Chapter Four: The Stowaway
"We have to go to the Fire Nation," Toph announced.
"What! Do you know how dangerous that is!" Sokka asked.
"I'm with Toph for once," Katara said. "We have to rescue Aang, and whoever has him is headed toward Fire Nation territory."
"We can pull it off," Toph told Sokka. "Katara can waterbend, I know earthbending, and you..." Sokka looked at her expectedly, "well, I'm sure we can figure out something you can do." Sokka frowned.
"Well, I guess we can go... What we need is a plan!" Sokka said happily. "And I'm just the guy to think of one!"
---
Aang was still tied up and now lying on his side in the old wooden boat. It creaked loudly in response to a slight change in direction. The room he was in was dark and he could barely see anything.
'I hope Katara, Sokka, and Toph are okay. I wonder if they know where I am...' Aang thought. A rat jumped to the floor beside Aang's face. He widened his eyes and yelled, "Ahh!" in surprise. As a reflex, he used his airbending. He was lifted off the ground for a second before he flipped over and hit the dusty floor. Now on his back, he had no choice but to stare up at the ceiling. 'I wish Zuko untied these ropes before throwing me down here...'
---
'I can't believe I finally caught the Avatar...' Zuko thought. He was at the wheel of the ship, a compass in one hand. 'It seemed almost too easy... Why couldn't I capture him before this? Whatever the reason, I'm glad I can finally go home. My father is sure to take the bounty off my head when I bring him the Avatar...'
Behind Zuko, someone was watching the prince from a window onboard the boat.
'I'm afraid things aren't going to go as you plan, Prince Zuko,' the person thought with an accent.
---
Appa swerved suddenly, which caused his passengers to let out surprised yells and need to hold on tightly.
"Sokka, do you even know which way the Fire Nation is!" Katara demanded after Appa leveled out. "Let me drive!"
"No way, Katara! Driving is a boy thing. Besides, I have the map," Sokka said and lifted the map above his head so Katara could see it. The wind tore it from his fingers. "Ahh! The map!" Sokka yelled, wide-eyed. He got up and chased after it as it drifted in the direction of Appa's tail. He grabbed at it several times but wasn't able to get a good hold on it. From her seat on Appa, Katara reached up and snatched the paper. She glanced at the map for a second.
"While driving, there are a few rules you need to follow," Katara said while she stood up. "Rule one, don't let go of the reins! Rule two, don't lose the map! And rule three, hold the map right side up!" she yelled in his face. Toph snickered. Her hand on his head, Katara pushed Sokka into a sitting position and marched up to the driver's place.
"Sokka, you're better off back here, anyway. Flying is a girl thing," Toph whispered with a smirk. Sokka snorted at the remark, his arms crossed.
---
When the door opened, rats scurried into the corners of the large, dark room. The person walked down the noisy wooden stairs with a torch in their hand. They lit a few torches along the walls when they got to the bottom of the steps.
"Who's there!" Aang asked, having noticed the noise and light. His voice echoed slightly as it reached the far wall.
"Don't worry, I mean you no harm," the person said in their accent as they walked across the floor. Aang remember hearing the person's voice somewhere before.
"Why did you come down here?" Aang asked suspiciously.
"Because I'm lonely and want some companionship..." the person said with exaggerated sadness.
"Okay," Aang said with a wide smile as the person got to where Aang was lying.
"You wouldn't happen to know any games, would you?" the person asked Aang.
"I know how to play lots of games! Just name one!" Aang said happily. The person grinned. "But... I don't know if I can play with my hands tied..." Aang said, having just remembered the handicap.
"Hmm... If I untie your hands, will you promise not to escape?"
"Airbender's honor," Aang replied. The person pushed Aang up to a sitting position and began untying the ropes around his wrists.
---
'It's been quiet,' Zuko thought. 'Too quiet...' Zuko locked the wheel in position and headed toward the lower level of the ship.
---
Aang looked up from the game. "Did you hear something?"
"Hmm?" the person asked and looked up at Aang questioningly. There was a distant squeaking noise.
"Someone's coming!" Aang said. The person gathered up the game pieces and started tying Aang's hands back together.
"Don't let him know I'm on board!" the person whispered to Aang. The person ducked behind some crates and Aang used his airbending to blow out the lights with his breath as the door creaked open.
Zuko carried a plate on one hand and held a flame in the other as he walked down the staircase. Whenever he came to an unlit torch on the wall, he would light it by shooting a small flame from his fingertip. When he got to Aang, the room was well lit. Zuko checked the ropes around Aang's ankles, wrists, and knees and found them to be tight enough.
"What have you been doing down here?" Zuko asked suspiciously.
Aang glanced to his right, where the person was hiding, before he said, "Can't I at least meditate while I'm down here!"
"Fine," Zuko said. Before he got up, he remembered the plate he sat to the side while he was checking the ropes. "Here. It's your diner."