Okay, here's chapter 13! Hope you all enjoy, and what'll happen to Katara? What about Sokka and Toph? What evil plan is Azula coming up with? And Ara and Aang test each other? READ ON PLEASE AND REVIEW! Enjoy…

WAIT! READ THIS BEFORE CHAPTER!

I have to warn you, that the next few chapters are heartbreaking, and you might cry or become completely sad. I warn you now. Don't say I didn't! And if I make you cry, please tell me, so I know that my story affected you in a certain way. Like I said, I warn you now. But please read on…

Toph had been in her cell for about an hour, with silence only around her. Sokka and Katara weren't there with her, and even though she could "see," she couldn't get out of the wooden cage. She needed to find them and they had to escape.

As she thought about what to do, she felt a guard coming, dragging something along behind him. She could feel it was a big—something. The guard opened the door that locked the two cells in that room in there.

"Hey, you girl! Stand back. You got company!" the guard yelled, and Toph, crawled back. He opened the door and threw in someone. Toph tried not to cry out as she heard Sokka hit the ground with a thud. He cried out in pain, but it was only a small whimper.

She hobbled over to his limp body and flipped him over. She had him rest against her, and she cried.

"Sokka," she whispered. "Please wake up." Almost instantly, he groaned, and Toph smiled. "Sokka?"

"Toph?" he asked quietly, reaching for her face. "Where's Katara?" She placed his hand against her cheek.

"I don't know," she said as she held him like a child. "She's not here."

"Is there any water?" he asked, after he had coughed. He winced.

"I'll get you some," she said as she gently placed his body down, got up, and limped to the bucket of water. She filled a bowl, found a blanket, and tilted his head up so he could drink. She ripped off two shreds of the blanket.

"What are you doing?"

"Trying to make you well," she answered as she soaked one of the rags in the water and gently mopped his head where the giant welt, gash, and bruise all in one was. "I may not be a healer, but I'm going to try." She cleaned away all of the dried blood on his forehead, cheek, shoulder, and hair. She could feel him close his eyes and smile while she caressed his face and wiped it of all the sweat and blood. She lightly kissed him, and ordered him to relax. "Rest now," she said. "I'm here."

A few hours later, Sokka was sitting upright, his head in a bandage and a huge purple, black, and green bruise down the left side of his face and across his forehead. He couldn't open his left eye, but was okay for now.

As he rested, Toph suddenly shot up. "A guard's coming! He's dragging something. I think it's Katara!"

The guard opened the cell door and the two prisoners shot towards the bars. Sokka looked for his sister, and she was led in in chains.

Blood was running down her face and body, her hair was ragged, bruises and gigantic welts stood out all over her, her eyes were bloodshot, burns covered her abdomen and chest, her clothes were charred, and a burnt smell entered the prison cells.

Sokka was shocked. His beautiful sister was now a disgusting, dirty, and dying person. Tears fell down his face as he cried out to her, calling her name over and over. But she didn't even turn towards him; she didn't move except when her chains were yanked forward, and she was shoved into her cell. The guard took off her chains and shoved her to the ground. Toph cried out, feeling the shattered body fall. She felt the ground, but as the guard left, Katara didn't get up.

Sokka turned to Toph. "Why won't she get up? Don't tell me she's gone…" his voice cracked.

"She's not, but close," Toph said. "Katara, can you hear me? It's Toph…please, turn if you can hear me."

Katara didn't move. There was only silence, but Sokka tried again, softly. "Katara?"

"I…I…can't move," she whispered, barely audible, her voice like a ghost. "I…I'm…on fire…Those eyes…the hatred." She turned onto her back slowly, wincing and tensing up as she flipped herself over. She barely turned her head to look at them. Her eyes were full of pain, fear, and surrender.

"I can't go on…" she whispered. "I give up. There's nothing left for me." she closed her eyes.

"No!" Sokka yelled, shocking Toph. "You can't give up. Aang needs you. Ara needs you. We need you! You can go on. Your waterbending and healing life is in you. Now come on, heal yourself!" He took the bucket from his side and tossed the water onto her. "Heal yourself! Katara, we need you!"

The water hit her like daggers. Her burns stung. She screamed in pain, and every move made her want to die.

But all of the sudden, it clicked. She knew she couldn't. She opened her eyes, bent the water around her whole body, and it started to glow. Sokka shielded his eyes, and when the light faded, he turned. His sister was sitting there fully healed, beautiful, her blue eyes shining, and facing towards them. He smiled and she smiled too.

Aang and Ara had been walking for a long time. They were talking and catching up on things and both asking a lot of questions about each other. They finally got to the place where Appa and Momo were hiding. "You want to meet Appa and Momo?" Aang asked.

"Mom spoke of them. Appa is your animal guide, not to mention a ten-ton flying bison, and Momo is your pet lemur. And they are your best friends."

"Yep!" Aang said. "Appa! Momo!"

