(^_^) Hugs for all you wonderful people who reviewed

as well as people who simply read without reviewing...it's all good :)

And to clear up possible confusions: These events take place a day later, which means Sokka and Zuko had made it into the Boiling Rock already. You may not see the rest of the Gaang until next chapter...

And if I changed some stuff so it's not like the show..well, it's a fanfic; what do expect?

Thanks again for being so patient with me...here's chapter 9!

"I'm going to ask you one more time, and I don't usually give out second chances, where is the Avatar?"

Azula stood above the Kyoshi warrior, blue flame enveloping her hand.

Suki lay in a heap on the floor. She was covered in a cold sweat and her breathing came in quick, shallow bursts. For the better part of an hour, the warrior had been tortured on information about her friends. When Azula had come to her cell for the first time yesterday, she had tried getting Suki to talk. But, since she didn't know anything, there wasn't much she could tell. She hadn't known anything about the Gaang's plans to invade the Fire Nation on the Eclipse. She had been in prison since Azula had impersonated her on her way to taking down Ba Sing Se.

But today, Azula had come back with a new determination to make Suki talk. No matter what. Aided by Ty lee, who had blocked Suki's chi and made it impossible for her to move an inch on her own, Azula had been alternating between burning Suki's limbs and hair, and kicking, punching and clawing at any visible skin she could find. Tough as the Avatar she idolized, Suki never broke, and she never talked.

Ty lee was getting anxious. She wondered how long could the girl possibly keep this up? Either Azula would kill her eventually, or she would find out what she wanted to know...and still kill her.

Mai had never been more bored in her life. She had long since gave up trying to make sense of her friend's motives. She had come to the verdict that Azula was crazy. Not the kooky, eccentric crazy like the earth King Bumi, but the kind of crazy that drove a person to do unspeakable things. Such as torturing people for sport. Even the bored noblewoman could tell that Suki didn't know where they were. Even if she was playing tough by not talking.

"Where is he!" Azula demanded once more. She gave a swift kick to Suki's stomach, forcing her on her stomach. "I asked you a question!"

Mai sighed and rolled her eyes. "Give it a rest Azula. She's not talking."

Azula gave a sound of frustration and turned towards Mai, angrily spewing fire out of her mouth. Mai avoided the inferno by simply stepping half an inch to the side.

Angered even more, Azula landed a more powerful kick in the same spot, forcing Suki on her back this time. Her chest heaved heavily. Azula dropped to a crouch, right above Suki.

She flicked her fingers and a small flame appeared at her finger tips. "You better start talking now Baby Doll, or else I'm going to gauge out your eyes, stuff them down your throat and then burn your tongue while it's still attached to your mouth."

Ty lee shuddered. Suddenly she was beginning to question a lot of her personal morals.

Suki weighed her options. She figured, one way or another, Azula would kill her. She could talk now, and waste her breath telling the Princess that she didn't know a damn thing about Aang and his friends, or she could continue to mock Azula with her silence and die choking on her own eyes. Judging by the crazed look in the girl's golden eyes, she knew Azula was not above doing such an inhumane act.

Suki felt a dull throbbing coming back into her body. The only advantage of having Ty lee block all her chi was that it paralyzed her, allowing Suki to essentially feel none of the pain Azula had inflicted on her.

"Fine," Suki's voice was raspy from the shouting she did in the beginning. But no more. She would die, she had already accepted that, but she would die as a warrior that did not give the Fire Princess the benefit of knowing that she had broken her. No, Suki would die protecting her friends in anyway she knew how. "You want me to talk? Then I'll talk."

Azula's eyes gave a wild glint and she leaned closer to Suki. Perfect. "I'll talk." Suki whispered, her voice hoarser than ever. "I hope you rot in hell, you psychotic bitch. Even if I did know where the Avatar was, I would rather DIE than sell him to you. So you can go and fuck yourself while you keep looking, because I can guarantee that you'll meet your end before he meets his."

The cell went quiet, the only noise being Suki's deep breathing, she was resisting the urge to cry out, the dull throbbing she felt earlier had come full force now. She could feel every kick, ever burn, every punch all over again. But she had vowed: she would not die screaming for this Princess.

Just as Azula was about to snap, it was Ty lee would pulled her back. She struggled to pin her against the wall of the cell. She had no idea she was almost as strong as Azula.

"What are you doing Ty lee?" Azula screamed. "Get your hands off of me you traitor!"

"No Azula stop it!" Ty lee shouted back. "Can't you see what she's doing? She wants you think she's given up. So you'll kill her."

"An easy way out." Mai said in her monotone voice.

Ty lee nodded hastily. "Don't kill her yet, Azula. Make her suffer. Keep her alive while you kill all of her friends."

Azula stopped struggling. She stared long and hard at Ty lee and it was like meeting a new person. She had no idea that her bright, bubbly friend could have such a dark side to her. She agreed with Ty lee nonetheless. She would prove this girl wrong. She would kill the avatar first, and bring Suki his head as proof.

Then she would kill her.

"Fine." Azula said. Mai looked up interested. Azula had always done things her way. She was definitely losing her edge...

