The Flames of Love
Several weeks have passed as Xiong maintains his steady line of communication with Chit Sang and Suki. The day that Sokka and Zuko arrive at the boiling rock to see if Hakoda is there, Chit Sang doesn't bow to a high ranking guard. The guard uses a fire whip at Chit Sang and Chit Sang firebends in retaliation. Xiong watches, but doesn't intervene as he knows that it won't do any good for them both to get sent to the coolers. Chit Sang understands this and doesn't get mad as he gets apprehended and sent to a cooler. Following Chit Sang's time in the cooler, he gets pulled out freezing. "Let this be a warning to you. Prisoners do not firebend in the boiling rock." The guard says as Chit Sang gets sent on his way.
Sokka and Zuko knock out two of the guards and take their clothes and helmets. Xiong mops the upper level of the prison. Sokka sneaks into Suki's cell and the two reunite. Xiong sees Chit Sang and heads over to him. "Remind me not to firebend again." Chit Sang says still freezing. "Will do. Try to take it easy for now." Xiong says as he helps Chit Sang to relax.
Xiong heads up to clean up the prisoner drop off point at the time Suki, Zuko, Sokka, and Chit Sang talk about the escape plan using the coolers. "Okay, so that's the plan. Any questions?" Sokka says after he explains the plan. "I need to tell another inmate about this plan. I promised that we'd escape together." Suki says worried. "Who'd you tell that to? What's his name?" Sokka says upset. "Sokka, he said that he met you already when he met Aang. It's Xiong." Suki says upset with Sokka. "Oh yeah, I need to tell him as well." Chit Sang says remembering he promised Xiong as well. "We don't have time, the prison's going to be a lot more alert with the upcoming transport of prisoners. He'll just have to stay here." Sokka says sadly. Suki and Chit Sang look at each other exchanging sad glances with each other. "Hold on, you three know Xiong?" Zuko says surprised with the fact. "Yeah, have you met him yet?" Sokka says as he, Suki, and Chit Sang look at Zuko. "Yeah, me and him are childhood friends. He joined the army following his parents death. It's a surprise that he left." Zuko says explaining his history with Xiong.
"I made a bet with him. If I lost, the island would give up and if I won, he would leave the fire nation. I won and he stuck to his word." Suki says explaining the story to Zuko. "Okay, that makes sense. Xiong was always one to stick to his word." Zuko says not surprised about that fact. "Well, let's just hope the prisoners get released after the war ends." Sokka says upset that he has to leave a good person in such a bad place.
At the time the escape plan is to be carried out, Xiong is eating inside of his cell. Sokka, Zuko, and Suki crawl down the side of the prison wall and look at a gondola that is arriving. "We have to go now." Chit Sang says getting impatient. "Go ahead without us, I have to see if my dad is on this transport." Sokka says anxious and nervous at the same time. "Fine then. Let's go you guys." Chit Sang says as his best friend, girlfriend push the cooler with him before all three hop into the cooler and it begins to drift away from the prison. Sokka, Suki, and Zuko worry if they just let their only chance of escape slip out of their hands for nothing. The three of them watch as the gondola empties out it's prisoners and none of them look like Hakoda. "No." Sokka says depressed. "Prisoner get out here." A guard says at the drop off point. One final prisoner steps off the gondola and it's Hakoda. "Dad." Sokka says happy to see his dad again.
"Welcome to the boiling rock. The most secure prison in the fire nation. No one has escaped from here and I'd rather jump into the boiling lake myself than to see that record fall." The warden says as he walks in front of all the prisoners. The warden sees Hakoda isn't looking at him. "Look at me when I'm talking to you." The warden says to Hakoda. Hakoda keeps his view down. The warden gets angry and lifts up his foot and slams it down on the chains that are connected to the shackles on Hakoda's arms. Hakoda falls down and looks toward the warden's feet. "You want to look at my feet? Then look at them." The warden says smirking. The warden is about to move on, when Hakoda lifts his arm up and the warden stumbles over it. Hakoda grins. "Get them out of my sight." The warden says before storming off. The guards take Hakoda and the other prisoners inside the prison.
Chit Sang gets tired of the slow current and begins to row. The water in the lake splashes and burns his hand. "YEOWWWWW!" Chit Sang yells in pain. The guards locate the cooler. The warden runs over to the edge of the prison closest to the side the drift away cooler. "Get those prisoners and throw them into the cooler." The warden says angrily. "Sir, they are already in a cooler." A guard says stating the obvious. "I MEAN ONE THAT'S BOLTED DOWN. FIRE!" The warden yells. A guard fires a harpoon gun and it hits the side of the cooler closest to the prison. Chit Sang, his girlfriend and his best friend looks scared as the harpoon pulls them back toward the prison.