Chattering was heard as Momo flew out from behind an ice sheet. He landed on Aang's shoulder, and Aang stroked the nuzzling lemur. "He's my best little buddy," he said, and looking up, added, "And that's my best big buddy!" Ara's eyes widened as Appa walked towards her. He stopped in from of the girl and sniffed her. His big tongue came out and mopped her down, and she laughed. Aang couldn't help but think of how his daughter's laugh reminded him of his own when he was a kid.

Appa lay down in front of Ara as she stroked his head. "Nice to meet you, Appa," she said, and Momo jumped from Aang's shoulder onto Ara's, and she smiled. "You too, Momo!"

"They both like you," Aang said as his best friends got acquainted with his daughter. "So, Hakoda and Zuko tell me that as an airbender, you're free spirited. Is it true? I want to test you."

Ara raised one eyebrow with a smile. "Bring it, dad," she laughed as he airbended himself onto Appa. She did the same. "Show me what you can do," he said, handing Appa's reins to her. "Just say 'yip yip.'"

"Yip yip!" she cried and Appa took off into the sky. Aang's lips were going every which way; they were going so fast, as was Momo's and even Appa's. But Ara just yelled with delight as she controlled Appa every which way.

By the end of the ride, Aang's, Momo's, even Appa's hair was fully poofed out. They all looked worn out. But Ara straightened and smiled. "C'mon, dad," she said, pulling him. "I have a test for you!"

They ran to the stables and she showed him a stall. Inside was a giant, pure-white polar eagle, but unlike all of the others, had a grey arrow on its forehead down to its tail, and arrows down its wings. Aang smiled. "Is she yours?"

"He," Ara corrected. "He's the son of Uncle Sokka's polar eagle, Storm. He was born a few days after I was, and had these strange markings, so Sokka gave him to me. He's my animal guide and my best friend."

"Does he have a name?"

"Warrior." At the sound of his name, the eagle's giant head perked up and, finding his best friend, nuzzled her happily. He then looked at Aang and chirped. "Hey, boy," Aang said, patting his feathers. "He likes you," Ara said. She looked at her father. "So, you asked earlier if I was free-spirited. Wanna see just how free-spirited I am?" she smiled. Aang looked at her sarcastically.

Ten minutes later, after saddling Warrior and standing outside, she got on and patted him. She turned to her father, who was smiling with crossed arms, leaning on Appa. "Come on, boy," Ara yelled, "let's show him what we can do!"

The eagle screamed and leapt straight into the air. He flew straight up, unfolding his wings and taking flight. He soared up, flipped over and over, and filled the air with eagle cries.

Suddenly Aang watched as Warrior flipped over, dropping Ara. "No!" he screamed as he jumped aboard Appa.

"Ara!" he cried, but he stopped.

She was falling, but the eagle folded his wings and dropped like a bullet to the ground. He went under her, and suddenly opening his wings 30 feet above the ground, he caught her. She held on as the eagle stopped on a dime in front of Aang. He fell over, back first, onto the snow, and she laughed. "Free spirited enough for you?"

"Yes," Aang said, looking up at her. "Does Warrior let others ride him?"

"Yea, if I allow it," she said, getting off. "You want to try?"

"Try? I want to show you what your father can do." He got on and took the reins. "Warrior, let's go!" he nudged the eagle firmly and they both took off. Aang let the eagle spin, glide, and swoop. He jumped off, and the eagle flew down past him. As he was falling, he looked at Warrior. The eagle looked at him back. Aang winked, and the eagle pulled up. He swooped and soared around Aang, who fell farther, and as soon as he was about to hit the ground, Warrior came from one side and suddenly picked him up. They flew around, and landed suddenly next to Ara. She covered her head, and when she looked up, Aang was standing in front of her, smiling and his eyes shining.

"That was awesome!" she cried, and Aang only smiled wider. "C'mon, let's go get something to eat. I'm starving," he said, walking hand in hand to their tents. Appa and Warrior walked back to the stalls, and Appa climbed into his old one, content. Momo scurried onto Appa and fell asleep.

As they sat down, Aang handed Ara a steaming bowl of rice and fish, and she took off her wet boots and stuck her feet near the fire. Zuko walked in and sat down. He pulled his mittens and hood off, and breathed fire onto his hands. "Geez, it's cold out," he said, looking at father and daughter. "Can I get some food?"

"Sure," Ara said as she scooted neared to him and handed him rice. She gave him a hug and leaned on his shoulder. But she suddenly got up. "I'd better go do my chores. Grandfather will want me back before dark. Bye dad, bye Zuko." She pulled on her boots and mittens, hugged her father, and walked out.

Aang bent over. "Zuko, as one of my best friends, I thank you."

"For what, Aang?"

"For being her adoptive father. For protecting her. For raising her right. For loving her."

"It was nothing, buddy," Zuko answered. "I loved her since the day she was born, like my own daughter. It was amazing, Aang, when Katara asked me to watch her not long after she was born, I was scared that my face would haunt her, and my scar; that she would see always in her mind, just my scar. But when she opened her eyes, all she did was reach for me. I picked her up and we looked into each other's eyes, and I felt so calm. And she touched my face, but I knew she could see past my scar, for who I was, inside, not outward appearances. And Katara said we'd have a bond. And we do." Zuko sighed. "Well, I've go to talk to Mai." He got up, and Aang looked at him in surprise. "Mai's still with you?"

