Aang's heart pounded. He and Sokka had emerged from the bunker to find themselves surrounded by Dai Li. Everywhere he looked was a wall of dark-garbed agents: grim-faced men that blocked their path on all sides and seemed to merge with the shadows of dusk. The sight made the boys freeze, though Aang was by no means ready to back down. He clenched his hands into fists and glanced around, searching for any sign of Shirong and Toph. No way was he letting the Dai Li take their friend. Not after coming this far.
"Shirong!" Aang yelled. "Stop hiding and show yourself!"
Sokka pressed closer. "Not sure we're in any position to be making demands right now," he muttered, getting his boomerang ready. "In case you haven't noticed, we're a little outnumbered."
"I don't care about that! I'm getting Toph back now!"
A group of Dai Li stepped aside to reveal Shirong, who came to stand in front of his fellow agents. His gaze was cold and assessing, showing no hint of alarm. Toph had been bound with rope and was being clutched by another agent. She seemed to be unconscious, judging by the way her eyes were closed and she made no sound. Perhaps they had wanted to take extra precautions in case the paralysis and chi blocking wore off. Aang's eyes narrowed. These people had gone too far.
"Let her go!" he demanded, wind picking up around him.
"Or you'll do what?" Shirong asked. "You're completely surrounded. If you wish to ensure her safety, surrender yourselves to us now."
Aang gritted his teeth. "Like we'd do that! We've seen what you do to the people who you capture! You brainwash them and turn them into pawns!"
"Protecting the peace of Ba Sing Se is all that matters. If you refuse to surrender, then you give us no choice. Peace and stability must be upheld!"
Shirong gave a signal to the Dai Li. As one, the agents in the front rows released a mass of rock hands.
"Uh, Aang," Sokka said nervously. "Now might be a good time to get your glow on."
Aang inhaled and let the power of the Avatar State flow through him. Energy thrummed through his veins, his chi paths, building and building until it was like his entire body was brimming with power. His eyes and tattoos glowed pure white. It was exhilarating.
It was terrifying.
A part of him knew that he had not regained complete mastery over the Avatar State. He was still treading a fine line between being in control and being the one controlled. Only his emotions—his desire to protect his friends—kept him focussed. He couldn't be scared. He couldn't back down. So he pushed back the rock hands with a violent blast of wind, even as he ascended into the air, rising above the Dai Li.
"Stop him!" Shirong shouted.
Mounds of rock rose to meet Aang in a unified attack. He broke through the walls that tried to entrap and crush, smashing through everything with an ease that would have been horrifying to his enemies. Clouds of dust and rubble blurred his vision. A jagged slab of rock slipped through the cloud—too fast for him to react. The rock slammed into his chest, his bone, striking deep to his heart. It all happened so quickly. He gasped in breathless shock, pain overwhelming his nerves, his very being. He couldn't breathe. He was falling and he couldn't breathe.
"Aang!"
The scream sounded muffled to his ears. It was like he was falling into a different world: a world where a path all the colours of the aurora lit up the night sky and an illuminated form loomed over him. He gasped for oxygen that would not come and stretched his fingers towards the figure, towards himself. This was the centre of his power, the very connection that tied him to the Avatar State. He watched, helpless, as the glowing form flickered and began to disintegrate. No light. No power. The path crumbled under his feet and then he was falling again, even as his past lives slipped away from him like sand on the wind.
Even as his own body was swallowed up in silence and nothingness.
Aang.
The voice that called his name was less a sound as it was a feeling, a touch of warmth that passed through him in a whisper. Aang blinked into the suffocating darkness and saw a thread of light descend towards him.
Hold on.
Aang didn't understand why he should listen, but the voice was insistent. It prodded and guided him into closing his fingers around the thread. Instantly, a shock of energy passed through him. He blinked and found himself standing inside a cocoon of golden flames. Aang swivelled around in surprise. Zuko stood at the centre of the cocoon, holding the other end of the thread.
