Disclaimer:
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender or its characters
Claimer:
I do own Amaterasu (not the name though)
Summary:
When Zuko and Aang search for the original firebenders, they encounter a princess who helps them along the way. She joins the group, but nobody really knows about her past. When they find out, will they hate her? Or will they still befriend her? ZukoxOc
Remember what I state below:
Italics and ' ' Means thinking! The person is talking to themselves, sounds a bit weird, neh? Example: 'Oh brother.' Katara thought.
((Author Speaking))
Chapter Two:
Boiling Rock
It was nighttime at the Western Air Temple and all way going with the Gaang. Zuko had a tray full of tea cups while one hand was holding a kettle and filling up the empty cups. "One can make tea like Uncle." He said as he frown at the memory of his beloved uncle, "But hopefully I learned a thing or two. Would you like to hear Uncle's favorite tea joke?"
"Sure." Katara said with a rather calm expression.
"I like joke!" cheered Aang as a smile grew on his face.
Toph grinned, "Bring it." Zuko stood up with his tray.
"Okay," he said while kneeling between The Duke and Haru, "well, I can't remember how it goes but the punch line. . ." the boys helped themselves to tea, "is, "Leaf me alone, I'm bushed." The group looked dead panned, Zuko had the same look as well. "Well, it's funny when Uncle tell it."
"Right. Maybe because he remembers the whole thing." said Katara as she grabs a cup, the others laughed as well as Aang as he takes a cup as well and Zuko smiles.
"It's nice to get a chance to relax." Toph says as Zuko pours Toph and Tep and hands them their drinks, "it hardly ever happens."
Sokka was sitting by himself, thinking. "Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" He asks Zuko as they walked off toward the side. Amaterasu watched before looking back at the group.
"So, Ammy, how does it feel to be a princess?" asked Katara, not knowing how to start a subject any other way. The princess frowned.
Letting out a sigh, she looked into the fire."Not all that great."
"What do you mean "not all that great"? Doesn't royalty get and do whatever they want?" Teo said as Toph frowned, she understood. Zuko and Sokka had finished up their conversation and settled back around the fire.
"Ever since I was little I wanted to play with the other children, the lower class. My father would never allow me to. All the children of the higher class were stuck up because of their ranks and they only told me things that I wanted to hear because they were proud to say that they had a princess for a friend." Zuko, Aang, and Toph looked at the fire, reminiscing of some things. "All I ever wanted was to be a normal child, I didn't want the title, the riches, the fame. I wanted to do what normal kids do and have fun, but no. I had to stay at home and learned royal etiquette, I had to stay at home and train, and train, and train until my small body could not endure anymore. I had to stay home and watch the children from the windows laugh and have the right to say that they had real friends." Her eyes got glassy as she let out a small sigh.
"Ammy..." Aang began, wanting to comfort his new friend.
"I'm fine. I eventually got use to it, y'know? I realized that as a princess it isn't about me or what I want or what I have to endure... It's about my people and how all these things makes me strong for them. My thoughts were selfish."
"Your thoughts were normal, Ammy." Toph said as she looked in the Sun warrior princess direction, "You wanted what every child wanted."
"That's what my mother said before she left." A smile appeared on her face as she remembered her mother.
"She left?" Zuko thought about his own mother, Fire Lady Ursa, and how she disappeared that night his grandfather, Azulon, died.
Amaterasu nodded, "I'm not even sure why, she didn't even say a word. I asked my father were mother when he said that she had some obligations to follow but she would return when the war was over. I'm not angry at her, but I just wander what she is doing."
"That's odd." Haru noted.
"I think she's helping people, my mother was a kind woman and I can't imagine her doing any harm." She stood up and stretched, "Sorry to sadden the mood. I think I'm going to go take a walk now." and with that said, she left leaving the gang around the fire.
"She's strong." Teo said, poking the fire with a stick he found lying on the side. Everyone nodded.
Aang sighed, "She sounds like an airbender. How one thinks of others and not of themselves because the world doesn't revolve around one person but many."
"I'm going after her." said the exiled prince as he stood up. "I don't want her alone, she probably needs comfort. She's been bottling things up and I think we're the only ones she found comfort with."
"Just try not to make her cry harder, kay Zuko?" said Sokka as every chuckled, "You are a jerk."
"No I'm not!" shouted the firebender as he walked off in the same direction as the princess went.
