I'm back! Thanks to all of you guys for reviewing! I'm so glad you guys like the story. So here's chapter 11, and you're finally pulled from your cliffhanger that you all hated and told me about! I hope you enjoy, please read and review, and here we go!

"Wow, you must have been well rested," Hakoda looked up from his tea. Aang smiled and sat down. "Are we waiting for anyone else? I can't wait to see everyone, especially Katara."

Hakoda's face fell a bit, but Aang didn't catch it. "We are waiting for one person."

"Who?"

"Me." A voice said behind Aang. He turned and saw Zuko standing there. "Zuko!" he cried. He got up and hugged one of his best friends. "Nice to see ya again," Zuko said. "Have you grown taller, grown some hair, etc, etc?"

"Yea. It's a disguise. I have to stay secret, because now they're out to kill me."

"We know. But before we tell you our stories, you need to tell us yours. Why didn't you come back?"

"I wanted to, but I got hurt. Badly. The doctors made me stay and heal for a few months. I'm pretty much okay now, but I have a small limp and a terrible scar on my leg. Worse, much worse, than yours, Zuko."

Aang rolled up his pants and unlaced his boot. As he took it off, the gory scar ran from below his knee to his ankle. It was red and purple, and the other two gasped in horror as they saw it. Almost instinctively Zuko's hand flew to the left side of his face. "How…wha…that's disgusting," Zuko said. "I'm so sorry, Aang."

"It's okay," he said, putting on his boot again. "So I was forced to stay, and when I healed, I went back to the battle. But one of my friends who saved my life was run through, and I had to save him, and he asked me to stay with him, so I did, and he healed. But then, I was put under arrest to stay there, where they needed me. So, for about 15 years, I was in jail, on charge with nothing, somebody's animal that was let out only to attack and fight, and then was put back in his cage. I was a prisoner just for being who I was. But a few weeks ago, with the help of my friend, I escaped, and flew on Appa to here. So what's the story on the rebuilding of the tribe? Whose idea was that?"

"Mine," Zuko said. "We needed better protection since you weren't here. So many helped to build it."

"Good for you." Aang said. "Now where's everyone else? I need to see them and be with Katara."

It became silent in the tent as Zuko and Hakoda looked at each other. "Is it time?" Zuko asked.

"I think so," Hakoda replied. He sighed and looked at Aang. "Aang, this is very hard for us to tell you, but we'll put it as best as we can. Katara, Sokka, and Toph aren't here."

"Well, where are they?"

"That's the problem," Zuko said quietly. "We don't actually know where they are, or even if they're okay."

Aang's face clouded over. "Why?"

"Katara endlessly and faithfully waited for your return, Aang, but you never came. So about 2 and a half years ago, she, Sokka, and Toph went to go find you. They said they'd be back as soon as they found you, but I guess they won't. I stayed here because of a—responsibility—I made."

"I need to go find them," Aang said. He got up and headed for the door. "They might be in trouble, and I need to find this special person Roku told me about."

"Wait, Aang!" Hakoda said. "Who?"

"Roku said that a powerful, young bender would join me and aid me in the fight against Ozai, and that I would meet her when the time is right."

Zuko immediately knew who it was. "Did—did Roku tell you her name?" Hakoda's eyes flashed towards Zuko, as he thought the same thing.

"Yeah."

"What was it?"

"He said her name was Ara."

Sokka was tired, and so was Storm. She tiredly cruised slowly through the air. They, once again, had flown all day on Storm's back over the Earth Kingdom. They had just escaped another fleet of Fire Nation troops and were worn out. But they all had to stay awake. It wasn't like where they could sleep on Appa. They all had to sit on the eagle's back. Toph and Katara had already fallen off twice each. But they had to keep flying.

Meanwhile, Azula was heading all of the conquests around the world, now as general and admiral. And, as if that wasn't bad enough for the gang of three, she was near them, and her scouts saw them first. As one stayed for follow and the rest went back to tell her, the three travelers knew of no danger which lay below them.