"Zuko?" Aang took a step forward. "What are you—what is this place? I thought I died."
Zuko gritted his teeth. It occurred to Aang that he looked very pale, almost incorporeal.
"I don't know how much longer I can keep this up," Zuko admitted. "Healing that woman's mind took too much out of me. Still, it looks like you'll be okay for now." His mouth quirked into a smile. "You're a lucky kid. I almost lost you back there."
Aang's eyes widened. "You brought me back?"
"Just barely. I didn't expect to be able to talk to you like this though."
The flames around them stuttered, getting smaller by the second. Zuko winced and tightened his hold on the thread. Aang's brow creased. Something wasn't right.
"Are you okay?" Aang asked. "You really don't look well."
Transparent and like he might fall apart was what Aang wanted to say, but that seemed a bit tactless.
Zuko waved off the concern. "It's nothing I didn't expect. I'm just sorry I dragged you into this mess. None of this would have happened if we hadn't tried to save Shizue."
"Like I care about that! You're my friend. Of course I'd help you rescue Shizue!"
"I know, but that's why I have to take responsibility." He staggered a little, even as the flames flickered and shrunk more. "The Avatar is supposed to bring hope to the world. I never believed in those words before, but after travelling with you and seeing what you're capable of, I want to believe in the legend. I want to believe in you." Their eyes met. "That, and I just don't want my friend to die. You're a good kid. I'd never be able to forgive myself if I let something happen to you."
Aang sucked in a breath. This was the first time Zuko had openly admitted to their friendship. It made him want to grin like an idiot, but the flames were still sputtering and he'd have to be blind not to notice how Zuko's outline had started to blur.
"Don't let me down, Aang." Zuko held his gaze. "Promise me that you'll win. Promise that you'll stop my father and Azula."
Something cold settled in Aang's stomach. "You shouldn't talk like that. It makes it sound like you don't expect to be there with me."
Zuko averted his face. "I'm going to buy you as much time as I can. Katara still has the Spirit Oasis water. She can save you. I know she can. So just hold on, okay?"
"Wait, Zuko! What about—"
"It's okay. I won't let you die."
"That isn't what I meant!"
Zuko's form flickered and changed into a sun-like sphere of flames. Aang blinked and just like that the scene changed. Gone was the cocoon of fire. He was back to struggling in darkness and trying to breathe, struggling to live. But he wasn't alone. The golden thread of energy was still connected to him and humming with life. Another's life. He realised then that what he had been speaking to before was just a manifestation of Zuko's consciousness; that their energy and bodies were so intrinsically linked, in fact, that he was not sure if he could have separated the two. The thought did not comfort him.
"I meant you, you dummy," Aang muttered. "What will happen to you?"
The life energy that hummed through him, that kept his heart beating, was dwindling. Aang tried to detach the thread, but it refused to be cut. He was trapped in his broken body, and Zuko was right there with him. It was awful. People risked themselves for him so easily just because he was the Avatar, but he had seen the glowing form of the Avatar State crumble. He had seen his past lives slip away from him. In that moment, Aang knew he was no longer the Avatar or a bringer of hope. He was just a normal boy.
"You can't die for me, Zuko," Aang said, clutching with his spirit at any scrap of the prince he could feel. "I can't stop the Fire Nation like this. That's why you have to live. You have to fight with me."
They had come so far together. He didn't want it to end like this.
He didn't ever want to lose his friend.
oOo
The ladder leading out of the bunker came into sight. Katara could have wept in relief. She and the others had been trying to escape the bunker when Zuko had suddenly cried out Aang's name and collapsed. He was still unconscious and being carried by Iroh. It had terrified her more than she had cared to admit. What had happened to Aang? What had happened to Zuko? Even checking Zuko's condition with her bending had not given any clues. All she knew was that something had gone wrong.
"Hurry!" Iroh urged.
He looked more worried than she had ever seen him. She remembered that Iroh also shared some kind of energy link with Zuko. Perhaps he could sense what was actually happening. Even now, she could hear him muttering to his nephew.
