Steer (by Missy Higgins)
It was always simple, not hidden hard
You've been pulling on the strings
Playing puppeteer for kings
And you've had enough
The kitchen double doors swung back, and an angry Fire Nation soldier stormed out holding a bowl, spilling almost half of its contents. His eyes flicked across the landing, choosing his unsuspecting victim.
"Take this food to the dungeon below," the lieutenant, a tall burly man with broad shoulders announced clearly, ordering a guard that stood a foot away.
The guards nearby exchanged a look, silently deciding who their officer meant in particular. In about two seconds, one timid guard skittered forward to hold the bowl, his hands shaking with fear.
"W – Where to, si – sir?" he stammered softly, trying hard to look his superior dead in the eyes. The lieutenant glared down at him.
"Must I repeat myself?" he said through gritted teeth, narrowing his eyes. "Sometimes I wonder if all of you underwent your proper training to be a guard."
The guard cast his eyes down to the filthy white bowl with a single red stripe around the circumference, watching a somewhat potato chunk-esque object float in a watery brown stock.
Then he bowed slightly, indicating he felt mutual towards the previous question and walked away, keeping his head tilted downwards. When his higher ranking officer should have made him stand there and be disgraced for his incompetent behaviour, he instead watched him go from a few metres away, nodding his head slowly.
He didn't think the prison guard had the guts to stand up to someone of higher ranking, much less retort back with a gesture.
What the lieutenant didn't see was that the guard's hands were convulsing in fear so hard that the bowl was almost a quarter empty now.
The guard went down uncountable flights of stairs, dark corridors, and unlit torches that had been burnt away to its very bottom, before finally reaching his destination. There was only one place that the residents referred to as the 'dungeon', and as it withholds its name; it was a darkly lit cave-like prison. Many people died in here before, due to either wounds, or rather, inevitably by disease. It hadn't been occupied since, but it was now a regular trip for soldiers down here three times a day, because now it had a new tenant. Or in other words – another unlucky victim waiting for his untimely death.
He fumbled with the bunch of keys hanging on his belt, his sweaty fingertips slipping against the cold hard metal. The jangle of the keys echoed each time in the dead silent cavern, and he flinched at every sound it made. He wasn't just scared, he was terrified.
He chose a roughly-shaped and jagged key that he deemed the right one, and plunged it into the keyhole of the rusty lock that held the gates of the dungeon closed. Twisting it gave a satisfying click, and the lock opened wide and fell to the ground. With a push, he sent one side of the gate creaking backwards, and he pried a torch from the wall and began to walk further in.
"H-hello?" he squeaked, his voice almost shrill. He thought he saw a shadow move across the space, and he jumped a metre back in reaction. He thrust the torch forward.
"Don't come near me!" he shouted, trying to make his voice sound threatening.
"I'm putting your food down here and leaving. Don't even try to do anything I wouldn't!" He bent down and settled the bowl on the ground, his hand trembling.
"Go back home, you don't belong here."
The voice that echoed loudly in the cavern was hoarse and raspy, and the guard was startled by such a random statement.
"Eat your food and be silent!" he ordered, nudging the bowl across the ground with his foot.
He walked to the side of the dungeon and groped the wall, searching for a sort of ring. Once he found one, he carefully placed the torch in it, and firebended the flame to enlarge in size so that the entire place was lit.
He saw the Fire Prince hunched at the corner, his back against the wall and his knees curled up to his chest. He was almost topless, and the guard noticed he ripped his shirt to shreds and used it as a tourniquet to wrap around his abdomen. His pale, bloodied skin showed in the light, and the dark red scar on his left side of his face was hidden behind a scrap of cloth.
Zuko continued staring at him, his eyes unreadable. He squinted his eyes, as though summing up the guard's appearance, and continued to speak.
"You don't belong here," he echoed his last sentence, shifting his weight towards the wall, leaning on it. "You didn't come here because you wanted to."
"You came here because you didn't have a choice," Zuko plowed on. "Neither did I."
The guard stepped over tentatively, and crossed his arms. "Well no, my family is poor. I had to work to earn. Since my father died in an accident, my mother cried herself blind."
A tear dripped down his cheek, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand.
"She's all I have, and even though I hate being so far away from her, someone has to provide the family with food." Zuko let a smile creep onto his face, and then he coughed and turned away.
"You have it hard," he stated. The guard, feeling more and more comfortable with the conversation, nodded and walked closer to Zuko.
"But I had it harder," Zuko said through gritted teeth.
