(A/N: It's the prison break scene. I bet you're wondering how I'll do it. Actually, I'm sure some of you have already guessed. Just read and see.)

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 11: The Escape

Back at the Fire Nation base, Zuko, Iroh, and Aang sat in a prison cell, arrested for treason. There was nothing for them to do besides wait for their return to the Fire Nation to be put on trial. It was almost definite that they would all receive the death sentence. Zuko being the Fire Lord's son and Iroh being the Fire Lord's brother would not give them any mercy. Ozai would send them to their deaths without batting an eye.

But it seemed as if the gods had not yet forsaken them, because, at that moment, they sent a guardian angel in the form of Mai. She was walking towards their cell, pushing a food cart.

"How's it going?" she asked the guard.

The Fire Nation soldier just shrugged. "Same as usual. You?"

"I feel like a servant. And I don't think these traitors deserve steak."

"They get steak?" the guard cried in outrage. "The prisoners eat better than we do. Let me see that."

While his attention was on the food, Mai moved behind him and placed a knife against his throat. "Yeah, you know what that is."

"What the hell are you doing?" the guard demanded.

Mai ignored him. "Get down on the ground." She forced the guard to his knees and then delivered a hard blow to the back of his head, knocking him out. "Coast is clear!"

Toph strolled leisurely into the room. "I kinda figured. I felt the vibrations from that blow all the way down the hall."

Zuko was up against the bars. "Toph, Mai, what are you doing here?"

"It's a prison break, Sparky. We're busting you out."

"But Zhao has the keys." Aang told her.

Toph smirked. "Keys, shmeys. I'm the greatest Earthbender in the world."

She spit into her palms, rubbed them together, and cracked her knuckles. Grabbing hold of the bars, she easily bent them open, distorting the steel door itself. Zuko, Iroh, and Aang all stepped out, the young Airbender looking at the cell with wide eyes.

"Did I ever tell you how cool it was that you invented Metalbending?" he asked.

Toph smirked. "You could stand to mention it more often."

Mai wasn't one for happy reunions. "Can we get going now? I already have a balloon waiting for you. It'd be nice if we could leave before we're detected."

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Several minutes later, at another part of the base, Zhao was having a talk with his men about the upcoming plans for invasion when he was suddenly interrupted by the guard Mai had knocked out earlier, having regained consciousness.

"Sir!" the guard cried.

The admiral scowled. "This had better be important." He grumbled, not even looking at the guard.

"Sir, the prisoners have escaped!

Now he had Zhao's attention.

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"We have lift off." Mai announced as the hot hair balloon took to the air.

Zuko nodded and looked over at Toph. "Stay safe, Toph."

She smiled and gave him a thumbs up. "You too, Sparky. I'll be sure to keep you guys informed of anything that goes on here." The smile suddenly left her face as she detected something. "You guys better hurry. Old Flame Face is coming."

She ducked into the shadows as the door burst open and Zhao stormed in accompanied by several soldiers. Zuko immediately realized that they wouldn't make it in time at this rate. He glanced at Aang and they both nodded. Going over to the place where the fire filled the balloon with hot air, Zuko used his Firebending and Aang used his Airbending to make the floating ship all but jump into the air.

Down on the ground, Zhao realized that if he didn't act quickly that they would escape. Using an advanced form of Firebending, he took a deep breath and channeled the energy in his body. Taking aim, he pointed at Zuko and shot a bolt of lightning at him.

Zuko was completely unaware of the danger he was in, but Iroh saw it and jumped in. With a technique he invented himself, he caught the incoming bolt of lightning, taking it into his body. He was about to unleash the bolt away from them when the hot air balloon suddenly jerked forward as Aang Airbended them away.

Iroh lost his balance and toppled over, loosing control over the lightning he held within his body.

As the hot air balloon soared up and away at great speed, Zuko looked down at the Fire Nation base getting smaller and smaller. "Good luck following us." He turned to Iroh. "We did it, Uncle."

But Iroh's only response was a groan. The old Firebending master was laying on the floor, his body smoking, his face twisted in pain.

"Uncle!" Zuko cried, dropping down to the old man's side. "What happened?"

Iroh groaned. "My body is fried. I tried to redirect the lightning, but… ack!"

He winced in pain. Zuko grabbed his hand and held it tightly. "Uncle, no…" He turned to Mai and Aang. "He doesn't have much time. We have to move quickly." They nodded in agreement. Zuko looked back down at Iroh. "Hang in there, Uncle. The Water Tribe can help you."

Iroh's eyes cracked open. "Why would they help us?"

A very good question, one both Aang and Mai also wanted an answer to. "Jet's chief now." the former told him. "He's not going to let you anywhere near the tribe.

Zuko was fully aware of that. "Don't worry, I've got a plan."

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the bison whistle he had carved a while back. He blew the whistle and waited. A few minutes later, his flying bison came flying down towards him, hovering beside the hot air balloon.

"Hey, buddy." Zuko greeted. "We've got something to do… and you're not going to like it."

And so he was off, heading for a place he thought he would always stay far away from. But soon enough, a familiar island in the middle of a large river came into view. But it was no island. Zuko recognized the cleverly disguised shell of the lion-turtle that had attacked him and Katara a while back.

If he was going to make his plan work, he would need the help of the mighty beast. The lion-turtle was the mightiest and wisest of all beasts. Surely it would know that the land was in trouble and recognize Zuko as an ally.

Of course… that was just a theory…

(A/N: A bit short, but I thought it was a good place to end the chapter. Zuko's reunion with the Water Tribe after his betrayal is coming, soon to be followed by the war. Don't miss it.)