"Let me in, Zuko," Iroh said, clutching him closer. "Don't block my energy. I can help you. Please."
Katara swallowed and ran faster, still helping Mai to keep her balance. Shizue was up ahead with Long Feng, but she stopped upon reaching the ladder.
"Can you get us up there so we don't have to climb?" Shizue asked, turning to face Joo Dee.
There was no way they would all make it up with Long Feng and Zuko. Joo Dee nodded and raised her arms in a powerful motion. The platform underneath them broke away from the rest of the rock and began to rise. Katara licked her lips, her heart pounding. Joo Dee kept their make-shift lift steady and thrust her hand at the ceiling to break the rock apart so they could pass through the gap. A dusky sky greeted their vision: moon and stars peeping out from a canvas of bruised colours and shadows. Then Katara's breath caught in her throat as she saw the nightmare into which they had stumbled. There were Dai Li everywhere. Toph was unconscious and bound with rope, Sokka was trapped inside a cage of rock, and Aang lay on the ground looking broken and far too lifeless.
"Katara!" Sokka yelled, catching sight of her. "Help Aang! He got hit and—"
She was already moving to jump off the platform.
Iroh grabbed her wrist. "Take us with you," he said grimly. "Zuko has linked himself to Aang. Getting them closer might help."
She nodded and pulled them both into the water that rose to meet her from the lake. Katara propelled the three of them forward, water twisting around them like a funnel and sweeping agents out of the way to clear a path to Aang. She had to trust that the others would help her brother and Toph. The Avatar could not be allowed to die. Aang could not be allowed to die. Zuko was already fighting to save him; she had to do her part as well.
"Stand down unless you want your leader to die!"
That was Shizue. It seemed she was trying to hold the Dai Li off by using Long Feng as leverage. Katara left her to it and swept away the last of the agents who blocked her path. Soon, she was kneeling on the ground and placing her glowing palms against Aang's chest. So much damage, so little response. He was barely clinging to life. Still, she could feel Zuko's presence all through him. It was like the two had become one, sharing one heartbeat, one pulse, one energy.
Hold on, Zuko's chi seemed to whisper through Aang's body. Just hold on.
It didn't feel like Zuko was trying to heal Aang in the usual way. He was just giving Aang time. Time for her to reach him.
Katara pulled her hands away from Aang's chest and met Iroh's gaze. Her cheeks were damp with tears. "This is bad."
Neither of the boys would survive at this rate. She had to heal Aang quick and she knew that she would need the Spirit Oasis water to do it. The problem was that they were still surrounded by Dai Li. Joo Dee had managed to break the rock that encased Sokka, allowing him to fall back in with the others, but the fact that Toph was also being held hostage had put them in an impasse. Shizue wasn't willing to give up Long Feng, knowing the Dai Li would turn on them in an instant, and the Dai Li weren't willing to give up Toph.
Long Feng spat the scarf out of his mouth. "Just take them down!" he yelled. "Do it now!"
The Dai Li didn't hesitate. Neither did Sokka. He threw his boomerang at the agent holding Toph, then called on Joo Dee for backup. She projected him into the air with a pillar, right over the rock hands that would have grabbed him, but he was intercepted by another agent before he could make it to Toph. Sokka groaned and fell back against the ground. He would have been captured by the Dai Li had Joo Dee and Mai not stepped in to help him.
"Don't waste time fighting them!" Shizue yelled. "We need to get out of here!"
"We can't leave Toph!" Sokka retorted, struggling to his feet. "She's our friend!"
Shizue shook her head. "Fools. You'll all be captured at this rate."
"She's right," Iroh murmured.
He and Katara had also taken up defensive stances to ward off the agents near them: Katara surrounded herself and the two boys with water to create a massive octopus form while Iroh blasted back any stray attacks with fire. It was lucky that they were next to a lake and that it was night time. She had more power this way. Still, all of them were worn out or injured from the previous battle. Katara knew it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed.
