Sokka's POV:
Once we had gotten to town, Aang decided we should split up. He went alone and Toph and I went together. Even though Toph insisted she could go alone, I wasn't so convinced.
"How are we supposed to find this 'Kimiko'?" Toph asked me.
"Well.." I answered. "Kimiko is a girl's name, so that narrows it down...a little."
"Duh." Toph suddenly stopped in her tracks.
I turned around but I didn't see anything that could alarm her. "What is it?"
She stopped her foot on the ground, feeling the vibrations in the Earth. Suddenly she screamed.
I panicked, "WHAT? What's wrong?!" I looked around frantically. "What happened?! Are we under attack?!"
Toph shook her head. "No, it's ZUKO!"
"Zuko...underground?"
Without answering me Toph pounded away at the Earth, making a small hole. "Get in." she instructed me. I jumped in beside her. "Now hang on." Suddenly I felt myself dropping and I landed in a small dimly lit room.
"Sokka? Toph?"
I smiled at the voice. "Zuko! It really is you!"
"And me." a monotone voice informed me.
"And Mai!" I exclaimed. "I'm so glad we found you guys." I ran over with Toph to them. "How did you guys get here?"
"That would be my doing."
I looked at the woman who spoke next. She was very tall, but pretty. But there was something about her that just...wasn't right. "Are you Kimiko?"
She chuckled softly. "Well you catch on fast. Yes, I am. And I'm so glad that you two decided to 'drop in'. You saved me the trouble of capturing you myself."
It was Toph's turn to speak. "Capture us? What for? We didn't do anything to you!"
"Well you see Toph-"
"How do you know my name?" Toph cut her off.
Kimiko looked angry. "Do NOT interrupt!" I watched in awe as fire came out of her fists, in anger.
"You're a firebender." I commented.
Kimiko looked amused at me. "Oh I'm more than that sweetie."
I watched in awe once more as she lifted up her hands and closed the hole with Earth that Toph had made in the ceiling. She then moved her arms behind her and then with a quick jerky motion, sent a blast of water from a pouch in our direction.
She smiled, obviously pleased with herself.
I could barely speak. "But...but how? Aang is the Avatar. No one else could possibly-"
Kimiko interrupted. "I learned. I was born a firebender then I traveled to the Northern Water Tribe, undercover, where I eventually learned waterbending. It was difficult but I mastered it in time. I went to the Earth Kingdom where a young boy was more than happy to teach me."
My head was spinning. This can't be happening.
"And now," she continued. "I must learn airbending. So I was going to capture all of the Avatar's friends to make sure he came looking for you. After I capture him as well, he WILL teach me airbending."
"But why?!" Zuko asked.
Kimiko glared at us. "Because I'M going to be the new Avatar!"
She raised up her arms and everything went dark.
Aang's POV:
I searched everywhere but I couldn't find anyone who knew anything about Kimiko. I was beginning to feel like I'd never find Zuko and Mai. I used my glider to fly back to the palace. I figured Sokka and Toph would be back by now.
"Sokka! Toph!" I called. "I'm back." I didn't get an answer. "Katara?" Still no answer. Where was everybody?
Katara's POV:
I couldn't move. I had struggled and thrashed and kicked but I was chained to something that I couldn't see. I turned my head to see my brother and Toph. I turned my head the other way to see Zuko and Mai. Was Aang here too? I looked up to see a woman standing in front of me. "Kimiko." I breathed.
Aang's POV:
I searched the entire house but no one was home. I crumpled to the floor. It felt like my head was spinning, like when I was first learning to use my glider and it would always spin out of control.
It was then I noticed a piece of paper lying on the kitchen table. Picking it up, my heart sunk. It read:
Hello Avatar. I'm sure you figured out by now that I took all your friends. If you wish to see them again you must first do something for me. I'll be at the palace gates at dusk. Don't be late.
-Kimiko
"Oh no.." I gasped.