Katara started to put the empty cups up, "We should all go to sleep."
"Yeah, it's getting pretty late." Haru added as Aang blew out the fire.
Amaterasu sat on the edge of the fountain, dipping her forefinger in the water to create ripples. "You know what you did back there was pretty brave." came a voice from the shadows, the princess lifted her head and looked at the direction she heard it from just to see Zuko walking towards her.
"Brave? Pfft, I made everyone go from cheery to teary." A sad smile formed.
"But I feel as though me, Toph, and Aang could relate. We all have bottled up emotions inside and you've kind of awakened them in us so we could embrace them." He tried to console her.
"Really? Oh well, it isn't that important I said I was fine. You weren't going to catch me crying." Her mahogany eyes met his gold ones.
Zuko shrugged, "Good. I don't do well with crying girls."
"I figured as much." She chuckled before standing up, "but thanks for trying to help me."
"It's no big deal after so much you did for me yesterday." He smiled.
Amaterasu smiled, "I guess. Let's go back to camp." He nodded his head in agreement and the two walked side by side towards the camp and that's where they caught Sokka creeping. "What is he doing?" she whispered.
"Something stupid. Let's hop on Appa and scare him." And with that said, they ran towards Appa quietly and jumped on the saddle and in just a few minutes they startled the water tribe boy as he climbed up. "Not up to anything, huh?" Sokka yelped in shock and lost his grip, he fell down on the hard stone floor with a loud thud and groan.
"Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna rescue my dad." He put his belongings back into the saddle, "You happy now?"
"I'm never happy." admitted the exile prince. The princess looked completely confused.
Raising her hand, she paused their conversation. "Rescue your dad from where?"
"Boiling rock." Zuko answered for Sokka.
Amaterasu's eyes widened, "Are you insane!" she shouted which caused both boys to slap their hands on the girl's mouth, shutting her up.
"Shh." Sokka cooed, "Look, I have to do this. The invasion plan that I did on the day of the Eclipse was my idea. It was my decision to stay when things went wrong..." Zuko let his hand free and jumped off the bison, "I have to regain my honor. You both can't stop me."
"You need to regain your honor?" Zuko raised a brow, "Believe me, I'm going with you."
"No, I need to do this alone." Sokka argued.
"How are you going to get there on Appa? Last I checked, they don't have bison day cares." Amaterasu giggled at the prince's attempt of humor.
"We'll take my war balloon." said the exiled prince, "Ammy, you comin' with us?" The water tribe boy looked at her, with almost pleading eyes.
"You're a firebender so you might prove a big help too." Sokka reasoned.
Amaterasu looked back at the gaang and then at those big, pleading eyes. Sighing, she nodded her head. "Alright, I'll go." And with that said, she jumped down with Sokka and they all walked off.
"Pretty clouds." Sokka said as the trio rode in the air balloon. He tried to make small talk.
"Yeah, fluffy." said a dead panned prince.
Amaterasu pointed at one, "That one looks like a sea-turtle!" Both boys shook their heads. Zuko caught Sokka staring at him.
"What?"
"What? Oh, I didn't say anything. You know a friend of mine actually designed these war balloons."
"No kidding." Zuko sighed.
"Yeo. A balloon. But for War."
The scarred boy looked away, "There's one thing my Dad's good at," he watches Amaterasu firebend into the tank, "it's War."
"Yeah, it seems to run in the family" Sokka said nonchalantly. Amaterasu shook her head.
"Hey, hold on. Not everyone in my family is like that."
"I know, I know, you've changed." Sokka reasoned.
Zuko frowned, "I meant my Uncle. He was more of a Father to me. And I really let him down."
Sokka empathized, 'I think your Uncle would be proud of you. Leaving your home to help us, that's hard."
"It wasn't that hard." The princess stayed silent.
"Really? You didn't leave behind anyone you cared about?" asked the warrior.
"Well, I did have a girlfriend. Mai." Sokka got closer to Zuko's face with a surprised look on his face.
"That gloomy girl who sighs a lot?" He asked, causing the princess to snicker.
Zuko grinned goofily."Yeah." His face got serious. "Everyone in the Fire Nation thinks I'm a traitor. I couldn't drag her into it."
"My first girlfriend turned into the moon." The water tribe boy said while leaning on the basked.
"That's tough buddy."