"Take Aang and Zuko and get out of here," Iroh told her. "You're our best hope now."
"But—"
"Just do it!"
She met his gaze, seeing in his eyes what he was trying to say: that Zuko and Aang were running out of time; that she was a waterbender and had the best chance of escaping; that the weak and injured would only slow her down and make it easier to be pursued by the Dai Li.
That this wasn't an argument, and she needed to leave right now.
Katara let out a torn sound and scooped Zuko and Aang into her arms with her bending, clutching both boys to her chest. "Keep my brother safe," she begged.
"I'll make sure he isn't captured," Iroh promised. "Now go."
She summoned more water to her, creating a giant wave to push back as many Dai Li as she could before she enclosed herself and the two boys inside a spiralling funnel. Not giving herself a chance to doubt her decision, she propelled herself over to the lake, squeezing back tears as she and her unconscious burdens moved rapidly across the water. The sound of fire blasts and smashing rock told her that Iroh and the others were trying to stop any Dai Li from following. Katara did not look back. Even if it hurt. Even if she hated that she had to leave them behind. The hope of the world was resting on her ability to save Aang. She had to get the boys to safety.
Eventually, she made it to the other side of the lake. Katara kept up her water funnel for as long as she could before the distance between her and the large body of water was too great to maintain the form. She collapsed to her knees with the boys, unable to drag both of their dead weights at the same time. A quick scan around revealed that she was alone. It was all just farmland and trees. The shadowy outline of the Outer Wall loomed in the distance. Good enough.
She reached into her robe and pulled out the vial of Spirit Oasis water. She uncorked the top and gathered the water into her hands, letting it surround her skin like gloves. Her mouth felt too dry and her heart pounded. Swallowing, she placed her hands over Aang's heart. "Please work," she murmured.
The water glowed pale blue, taking on a healing touch. She connected with Aang's chi paths, feeling for his crushed chest and barely functioning heart. Zuko's presence was still there as well, but his energy felt diminished compared to when she had sensed him before. The signature warmth was small and fragile, like a flame about to stutter into nothing. Panic clawed at her insides, whispering that maybe this was too much for her. Maybe she couldn't save either of them. She pushed the feeling down. No, she had to focus. It was going to be okay. Everything was going to be okay.
Inhaling deeply, she let her instincts guide her into what she should do next. The power of the Spirit Oasis water was immense. It was like holding all the spiritual energy of the world in her hands: unearthly, beautiful, like the moon and ocean wrapped into one. It had a will of its own and tapped into a power she could not hope to ever possess. So she let the water do as it pleased, let it flow through Aang and find the places that needed attention. Both boys began to breathe easier. Some of the colour also returned to their cheeks. She smiled in relief and continued to fix up what she could of Aang's wounds. The damage was still too much to heal in one session, but at least she could do enough to stabilise him. Or that was her hope.
The light faded from the water, leaving it bereft of spiritual power. She pulled her hands away from Aang's chest. This was all she could do for him for now. Her body wouldn't handle another healing session. She felt too weak-limbed and drained. So she settled between Zuko and Aang and interlaced her fingers with theirs. It was reassuring to feel the warmth of their skin against hers, to feel the beat of their pulses. Neither boy had stirred during the healing. She hoped it was just because they needed more time to recover. Aang's brain felt like it might have suffered slight trauma, perhaps from a lack of oxygen, but she didn't even know what to make of Zuko's condition. All she could do was trust in the power of the Spirit Oasis water.
"You'll wake up soon, right?"
She didn't want to be left alone. She wanted to hear Aang's laughter and see Zuko's rare smile again. She wanted to have both boys tell her that they were fine and that it would be no problem at all to go back and help the others.
Katara gripped their hands tighter and closed her eyes. The silence was awful. Eventually, she realised that she could not just sit there with them while so exposed. The problem was how to get them to a safer place.
A familiar rumbling sound came from above. She looked up and saw a dark, blotch-like thing pass overhead. It circled once before it began to lower. Soon the blotch took form: six legs, two horns, a whole lot of fur. Her eyes widened.
