A/N: Whew! Finally Done! Took me long enough. I didn't have much time to work on it. Anyway, thanx for the reviews! This chapter took a lot of time and revision, so I hope you like it.

Chapter 3: The Freedom Fighters

"Zuko!" this was one of last people Aang wanted to see. He was evil and there was nothing more to it. Aang immediately stood in fighting position, and Katara, Sokka, and Toph following suit. In his anger, Zuko shot a fire blast right at Aang, who barely managed to avoid the blaze, though his robe was slightly singed. Suddenly, Zuko broke his stance, a solemn look on his face.

"What's the point?" he asked himself. "It's not even going to help. My fate is sealed."

"What are you talking about?" Sokka interrogated.

"Azula," Zuko said. "She tried to murder me."

"Yeah, Sure!" Katara said unconvinced. "That whole 'you changed' thing must have been part of your plan. You're a monster! You tried to kill the Avatar!"

"The Earth Kingdom is gone because of you!" Kuei said. "If it weren't for you and your wretched sister, I would still be sitting on my throne, maintaining peace."

"You turned in your own uncle," Said Toph. "He stood up for you, and you betrayed him. You should be ashamed!"

"I know," Zuko injected, bitter tears welling up in his eyes. "I turned on the people who truly cared about me, I fought for the wrong side, and I ended up losing everything. I deserve everything that is happening to me."

"Find that traitor and destroy him!" Azula commanded to Long Feng, who was sitting atop a komodo rhino. "Interrogate everyone in the city. If someone doesn't cooperate, kill them. Zuko must not get away this time."

"As you wish, my lady," he responded. he whipped his komodo rhino, and it instantly began running forward, leaving the castle grounds. Screams could be heard as the rhino rampaged through Ba Sing Se, as the Dai Li harassed, interrogated, and slaughtered innocent people. While every other citizen was frantic trying to leave the city, two teenagers, one female and one male, stayed hidden inside a dark building.

The female was a tomboy with light armor, short hair, and warrior's markings on her face. The male was a silent type with a pale face, a bag filled with arrows on his back, and a straw hat. Tears began to well up in the girl's eyes and roll down her cheeks. Reacting quickly, the young man covered her mouth with his hand, caressing her shoulder with the other hand. After several long minutes of checking his surroundings, Long Feng moved on.

"How could this happen, Longshot?" the girl said between sobs. "Jet's dead. The Earth Kingdom is defeated. The Fire Nation has won." She suddenly erupted into tears, sobbing into Longshot's shoulder. He then put his a finger over her mouth to quiet the girl.

"Smellerbee, It going to be okay," he said. This was unusual for him. He barely ever spoke.

"Thanks Longshot," Smellerbee said weakly. "It's just… It's so hard to be all alone in the world."

"You will never be alone," Longshot said, a faint grin on his face. Smellerbee couldn't help but grin in return. They leaned in and came into a soft embrace.

"Seriously. Azula really tried to kill you?" Sokka asked

"Yeah," Zuko replied. After much hesitation, Aang came up with a conclusion.

"Well, you could travel with us if you want," he said. "As long as you agree to teach me firebending."

"Why would I do that?" Zuko asked his temper rising. He did not want any sympathy, especially from the avatar. "What good does it do me?"

"Well last time I checked, you had no where to go." Zuko was furious. Still, he had nothing to say.

"Fine," he said bitterly. "I'll do it. Only one problem though. I'm not fully trained to be a master. I have not yet finished my training."

"We'll worry about that later. At the moment, I can settle for everything that you know, and we'll see what happens then."

Azula was thinking to herself. I can't believe that traitor. I give him a spot on the throne. I help him restore his honor. And yet he betrays me. How could he even know my plan? She pondered this for a minute. Hmm. There are only two people who could've aided Zuko…

Azula's thoughts were interrupted when a Dai Li agent walked through the Grand Doors.

"Speak, minion," Azula commanded. "Have you news on Prince Zuko?"

"Not exactly," he responded. " However, citizens we interrogated have claimed to have seen the Avatar and his bison flying northeast. They were probably headed for the refugee village of Wei Xiao Se."

"Go get Ty Lee and Mai. We're going after the Avatar."

"As you wish, Princess."

"I think its safe to leave now," Smellerbee stated, looking through the window. Longshot silently agreed, and together they snuck out of the building. After some time, the pair made it to the outer wall of Ba Sing Se. They had one problem, however. Multiple Dai Li agents were guarding the wall. Avoiding conflict, the rebels snuck away and ran into a dark alley.

"You there!" a voice called from the end of the alley.

"We have some questions," another voice said. The figures emerged from the shadows. They were Dai Li agents. Without saying a word, Smellerbee took out her sword, and Longshot drew his crossbow.

"State your name and business, agents," a Dai Li agent commanded to a pair of familiar teenagers dressed in Dai Li uniforms.

"My name is Reina," Smellerbee said. "and this is my friend… Mio. We were sent by Long Feng to search outside the city for the Fire Nation prince."