Azula was going over maps and charts when the scouts came back. She looked up. "Well?"

"Your highness, we have spotted 3 travelers aboard an eagle. Two are Water Tribe, and one is an earthbender. They are traveling northeast, towards Ba Sing Se, I suspect."

"The Avatar's friends!" she hissed. "Pack up and move! We follow the bird, and on my mark, shoot it down."

The whole battalion crept and ran through the woods, trying not to be seen or heard.

But up in the sky, Storm heard them and she became restless and uneasy. "Easy, girl, what's wrong?" Sokka asked, patting her head. She screeched, which alerted Toph and Katara. "What's wrong with her?" Toph yelled as the giant bird looked below her. "I don't know!" he cried. "Keep your eyes open!"

Azula turned to the Yu-Yan archer standing next to her. "Hit the bird, and my troops will surround the new prisoners. Aim."

The archer took his aim and pulled back on the bowstring.

"Fire."

The archer let the string loose, and it flew towards the giant bird, hitting her square in the belly. Storm screamed in pain, and the archer took 2 more arrows and shot them deep into the eagle's neck. "We're under attack!" Sokka screamed as Storm fell out of the sky. He grabbed onto Katara and Toph as they fell off of Storm and fell together. They all screamed and hit the ground with a thud, knocking them all unconscious. Storm hit the ground harder, and she fought to crawl over to her friend and companion to protect him with her life. Sokka awoke for a split second, and seeing the injured bird on the ground, tried to drag himself over to her. "No…NOOO!!" he yelled, and as he reached her, he heard through his dizziness and pain in his body and head, the sounds of swords being drawn. He turned, and a sharp-edged club suddenly and swiftly met his head, knocking him out. The eagle screamed as her master fell onto his face on the ground. She tried to get up, but a few of the soldiers threw a giant net over her. As the guards tied her up, Azula came out from behind the trees. She walked towards the three unconscious bodies being tied together. "Well, look who we have here," she said; her evil voice sounding like snakes. "Men, I have an idea. Do you know who these three are? The brown-haired girl is the Avatar's wife. Let's see what happens when the Avatar finds out that his wife and friends are taken captive." She looked to her commander. "Kill the bird, and take the prisoners to my ship."

The three were dragged to the ship, headed now not to conquer more territory, but back to the Fire Nation, to capture the Avatar.

Hakoda paced worriedly. How was he to tell his son that he had a 15-year-old daughter that was to join them and save the world?

He breathed deeply. He was waiting for Zuko to join him, as he had been Ara's adoptive father all these years, and overall, Hakoda needed some support. As Zuko walked up the steps, Hakoda greeted him and they both went into Aang's tent. He looked up from a scroll. "Zuko, dad, come in," he said as he set the scroll down and gave them his attention. "What's up?" he asked warily as he saw that the two men's faces were serious. "Aang, you might need more air when we tell you this," Zuko said. "Let's go to the war room."

Then they sat down. "Guys, I know something is wrong. I can feel it. Please tell me!"

"We know where you can find the girl," Hakoda said. "The one Roku told you about."

"Where?"

Zuko sighed, and then turned to the archway of the door. "Ara," he yelled, "you can come in."

"She's here?" Aang asked, bewildered. "She's in the tribe? Do I know her?" He turned to Hakoda, who looked towards the doorway and nodded. Aang turned.

A young girl walked in. It was the same girl he had knocked down yesterday!

Only now, instead of staring in her eyes, he looked her up and down. Her hair was down, but two hair loops connected to a bun in the back. Her hair was a rich chocolate brown, like Katara's, grey eyes, and a narrow yet oval-shaped face. Her skin was a lighter color than most people in the Water tribes. She had a headband that matched her clothing, a water tribe parka, baggy pants, and gloves. Aang stared. She looked so much like Katara. But he knew she wasn't. She looked at Aang, and then sat down next to Zuko, across from Aang. She looked at Hakoda. "I am not here for engagement, am I?"