With a swift movement, Zuko swept his leg forward, his foot hooking onto the guard's left one, and sent him flailing to the ground. He let out a yelp, his voice echoing loudly in the cavern, and Zuko quickly kicked him hard in his stomach and he doubled over, whining softly in pain.
"And now you have it even harder, because that's what happens in life. It gets harder and harder," he hissed, standing over him.
A rush of sadness washed over the Crown Prince as he realized what he had done.
'What have I become?' Zuko thought, wincing as he watched the man coughing up a thick liquid from his mouth.
He scrunched up his face in regret, and for a moment, he wanted his Mother there. He wanted her to be there, hold him, and tell him everything's going to be alright. He wanted her to tell him what's right and what's wrong, and most of all, what to do.
"I'm sorry." The man continued hurling out blood, not responding to Zuko's apologies. Well, he didn't need him to, either. Then the Fire Prince grabbed the rest of his torn up shirt, downed the remaining contents of his watery gruel, and ran out through the gates, locking it behind him.
He didn't glance back.
1 day ago.
"The constant billow of smoke will help us. They won't be able to spot your bison," Iroh informed, packing his clothing with essentials.
Aang lifted a pack of wheat up to Sokka, who sat on top of Appa, checking the rest of the contents on the saddle.
"Wait guys. Don't you think they might find Appa? While we carry out the plan?" Toph asked, her small body spread out on the muddy ground.
Aang stuck out his bottom lip. "They won't. At least I don't think so."
He turned to face Iroh. "Describe the place again, Uncle Iroh." He stopped passing the wheat and sat down, looking at him. Sokka groaned loudly, and slapped his forehead in exasperation.
"The only way to get out and in is by the cable car that passes over the boiling water below. It takes time to ride it. But it's for the prisoners that come in by ship. Other royalty come in by other types of ferry. Air, water, you name it." Iroh smiled and flipped his White Lotus paisho piece into his pocket.
"And we're going by air. So that covers it," Aang grinned, standing up and gathering other sorts of necessities.
Sokka slung his arm over Appa's saddle, looking down. "Talking more about it, Toph may be right. You guys think they have a bison landing runway on a volcano?"
Toph agreed. "Duh Snoozles, no. That's why we're pretty stupid for taking Appa. We need another way."
Aang paused and rubbed his cheek. "Well…what other way could we go, then? And who'll take care of Appa?" Appa let out a growl.
"Hey, what about that crazy professor that wrecked the air temple?" Sokka suggested, shrugging. "He makes stuff, doesn't he? Like that war balloon?" Aang bit his lip nervously.
"Yeah, but do we have the time to fly there, make a war balloon, and fly back to save Katara?" Toph shook her head, sitting up and propping herself up with her arms. "No, we don't. There must be another way."
"We could go by ship," Iroh stated, adjusting his cloth belt. He shook his head after a while. "No, they could see the trail of smoke from afar, and will know soon enough."
Aang let out a sigh. "Ugh! This is just so hard!" He buried his face in his hands. "This is all my fault. Why don't I just fly there by myself and save her? It'll solve everything."
Toph frowned in disapproval. "No way, Aang. We're all in this together." She stood and walked over to the Avatar, and placed a hand lightly on his shoulder. He slowly lifted his head and smiled at the blind Earthbender.
Sokka interrupted the moment, breathing out a sigh. "I give! What else can we do?" Aang stood up, and looked at Iroh.
"Do you think we could disguise ourselves and get in the easy way?" he asked, his eyes bright.
"Let's all go in as soldiers!" Sokka announced, jumping down from Appa's saddle and sliding down his soft fur. Toph let out a snort.
'Why does he keep jutting in statements and questions that keep reminding everyone I'm blind?' Toph thought angrily. Then she shifted a little closer towards Aang's direction and curled back her upper lip in disgust towards Sokka's.
"Yeah sure. An old man and a young girl as soldiers. How awfully appropriate," she said bitterly, crossing her arms.
"Hey, I'm not that old," Iroh protested feebly at Toph's pointed sarcasm.
Sokka held up his hands in defense. "At ease, soldier Toph. I've got something else planned for you." Aang looked at the Southern Watertribe teenager questioningly.
"You and Appa can be the distractions. Aang will go in as a soldier. Iroh should be lookout," explained Sokka, waving his hands. "And I, my friends, will be the prisoner. I'm sure Azula would just be waiting to have me and Katara tortured by her."
"How about me being prisoner?" Aang perked up, holding Momo on top of his bald head. "Then I can personally make sure Katara is safe." He grinned at Sokka, who frowned.
