Finding a Mother
Chapter Eight
Everything after that was a blur for Zuko. It was like he had gone into complete shock. Zuko could feel the wind in his face as he flew towards the Boiling Rock once more.
"Don't worry Zuko." Aang found himself talking to his firebending teacher. "Mai will be fine."
"I can't see anything with all this steam." Ursa sighed.
"That means we're close." Sokka replied. Sure enough, seconds later everyone could see the outline of the prison.
The guards surrounded the area as Appa landed; however, the bison easily slammed its tail down, sending the guards flying. Zuko and Sokka jumped off of Appa, both pulling out their swords.
"Zuko and I will go find Mai since we know the prison." Sokka said. "Ursa and Suki; you should come with us." The two nodded and jumped down from the saddle.
"Everyone else," Sokka continued. "Stay here and fight off the guards." And they were off…
The Warden sat in his office with his hands over his face. His niece had been sentenced to death. He didn't know what to do. On one side, this was his niece! He loved her, didn't he? When that traitor Zuko had broken her heart, he felt sorry for her. On the other side, because of her, his record was broken. The one thing that he prided himself the most for now was gone because of her. His face suddenly contorted to rage.
She deserves it! She brought this on herself!
"Sir…" a timid head poked itself into his office.
"WHAT?!"
"There has been another break in."
"Who is it this time?" the Warden demanded.
The guard's expression turned from one of fear to one of excruciated pain as he fell over onto the floor; behind him stood Zuko.
"Aw, the traitor prince has returned." The warden smiled. "Maybe I can save my record after all."
"Where is Mai?" Zuko asked coldly, raising his sword.
"I can tell you, Zuzu." came a voice from behind him. He turned to face his sister.
"Azula," Zuko growled. "Where are you keeping Mai?"
"I said I could tell you, I didn't say I would." Azula twitched, and then grinned. Zuko could tell that something was wrong. He could tell by the look in her eyes that something inside of her had snapped.
Azula's grin faded when she felt her head being jerked back as Suki grabbed her. She pulled her hands behind her back, and quickly tied them with a belt.
"Who's the 'favorite' prisoner now, bitch?" Suki growled. Ursa and Sokka soon appeared by them.
"Oh, hello mother…" Azula scoffed. "I bet you're really glad you saved Zuzu's sorry ass now!"
Zuko approached his sister, pressing the tip of his blade to her throat.
"You will show me where Mai is." Zuko demanded.
"I'd rather die." Azula retorted.
"You don't have much of a choice." Zuko said.
"This way," Suki held onto Azula's bound form as she led them down the halls. "She's in this one." Azula stopped at one of the cell doors.
"Are you sure?" Zuko demanded.
"Didn't you see the sign that said 'Death Row', dumb-dumb?"
"Fine," Zuko replied. "Sokka, give me the keys."
Sokka handed Zuko the keys and the door slid open. Inside, Mai looked up.
"Zuko?" she asked.
"Come on." Zuko rushed in and pulled her out. "Where's Ty Lee?"
Tears formed at Mai's eyes and for once, Zuko could actually hear emotion in her voice.
"I don't know. I think they might have already killed her."
Zuko felt his heart sink and he felt sad for the peppy acrobat that at one point in his life, he might have considered a friend. Zuko stepped out of the way as Suki shoved Azula into the cell. Azula hit the ground with a thud.
"You won't get away with this!" Azula shouted, pulling against her bindings.
"Blah, blah, blah," Sokka slid the cell door closed. "Shut up."
By the time they got back to Appa, the gang had managed to defeat all of the guards, which now lied unconscious or dead on the ground. Zuko, Ursa, Sokka and Suki rushed up and got onto the saddle, however, Mai hesitated.
"Come on!" Zuko urged. "Get on! It won't hurt you!"
Mai took a deep breath and started to climb up on the tail, as the Warden suddenly jumped down from a lower level and grabbed her ankle. Appa panicked and few into the air, leaving Mai and the Warden dangling above the boiling lake. Zuko grabbed Mai by the hand, Ursa holding onto her son.
"You will not get away with breaking my record!" the Warden shouted. "Shoot the bison down!" he yelled to whatever guards were still alive or conscious.
"Zuko…" Mai looked up at Zuko. "Let go."
"What?"
"Let go of my hand. It's the only way you'll get away."
"No."
"You said that this war has to end to redeem the Fire Nation. That means that you have to escape so the avatar can defeat your father."
"But, I don't want to lose you."
"This is the way it has to be." Mai told him. "You're not going to back off when I'm starting to believe that this war should end, are you?"
"No…"
"Then trust me." Mai smiled up at him. "I love you, Zuko."
She then set her brow in determination and let go of Zuko's hand. Zuko tried to grab onto her hand again, but the attempt proved futile. Seconds later, Mai and the screaming Warden disappeared into the steam, followed by a loud splash. It was then that Zuko knew that Mai was gone.
"No, Mai!" Zuko shouted, but no matter how much he screamed, his girlfriend was gone…forever.
END CHAPTER