"Appa!" she exclaimed, letting go of the boys' hands and scrambling to her feet. "How did you get here?"
She remembered that Aang had been forced to leave the bison in the hands of the Outer Wall soldiers because it would be a breach of protocol to allow the animal inside the city. Not that this seemed to have stopped Appa. He made the rumbling sound again and landed on the ground next to her, lowering his head to nuzzle her first before he shifted his attention to Aang. She guessed that Appa must have sensed that his master was in danger. Their bond was just as strong as what Zuko shared with Aang in many ways.
"Thank goodness you managed to find us," she murmured, patting his shaggy fur. "I didn't know what I was going to do."
A much more human groan distracted her. She glanced up to see a man clinging to Appa's back. Panic flared in her chest, and she was just getting her water ready to attack when he toppled off the bison and landed on his butt in front of her. She blinked. "Changpu?"
The soldier groaned again. She'd barely recognised him since his hair was loose and he wasn't wearing all his armour. Instead, he had donned some kind of casual attire: loose brown pants and a sleeveless tunic. She supposed armour would have been pointless since he wasn't in any condition to fight. His bandages could still be seen under the cloth.
"What happened?" she asked, kneeling next to him. "Were you the one who helped Appa to escape?"
"Escape?" Changpu pointed his finger at the bison. "That thing kidnapped me and almost got me killed!"
She blinked again.
Changpu went into a rant, interposed with much hand waving that would have made Sokka proud, about how he had gone to check on the bison because Appa had been making lots of noise and he had been worried that the other soldiers might do something drastic. He had not been able to calm Appa, who had snatched him up by the front of his tunic and flew off with him over the wall. Of course the other soldiers had tried to stop their advancement, and of course Changpu had been forced to deflect their attacks as much as he could or risk getting hit himself.
"Now everyone probably thinks I'm a traitor," he complained.
It was just lucky that he hadn't fallen and gone splat. Changpu explained that the chittering creature who accompanied the Avatar had appeared out of nowhere and distracted Appa enough into dropping him. Fortunately, Appa had caught him again; unfortunately, that meant Changpu had been left to hold on to Appa's back for dear life while they spun and swerved through the air. And did he mention that flying was really awful?
"It does take some getting used to," Katara agreed.
Poor Changpu still looked a bit green. She wondered if he felt the motion sickness more because he was an earthbender. Toph had never liked flying much either.
"You mentioned a chittering creature," she said, glancing around the field. "Do you mean Momo?"
As if on cue, there was a flutter of wings and Momo swooped down from the sky to land on her shoulder. She smiled and scratched his chin. "So, this is where you disappeared to, hrm?"
Momo chittered in greeting. He had not gone with them inside the bunker. Perhaps he had been missing Appa and had wanted to reunite with his friend for a while. Perhaps he had even wanted to warn Appa of what was going on; both animals were very aware and protective of their human companions. Either way, she was glad to find Momo safe.
Momo jumped off her shoulder and moved to sniff Aang and Zuko. Appa let out a low rumble. Momo chittered in response and patted at Aang's chest with his paw. It sounded like the two animals were chatting.
"Are they okay?" Changpu asked, gesturing at the boys.
Katara sighed and settled into a more comfortable position. She explained what had happened at Lake Laogai and how she had been forced to flee with "Lee" and Aang. Changpu was shocked to hear that the Dai Li had attacked them, never mind that the so-called protectors of Ba Sing Se had been brainwashing people inside a secret bunker. It was a testament of how loyal he was to Zuko that he didn't doubt her testimony for a moment.
"I healed Aang the best I could," she continued. "I can only hope that the healing will have a positive effect on Lee as well. He has no injuries from what I can tell. Whatever is wrong with him is beyond me." She hugged her knees to her chest. "All I can do is wait for them both to wake up."
Changpu's brow creased. "That must have been what I felt earlier."
"Hrm?"