"I have never seen your faces. Are you new recruits?" the Dai Li inquired.

"Yes. We are new recruits." Smellerbee responded quickly.

"Then you are the new recruits Long Feng was alking about. He requests you meet him in his quarters immediately."

"Okay," Smellerbee said nervously, as the Dai Li agent began to escort the disguised Freedom Fighters to the Royal Palace.

As the three neared the palace doors, the agent handed a stack of papers to the teenagers.

"Long Feng requests you fill out this paperwork by tomorrow." The agent said with a suspicious grin on his face. They browsed looked at the top of the pile, and found something that caught their eye. There was one thing that caught It was no form of contract or paperwork. It was a wanted poster. A wanted poster of them.

It was a few hours after Zuko had joined up with Aang and the group. They all successfully found jobs in the village, and they finished their work and received their pay. They were all about to turn in for the night when they saw a Fire Nation Ship pull up at the docks.

"No," Zuko said in disbelief. "It can't be,"

"Prepare for attack," said Azula as she, Mai, and Ty Lee exited the ship. "The Avatar could be anywhere."

"Yes, Azula," Ty Lee responded, as she and Mai began to walk into the village.

"Oh, I almost forgot," Azula said, prompting her two allies to turn around.

"I would like you two to check on the prisoners first."

"As you wish, Azula," Mai said.

"Good. I will see you once you are done with your assignment," said Azula. "Or not," she muttered under her breath as soon as they were out of earshot.

"She definitely knows something," Ty Lee said as the pair reached the prison chambers.

"Yeah. We'll have to act fast if we want to free him." Mai said. She searched around the area and saw where the keys were hanging, though it was hung high up above the ground, unreachable. The skilled Shuriken expert took a knife, and carefully she aimed it at the key, threw it, and pinned the keys to the wall.

"Great! Now lets get it and open the cell," said Ty Lee. Mai drew two more knives and pushed them into the wall as far up as her arms could reach. Then, she took one knife and moved it higher up the wall. Gradually climbing, she reached the keys, grabbed them, and fell to the ground. She inserted the keys into the cell that contained Iroh and Suki, and the door opened smoothly. Suddenly, a group of Dai Li agents appeared behind them.

"Damn!" Mai said. "It's a trap! Ty Lee! You rescue the prisoners while I hold them off."

"Got it." Ty Lee said. She then ran over to the cell to see an overweight old man and a young woman in white makeup and warrior robes.

"Come on. We're here to help you," said Ty Lee

"Aren't you Azula's friends?" Iroh questioned.

"Not anymore. Anyway, we're here to rescue you."

"How can we trust you?" asked Suki. "You're the ones that captured me and my warriors in the first place."

"Because we have something in common," Ty Lee said in a solemn voice. "Azula wants us both dead. Now we need to get out of here."

"No, you two and Iroh need to get out more than I do. I'll hold them off."

"Okay if you say so. Come on Iroh." Ty Lee and Iroh ran out the doors of the cell, while Suki walked into the fray of the battle.

Smellerbee and Longshot instantly delved into their pockets for their weapons and assumed fighting position. It was too late however. A horde of Dai Li agents had already grabbed them by the limbs and prevented any escape. Soon the saw a familiar man in long, green robes open the palace doors and stroll over to the fighters, a superior look on his face.

"So you kids thought you could fool me, didn't you?" Long Feng said. Suddenly they remembered him. He was there, below Lake Laogai. He was the one who killed Jet.

"You bastard!" Smellerbee spat out in disgust, tears dripping from her eyes. "How did you know?" Long Feng then pointed to the his left. They saw a man in nothing but underwear and an undershirt, with a mark over his face from masking tape and rope marks. He was the Dai Li agent they had attacked

"As I was saying," Long Feng conntinued. "I am deeply sorry for the loss of your little friend. There was nothing I could have done." Smellerbee felt like she wanted to slash the wretched man with her sword until all the blood had been drained. She would have done it too, had the Dai Li and Longshot not been holding her back.

"You filthy liar!" she exclaimed. "You were the one who killed Jet!"

"I did no such thing. Now if you would be so kind as to follow me, I will clear all of these false memories for you." She was desperately trying to escape, clawing at the Dai LI agents, until Longshot began to speak in her ear. Smellerbee calmed down tremendously, and she looked down at the ground.

"I will go first," Longshot spoke up.

"But Longshot I-" Smellerbee was cut short when Lonshot put one finger over her lips to quiet her. Though he had not spoken, she understood what Longshot had meant. Hesitantly, Smellerbee let go of his hand, and he began to follow Long Feng.

Soon he found himself in a dark room with a spinning mobile-type object. Long Feng soon followed into the room and shut the door.

"Are you ready?" Long Feng said

"Yes," Longshot said. He was slowly becoming entranced by the mobile.

"Okay then. Listen well. There has never been a Jet,"

"Never been a Jet,"

"You know of nobody called Jet,"

"Nobody called Jet,"

"There is no war in Ba Sing Se"

"No war,"

"The fire nation is a lie. It does not exist."

"No Fire Nation."

"All is at peace in the world."

"All is at peace," Longshot said finally before difting into sleep.

"Your transformation is complete," Long Feng said. "Longshot, The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai." Suddenly, Longshot's deep eyes filled with a blank shade of nothingness, like the infinite voids of the universe.

"I am honored to accept his invitation."

"Good. Now bring your friend in here so she may receive her invitation."

"As you wish, master."

"Well Avatar," Azula said, her gaze fixed on Aang. "You must be pretty good to survive my lightning. Unfortunately, I'm better."

"Enough!" Zuko shouted. "Are you going to fight or just talk all day?" Azula then turned her attention to her brother.

"Zuzu, I hadn't noticed you!" she said. "I can't say I'm not surprised. I knew you were pathetic, but I didn't think you would be serving the Avatar.

"I am not serving the Avatar!'" Zuko yelled. "and where are Mai and Ty Lee?"

"Hmm. I would have thought you of all people would know, Zuko."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I know what happened." She said, "They helped you escape. Right now they are being taken care of by the Dai Li." Zuko's heart dropped. His golden eyes filled with fury. Suddenly, he shot a fire blast directly at Azula, who narrowly dodged the attack. She then proceeded to shoot a lightning bolt at Aang. The battle raged on until a two teenage girls and an older man stepped into the line of fire. One of the girls hit Azula with some quick jabs, and she couldn't move.

"Ty Lee! Mai! You escaped?" Azula spat out furiously while lying on the ground helplessly.

"Uncle!" Zuko shouted as he ran over to Iroh, tears of joy welling in his eyes. Iroh only returned an indifferent and emotionless look.

"What are you doing with Longshot!" Smellerbee demanded to a Dai Li agent, clutching him by the neck. The Dai Li agent didn't budge, and mearly pushed her to the ground.

"Long Feng has instructed not to provide any information to prisoners." Smellerbee was about to strangle the man when Longshot walked into the room. She recognized the blank look in his eyes. It was the same one Jet had, after he had been hypnotized. She instantly rushed to her fellow freedom fighter.

"What the hell have they done with you?" she asked worriedly.

"Long Feng has requested you follow me," Longshot said, completely ignoring what she said.

"Longshot, what's wrong with you?"

"You must follow me."

"Longshot!" Because of Smellerbee's incooperation, he was forced to cease her speaking by covering her mouth with his hand and forcefully dragging her into the corridor. As soon as they rounded the corner, he let go of her mouth.

"Run," was all he said.

"What?" Smellerbee questioned confusedly.

"You heard me. Run from here. I'll hold them off as long as I can."

"But Longshot, what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. We'll meet again soon."

"Oh, Longshot!" Smellerbee said as she leaped into Longshot's arms and began to kiss him passionately. Taken aback by the sudden attack, (a/n: Hey That rhymed!) Longshot lost his footing and fell to the ground, and they continued to kiss until they had to break for air, in which they said their final goodbyes and readied for their plan.

"You're back already?" one of the agents asked as the two walked back in the room.

"Long Feng would like me to speak with you." He then proceeded to lean close to the man's ear ro whisper something to him, when suddenly he grabbed him be the arm and flipped him to the ground. He then proceeded to take down the approaching Dai Li agents.

"Get out of here! I'll be okay," he yelled to Smellerbee. Hesitantly, Smellerbee ran out the front doors of the palace, knocking any Dai Li heads who got in her way.

"Uncle, I'm so sorry," Zuko said. "I cracked under the pressure and made the wrong decision." Iroh was still unconvinced. "I promise it will never happen again. Just give me another chance."

"You know what I say," Iroh said, his face brightened. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Though in your case it would be a third chance." The two then gave each other a huge hug, which was stopped when Toph began to speak.

"What are these two doing here?" Toph asked, directing everyone's attention to Ty Le and Mai. "I thought they hunting us down!"

"I knew it!" exclaimed Sokka. "You're still helping Azula!"

"Sokka," Katara said sternly. "Just let them explain."

"Please," Zuko said. "They helped me and Uncle Iroh escape from Azula. We are all her enemies now."

"Okay!" Aang exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention. "We'll take a vote. Who thinks we shouldn't let Zuko, Iroh, Ty Lee, and Mai come with us?" Sokka and Kuei raised their hands. "All right, who thinks we should?" Katara, and hesitantly, Toph, raised their hands. Everyone then looked at Aang and Kuei.

"What do you think Aang?" Katara asked. After a moment of thought, he gave his answer.

"I say yes." Everyone except Sokka, and even Kuei, then began to cheer.

"I think I could get used to this," Ty Lee said flirtatiously to Sokka.

"What does that mean?" he asked, completely ignorant to her flirting.

"You'll find out soon." she said, giving a suggestive look and walking away to find Zuko and Mai in an embrace.

"Group Hug!" she said as she grabbed them both and brought them into one of her famous hugs, leaving everyone else around in hystericle laughter