"Boys, its near." Amaterasu said as they stood up right. Sokka was asleep but woke up immediately and watched as they neared a volcano-like area with steam coming out from it.
"There's plenty of steam to keep us covered. As long as we're quiet we should be able to navigate through it without being caught." He looked over at the princess, "We're going down." She nodded and began to bend fire into the take slowly, descending them down towards the ground.
Sokka frantically began to notice things. "The air outside is just as hot as the air inside so we can't fly." The balloon began to slant and they all began to lose their balance.
"So what are we suppose to do?" asked Zuko.
"I don't know! Crash landing!" shouted Sokka as they war balloon dangerously nears the water, touching the surface. Sokka flails his hand as he cover his mouth and struggles not to scream. The balloon glides on the water and crashes onto land, shattering the basket into pieces. They all get thrown with their belongings.
Zuko then stood, helping Amaterasu and Sokka up simultaneously, "How are we gonna get off the island if the balloon won't work?"
"We'll figure something out. I suspected it might be a one way ticket." Zuko and Amaterasu glared at Sokka.
"You knew this would happen and you wanted to come anyway." Zuko rolled his eyes.
"My dad might be here. I had to come see."
"Uncle always said I never thought things through, but this, ugh," he grabbed his head, "this is just crazy." he threw both his arms out.
"Hey! I never wanted you both to come along in the first place, especially you Zuko since we already spoke of this. And for the record, I always think things through. But my plans haven't exactly worked, so this time I'm playing it by ear. So there." He said as he placed his cloths in a basket. He pushes the basket but yelps as his hand automatically withdraws since the basket scorches him. He proceeds to kick it.
"Uhm, Sokka, what are you doing?" asked the princess.
"It doesn't work anyway. And we don't want anyone to find it."
"I hope you both know what you're doing. There's no turning back now," they looked behind at the fully sunken war balloon.
They found a room filled with soldier uniforms and the boys put them on, turned their backs so Amaterasu could do the same.
"I hope these disguises work." said Zuko.
"We just need to lay low and find my dad as soon as possible." The corridor is suddenly filled with running guards. The trio grinned nervously, hoping that they won't be noticed.
One guard stopped, "Guards! There's a scuffle in the yard, come on!" He said as all three of them run behind the last group. Prisoners formed a circle around two people in the centre as they circle around each other. The guards shoved the spectator prisoner and try to form a barricade in front of the crowd.
"I didn't do anything. I'm going back to my cell!" yelled Chit Sang as he waled away. A guard firebends a whip and lashes it near Chit Sang's legs.
"Stop right there, Chit Sang." said the guard. Zuko walked forward, trying interfere but Amaterasu grabs his arm.
"We can't blow our cover." said Amaterasu.
"I've had it with your unruly behavior!" said the guard to Chit Sang.
The man turns back to the guard, "What did I do?"
The guard turns toward the trio, "He wants to know what he did. Isn't that cute?" He looks back at Chit Sanf as the trio stared at him in silence. The guard then grows suspicious and inspects the tree.
Sokka eye looks toward Zuko nervously. "Uh, yeah, very cute sir." said Zuko.
"Super cute." said Sokka.
"Mhm, indeed sir. He is a cutemister." Amaterasu tried to hold in her laugh as well as Sokka and Zuko. The guard smiled at Zuko and Sokka's comments and laughed at Amaterasu's, pleased with all of their answers.
"You didn't bow down when I walked by Chit Sang." said the Guard.
Chit Sang was outraged, "What! That's not a prison rule."
"Do it."
Chit Sang protested defiantly, "Make me." A crowd began looking at the commotion as the guard firebended another whip and shot the whip towards the man. Chit Sang turns around and firebends the whip and directs it back at the guard who kicks the flame aside.
"Tsk, tsk. Firebending is prohibited." Chit Sang remained in his stance, "You're going in the cooler." He then points at Sokka, "You! Help me take him in."
Sokka looked at his two comrades, "Meet me back here in an hour." Zuko and Amaterasu both nodded and went off as the three walked away from the crowd. They take him to the cooler with two security doors, Sokka opens them and water vapor gushes out.
"The Warden will deal with you soon." threatened the guard. He shove Chit Sang in as Sokka closed the two doors. "Can you believe this guy?"
Sokka then became an actor. "Prisoners. Am I right?"
"Ugh. Tell me about it."
