Chapter Six: They Come in Threes
"Put your hands above your head!"
Zuko raised his hands, noticing the soldiers that were surrounding him. There were too many and he no longer had a reason to fight - not without the Avatar. You would have to admit, Zuko didn't look too good with all those soldiers lying unconscious around him.
---
"Ahh!"
Sokka pulled quickly on the reins to avoid a firebending attack. The ball of fire just missed them.
"How are we going to get past them!" Katara asked her brother. The two have been taking turns driving and it just happened to be Sokka's turn as they neared fire nation territory.
"Maybe we can go around somehow!" Sokka called to Katara as he swerved in the opposite direction to avoid another attack.
"No. The fire nation would have troops on all sides. The best thing we can do is get in as quickly as possible and lie low until we find Avatar-Boy," Toph said calmly.
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"Get in there," a man said as he shoved Zuko into one of the cells. The gray metal bars of the door clattered against the ones making up the cell wall as the door was being shut. Zuko stared through the bars. His hands were bound and his shirt had a long tear in it from his battle with the greedy general and his troops.
"You'll remain here until the fire lord decides what your punishment will be."
Zuko grabbed the bars of his cell. He pressed his face against the door and yelled, "I told you! The only reason I came was to hand over the Avatar!"
"Then where is he?" the man said with a smirk. When Zuko didn't say anything, he walked down the hallway.
'So no one turned the Avatar in yet... That could mean he's still out there somewhere...' Zuko thought.
---
"Sokka! Over there!" Katara said while pointing toward a cave. Fire was still being shot at them, even though they made it over land. Sokka steered toward the cave, diving through the trees surrounding it. The solders couldn't see where Appa went because of the forest, so the attacks stopped.
"Land!" Toph said after she jumped off Appa. She lied belly-down on the ground and Bended the ground around her fingers and toes with a smile on her face.
Katara glanced toward Toph. "It has been awhile since we last landed..." She said to herself. "So, how are we going to find Aang? We still don't know who kidnapped him or where they're taking him. We don't even know if they're here yet..."
"I told you, Katara, that I would think of a plan," Sokka said as he was getting off Appa.
"Yeah, and what is this brilliant 'plan' of yours?" Katara asked with a frown.
"Well... We could find some fire nation clothes and blend in while looking for Aang," Sokka said while he walked toward Katara.
"And where are we going to find these clothes?" Katara asked skeptically.
"Not where - who," Toph told them, still lying on the ground. Katara and Sokka turned toward Toph. "Someone's coming."
---
Two boys and a girl were walking in the forest.
"I think it landed over there," the tallest boy said to the others.
"I... I don't think we should be doing this..." the girl said.
"Aw, c'mon, 'Scotch, don't ya want ta see what that thing was?" the tallest boy asked.
"What if it was some type of alien ship...? Then the aliens might shoot us with ray guns or eat our brains or somethin'..." the younger boy said.
"Oh no! I don't want my brains ate!" 'Scotch shouted and started crying.
"Shudup, will ya! There's no aliens! You're scarin' my sister with that story!" the older boy said and punched the other boy. He turned to the girl. "Whatever we find, I'll protect ya."
When the trio got to the cave where Appa landed, they didn't see anything.
"But I saw it land right here!" the older boy exclaimed.
"Then where is it?" the other boy asked.
"Looking for us?"
The three turned around to see Sokka, Katara, and Toph standing behind them.
"What do you want!" the younger boy asked.
"Your clothes," Zokka replied.
"What! No way!" the tall boy shouted. "Get behind me," he told the other two. He turned back to Sokka. "You'll have ta fight us for 'em!"
"Fine! I'll be your opponent!" Toph told him.
"You!" he said and laughed. "I don't fight little girls!" He bent over and slapped his knee in laugher.
Toph's brow furrowed as he laughed. "I'll show you who's a little girl..." she said. She Bended the ground beneath the boy and made him fall on his back.
"So you're a earthbender, eh? Fine. I'll fight you..." he said as he got up. He made his hands into fists and both fists were surrounded by fire. "You take the girl in blue," he told the boy behind him. Then he turned toward 'Scotch. "The boy doesn't look very strong - I'm sure you can take him."
"Hey!" Sokka yelled.
"The battle begins..."