Ty lee watched Azula approach Suki. After a few seconds that seemed like forever, she pulled her foot back and kicked the girl at her feet harder than she had ever had before. Suki hissed in pain as she landed against the far wall. That would definitely leave a mark, she thought sourly.

Azula turned and made her way to the cell door. She pulled it open and looked over her shoulder, a smirk plastered on her face. "I'll be back, Baby Doll." she almost sang, even as malice dripped from every word.

Through the pain, Suki managed to give her own sinister grin. "I look forward to it, Princess." she spat, hatred poisoning her words.

Azula glared at her but left the cell, Mai quickly following her as if nothing happened. Only Ty lee remained. She took a few tentative steps towards Suki, but then deciding she wasn't much of a threat, quickly hurried over to her, dropping to her knees by her.

"You must be very brave or very stupid." Suki had never heard the perky acrobat sound so urgent. A few jabs and she felt nothing once more. "I'm sorry, but I'll have to paralyze you or the pain will kill you."

"Why are you helping me?" Suki asked suspiciously. "You tried to kill me."

Ty lee shook her head impatiently as she jabbed Suki all over her body. "No, no. In the forest? I didn't try to kill you, Azula did. I never fight to kill."

Suki made a sound of contempt.

"Listen, Suki." Ty lee whispered. "I'll sneak back in in a few hours to renew the chi blocking. When you get out of here, you can find a healer and you should be good as new."

"I'm not getting out of here." Suki managed. She told herself that those were not tears threatening to fall from her eyes.

"You will." Ty lee said forcefully. "I don't know why, but I feel like something big is going to happen. A change of events if you will. Anyway, you'll be safe, and out of jail, I'm sure."

"I appreciate your help," Suki said while trying to see what limbs she could move. None. "And I owe you a life debt, but you're Azula's friend. She trusts you. Which means I can't."

Ty lee looked hurt for a fraction of a second, but she recovered quickly. "I deserve that much." she got to her feet. "I'll be back."

And with that she left Suki alone, although her parting line wasn't nearly as threatening as her friend's.

"You know, I wouldn't have let you tag along if I knew you were going to get found out so quickly." Sokka mumbled as he landed another punch into the bedroll Zuko held against his chest. "I mean I don't get it. We planned- I planned it out perfectly!"

"Cry about it." Zuko said angrily. "How are we supposed to find your dad now? You complain about me, but you don't exactly stay out of trouble yourself. I'm willing to bet you wind up in the cell next to mine."

Zuko swore as he felt one of Sokka's punches actually hit him. "You little-"

"Hey what're you doin' in there?"

Both boys stopped at the sound of knocking against the cell door. Sokka quickly snatched the pillow away and grabbed Zuko in a choke hold as the door opened revealing the guard that had accompanied Sokka down to Zuko's new cell.

Things had been going so well. He and Zuko had touched down safely at the prison, snuck in, and managed to parade around like guards for almost a full day. That is..until Zuko went and attacked a guard for harassing a female prisoner.

That's where it all went downhill.

Zuko was then arrested, and placed in a cell. Now, Sokka had to worry about rescuing two prisoners, although it was looking pretty tempting to just leave Zuko there. After all, once the Warden got wind that he was holding the banished Fire Prince in his prison, no doubt the man would guard him himself.

So now Sokka, still in disguise, had used the excuse, "just want to rough this guy up," in order to gain access to Zuko's cell. But now-

"Hey, The Warden wants this prisoner." The guard said gruffly.

"But I was just-" Sokka babbled in an attempt to gain more time.

"Now!" the other, bigger guard growled. Sokka then let get of Zuko as if he were hot rocks and slipped out the cell silently. He cast a guilty looks towards Zuko, who was being dragged off in the other direction. He took a deep breath as he walked down the semi deserted corridors trying to plot out his next course of action.

For the whole time he and Zuko were in the prison, they had scoured almost every cell, but had found no sign of Sokka's father. He was beginning to think the whole thing had been a complete waste, and now to add on to their problems, he had to find a way to bust Zuko out, and get them both out of the prison unnoticed.

Walking, but not really paying attention, Sokka finally took notice of the silence around him. It was quiet. Really quiet.

Sokka continued walking, not really knowing where he was going but determined to find every nook and cranny in the place. He rounded a corner and continued down the long corridor, there was a huge metal door at the end.

With his curiosity peeked, he approached the door with caution, wondering which despicable criminal could be lurking behind the door in such a desolate part of the prison. Sokka raised his helmet up and pressed his ear to the door. All he could hear were the sounds of guards talking.

He pulled his head away, slightly happy that he hadn't heard the rabid breathing of some deranged criminal, but leery at the thought of more guards. Even he had doubts about how long his disguise would last. Zuko had already been caught...

The metal door opened. There stood three guards. Sokka's eyes grew wide.

"You here about the prisoner?" The male guard asked. He was as huge as the Boulder, and as mean as Zuko on a bad day.

Sokka gulped. "I..uh...yes. Sir."

One of the female guards gave a husky laugh. Sokka winced, he wondered if all female guards sounded as manly as her. "You know Rao, they do this every time."