Zuko and Amaterasu walked, side by side. They see a door with a guard sitting outside on a bench with his helmet off, reading something. Inside was a loud with three guards eating their meals with their helmet off as they laugh. The duo were at the table, grabbing foor.
"Hey new people. I know it's the rule to have your helmet on at all times but this is the lounge, relax." said a male guard.
"But what if there's an incident? If I'm not prepared someone could strike me on the head." said Zuko as they walked toward the table as the guards laugh.
"Give it a week, they'll loosen up." said a female guard.
They sat their plates down and sit with them. "Can we, the new people, ask you veterans a few questions about prison?" Zuko asked.
"No, you can't date the female guard." said the female from before. Amaterasu cringed at the sight of the woman and her nasty grin.
The male guard scoffs, "Trust me, you don't want to." A cup is thrown at his head and the guard behind him laughs.
Zuko rolled his eyes, "No, that's not it. The boiling rock, it holds the Fire Nation's most dangerous criminals, right? So... What about war prisoners?"
Zuko and Amaterasu made it back to the yard just in time as Sokka hoped.
"Hey there, fellow guard. How goes it?" Zuko acted.
Amaterasu looked around, checking to see if anyone was watching. "Cut the crap Zuko, no one is looking."
"Really?" He asked.
"Dur." Sokka and Amaterasu said in a unison, snickering afterward.
Zuko placed his finger to his mouth. "Shh guys. Well, I asked around the lounge with Ammy. There are no Water tribe prisons. I'm afraid your father's not here."
Sokka is in shock. "What? Are you sure? Did you double check?"
"He's right." Amaterasu frowned.
Sokka held his head in despair and walked towards a wall. "No. No!" He bangs his fist again the wall in frustration.
"We're really sorry Sokka," soothed the princess.
"So, we came all this way for nothing. I failed," He leans on the wall, "Again."
The three rested for a minute, decided on what to do.
"Look!" He points over to a brunette, "it's Suki!"
"Ah, Sokka's girlfriend." said Amaterasu as Zuko nodded.
"Prisoners! Back in your cells!" shouted a guard.
Amaterasu smiled at Sokka, "Go to her, kay?" The boy couldn't agree with her anymore and ran off in the direction Suki went. "Let's go guard the door."
Zuko was almost caught after fighting a female guard who tried to get into Suki's cell while Sokka was still in there, Amaterasu quickly gets Sokka and Suki to escape. "Come on guys! Let's go." Sokka leads them away while the female guard rubbed her sore shoulder, Zuko gets left behind and it stuck with the warden.
Amaterasu stops and that causes Suki and Sokka to stop as well. "Uh oh, Zuko is in trouble, you guys go off without me."
"We can't leave you guys, we're going with!" Suki protested, she didn't know the girl but she liked her because she was friends with Sokka and helped them escape.
"It'll be fine!" She said as she rushed back to Zuko.
They all met outside.
"I got Suki and Chit Sang out of their cells a few minutes ago. They'll be waiting for us at the shore."
"Guys, someone's coming." Amaterasu said as she pulled them both in and quickly slide the inner door closed.
Two guards were making their way to the cooler as the door opens by an inch to listen in to the conversation. "Yeah, new arrivals coming in at dawn."
"Anybody interesting?" asked a female.
"Nah, just the usual. Some robbers, couple of traitors, some war prisoners," the trio looked at each other. "Though I did hear there might be a pirate."
"No foolin'." She said as they left.
The exiled prince was concerned, "War prisoners. It could be your father."
"I know," Sokka looked away and closed his eyes.
"Well, what should we do?" asked Amaterasu.
Zuko shrugged. "Are we going ahead with the plan or are we waiting another night?"
The water tribe warrior shook his head, "I don't know." He looked at the two with tear filled eyes, "Is it right for me to risk Suki's freedom, all our freedom on the slim chance that my dad is gonna show up?"
The prince and princess frowned, "It's your call, Sokka." Zuko said. Sokka, who is struggling to make a decision, looked around nervously.
It's night at an area in the water looking up at the cooler building. Chit Sang and Suki were still waiting. They look up and to see Zuko and Sokka using all of their body weight to stop the cooler from rolling down the slope rapidly and noisily. Both of them rush up to assist.
"Took you guys long enough. This here's my girl and my best buddy. They're coming too." said Chit Sang as a woman and a man waved.