"Oh yeah, just wonderful. Give Azula what she wants all this time. You," Sokka groaned, slapping his forehead in mock exasperation.
"Right, forgot about that," Aang grinned sheepishly, putting Momo down. She ran off, skittering around Appa. Toph gave another loud snort in defiance.
Sokka glared at Toph. "What is it with you today and your nostrils?" Toph looked mortified.
"Humph!" she breathed, kicking her foot into the ground, conjuring up an earth platform where Sokka was standing. He was propelled up high in the air, and fell on Appa's saddle. Appa let out a growl in response to Sokka groaning out in pain.
"Okay, fine. No nostril jokes," he said, lifting his index finger in the air as he lay down on the hard saddle in pain. He sat up and pouted miserably as Iroh began talking to Aang about more ideas of transport.
"Hey, I could use an air bubble in the water for Appa! We could travel underwater!" Aang suggested, patting his air bison. Appa roared affectionately.
"That's right buddy, we won't leave you." He smiled and continued playing with him.
"That's a good idea, though. But what about Appa after that? Once we get off, where will he go?" Toph asked, sitting on the ground and gathering dirt in her hands.
Sokka shrugged the question off easily. "He'll go back out. They'll see Appa going in the other direction and think the Avatar – " he paused and gestured wildly at Aang. " – is just passing by! They won't suspect we're right where they are. They'll never know!" Iroh nodded slowly, in agreement.
"Sokka is right. It could work," Iroh murmured, pacing around. Toph let the dirt in her hands sift out to the ground.
"Well, then what would Iroh and I do?" Toph asked, frowning. Sokka smiled triumphantly.
"I thought that out already. You won't go with us. You'll go back up with Appa. You need to be hanging your arms out at the saddle, so they would really fall for the trick," Sokka explained in the all-knowing voice.
Toph frowned, her eyebrows creased in confusion. "Hanging my arms out?"
"Yeah! You do that every time when we're riding Appa. It's like a known fact. Oh and plus other things that you do, like pointing into nothing and say we've reached our destination, and dig your nose in front of people…" Toph's eyes widened in shock at the direction of the conversation. "…and plenty of other disgusting things too. You even scratch your – "
"There he goes again," Aang states, looking up at a figure being thrown high in the sky. He turned back to look at Toph. "Be sure to remind me to never make you angry, Toph."
The blind Earthbender's face showed multiple shades of red in embarrassment, and turned her face away quickly.
Sokka landed with a loud thump on Appa's saddle again, and raised a feeble, shaking, index finger. "And no jokes about Toph at all."
"Your plan's going to work, Sokka. I'm sure of it," Aang smiled warmly, packing the last of the stuff they needed to bring on to Appa's saddle.
Toph climbed onto the saddle, and Iroh followed suit, glancing back to see what they missed.
"It will, if Toph stops hurting the prisoner already. Any more throwing and Azula won't have any bones left in me to break," Sokka grumbled, rubbing his butt as Appa took off from the small Fire Nation village.
All of them laughed in unison at the joke, while Toph mumbled an inaudible apology even though she didn't feel half-obliged to.
"That's it." Sokka and Aang looked over Appa's head to see a billow of constant smoke coming up from the horizon. Toph blew out a sigh and lay down on a sack, using it as a pillow.
"Wow, that's nice. Hey Toph, come check it out –" Aang stopped, rubbing his head. "Sorry, I meant Iroh." He glanced furtively at Toph, concerned. She didn't stir, but her eyes were wide open.
Aang scratched the back of his neck uncomfortably, worried that he might've hurt her feelings. But she didn't have any reaction, so Aang thought she didn't catch it, and turned to join Sokka and Iroh who were admiring the huge turtles that swam below them, since Appa was descending towards the surface to start going underwater.
Once the young airbender turned away, a tear rolled down the side of Toph's face, and hit the floor of the saddle.
"We're underneath the island! This is so cool!" Sokka exclaimed, looking at some fishes swimming past their bubble curiously. Aang was still concentrating on keeping the bubble big.
"Don't jog me, Sokka. The water pressure is getting stronger since we're diving further down," Aang complained, as Sokka ran around looking at all the different types of sea creatures.
He cleared his throat. "Alright, people. Here's the plan. Aang and I will go to the island. From there, we'll work our way up to what we're supposed to be. Iroh and Toph will take Appa away, back to the Fire Nation village. If we don't come back in two days…" Sokka paused to gulp.
