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Most of the thieves and criminals of the Fire Nation were most often than not sent to the boiling rock as their inability to conform to the rules of their society was looked upon as treason. As a consequence, only the weakest of the firenation criminals were sent here, the rest, were war prisoners, easily accessible to the generals and admirals had they any need to question them.
In this prison, even without their leader, the kyoshi warriors' training continued as they had before being captured; although, their training wasn't as regular as before. What? With the frequent lock-downs, it was impossible.
The guards and the other prisoners used to bother them at first—mocking their dedication and saying how futile their training would be, as they'd never be able to fight another day for the earth kingdom.
But they quickly stopped after being at the receiving end of various jabs and kicks; and besides when more war prisoners arrived at the prison, the guards didn't want to risk it.
The prisoners from the invasion took to watching the warriors train, and some of them even joined their training, taught them a few techniques and learned from them too—even the benders, as they weren't allowed to bend.
Today, as all those from the invasion and the warriors gathered, they didn't immediately start their training. It seemed that the whole prison was buzzing about the news that the infamous 'Boilong Rock', the most exemplary prison of the Fire nation, recently broke their record of being inescapable.
The guards had whispered about it the day before, but now, they didn't even mind if their words carried along to the prisoners who were all itching to know any news about the outside world.
"Prisoners are going to arrive today from the boiling rock!" came a guard's voice
"I heard that they helped the other prisoners escape"
"I heard that it was Prince Zuko who saved the prisoners, maybe he's one of them!"
"I haven't seen the fire prince, but my cousin says he's the most handsome guy she's ever laid eyes on, even the scar is becoming!" said a gushing female guard
"Don't be stupid, An, if he was captured, he'd be sent straight to his father and be dead by now!"
"You lot are wrong, they said that the prisoners had been plotting against the guards and about 50 prisoners escaped!"
"QUIET!", the warden's booming voice reached the courtyard where the bunch of guards had converge to gossip instead of keeping a close eye on the prisoners around them.
The command had an immediate effect, the whole of the prison guards were immediately 'looking alive' and took their posts; their stances perfect.
Bato had to give it to them, the people of the Fire nation were disciplined, almost mechanical in their bearing. They had had to be, and even in his position, he felt pity for them. He recognized that these people probably had little fun in their lives. They were all trained, their reactions and ideals were not even their own but that of the people of higher power. They had no freedom to speak of and what was worse, was that they don't even realize it.
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"This prison is like the boiling rock!", Ty Lee commented and looking sideways toward Mai, "minus the gondola, and the boiling lake, oh and the fact that its not in the middle of the volcano and is completely made of metal"
"Yep, it's SO like the boiling rock" came Mai's sarcastic remark.
"I can see the edge of crater city"
The guards urged them in where they were me with the warden, an arrogant smirk on his face, "well, well, well, if it isn't Lady Mai, How did you're uncle take it when he broke the record of the 'Boiling rock'… If it had been me, it would never had happen"
With her head held high, Mai regarded the warden with a raised eyebrow, "You must be Lei jin, the warden who was the last choice for the 'boiling rock'" Mai smirked at the flushing of the warden's face, "We've heard it mentioned that you're incompetence rivals no one, and that you're assigned to this prison as immediate back- up can come at once"
"THROW THEM IN THERE! NOW"
Ty Lee could only giggle when the guards directed Mai and herself towards the yard where most of the prisoners were about.
The guards methodically unbound their wrist before they stepped into the yard. Mai noticed that they were garnering the sole attention of guards and prisoners alike.
"I wonder if they remember they hadn't directed us to our cells yet" Mai commented dryly.
Ty Lee giggled again before launching at her friend and giving her a hug. Mai, as Ty Lee guessed froze in her arms before relaxing into the hug. It had been the first time their hands had been unbound in each others company.
On the upper landing, the booming voice of the warden came, "PRISONERS, THOSE TWO HAVE BETRAYED YOUR PRINCESS AZULA AND HELPED IN THE ESCAPE OF 5 FUGITIVES INCLUDING THE BANISHED PRINCE FROM THE BOILING ROCK, I TRUST YOU GIVE THEM A WARM WELCOME", smirking at the ladies before going to his office.
"Stupid", said Mai monotonously, "Uncle said riots were dangerous for the prison as a whole not just the prisoners"
Ty Lee, who had released her friend from the bone-breaking hug when she heard the warden, merely smiled, she'd been aching for a fight after being virtually motionless for 2 long days.
Both girls viewed the scene before them. They knew that they would be attack by the stupid ones. It was well known that the nobility was known for raising the best fighters, after all, it was them who could afford to train with the best masters and have the best opportunity to develop their skills
And as expected, few fires were aimed at them. After being friends with the two most powerful firebenders their age, the flames were too tame for them that it was horribly easy for them to dodge.
Ty Lee took no time in blocking the chi of the 4 firebenders who were stupid enough to near her. Mai was throwing punches and kicks every which way, connecting powerfully with her opponents and skillfully blocking and dodging the attacks coming her way. She smirked, it had been a long time since she engaged in an absolute hand-to-hand combat.
In less than a minute, they had immobilized their attackers, with what the other prisoners saw as a testament to all the fights they have fought together. They fought so fluidly with each other, knowing that the other had their back and confident in both their abilities.
Both were now in their fighting stance, their back to each other and eyeing the other prisoners closing in on them.
After a pause, the prisoners gradually eased up knowing that they stood no chance with the two girls AND the war prisoners slowly making their way towards them.
Mai and Ty Lee didn't ease up in their fighting stances when the warriors reached them.
"Relax, we won't do anything to you", said Bato, "You are one of us, now, enemies of the firenation"
Mai gave a long sigh and stood up straight. Ty Lee shrugged and did the same.
A man who wore glasses and a preoccupied look on his face came up to them and asked, "So, who did you help escape from the inescapable prison?"
"Oh, I didn't help them escape, Mai did" Ty Lee wiggled her eyebrows in Mai's direction, "Although, she did it to save a particular banished prince"
Mai raised an eyebrow at Ty Lee.
"Right, I shouldn't be proclaiming your love for Zuko for all to hear, seeing as he hasn't heard the sentiment from you yet", Ty Lee frowned in thought, "but I think Zuko would have to be daft not to have figured it out yet"
Ty Lee was oblivious to Mai's glare and regarded the group, "Mai helped Zuko, the water tribe boy named Sokka, Azula's favourite prisoner whose name escapes me, but I do remember that she's the leader of the Kyoshi warriors, and two guys I don't know"
"It's Suki, and my uncle said one was named Hakoda, and I don't know who the other one was"
"Suki's all right?" asked one of the girls, who Mai & Ty Lee, remembers as one of the Kyoshi warriors. Warriors, as trained as they were, don't forget faces.
"Yeah, she and the others were long gone before a ship was sent to search for them, they escaped on Azula's air ship"
"Why was the Fire Prince with them?" asked a man, obviously an earthbender.
"Zuko is the avatar's firebending teacher, now; he left during the invasion after confronting his father" Mai said dully, "he was deemed as a traitor the same day"
The warriors around them smiled slightly, renewed hope shining more brightly in their eyes, and relief evident in their bearing. Mai and Ty Lee were baffled at this development.
After a while, Bato addressed Ty Lee, "Ok, if you didn't help them, why are you here?"
"She saved me from Azula" came Mai's husky unaffected voice.