Sokka looks annoyed while struggling against the weight of the cooler." Fine, everybody in the cooler. Let's go." They turned the cooler into a vertical position. Cut to a shadow walking to a rock. Sokka's hand lifts to rock to reveal Water Tribe clothing hidden underneath.
"Are you sure you want to go?" He slung his sword as he walked toward Sokka, "You're the one who said you wanted to redeem yourself. Redeem your honor. Rescuing your Dad is your chance."
Suki walked toward her lover, "Your dad?"
The watertribe warrior looked up at them in desperation. "If I had just cut my losses at the invasion, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe sometimes it's just better to call it quits before you fail." Amaterasu, Zuko, and Suki frowned.
"No, it's not." reasoned Amaterasu, he looked at her for more inspiration but the exiled prince gave the push instead.
"Look Sokka, you're going to fail a lot before things work out." said Zuko, Amaterasu gave him a dead panned look. 'Oh, that's very helpful Zuko.' she thought but before she could say anything, Sokka responded.
Sokka stood up as he slung his bag over his shoulders while raising his eyebrows. "That's suppose to make me feel better?" He then began to walk away.
Zuko kept going, "Even though you'll probably fail over and over and over again." Sokka stopped.
"Seriously, not helping." the blue-eyed boy replied but Zuko grabbed his shoulder.
"You have to try every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you might fail." The princess smiled, happy that conversation wasn't going the way she thought it was going to.
"Hey," Chit Sang said while holding onto the cooler, "if you two are done cuddling, can we get a move on?" He asked.
"No, I'm staying." Sokka drops his bag as he turns around and addresses Zuko, Suki, and Amaterasu. "You guys can go." He placed a hang on Suki's shoulder. "You've been here long enough."
The Kyoshi Warrior grabbed his hand reassuringly. "I'm not leaving without you, Sokka."
"We're staying too, right Ammy?" His golden eyes looked at the princess who nodded her head.
"Yeah, your my new friend Sokka and even though I met you a couple of days ago, you're like family to me. Who's gonna make me laugh or make me cringe when they eat meat?" said Amaterasu, the Suki and Zuko laughed while Sokka smiled.
"Not me, I'm out. Let's roll baby." said Chi Sang as he pushes the cooler and jumps into it.
The trio looked at Chit Sang, his girlfriend, and his friend shrink into the distance. "We gave up our only chance of escaping," said Sokka as they all looked at each other, "I hope we haven't just made a huge mistake."
"Argh, this current is so slow." said Chit Sang before tearing off a small, metal, rectangular section of the cooler. "I can use this to paddle."
The paddle touched the water and the metal sears under the heat. Chit Sang's hand immediately lets go of the metal piece as he looks at his hand and struggles not to scream. His whole body rapidly reddens as he continues to struggle. He lets out a scream. That scream was pretty loud too. A guard who looks at the cooler in the water. The Alarm went off.
The Warden looks down, "Guards! Secure the perimeter!" A line of guards run down a platform hurriedly,"and lock down the prisoners. Now!"A group of prisoners in the yard ran off. A guard brandishes his fire whip and flails it towards the screen. Amaterasu, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki pressed themselves against the wall to avoid being spotted.
"Looks like that plan failed, those suckers got caught." said a grinning Sun Warrior princess.
"Get the fugitives and throw them in the Cooler!" said the Warden.
The guard in charge of the steering wheels turns to look at the warden, "Uh, they are in the cooler sir."
The warden raises his voice towards the guard, "One that's bolted down and not floating in the water! This is a lockdown!" The warden points behind, probably towards the gondola tower. "We have new prisoners arriving! Everything must be completely secure!" The guard turns the steering wheel as a huge crossbow on the contraption is lowered. The bolt is released. The bolt pierced the cooler violently and reeling the cooler in. Inside of the cooler to show the huge harpoon contraption covering the cylindrical part of the cooler. Chit Sang and the other escapees are frightened. The cooler slowly sails across the water, back to the Boiling Rock. Sokka with his back pressed against a wall peers out carefully.
"The Gondola is moving!" said Sokka as the gondola slowly makes it way to the tower, the prisoners and the guards in the yard look up as well. "This is it." You could see that they had captured many prisoners. "If my Dad's not there, we risked everything for nothing."
The brunette frowned, "We had to."
