants him along; she's inviting him because she made a promise to Iroh and because a small part of her is desperately nostalgic for those weeks aboard the ship.

"You can't," Zuko continues. "I understand. I've been miserable since I've been back here. I can't stop thinking about what I did. I don't know the difference between what's right and wrong. All I know is that everything I do seems to be wrong."

"You did one thing right. You helped me. That's a start. And it'll be hard, but I - I'm willing to help you learn." The words taste like acid in her mouth. They aren't lies, but she'd be lying if she said she actually wanted to.

He shakes his head. "No, Katara. I need to figure it out on my own. This isn't something you can help me with. It's a journey I have to make myself."

The ice black starts moving. Azula's palms are red-hot, burning quickly through the melting ice. Any second now she'll be free.

"Go," Zuko says. "I'll hold her off, give you as much time as I can."

"Zuko - "

The ice block shatters. Azula starts to crawl to her feet.

"Go!"

Katara makes eye contact with him one more time. The words burst out before she even realizes what she's saying. "I forgive you, Zuko."

Then she runs. She runs out of the prison and meets up with Sokka and Suki and they run. She doesn't think about Zuko. She doesn't think about her feelings. She doesn't process all that's happened. She just runs, following her brother through the forest and away from the horrible prison that has taken so much from her.

Azula paces back and forth in front of Zuko. He's sitting on the ground, slumped against the wall of the corridor, his clothes still steaming from her latest fireball. She had beaten him again. If he's being honest, his heart wasn't in the fight. He's tired of fighting. Fighting himself, fighting Azula, fighting Mai, fighting his father - fighting everyone around him.

"I don't understand," Azula says. "What is going on with you? Why would you betray the Fire Nation? Why would you betray me? Why would you betray Father?"

Zuko doesn't respond. He just watches her with his tired eyes.

"Why would you capture the Avatar just to let her go again? You worked for years to get everything you wanted, and now you just throw it away? How could you be so stupid?"

"I didn't know what I wanted when I captured the Avatar," he admits.

"That explains why you've been so mopey. But nothing explains why you'd be dumb enough to betray the Fire Nation. You should know there's only one way this can end."

He knows. She'll take him to their father. He'll have to confess his crimes. And then his father will do what he had planned to do before their mother had stepped in. What his father had failed to do three years ago.

Zuko has accepted it. Anything to make this suffering end. He wasn't lying when he told Katara that his place wasn't with her. He doesn't belong anywhere. He'll always be a banished prince, an exile, an outsider. Not even his own family accepts him. He hurt all the people who cared about him. He can't escape this guilt that's eating him alive.

Azula regards him for a long moment. "I'm not sure if you're being really brave right now or just pathetic."

He sighs. "Are you going to stand there talking all night or can we just get on with this?"

His sister narrows her eyes. "No," she snaps. "You're not going anywhere until you start giving me answers."

"Why do you care so much?"

"Because you're my brother and you betrayed me!" Azula takes a deep breath. "You owe me answers at the very least. The sooner you answer them the sooner you can meet your fate."

Zuko knows there's no way of getting out of this. He pushes himself into a more comfortable position. "Fine. What do you want to know?"

"How did you capture the Avatar? She told me you manipulated her. I want to know how."

The memory sends a shooting pain through his chest. He can still the look of pure betrayal on Katara's face. He doesn't know if he'll ever be able to get that image out of his mind.

"I didn't know she was the Avatar when we first met. We found her wandering in the South Pole with no memories. I thought she might be able to help us find the Avatar so I let her stay on board. She developed feelings for me. One day she had a vision and realized that she was the Avatar. She made the mistake of telling me. Then I betrayed her trust and tied her up before she realized what was happening."

Azula laughs. Zuko's mouth tastes bitter.

"Alright, I'm a little impressed, brother. But tell me this: why did you let her go? You didn't grow feelings towards her, right?"

He doesn't answer. Azula stares at him in shock.

"Well. If Mai wasn't going to kill you before, she definitely is going to now. Maybe I don't even need to bother taking you to Father."

Zuko feels doubly bad now. He never meant for Mai to know. It will only hurt her. Another person to add to his growing list.

Azula stomps her foot. "Say something! For the past few weeks all you've been doing is complaining, but now that I actually want to talk to you, you're silent?"

He makes eye contact with her. Deep down, beneath her outer frustrated expression, and the next layer of anger, and all the other layers that make Azula Azula, he can sense that she's also hurt. No one betrays Azula. Not since their mother.

"You wouldn't understand," he finally says.

"Why? Because I'm a monster?" Azula rolls her eyes. "Whatever. I give up." She turns to the front of the corridor. "Guards!"

This is it. Zuko's last moments before he faces punishment for his crimes. He's almost relieved.

"You know," Azula says as the sound of guards' footsteps echo through the mountain. "I've changed my mind. I'm not taking you to Father."

"You're not?"

She smiles emotionlessly. "Call me merciful. You're my brother. I don't want you dead. At least not yet. I might have further use for you."

He doesn't like the sound of that. The guards enter and Azula instructs them to bind him.

"Take him to Boiling Rock," she instructs. "Tell the warden that he's a special prisoner. And give him my regards."

She stands with her arms crossed over her chest, a smug smile on her face as he's dragged away.

"You have an escape plan, right?" Katara says as they run.

"There's a little hidden cove up here," Sokka explains in between breaths. "We have a ship and supplies. We can sail to the Earth Kingdom and then blend in there."

"Right this way!" Suki calls. They burst out of the treeline and into the cove - only to slam to a halt.

Two girls stand on the beach. One, with two buns high on her head, has her arms crossed over her chest. The other girl, with a long braid, backflips their way.

"Finally," the first girl drawls. "We've been waiting here all night."

"Who are you?" Suki demands.

"I'm Ty Lee!" the girl with the braid says. "And that's my friend Mai. We're here to keep you from escaping!"

Katara can see Sokka glancing around, trying to get a glimpse behind the first girl.

"Oh, don't worry. We sank your ship. There's no point in trying to fight us, although I imagine you will anyway."

Sokka glances over at her. "What do we do now?" he asks.

"You're the plan expert!" Katara looks around but doesn't see anything. She can use the water to fight the girls, but what's the point? They have no ship, no supplies, and nowhere to go. They're stranded.

Suddenly a huge gust of wind washes over them. The backflipping girl goes rolling towards the water. A violent tremor runs through the ground as something heavy lands in front of them.

Katara uncovers her eyes to see a large animal standing between them and the Fire Nation girls. A figure sitting on the neck of the beast leans over the side and grins at them in the moonlight.

"Need a ride?" he asks. "Climb on!"

"Who are you?" Sokka asks.

"I'm Aang! And this is my flying bison, Appa. We're here to help the Avatar!"

Katara doesn't even hesitate. Whatever happens, their situation can't get worse. She runs and climbs up the beast's leg. Suki follows immediately after. Sokka glances distrustfully at the kid and animal before reluctantly following.

The two Fire Nation girls start climbing the bison. Katara summons a wave to push them off.

"Appa, yip yip!" the kid calls out. The flying bison rises and they take off, flying towards the unknown.

End BOOK TWO. To be continued in BOOK THREE: The Blind Bandit