"…move on to the next village, but please still continue planning the invasion, okay?" He put a hand on Toph's shoulder.
"And find Dad. He'll inform the rest of you about the plans for the invasion in my place if I don't make it." Aang nodded solemnly.
"We're here, guys. We have to split up now," Aang said, glancing back at the three of them.
"Alright. I think Toph will be better off guiding Appa out. I'm not too familiarized with your bison." Toph smiled feebly at Iroh's statement.
They emerged from the water nearby the island, and Appa swam on the spot, waiting for further instructions.
"We won't be long, I hope," Sokka smiled, gathering the young Earthbender in a hug. Aang did the same, and they both hugged Iroh goodbye too.
"May Sozin bless – I mean, may…uh, what would Air nomads say?" Iroh wondered out loud. Then he smiled warmly. "May Monkiatsu bless you?"
Aang laughed, that Iroh did remember the story he told him about his life a hundred years ago.
Sokka and Aang ran off, getting ready to assume their positions, and Iroh and Toph waved goodbye at their friends, who disappeared around the corner.
"Aang is a good guy. You've chosen well." Toph snapped her head up in attention.
"What -? No, I –" she stammered, shocked. Iroh smiled warmly.
"Don't worry about him. He'll be okay." Appa took off, flying in the sky, and she secretly smiled as she faced out into the open.
Then she remembered what Sokka said, and hung her arms out of the saddle. "Uhm, like this?" Iroh grinned.
"Yeah, I think that should work. I better lie down," Iroh said, propping himself on a bag. "Let's just hope my stomach's not so big that the Fire Nation guards can see its bulge right over the saddle."
They laughed loudly at the joke, while Appa flew further away from the Boiling Rock.
Still 1 day ago.
Watching Zuko fall down brought tears to the Watertribe lady's eyes, and pulling away to hide was worse. Although they haven't been on friendly terms for a long time, it hurt to see a mutual companion fall to his doom. Katara sworn that above all the noise and haphazard firebending, she heard Zuko telling her to run and hide as he fell down. And then a flash of memory came back, shocking her again.
Zuko's gold eyes, wide open in shock, as he fell further, and further, and further…
'You're in pieces, Katara. Fit yourself back, it's disgusting,' she thought irritably, gnawing down on her knuckles.
She curled back into the side of the pipe, which was a huge hollow object sticking out from the rooftop of the Boiling Rock prison. Just five minutes ago, she witnessed what seemed to have changed her life forever, a battle that raged a lot of fury and anger, and she couldn't believe she was part of it. Back there, she had been so ready, so ready to kill anybody who got in her way to freedom, even Azula. She knew about everything. How she was going to escape, how she fought off those guards that kept charging at her, and how she paced herself in battle. She knew everything, clear as day, except for the fact about where she placed Zuko in her life.
The night before was an understanding between them, that he wasn't the hard-hearted man she thought him out to be. But what if it was just a mere façade? Did she want to risk her everything for that? But she did. She did whatever she could to assure his life, and when the time came, she held on to him, and didn't let go till forced.
'So if we somehow made it out up here, what would happen? Will he help Aang and us? Or will he kick me in the stomach, and use me as a captive to find Aang? Will we…become friends?'
Katara squeezed her eyes shut, and pressed her hand on her stomach where Azula burned her. It stung badly, and tears rolled down her eyes. She fiddled with the cap on her water skin, popping it open, and then with a delicate finger, she dipped her index finger inside. There still was a little water left. She waterbended what was left into a little stream, and maneuvered it out to heal her burn. A white glow shone as she healed her wound, and then reused the water on other tiny scratch marks and bleeding cuts.
A loud thumping sounded suddenly, and Katara lost control of the water. It splashed onto the metal floor, and she cursed silently.
"I thought I heard something. It must be the Waterbender that escaped." Katara's eyes widened in fear.
The guards had come looking for her, and there were no means of escape now.
She breathed in slowly, counting in between each breath she took.
In, one two three.
Out, one two three.
In, one two three.
Out, one two three.
She unclenched her fists and collected the water on the floor back to her water skin and stood up, taking another deep breath. If there was a time for survival instinct, the time would be now. She inched herself closer around the bend, and saw a lone guard pacing around.
'I can take one guard,' Katara thought triumphantly, and stepped forward so she was in clear view.
"Looking for me?" she announced, getting ready to fight. The short guard looked shocked, and then ran forward to seize her.
She was surprised he didn't attack with fire, so she dodged and bended the water out to make a small whip, and thrust it forward towards the guard, who dodged easily.