Sokka looked anxiously, "Come on, come on." A guard opened the door of the gondola. A big, burly man with shaggy long hair, a long beard, a nose ring and a tattoo on his arm walks out handcuffed.
"Is that him?" asked Zuko.
Sokka furrowed his brows, "My Dad doesn't have a nose ring." Various prisoners file past. None of them are Hakoda. "Where is he?" A shirtless man with a topknot walking out of the gondola. No one followed behind him. The warrior tribe warrior looks with disbelief) "That's it? That can't be it?"
His girlfriend sighed, upset as well. "I'm sorry Sokka."
Sokka lowered his head in dismay. "Oh no."
"Hey you two," said a guard as Sokka opens his eyes and the four look up, "get off" The guard points to a people inside, " the gondola."
Sokka who waited nervously in anticipation. Hakoda looked around before disembarking and Sokka's eyes widen. "Dad." But before the others could speak, a woman came off as well. Amaterasu gasped in shock. The woman had long black hair, it was dirty just like the other prisoner's but was still in a simple low ponytail. Her eyes were a bright hazel as she walked with regal charm about her alongside Hakoda, the two spoke as they walked side by side towards the prison. The princess fell on her knees, gasping for air as she began to have an anxiety attack.
"Ammy? Ammy!" Zuko shook her, "What's wrong? Do you know that woman?"
"S - She..." And with that said, Amaterasu fainted.
Sokka and Suki hovered over her, "Is she going to be okay?" Sokka asked, not even caring about his father at the moment.
"She'll be fine," said Zuko as he looked up at the couple. "You just worry about your dad Sokka, me and Suki will take care of her."
"Line them up for the warden!" shouted a guard, making the other guards surround the perimeter and the prisoners file in one by one into a straight line. Sokka runs up and pulls up his visor.
"Dad..." The teenage boy mumbled as he rushes from the stairs and nudges some guards aside, "Excuse me, coming through. The warden wants me over there, sorry!" Sokka stood behind a line of guards taller than him who are near the prisoners. The warden walks towards them.
"Welcome to The Boiling Rock. I'm sure," he said while walking down the line, "you've all heard the horrible rumors about our little island. Well I just want to tell you that they don't have to be true. As long as you, " He stopped in front of Hakoda who is looking down, "do everything I say. Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you. "
The Southern Water tribe chieftain looked to the side, "No."
"Oh, you'd rather look at my shoes? Then take a look!" shouted the Warden. He used his foot to pull down Hakoda's handcuff to the floor. The chieftain was pulled into a kneeling position, Sokka gapes in surprise. The warden's foot remained on his handcuff. "I know exactly who you are, Hakoda of the Water Tribe. So strong willed. But don't worry, we'll get rid of that in time. Now look me in the eye. " Hakoda lift his head up, eyes raging with hate. "See isn't that better? You wil. " he looks at the other prisoners, "all do as I say or pay the price." He began to walk away, "You will all... " Hakoda tilts his handcuffs as the warden's boot get caught in them and he loses his balance. Sokka snickered as the guards in front of him rush to the warden's aid. Two guards run to the warden as he and Hakoda stand up on their own.
"Are you okay, Sir?" asked a guard.
The warden lashes out, "I'm fine! Get these prisoners out of my sight!" Sokka runs towards the prison housing area were the prisoners were going.
After the conversation with his father, Sokka walks towards the first door from a flight of stairs. He leans against the door and raises his visor.
"Zuko, are you there?" said Sokka.
Zuko looks through the door opening, "Yeah, and I have Ammy with me. We're prisoners now since we got caught but I managed to get them to let her stay with me since she's still unconscious and I didn't know where they took Suki."
"I just got done talking to my dad. We came up with an escape plan together."
A male and female guard appear and startles Sokka, "What are you doing here?"
The water tribe warrior lowered his visor and turns to the stairs, I was just telling," he points to Zuko's prison cell door, "this dirty lowlife what I think of him!"
The male guard spoke, "Well, you'll have to do that later, he and his crazy friend who is unconscious for the sake of life, is coming with us."
Sokka looked at Zuko's cell door and back, "Sake of life? And why?"
The female guard arms akimbo, "Because we have orders straight from the Warden. That's why. And she went crazy in the cooler and he said that only he can keep her sane."
Sokka held in his laugh, "Could I just get ten more seconds to rough him up a bit?" He punched his right fist into his left palm.