The other lady guard chuckled as well. "Send the wimpiest, dorkiest, newbs to come and handle prisoners."

Sokka felt himself blush. He wasn't that small...

"Come on, kid." The other woman said with a smirk. "I think you can handle this one. She's got a little kick, but I'm sure she won't be too much of a problem now."

Sokka nodded and followed the guard down the corridor. She didn't try and make small talk and Sokka was pretty glad.

They came to another metal door and the guard tapped four times. A few seconds later it swung open and the stepped inside.

The corridor was lined with cells, and it was eerily quiet. Sokka felt uneasy. Usually the prisoners made noise.

"So um...these cells all empty?" Sokka asked.

The guard chuckled and shook her head. "Oh no. Most of the people in here are prisoners of war, or idiots that committed treason against the Fire Nation."

Sokka paled. Prisoners of war. His dad could be behind one of these cells. "But they're so quiet." he stated.

She snorted. "Yeah. We like to joke and say they're giving us the silent treatment. Like it'll do a damn thing when the Firelord kills their Avatar. Then, they'll really be silent."

Sokka didn't respond.

At the end of the corridor, she stopped and turned to Sokka. "We don't know what's wrong with this one. The Princess was in here herself earlier interrogating her. She may not even be alive."

"The P-Princess?" Sokka stammered. He hoped to all things Holy that she wasn't talking about the Fire Princess.

"Yeah, Princess Azula asked to question her specifically." She lowered her voice and leaned in to Sokka. "We could hear the screams all the way from our post. Then it just got silent."

Sokka swallowed, he could feel himself sweating. "And I'm supposed to...?"

The guard rolled her eyes. "Take her to the infirmary you, idiot. Get her checked out, see if she's gonna make it. If she's a goner, Dr. Shiu will take care of the rest."

Sokka nodded. The guard opened the door and they entered the cell quietly. There, hunched in the corner, was none other than Suki.

"I'm sorry Mai." Zuko sighed. It seemed like he had been saying the same thing over and over again.

He still couldn't believe he got caught. After all the careful planning, he let his stupid ego or whatever it was get in the way. He was glad that he helped out the woman being harassed by the crude guard, Katara would have been proud of his chivalrous act. However, at the cost of him getting found out, putting their entire mission in jeopardy. Sokka was almost as red as his scar used to be when he watched Zuko being dragged off.

And the fact that The Warden could still recognize him without the scar was scary.

The first thing The Warden did was remind him of a bounty that the Firelord had placed on his wayward son's head, promising a hefty load of gold to the person who brought him home. After that, he also took the pleasure of telling him that Princess Azula was also visiting the prison. The third thing he had told Zuko was that he was sending him to have a chat with his dear niece, who coincidently was Mai.

As the Warden shoved Zuko into the cell and into the wooden, hard backed chair, he looked at him with cruel smile and said, "Whether or not I tell the Princess you're here depends on this meeting."

Zuko took a deep breath. That was cool. No pressure.

When Mai entered the cell, Zuko steeled himself for the blow up that would surely come as soon as she laid eyes on him.

However, the blades master was far more composed than Zuko gave her credit for. She simply looked at him, with that stoned cold look in her eyes, and shook her head sadly.

"Mai, I can-" Zuko started.

"Don't bother." she cut him off harshly. From her sleeve pocket, she pulled out the letter Zuko left for her. He felt his heart sink. He always knew that wasn't the right way to do things.

"You leave me with a letter, saying that you're running off to join the Avatar. You realize that makes you a traitor to your country don't you?"

"Yes Mai, I know that." Zuko said with a sigh. "But I have to do this. How can I stand by while the Firelord tries to destroy everything? There were four nations for a reason. Balance. This world needs balance, and wiping out every other country save the Fire Nation, will not benefit anyone."

He looked deep into her eyes, trying to make her see that what he was saying was the truth.

"You left me Zuko." Mai said softly. "I thought you loved me. You told me you loved me."

Zuko felt his shoulders slump. "I did love you Mai."

"Did?" Mai repeated, her eyes growing big. "You did love me? Don't you care anymore?"

Zuko was silent. Mai folded her arms across her chess and narrowed her eyes at her ex- boyfriend.

"Who is it Zuko?" She asked quietly. Deadly. "Who's got your heart so tight in their hands that you would leave me and your country and your throne?" She regarded him for a moment. "Is it the little blind earthbender that travels with the Avatar?"

Zuko snorted. He couldn't even bring himself to think about Toph that way.

"No?" Mai answered for him. "Then is it the waterbender Zuko? The one that the Avatar pines after?"

Zuko was stubbornly silent. Apparently, that was all the answer for Mai.

"It is isn't it?" She replied, hurt. "Answer me Zuko!" she demanded.

"Yes!" he yelled back, finally holding his own against her. "Yes, it's her. I love her, and we're going to be together."

Mai looked taken aback. She shook her head as if in denial. "Oh that was the wrong answer, Zuko." she whispered, just loud enough for him to hear.

A/N

Oh no, cliffhanger...

Sorry guys, I had to post this, even though it's a crazy cliffhanger...

Anyway, part two will be up shortly, so don't lose hope.

R&R, thanks a bunch guys C: