Disclaimer: I really don't own it, but will happily take royalty cheques if you have them.

Inspired by the song Deliver Us from The Prince of Egypt more the sentiment than lyrics.

Deliver Us

The Gaang walked through the Fire Nation market all too aware of their disguises' after seeing the wanted posters that had been pasted to almost every wall in town. The avatar and the Blind Bandit's ones were there but they were joined by ones for any Water Tribe warriors or benders. The ones that got everyone's attention though were for former General Iroh and the ex-prince Zuko. Under these names was something which did not appear on the others and shocked all of the Gaang but one. It read "Wanted for high treason to the Fire Nation and its Lord, to be brought to the capital and executed under the witness of the royal family".

"Executed?" Aang asked

"I guess you really are on our side" Sokka turned to Zuko.

" It could be a trick to gain our trust" Katara stated unsurely , "Give it a rest Sugar Queen, Sparky's as wanted as the rest of us, even more so " Toph's voice had an edge to it that shut everyone up.

After a moment of awkward silence The Duke asked "What does high treason mean". Zuko who had been staring quietly at the posters answered " it's when you become an enemy of your own country for which the penalty is always to be burned to death, nasty and unimaginative but that's the Fire Nation for you" his voice was flat and gave away no hint of emotion except a slight bitterness in the last comment.

"The Firelord, I mean he wouldn't try to kill you would he" Aang spoke slowly eyes downcast "He's your dad" he finished finally looking at Zuko. "It's never stopped him before" it was barely audible as he turned to walk away, hair carefully placed over his face to hide the scar. But for all its quietness it echoed louder than a scream.

They continued on all thinking about want had been said and all avoiding catching the eye of the banished and now wanted prince. The atmosphere was oppressive not only because of the tension but also because of the heat and the smell. This was the poor part of town, it had less soldiers so they were safer coming to the market down here. That being said there wasn't much worth buying including the food. The usual bright reds associated with the nation were all faded and stained down here. Beggars huddled on flea infested islands of rags on the side of the road, thin hands outstretched with open palms. Shoeless children skirted in and out between the stalls, the quick ones snatching an apple or piece of bread without being noticed.

The poverty was overwhelming; Katara's heart ached out of inability to act, desperately wanting to become the painted lady again, just for a little while. "I thought the Fire Nation was winning the war, why are there so many poor in it" Sokka asked. "Why fed the poor when you can use the money from conquered lands to buy more weapons, wars aren't cheap" Zuko replied. "This is terrible, everything is so wrong, so out of balance" Aang said sadly. "Well you know how to fix it twinkle toes ".

"Yeah like it's that easy" Aang muttered sullenly.

Just at that moment a thief came hurtling down from a side alley bashing into Zuko and knocking him over. The Gaang didn't notice and he lost sight of them in the crowd. A group of extremely angry looking Fire Nation soldiers appeared from the alleyway. They stopped in their tracks when they looked at Zuko, his hair no longer concealing his scar. The people stopped milling about the stalls and turned to watch in horrified fascination. "Well look at that we were chasing a thief and we caught a traitor" one with fresh stitches on his chin said. They surrounded Zuko cutting him off from escape, he stood to fight but he was heavily out numbered. Just as the soldiers were advancing on him, hands lit with crackling flames, an apple soared out of the crowd and hit stitch face on the back of the head. An old woman stepped out of the crowd a new fruit missile clutched in her wrinkled hands. "What are you senile grandma?" he laughed. "You leave him alone, leave us all alone, your nothing but bullies and thieves". he laughed again though it was more like a bark and was about to send a shot of flames at the old woman when the rest of the crowd started pelting them with food from their stalls, yelling at them to leave. Some of the soldiers did, "Cowards" stitch face yelled at their retreating backs. The old woman strode forward and stood between the soldiers that were left and Zuko, who watched open mouthed. Soon the rest of the crowd joined, creating a human barrier. "You think I won't take you all out, I could kill you all easily".

" But could you kill us" Aang, Toph, Katara , Sokka and Haru stood on the surrounding low rooftops, a sword, water, earth, and air ready to attack. Horrified the soldiers ran, but stitch face had to say one last thing " When the Firelord hears about this he'll have your whole village burned to the ground, with you traitors in it" before Toph hit him in the face with a large rock, reopening the stitches and knocking him out.

"He's right you know, why did you help me?" Zuko turned to the old woman. She stiffly bowed "You are our prince it's our duty".

"But I'm a traitor"

"Hah, you and your esteemed uncle are the only ones of those so called nobles who aren't traitors" she spat. Zuko was in a state of shock so Aang asked "What do you mean aren't you all Fire Nation?".

"Yep born and raised eighty-five long years in which I've buried my husband, son-in-law and grandson because of a stupid war only the rich Fire Nation citizens want" she scowled. "Okay I get that but why risk yourselves for Zuko" Sokka received a glare from Zuko for this but both boys waited for an answer. The woman turned to Zuko "Returning a favour, my grandson and a lot of other peoples family from round her were part of the 41st Division" she watched as Zuko's eyes widened "You remember the name". He nodded and his hand automatically rose to his scar but the woman took it in hers instead. "The 41st Division who were they?" Toph asked,

"A group of new recruits sent out to be slaughtered like lambs".

"Did any survive?" Zuko almost whispered, "No, but it doesn't change the fact you stood up for them" "Wait, what?" this time it was Katara who spoke. "Have you ever wondered why he was banished how he got that awful scar" the old lady demanded " those bastards planned the death of our children in their fancy war room when the Fire lord's own child speaks up for them and what does the cold hearted snake do? Her voice was rising with very word. "Banish him, banish him and burn him with his own hand" the woman finished. All eyes were turned towards the ground except a blue pair. Katara stood in front of Zuko who had a pained look on his face and had his freed hand to his scar. She looked into his eyes, took a deep breath and said "Zuko I'm sorry, I really didn't know how hard it was for you and I made it worse, I'm sorry". "You don't have to apologise to me I was wrong whatever my reasons I was wrong" she smiled at him "Yeah but now your not" he smiled back, a small one but a smile none the less. "How did you know about, everything" he asked the old woman, a man who looked like a butcher said "My brother is in the navy and knows this guy lieutenant Jee who told him and he told me and well you get the point".

The villagers gave supplies to the group and advice about were was safe for them to go. Zuko placed his fist to his hand and bowed "Thank you all for your help, I hope it doesn't get you into too much trouble"

"Yeah thanks" said Aang copying his fire bending teacher and bowing.

"No, thank you for the hope and strength you have given us to keep fighting, now go, defeat the Firelord and deliver us from this terrible war. Deliver us all."