He shrugged. "It was weird. I could feel Pri—uh, Lee's energy weakening and reaching out to me, but then it was like a big wall came up between us."
"A wall?"
Iroh had mentioned something similar: how Zuko had blocked his uncle's energy, shutting him out from helping. Perhaps Zuko had been scared that he would absorb the energy of those connected to him again. She didn't quite understand how the whole process worked, but Shang's scrolls had mentioned the bonds created by those who wielded the Undying Fire were very powerful and could be manipulated if the healer chose. It seemed in this case that Zuko had wanted to risk only his own life.
Changpu shrugged again. "I don't know if you would call it a wall or what. It was some kind of block anyway." He stared at Zuko in a mixture of fondness and concern. "Seems like this kid can't help but get himself into trouble."
"I'd say you aren't much different. You did get kidnapped by a bison."
"That was different!"
Katara covered her mouth to stifle her giggle. Changpu blushed, but he soon cleared his throat and asked her what she planned to do next. The change of subject worked. She sobered and glanced down at her hands.
"I want to help the others," she admitted. "Maybe with Appa, I can—"
"I wouldn't risk it. You said Long Feng and the Dai Li are after you?" He shook his head. "I may be just a low-ranked soldier on the Outer Wall, but even I know the dangers of going against the Dai Li. Lake Laogai and the city will be crawling with guards by now. Plus, this bison isn't exactly hard to miss."
"But the others—"
"I didn't say you should abandon them." Changpu smiled at her surprised expression. "I'll help you if I can, Katara, but that still only leaves the two of us, Appa, and Momo. Well, at least until these two wake up." He jerked his thumb at Aang and Zuko. "That isn't enough to take down the Dai Li, especially if your friends have been captured. We'd just be walking into a trap."
"Then what are you suggesting?"
"We hide low for a while and gather information. My family's farm actually isn't too far from here. We can get some rest tonight in one of the barns and come up with a plan. Maybe by then our sleeping beauties will have awoken."
Katara resisted the urge to argue. She knew the plan was logical and probably much better than her reckless "go back and hope that it all worked out" idea, but patience had never been her forte. She didn't like the thought of leaving the others in potential danger. Still, Zuko and Aang needed time to recover. Even if they did wake up, both were unlikely to be of use in a fight any time soon. Appa, while powerful in his own right, was also no match for so many earthbenders.
"I guess you're right," she agreed in defeat.
Changpu squeezed her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. We'll help your friends. If there's one thing that being around you guys has taught me, it's to believe that anything is possible."
Her lips curved into a smile. "Thanks, Changpu."
She was glad that she had run into the soldier. He seemed to have got more confident since she had last spoken to him. It was oddly comforting. It reminded her not to abandon hope when there was no need. True, they had suffered a severe setback tonight, but that didn't mean all was lost. The tides could still change in their favour; that would be their chance to strike back.
Katara would make sure she was ready for that moment.
oOo
Darkness had set in, leaving only the lamps dotting the streets and the lights peeping out from buildings to illuminate the city. Sokka hugged the shadows as he followed Mai through a narrow alley. Shizue was up ahead, still keeping Long Feng under her control with chi blocking and the knife she kept pressed to his throat. A bitter taste filled his mouth whenever he caught sight of the older man. Not that it was anything compared to the bitterness he felt for himself.
Thanks to the distraction Katara had created with the huge waves she had unleashed—along with Joo Dee and Iroh's sacrifice to stay behind to help Toph and hold the agents off—the three non-benders had managed to escape the Dai Li with their hostage. Joo Dee had acted quickly and opened the tunnel she and Toph had made for them earlier, the same that had led them to Lake Laogai. Once she'd seen them safely inside, she had told them to run before sealing up the entrance. Sokka and the others had been given no choice but to obey. That was also how they'd ended up in the Lower Ring and wearing their current attire: drab, ill-fitting outfits that looked more suitable on refugees. Mai had also covered her face with bandages to make her scar less noticeable.
