Toph was waiting at the camp for something to happen while she tossed a ball of earth to Momo. The lemur would catch it, then bring it back to her and drop it in her lap. Toph sighed and stood up.

"What is taking him so long?" she exclaimed.

She tossed the ball through Sokka's tent, causing it to collapse on itself. She grumbled as she crossed the campsite to reset it. She had just started to pull it back up when she dropped it and spun around.

"Who's there?" she shouted.

She put up a wall that blocked a fireball that was thrown her way and shot it at the attacker. When that one was taken down, more took his place. There were dozens of them, and they all advanced towards the blind girl. One of them, presumably the leader, spoke up.

"Be careful men. She may be blind, but she's one hell of a bender."

Toph smirked and dug her feet into the ground, moving her arms in two separate directions as she did. The ground split in two in front of her, making ten of the men fall into the deep crevice. She crumbled the ground around it as well, dragging in another half dozen. The remaining men continued their assault. Those who were firebenders attacked from a distance, while the others attacked her up close with swords and spears. She put up a barricade to shield herself from the fire, while she made giant earthen hands to fight the melee soldiers. She smacked a few away and pounded others into the ground like human nails. The giant hands even flicked one soldier clear over the hill. After the soldiers were dealt with, Toph shattered the wall and made the enormous pile of rocks fall on top of the firebenders.

"Do you guys ever give up?" she asked when she had finished.

As if to answer her, the general who had led the ambush climbed out of the rock pile and tumbled down it. Once he had gotten to his feet, he drew his sword and bent a stream of fire up the blade. Toph spit on her hands and rubbed them together, readying herself for the charge. As the man rushed her, she pulled up some earth from below her and bent it around her arms. Once he got close and swung his blade, she blocked it with one arm and struck him in the stomach with an open palm. He flew back into the rock pile and fell limp to the ground.

"Phew! That was quite the workout."

Toph shook the earth of her arms and knelt down by the general, feeling the ground next to him.

"I doubt that'll be the last of them."

She called for Momo and the lemur flew to her shoulder.

"Come on Momo, we're getting out of here."

She went over to Katara's tent and built a sort of coffin around Aang, which she lifted and took into the forest. After wandering around for a few minutes, she reached a spot near a large tree and opened up a hole in the ground right next to it. She dropped Aang inside and sealed the hole, marking the spot by headbutting the tree and leaving a dent in the bark. She stumbled back and held her forehead.

"That kind of hurt." she mumbled, but quickly shook her head. "Come on Momo, let's go find Sokka!"

The lemur screeched and followed Toph as she launched herself on pillar after pillar out of the forest.

~~Katara's screams echoed throughout the cavern as Zuko struggled to stand up. He looked up and watched the holed he had fallen down seal itself. He must have fallen at least 15 feet! If he wasn't in the Spirit World, he would have at least broken his legs. He finally got up and scanned his surroundings. It appeared that he was in a damp cavern. Water dripped from the ceiling, and the sound of it hitting the floor echoed.

"Is anyone down here?" he shouted.

He never thought he would get a response.

"I am here Prince Zuko." a voice replied.

Suddenly, a ghostly blue form appeared in front of him. The apparition was an elderly man, with a long white beard and a familiar face.

"Avatar Roku!" Zuko gasped.

"Yes Zuko, that is what most people know me as. I prefer you call me grandfather though."

After saying this, Roku's face split into a smile, which Zuko returned.

"How am I seeing you right now?" Zuko asked, puzzled. "I thought only the Avatar could interact with his past lives."

"You also thought that only the Avatar could enter the Spirit World, and look at where you are now."

"So...are you here to help me?"

"I am indeed prince. You have had a troubled past, but you are on the path to redemption. In order for you to redeem yourself of your wrongdoings, you must rescue Aang and Katara, who are being held by your sister, who was killed by your own hand."

"But Kailyn told me not to blame myself for what's happening! If I hadn't killed Azula, than she would have killed us! And besides, I didn't mean to kill her!" Zuko's voice was getting higher and higher as he spoke, and Roku finally held up his hand.

"Zuko, I am not blaming you for what is happening now, but you must stop it at all costs. Much like if he is killed in the Avatar state, if Aang's spirit is destroyed, then the line of Avatars will cease, and the world will be doomed."