"Hold on, it's me Katara!" the guard said, holding up a hand. He pushed the helmet visor up and smiled.
Aang's face brought tears to the Waterbender's eyes.
"Aang!" she cried, and ran forward to hug him. Aang hugged back, tears running down his face too.
She broke down into sobs, as she clutched the airbender who was clad in Fire Nation armour, because finally, so very finally, she felt safe again.
Zuko's heart raced as he scaled up yet another flight of stairs.
'When will these staircases end?' he thought, flinging the third burnt torch away. He pried a lit one from the wall and continued running up.
He was fully clad in the armour he stole from the guard that visited him in the dungeon, and was holding the empty bowl of his gruel. He found himself in front of a wooden door, and he grabbed the bunch of keys hanging on the belt and tried all of them on the lock. The fourth one deemed right and the lock clicked open, and he shove the door back and appeared in a long hallway, lit with countless torches.
He tentatively walked along the aisle, and noticed it was filed with cages. The cages were empty, except for one in particular, right at the end. Inside, lay a young dark-skinned man, sleeping on the mattress.
"You! What are you doing here?" a female voice bellowed, and Zuko flung around, finding himself face-to-face with another guard.
"I came out from the dungeon. Where's the exit?" Zuko answered without hesitation. He had been practicing saying that since ten minutes ago.
The guard narrowed her eyes, and jabbed a thumb behind her, gesturing at the huge double doors. Zuko squeezed his eyes shut.
'Stupid, stupid, and stupid,' he cursed, mentally slapping himself.
"Just so you know, though, I knew that. It's just that I was wondering who's in this prison," he asked, crossing his arms and trying to keep his cool.
"Watertribe peasant, seems to be the brother of the current escapee," she huffed, seemingly tired of repeating the sentence.
'Katara's brother, Sokka…?'
Zuko paused, swallowing. "Well, alright. Uh, how did he get here?"
"He was found sleeping on the shore just outside the gondola. It was really weird, so we thought the Avatar was nearby, and they saw his bison flying outside in the opposite direction," she answered, rolling her eyes.
"I don't know, a real nail-biter, don't you think?" she asked, shrugging her shoulders. Zuko nodded quickly.
"Yeah, nail-biting," he agreed dismissively, his mind preoccupied. He snapped back, focused. "So where's this, escapee?"
"Probably seeking shelter somewhere on this island, we're currently combing it through, hence the lack of guards you see during lunch break, you know?" she muttered bitterly, indicating she found it irritating.
"I have to work double shift now. This sucks," she mumbled, crossing her arms.
"Yeah, you're not the only one," Zuko stated, following the direction of the conversation casually. "Say, what happened to Azula?"
"Shh! You mean the Fire Princess? We can't say her name here, she'll kill us," the woman hissed, doing a cutting motion at her neck with her hand. She glanced around furtively, even though there was clearly no one else in the hallway.
"She left on a war balloon," she whispered. Zuko's eyes widened.
"Why?" he questioned, intrigued.
"She's gone to chase the Avatar. You know his bison? Yeah, she left in that direction too."
"You say it's the bison, right?" Zuko asked, his eyebrow creased in confusion.
The woman guard frowned. "Yes, I did."
'Strange.'
"Thanks for the small talk, but I have to go now," she said, remembering something. "Keep a close eye on this fellow, he talks really loudly. Little smartass."
Zuko watched her leave through the double doors, and it closed back with a click.
He was alone with Sokka.
"Sokka!" Zuko hissed through gritted teeth, clutching the bars of the prison.
He shook the gate, and the sound of metal against metal rasped through the hallway, as the lock hit against the bars. Sokka turned over to the other side on his mattress. Zuko breathed out a sigh, and unhooked the bunch of keys hanging on his belt. He fiddled through them, and tried each one on the lock.
'Please, please, please.'
The last one gave a satisfying click, and the lock opened. The gate swung back with a push, and Zuko hurtled in, shaking Sokka roughly.
"Ow, what!" he grumbled, his eyes snapping open. He saw Zuko and pushed him off. "What are you doing?"
"Waking you up," Zuko retorted, standing up. "Come on, let's get out of here."
Sokka crawled further back into the wall. "Go where? I'm not going anywhere with you! Stay back, or taste Boomerang!"
Zuko put his hand to his head and clutched his hair in exasperation as he watched Sokka reach behind his back.
"Look, your boomerang isn't there!" Zuko reasoned, losing his patience. Sokka fingered where his boomerang was supposed to be.
"Of course not, you stole it!" Sokka narrowed his eyes at the Crown Fire Prince. "Stay away from me. I know what you did to Katara!"
Zuko's eyes widened. "I didn't do anything!" he shouted, crossing his arms.
"I know you brainwashed her! She wouldn't go with you! She wouldn't!" Sokka babbled, standing up and assumed a fighting stance.
"What are you talking about?" Zuko asked, his face crinkling with confusion. He raised his eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.
"You probably put a love spell on her or something in Ba Sing Se!" Sokka continued, his arms and legs akimbo.
"Sokka, you've lost your mind! I didn't do such a thing!" Zuko whisper-shouted.
"Why would she flinch back into you, then?" Sokka growled.
Zuko remembered the event when it happened, and sighed. "She was hurt! The Avatar touched her wound! So happened, that I was standing right behind her! There's nothing wrong with flinching when somebody touches you at a painful area!"
Sokka crossed his arms over his chest. "You want me to believe that weak excuse?"
Zuko sighed in irritation, turning away in anger. Sokka stepped forward, jabbing an accusing finger.
"You want me to fall into your trap, just like Katara did in the catacombs?" Sokka continued jabbing his finger.
"Do you –" Jab.
"Want me –" Jab.
"To fall for something, entirely stupid –" Jab.
"Like that?" Jab.
Zuko rolled his eyes and swatted Sokka's index finger away. "First of all, I did no such thing as setting a trap! Secondly, I'm trying to help you! I helped Katara, and I'm helping you now!"
"Forget it! I don't need your help! I can still breathe, thank you!" Sokka said, barging past Zuko towards the gate.
"Wait! You'll get caught like that!" Zuko informed the angry Watertribe civilian. Sokka didn't have an answer to retort with, so he kept quiet and crossed his arms defiantly.
"They'll know you have escaped, if you walk out. Even if you assumed the position of a guard, they'll still know you, as prisoner, has escaped. You'll wreak havoc if you do anything now," Zuko reasoned slowly, keeping his temperamental side in check.
Sokka sniffed in retaliation, though he agreed. "What then?" he snapped.
"You should stay here, and I'll try to come up with something." Sokka rolled his eyes, but stormed back into the prison anyway.
"I'm going to find Katara before they find her, and I'll get back to you with an escape plan. I need time to sort these things out." Sokka sat on the mattress, thinking.
"Alright, but you better not go back on your word!" he growled, as Zuko stepped outside and locked the gate.
"My uncle said; Every man has a right to freedom," Zuko stated. "I'm going to give you the key for your prison, so that you can get out whenever you want if you don't trust me. But remember, whatever you do could affect the plan and order of things."
He pried the last key out from the bunch of keys, and slipped it between the bars. Sokka looked at it, but didn't touch it.
"Sokka," Zuko started. "I'm only trying to help you guys. I don't mean harm. I realize, that I had complications, but now I know for sure, I have to help play my part in the war, and my destiny is to help the Avatar restore balance to the world." Sokka didn't say anything, but his face wasn't masked with anger anymore.
They shared a silent moment, before Zuko readied himself for the long day ahead, and left via the double doors.
"Iroh, I'm no listener, but I can pretty clearly hear another engine," Toph declared, her eyes squinting.
"What?" Iroh mumbled, stirring from his deep slumber.
Toph closed her eyes. "I hear…an engine. Coming towards us. What is it?"
Iroh sat up, and rubbed his eyes. He looked around, and something caught his attention. Something big and red, quite far away.
"What is it?" Toph asked again, filled with curiousity.
Iroh's eyes widened with shock, and his mouth opened agape, as he stared on in terror.
Toph scuffed her foot on Appa's saddle, losing her patience. "What is it?"
"It's a Fire Nation air balloon!" Iroh announced.
Toph whistled under her breath. "This isn't part of the plan, isn't it?"
"This is bad, this is really bad," Iroh muttered, looking forward to see where they could seek safety.
"What are we going to do?" Toph asked, panic in her voice.
"Pray," Iroh answered, biting his lower lip.
Azula stood in the control centre of the air balloon, watching the Avatar's bison through the glass window.
"Princess, do we continue chasing them…or?" The lieutenant asked, bowing near her.
"No, we're going to show them hell. Prepare the cannons," she ordered, smiling wickedly.
"The cannons are ready!" a guard shouted, from outside the door. The lieutenant looked at Azula, waiting for further instructions.
An evil smile played on her lips, before she spoke again.
"Fire."