"No, my dear, of course not," Hakoda answered. "This man is a stranger, whom we just wanted you to meet."

"Nice to meet you, sir," she said, bowing respectfully but warily. "I'm sorry, but I must leave to finish my chores. Good day." She got up and left.

Aang cocked his head. "That's who's going to help me save the world? She's so shy!"

"She has never acted like that," Zuko said. "She's a challenge to control, a tomboy, free spirited, and outgoing. But she's strong, and a very powerful bender for 15 years old."

"She seems so familiar. And her eyes…they are so…it's hard to even explain. Who are her parents?"

"She is the daughter of two…uh…very powerful benders here," Zuko stammered. "She is destined to save the world, as is her father."

Aang looked up. Suddenly it clicked. His eyes widened as he looked towards the door. He looked at Hakoda, and then at Zuko, and back to the door. "No…it can't be. That's…that's my…my…"

"Aang, that is your daughter, Ara."

When Katara woke, she had a pounding headache. Her body ached all over, and it hurt to breathe. As she tried to sit up, she found that her water pouch was gone and her hands and feet were tied behind her. Her eyes tried to adjust to the pitch blackness, and about 2 feet in front of her, she accidentally kicked a lump, which groaned.

"Toph!" Katara said, moving over to support her friend as she struggled to sit up.

"Katara, what happened? I only remember falling, and then nothing. Where's Sokka?"

"We were ambushed. They shot Storm down and we fell out of the sky. And now that you mention it, where is Sokka? And where are we?"

Toph placed her hands behind her on the metal. "We're on a ship," she said. "There's something—or someone—over near that corner, and their heartbeat is really faint."

Katara crawled over to the corner, where she didn't see anything. "I'm going to cut myself loose," she said, finding a discarded food knife, "and continue looking for Sokka." As the threads snapped, she slid the knife over to Toph. She then crawled on her hands and knees around. "Sokka? Sokka, can you hear me? Where are you?" As she placed her hand down, suddenly she felt something warm and wet on the floor. She brought her hand to her nose and sniffed. It was a metallic smell. "Blood…oh no, Sokka!!"

She followed the trail of blood through the darkness and finally felt cloth. She followed that until she knew it was the body of her brother. "Sokka!" she screamed, and tried to find his face. She found it, and it was cold. She felt his chest, which was still rising and falling, but faintly. He wasn't awake, but as she caressed his hair, she felt a gigantic lump and a gash over the front of his face traveling to his upper head. This was where the blood came from. Katara couldn't see her brother, but she knew it was bad. Tears fell from her face as she gathered her brother in her arms. "Toph!" she cried through her tears. "Come quickly! He's hurt! Badly!"

Toph crawled over as fast as she could, for she had broken her leg in the fall. She felt for his hand, which when she held it, was cold and lifeless. She started crying. "Can't you heal him?"

"I have no water."

"What about our tears?"

"It wouldn't be enough to help him."

As they sat with his bruised and unconscious body for what seemed like hours, they both fell asleep, holding on to save the young man who had done so much for them.

Okay! So a bit a cliffhanger even more, but okay! So to clear things up a bit, Sokka, Toph, and Katara had left to go find Aang 2 ½ years before, so they had scoured the world looking for him. So Ara was left in Zuko's protection and guidance in her training. Now, Aang has found out, what's he gonna do? And Sokka, Katara, and Toph are captured! Sokka's gravely hurt and out cold, and the only comfort for them in the pitch blackness (which isn't a problem for Toph) and loneliness is the two women holding onto each other and Sokka's cold body for dear life. What'll happen? Hehehe… left you with another cliffhanger—sorry, it's what I do! So please read and review, I love hearing from you guys. It's awesome! And even though I've written the story, I get so excited over it each time I hear from you all! So keep it coming! Read and review, I'll reply, and sorry, you'll have to wait for the next chapter to come tomorrow. Thanks you guys!

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