Xiong hears the scream and heads to the ground around the prison, when he sees Chit Sang inside the cooler he heads back inside before he gets caught as well. Chit Sang gets taken to an interrogation cell as Sokka talks with his dad. Xiong bumps into Suki. "Suki, what happened?" Xiong says worried. "Sokka had planned an escape plan using a cooler. Chit Sang got wind and blackmailed us to include him. Sokka, me, and Zuko stayed behind as Chit Sang took the cooler to see if the gondola had Sokka's dad. Sokka's dad was on the gondola, but the plan failed. Sorry about not telling you about it, we didn't have time." Suki says explaining the events, sounding sad at the end. "It's alright, it was for the best that you guys tried to get off. Any other ideas of how to get off of here?" Xiong says forgiving Suki, and focusing on the task at hand.
"Sokka said that if anyone can figure a way off the rock, it'd be his father. The two of them are talking right now. You didn't tell me that you are Zuko are childhood friends." Suki says admiring Xiong's optimism. "You didn't ask, how do you know him?" Xiong says looking around to make sure they aren't spotted. "I just met him during the explanation of the previous escape plan.
Back in Hakoda's cell. "Dad, Prince Zuko and apparently Xiong are both here." Sokka says happily. "Wow, sounds like a major problem." Hakoda says worried and not understanding his son's happiness. "Don't worry, they are both on our side. Xiong in fact allowed me, Aang and Katara to escape from the fire nation by distracting them. Aang said he saved him twice in two days." Sokka says explaining his happiness. "Wow, glad to have them aboard." Hakoda says relieved. "Me, Suki, and Zuko had a plan to escape, but some other prisoners got involved and it went wrong." Sokka says depressed. "Don't worry. I'm sure that two genius watertribesman can think of a way out of this." Hakoda says meaning Sokka and himself. "I hope we can meet two...oh." Sokka says before getting the idea.
Back in the interrogation cell. "Are you comfortable Chit Sang?" The warden says to Chit Sang. "If you are trying to get me to squeal, I won't do it." Chit Sang says getting the purpose instantly. "I was just asking you if you are comfortable." The warden says trying to get Chit Sang to drop his guard. "Yeah, very." Chit Sang says falling for it. The warden flips over the chair Chit Sang's in. "Are you comfortable now?" The warden says angrily. "I won't spill the beans." Chit Sang replies honorably. "Flip him, the blood will get to him and he'll squeal." The warden says to two guards as he heads out. The guards nod and do what they are told to do.
Several minutes later, the warden returns to the interrogation cell that Chit Sang's in. The guards have him hanging upside down in the air. "Drop him, he's ready to talk." The warden says smiling. The guards flip Chit Sang back up right and slam the chair onto the ground. "I know you aren't smart enough to think of this plan yourself. Who is the mastermind?" The warden says anxious for the answer. "It's someone dressed as a guard, but he's not a guard." Chit Sang says sad for spilling the beans. "Put this base on lock down. No one leaves until we find the impersonator." The warden says to a guard. The guard nods and sends out an alarm, and all the prisoners return to their cells.
At the drop off point, the guards are all lined up, including Sokka and Zuko. "One of you is an imposter and this prisoner will point that imposter out and they'll be in a lot of trouble." The warden says scowling. Chit Sang walks up and both Sokka and Zuko gets scared. Chit Sang looks among the guards and sees both Sokka and Zuko. "That's the imposter, this one right here." Chit Sang says pointing to the guard that he has a grudge against. "What, he's lying." The guard says protesting. "Take him to the interrogation cell. We'll get the truth out of him." The warden says as two other guards apprehend the guard Chit Sang pointed out and drags him toward the interrogation cell. "This prison will remain on lockdown until I say otherwise." The warden says as he walks off. The guards resume to their posts.
At the interrogation cell, the warden interrogates the guard. "I told you, I am not a traitor." The guard says in the chair. "You can't fool me. The cooler you threw Chit Sang into is the same one that he used to nearly escape." The warden says unphased. "That's just a coincidence." The guard says trying to prove his innocence. "He's not the guy." Azula says from behind the warden. "Who is interrupting my interrogation?" The warden says before turning around. The warden sees Mai, Ty Lee and Azula. "Oh, fire lord's daughter. Didn't know you made a visit. How do you know he's not the impersonator?" The warden says regretfully. "Let's just say, I'm a people person." Azula says grinning.
At the controls for the cells, Sokka approaches the guard. "Hey, the warden wants all the prisoners outside." Sokka tells the guard. "B-but we're still in lockdown." The guard replies confused. "Oh, okay. I'll tell the warden you said that. What's your name again?" Sokka says aiming to use the guard's fear. "Oh, sorry. I'm just a little confused." The guard says a bit embarrassed. "So am I, but the warden is upset and isn't thinking clearly, but I can't argue with him." Sokka says shrugging his shoulders. The guard releases all the prisoners and Suki, Sokka, Hakoda, and Zuko meet up in the courtyard. "Okay, what's the plan?" Suki says looking over at Sokka. "Simple start a riot and in the havoc, take a hostage and head to the gondola and make our escape." Sokka says.
"Aren't you forgetting someone?" Xiong says from the top of the wall. "Xiong." Zuko, Suki, and Sokka say simultaneously. Xiong jumps off the wall, does a flip in midair and lands near them. "Oh, this is Xiong. Never expected him to be so young." Hakoda says impressed and surprised. "Hey, I'm only 18. I'm old enough to kick butt." Xiong says offended. "Sorry, so what is it you'll be doing Xiong?" Hakoda says apologizing. "I'll be at the gondola controls waiting for you all with the hostage." Xiong says before heading off. "About the hostage, the warden would just have the men cut the line no matter who we take hostage." Hakoda says bringing up a problem. "Not if the warden is the hostage." Sokka says gleaming with pride. "Gotcha, but how do we start the riot?" Zuko says worried. "Leave that to me." Hakoda says as he gets up. He finds the biggest, strongest and baddest inmate, runs over and pushes him.
"Hey that hurt." The inmate says offending. "Don't you want to fight?" Hakoda says confused. "Normally, I would, but I've been learning to control my temper." The inmate says relaxed. "That didn't work." Hakoda says as he heads back over to the group. "You're lucky I didn't turn you in back there. I know you have another escape planned and I want in." Chit Sang says walking over. The warden steps out onto the third level balcony, looks down and sees the prisoners are outside of their cells. "Who let the prisoners out? We are on lockdown." The warden says angrily as he looks around for the guard who let them out. The guard that let the prisoners out, who happens to be on the same level as the warden, tiptoes away to the corner before running away.
"We are commencing the escape plan right now, can you start a riot?" Sokka says looking up to Chit Sang with a smile. "Please." Chit Sang says walking away before picking up a smaller inmate. "Hey. Riot." Chit Sang says moving the inmate up and down over his head. "Forget controlling my anger, let's riot." The inmate Hakoda pushed says before getting tackled. "There, now to get the warden and get out of here." Sokka says as Suki runs off to do just that. "I think you're girlfriend's about to do that." Hakoda says pointing to Suki, who's running on the heads of the inmates. Sokka, Zuko, Chit Sang, and Hakoda maneuver through the rioting crowd to catch up to Suki.
Suki runs and grabs the edge of the second level balcony and climbs up. She trips one of the guards and flips the other one. She runs and climbs up the wall beneath the third level balcony before doing a half a flip, catching a pipe beneath the third level balcony with her feet. She swings on the pipe with her feet before landing on the edge of the railing of the third level balcony before dropping onto the actual balcony. She runs and trips the only guard on the balcony and slides toward the warden. The warden sees Suki and makes a fist with his right hand ready to fire bend at her. Suki gets up and has her body to the left of the warden's extended right arm with her arm to the warden's face.
"You wouldn't dare." The warden says looking at Suki. Suki wraps a cloth around the warden's arms before turning around the fire nation headpiece he is wearing and turns it into a way to keep him quiet. "Sorry warden, you're now my prisoner. The warden's captured, let's go to the gondola." Suki says as Zuko, Chit Sang, Hakoda and Sokka arrive at the third level balcony. "That's some girl you have there Sokka." Hakoda says panting heavily from the run. "Tell me about it." Sokka says happily as he pants from exhaustion.
Sokka, Zuko, Suki, Hakoda, Chit Sang, and the captured warden go to the gondolas and see all the guards are knocked out. They see Xiong at the gondola controls. "What took you guys so long?" Xiong says rather impatient. "Had to start a riot then keep up with Suki." Sokka says still tired. "Okay, hop on. Zuko, Mai's here, we both know what that means. She's in a cell right now." Xiong says sad at the end. "Azula and Ty Lee are also here." Zuko says becoming on guard. "Good, I was hoping for a rematch." Suki says anxious as the group head into the gondola, Chit Sang carrying the warden on his shoulder. Once all but Xiong are on the gondola, Chit Sang sets the warden down on the floor. Xiong pushes the gondola lever forward all the way before firebending enough to melt the lever. He then jumps toward the gondola. Zuko grabs his hand and pulls him up.
The group looks to the exit, other than the warden and Xiong. Xiong sees Ty Lee running along the gondola's wire with Azula behind her, losing her balance every now and then. "We have company." Xiong says as Zuko, Sokka, and Suki climb onto the top of the gondola and fight Azula and Ty Lee. Xiong keeps his eyes on the prison. The warden breaks out of his restraints and uncover his mouth. "CUT THE ROPE!" The warden yells before Chit Sang and Hakoda tackle him.
"What did he say?" One guard asks. "He said he wants us to cut the rope." Another guard says. "But if we do that, he'll drop into the boiling lake." The guard says surprised and moderately shocked. "He knows that. Cut the rope." The guard says as two guards arrive with a two person saw to cut the rope. Xiong sees the guards cutting the rope before he heads to the front of the gondola and sees that they won't make it, but before he can say that, the gondola shakes and all the people on it fall down. "They are about to cut the rope." Ty Lee says to Azula. "Then it's time we left." Azula says as a gondola heading to the prison passes by. Both Azula and Ty Lee and jump over to it.
The guards are getting close to cutting the rope when one of them gets pinned to a wall by stilletos. Mai runs up and pins the other one to the floor before she gets surrounded. She starts to fight the guards as Azula and Ty Lee watch the fight from the approaching gondola. "What is Mai thinking?" Azula asks and Ty Lee shrugs her shoulders in response. Mai eventually gives up and is apprehended by one of the guards. "Why did you do that Mai?" Azula says as she and Ty Lee walk up to Mai. "You aren't as in control as you think you are. Truth is, I love Zuko more than I fear you." Mai says as she looks at Azula. "You should've feared me more." Azula says angrily as she starts to firebend at Mai. Ty Lee strikes Azula at several chi points and she falls to the ground. "Come on let's go." Ty Lee says as she pulls Mai's arm, Mai being surprised by what just happened. Both Mai and Ty Lee are taken. "What do we do with them fire lord?" One guard asks. "Take them to the deepest, darkest cell and leave them there to rot." Azula says still being held up by guards.
Xiong looks down and sees Ty Lee and Mai opposing Azula. The gondola approaches the other end of the cable when Xiong climbs up onto the roof. "What are you doing? We are nearly there." Sokka calls up to him. "I'm going back, this could be my only chance to tell Ty Lee how I've felt all those years as children." Xiong says as he prepares to jump over to a gondola heading to the prison. Sokka gets ready to speak, when Suki covers his mouth with her hand. "Okay, good luck to you with that and hopefully after we end this war, you and her will be released along with Mai." Suki says smiling. "Thanks, see you later." Xiong says as he jumps over to the other gondola.
Ty Lee and Mai have a long silence with Azula before the guards begin to take them away. Xiong runs toward the prison before jumping off the gondola. "Not so fast." Xiong calls down as he falls down, knocking the guards holding Mai and Ty Lee before all three of them are captured. "Xiong, why did you come back?" Ty Lee says surprised by him coming back to a prison. "I came back to tell you how I felt toward you all those years as kids. I love you Ty Lee. I know you have someone else in your heart, but I just had to tell you that." Xiong says as his face turns red. Ty Lee's face becomes red from blushing. "Good, now you two can be together and rot together." Azula says laughing some.
Xiong, Mai, and Ty Lee get taken to a cell far down in the prison. "What took you so long to say that?" Ty Lee says as she looks at Xiong in the cell. "It would've been weird and gross to say it as a kid, then when I was old enough to where it didn't seem so weird, I had enlisted in the fire nation army to continue my parents' service. Then after I left, it wouldn't have meant as much as we'd be enemies. So I had to wait until we were allies before I can say it and not have it as a means of deception." Xiong says explaining himself. "That's so gross." Mai says being left out of the conversation up until now. "Oh yeah, we should wait until we get out of here to actually have a kiss, so we don't make Mai jealous." Xiong says embarrassed by leaving her out. "Not like I care." Mai says blushing a bit. "Okay then, but I'd rather it be a memorable first kiss, not here, hopefully after the war ends the way it should." Xiong says being slightly romantic.