"Yeah. Remember, Mai and Ty Lee joined us a little bit before Ara was born. They joined us, and Mai and I are together."

"Are you going to marry her?"

Zuko smiled. "When the time is right," he said, pulling on his warm parka newly made of Appa's shedded fur. "but I don't know when that is."

"I think 15 years is long enough," Aang said, getting up. "If you love her, you should get married. So what's holding you back?"

"What happened with you and Katara," he said, stopping before the tent. "That's why Toph and Sokka aren't married yet either. You and Katara are strong. But if I left for the war, I don't know what would happen to Mai if I didn't come back."

"If your love is strong, Zuko, then it'll work."

Zuko walked out and Aang firebended another flame onto the firewood. The blaze caught, and the fire roared. He began to meditate and his tattoos glowed. He went into the Avatar state.

Ara walked in. The pottery she was carrying smashed as it dropped to the ground. She stared at her father, and ran out. "Zuko!"

He turned as she ran towards him. He dropped the things he was carrying and he opened his arms wide. She ran into his arms. "Zu…ko…" she said, out of breath, "Something's wrong with my dad. Hurry!"

They ran back, and Zuko opened the tent flap. He saw his friend's eyes and tattoos, and he breathed a sigh of relief. "He's fine."

"What?"

"He's the Avatar, and when his eyes and tattoos glow, he's in this stated called the Avatar state. All of his past lives are within him, giving him power. He's just meditating though. Come on, Ara, he'll be fine." They walked out; Zuko put his arm around his adopted daughter and told her more about Aang as the sun went down.

Katara, now healed, paced back and forth along her cell. Across the hall, Sokka and Toph were sitting against the wooden bars. They were all trying to figure a way out.

Suddenly, Toph sat up. "Sugar Queen, will you please, SIT DOWN!! You're getting my feet dizzy!!"

"Sorry," Katara said. "We just need a plan,"

"Well, think of one that doesn't include pacing! Wait, someone's coming…"

The door opened and light flooded in. Katara and Sokka shielded their eyes.

"Alright, peasants," the ridiculous voice hissed. "I'm through waiting. Tell me where he is, and I won't hurt you."

"Never, Azula!" Katara yelled, and pulling up a water whip, slapped the princess in her face. Azula's eyes blazed with anger and hatred as sparks shot for her fingertips. But they went out. "Fine," she said calmly. "Then I have more than one trick up my sleeve. Say, sending your dear husband a letter to the water tribe, from you, begging him to come and help." She laughed and started to walk out. "But he'd better hurry and he'd better be there if you're to stay alive, say, at the end of three days."

As she walked out, Katara fell to her knees. "No," she held her face in her hands. "NO!!" she looked at Sokka and Toph. "It's a trap for Aang. They'll lead him here and kill him; and then us." Her tears fell as she turned to her cell window and looked out. "Aang," she whispered. "Please, stay away."

The next day, Aang and Ara were practicing water and airbending when Hakoda ran up. "Aang," he said, looking at him with serious, tear-filled, cold blue eyes. He held out a letter to him.

Aang dropped the water he was bending and walked over slowly. He took the message and read it. "I have to go," he said, his face paled as he ran to his tent. "Dad!" Ara yelled, running after him along with Hakoda. When they reached his tent, he was grabbing a few belongings and putting them in his bag. He stood up, grabbed another coat, and turned to them. "Dad, what is it?"

Aang looked at his daughter. He sighed. "It's your mother."

"What?"

"She's captured. She managed to send this one message, but she said to hurry, as she, Sokka, and Toph are to be executed."

"When?" Ara asked, full of fear.

"In three days." He pulled his cloak over his head, and put on the hood. "I will not lose them again."

"Aang, son, wait. This isn't Katara's handwriting. I know hers, and this isn't it. It could be a trap."

"I don't care," he said as he took his cloak, jacket, and long shirt off. "I will not lose the ones I love—again. Now please get out. Both of you. I need to get ready. But call Zuko."

Aang took the razor blade in his hand and reached for his hair.

So I hope you guys liked it. Yep, Aang is going to rescue Katara, Sokka, and Toph… but he's not going alone… also, the next few chapters are a little—okay, a lot—heartbreaking. So please, if you feel the need to cry, please do so and tell me! I want to know if the story affected you that much!

Thanks for all of your great reviews, and please READ AND REVIEW this one! I love all you guys, and thanks for making me feel like the story is really good… and also, I'd love to hear what you guys think will happen…I may or may not answer your question because it might be coming up, but I want to read what you think! Thanks especially to Kataanglove and hsm2fangurl. Kataanglove, you rock and are the best avatar friend, and hsm2fangurl, you make the comments oh so exciting for me to read! As do you, Kataanglove, no offense. :)

So I hope you guys enjoyed, please send me comments, and I am warning you now about the next few chapters, but don't stop reading! PLEASE DON'T STOP READING! Thanks you guys!

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