"You sure this is a good idea?" she questioned, throwing a glance over her shoulder at him. "I thought you didn't want to get caught up with those Freedom Fighter people again."
"I didn't," Sokka admitted, "but our options are kind of running thin here."
He hadn't wanted to risk returning to the underground caverns in case the Dai Li had indeed learnt about the place while Joo Dee was in their control. Mai had agreed this was a bad idea; however, that still left them with no real option for a place to lay low. That was when he remembered the address Longshot had given him. Jet wasn't someone Sokka wanted to go near with a ten-foot pole, but the fact remained that the Freedom Fighters did have experience in stealth and fighting. It was his hope that they could be of some use now. If anything, hiding out in the Lower Ring would at least keep the Dai Li off their backs for a while so he and the others could come up with a better plan. Right now, Sokka had to admit that he just felt useless.
Had been so for a while.
A sigh escaped his lips. All of his skills had meant nothing in the face of the Dai Li. Aang had still been injured, Toph had not been saved, and now two more of their group were probably in the hands of the agents. Maybe if he could bend water like Katara or even earthbend like Toph and Joo Dee, he might have been able to make more of a difference. Maybe things wouldn't have turned out so wrong. Even Mai and Shizue had seemed to be of more use than him, and they were also non-benders.
"Stop dragging your feet," Shizue said bluntly. "We can't afford to linger on the streets. The Dai Li will be looking for us."
Sokka blinked and realised that he had indeed slowed down. "Sorry," he muttered.
She pursed her lips and continued to walk ahead, still hauling the gagged and subdued Long Feng with her. Sokka quickened his pace. He ignored the glance that Mai cast him. It was a big deal when even expressionless Knife Girl started making worried faces. He would have to do better to act like he was fine. No need to throw a damper on the group when everything was already looking so bleak.
Sokka pushed his bitterness and feelings of uselessness aside and focussed on keeping an eye out for the street they wanted. Eventually, they found the apartment building: a multi-storeyed, ramshackle thing that looked like it might fall apart at any moment. Voices could be heard from the open windows, mostly loud and raised in anger. The odd laugh drifted down. This was definitely not the Upper Ring. Sokka covered his nose to try blocking some of the smell. The whole street reeked of urine and rubbish.
"You remember the number of their room?" Mai asked.
"It's all written down here." He held up the piece of parchment. "I'll lead the way."
He entered the building and guided the small group up the stairs. His stomach twisted in unease as he knocked on the door listed on the note. He really hoped he didn't live to regret this decision. Footsteps sounded from the other side and the door opened to reveal Jet, who blinked and let his hand drop from the handle.
"Sokka," he said dully. "You came."
Sokka brushed Jet's lack of enthusiasm aside. "Never mind that. We need your help."
Jet raised his eyebrow. "Really?" He glanced from Sokka to Mai to Shizue and then finally to Long Feng. His eyebrow rose even higher when he noticed the gag and the knife. "Well, it certainly seems like you've got yourself into a mess."
"Are you going to help us or not?" Mai asked in a flat voice.
Jet's gaze flickered to her before settling back on Sokka. "Of course. I owe it to you after what happened in Gaipan." He moved aside to allow them entrance to the apartment. "Come in."
Shizue walked inside with no hesitation, dragging Long Feng with her. Sokka and Mai followed much more reluctantly. This alliance still wasn't something that Sokka could be pleased about, but desperate times called for desperate measures. He'd just have to make sure that the Freedom Fighters didn't find out Mai and Shizue were both Fire Nation. That was a whole can of worms they did not need to disturb. Not ever.
Alright, to break down some things to answer the questions I know I'm probably going to get. Aang did indeed "die" for a moment, just as he did in canon when struck with lightning. This time, however, it was the force of the slab of rock that hit his heart which caused him to go into cardiac arrest. Zuko, who is already very closely bonded to Aang thanks to Aang's own high spirituality, was able to re-forge their connection before it completely broke. The exact process of how he did this will be explained in greater detail within the story.