Zuko nodded.

"Can you help me save him grandfather?"

"I can lead you to him, but the rest you must do on your own."

Roku suddenly turned into a glowing blue orb, and sped off down the cave with Zuko in hot pursuit.

~~The chains were no longer holding him, but Aang was still a prisoner. He was at the bottom of a pit, and could just barely see a speck of light towards the ceiling where he could escape. The longer he looked, the further the light seemed to move. If he could still bend, escaping the hole would only take an instant. He could fly up with a burst of air or simply rise up on a pillar of earth. Unfortunately, he was a spirit, and could only sit and wait for what was to come. He paced around the bottom of the pit and occasionally stopped to change directions. He had just finished another revolution when suddenly, a familiar blue spirit appeared to him.

"Avatar Roku!" Aang said, surprised. "Have you come to get me out of here?"

"No Aang, I cannot do anything to help you here."

"But you're a spirit! This is the Spirit World! I thought you could do anything here!"

"It is not my destiny to save you Aang."

"I know I know. It's my own destiny right?"

"No. It is neither yours, nor mine."

Aang was puzzled.

"Than who's?"

"An old enemy turned ally."

Aang was trying to think of who he meant when he heard a voice from the top of the pit. It was a long distance away, but he could just barely make out what they were saying.

"Aang! Are you down there?"

"Yes! I'm here!" Aang quickly replied.

The voice didn't respond, but instead, sent down a long green rope that, once he had grabbed it, Aang realized was vine. He turned to thank Roku, but his former self had vanished. Aang climbed the vine, and after what seemed like ages, he finally reached the top of the hole and was pulled out by his rescuer. He was shocked to see Zuko holding the rope, smiling at him.

"You? What are you doing here?"

Zuko realized that Aang hadn't been there with the others when he joined the gang. He scratched his head and tried to think of a way to explain it to him, but settled on an alternative.

"Look Aang, it's a long story and I don't think we have time for this."

"I just climbed out of a five hundred foot deep hole! I think we have plenty of time for this!"

"Five hundred feet? I thought it looked only about six feet deep."

Aang turned back to look in the pit and it indeed looked to be only about six feet deep. It had all been a trick, perhaps played by the Spirit World itself.

"Never mind that now, Katara's in trouble!"

After hearing Katara's name, Aang instantly focused on what Zuko was saying.

"Where is she?"

"She's up there."

Zuko pointed up at the ceiling to indicate above the caves.

"I don't know how to get back though."

There was a loud groaning noise as part of the cave wall collapsed next to them, revealing a long stone staircase that led to a small light at the top. Not wasting a second, Aang bolted to the stairs, taking them three at a time. Zuko followed close behind, both of them determined to save Katara.

~~The Boiling Rock had just appeared on the horizon when Sokka heard a loud rumbling noise behind him. He turned and his mouth hung open as he saw Toph bounding around on the ground below. He pulled Appa's reins and flew the bison lower. Toph heard Appa's roar, and heard Momo screech in excitement.

"Need a lift?" Sokka asked.

Using the sound of Sokka's voice, Toph bounced off her last pillar and into Appa's saddle, Momo landing next to her.

"What are you doing here? You're supposed to be guarding Aang!"

"I know Sokka. Twinkletoes will be fine. I put him in a safe place."

"You put him in a safe place? Aang isn't an expensive vase! He's the Avatar! You have to guard him with your life!"

"Jeez calm down. I buried him underground after we got attacked by a bounty hunter and a couple dozen firebenders. No big deal."

Even though Toph was blind, she could tell that Sokka had a shocked look on his face.

"Trust me. Aang is alright. We should worry more about your girlfriend now."

Sokka sighed.

"Fine, but if Aang gets captured again, Katara's gonna have you to yell at, not me!"

Toph agreed as they made their way into the steam cloud surrounding the prison.

Author's Note: This was kind of a bizarre chapter I know. Things will be a bit less Spirit Worldy in a few chapters so just hang in there people! Reviews appreciated as usual!

New Edit 8/19/10: Something's come up and I might not be able to update as often. I'll try to get chapter 6 up within a couple of days, but no promises.