The female crossed her arms and leans against the railing, "Fine, ten seconds." the male guard mirror her action before Sokka entered the cell.
"Take that! And this!" shouted Sokka.
"Newbie." said the male guard as the female shook her head.
In actuality, Sokka fist were punching a rolled up mattress as Zuko pretends to grunt in pain whenever Sokka strikes. Zuko held the mattress in place while Sokka hit it, and Amaterasu was sitting the corner, still not conscious.
"We have a new plan but it's gonna need a big distraction." whispered the blue-eyed boy. "Be in the yard in one hour." The door begins to open and the firebender is caught off guard. The guys are unsure what to do but as the door opens, Sokka lunges at Zuko's head as Zuko drops the mattress and attempts to choke Zuko.
"Alright, that's enough." said the male guard as he pushes off Sokka and gives him a warning finger, "Get the girl." The firebender nodded and picked up the girl, carrying her bridal style as the guards led him out of cell. Two spectating guards on a railing looked down at the scene.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking us?" asked the exiled prince. Another cell opens and the guards shove Zuko in and Zuko lands on a chair, carefully holding his friend close so she didn't fall out of his arms. He looks back at the guard. "I almost could of hurt her! We didn't do anything wrong!"
"Come on." said a voice as Zuko looked to the source of the voice, "Zuko." Mai had her head down at the corner of the room. "We all know, " she looked up and walked into the light, "that's a lie."
"Mai." said the ex-prince with a surprised face. He looks as her as she looks on with her arms crossed, he looked down at Amaterasu and examined her content face. "How did you know I was here?"
"Because I know you so well." she answered, "Maybe not well enough." She said, signaling Amaterasu.
"But... How?" He looked back up at her.
The pale girl looked to the side. "The Warden's my Uncle you idiot." Zuko groaned. She unrolls a letter, "I think I don't know you at all since all I get is a letter!" She her hands outstretched at the side, "You could have at least looked me in the eyes when you ripped my heart out and not just that, you've already move on! Who is she!"
The firebender looked at her apologetically, "I didn't mean to and she's my friend. Her identify is not relevant-"
Mai interrupts, "You didn't mean to!" She walked behind him to read the content of the letter. "Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving."
"Stop!" He said harshly as he looks back at her. "This isn't about you or her or me! This is about the Fire Nation."
"Thanks Zuko. That makes me feel all better." Mai throws the letter at his head, using his free hand, he grabs his head and rubs the spot where she threw the letter at.
"Mai, I never wanted to hurt you." He got up from the chair and faced Mai. "But I have to do this to save my country."
"Save it! You're betraying your country."
The male furrowed his brows, "That's not how I see it." The assassin folded her arms and turns to the side sulkily.
A guard came rushing in, "Ma'am, there's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you. "
Mai turned around, "I don't need any protection."
Zuko laughs slightly, "Hah, believe me. She doesn't."
"I'm sorry but I'm under direct orders from your Uncle to make sure nothing happens." Zuko takes the chance to throw Amaterasu over his shoulder and firebend at the guard's feet and rush out the room. The guard attempts to shield the governor's daughter from the fire.
"Get off me!" shouted the assassin. She throws the guard to the side and runs to the door. While running towards the exit, Zuko slides the door shut and meddles with the lock. Mai's eyes stared at Zuko through the opening and he does the same. He closes his eyes and rushes off as Mai continues to look at him through the opening.
Chit Sang, Sokka, Hakoda, the woman that made Amaterasu unconscious, and Suki are standing at the bottom of another tower, trying to stay out of the chaos. Zuko comes into view and throws a guard who attempts to subdue him over his shoulder where Amaterasu rested. He runs in front of Sokka.
"Zuko and a still unconscious Amaterasu, good. We're all here. Now all we need to do, " He points to the top of another tower, "is grab the Warden and get to the gondolas. " said Sokka.
"And how do we do that?" He asked.
Sokka looks back at Zuko, "I'm not sure." and with that said, Amaterasu shifted around, groaning. "Ammy?" He carefully placed her on her feet and she wobbled a bit before opening her eyes, she looked up at Zuko wearily. "You okay?"
"Mom. . ." was all she said before, slowly falling towards her feet but the firebending male caught her. "She's here. . ."
"Don't worry Ammy, my dad saved her." The woman walked over toward her.
"Ammy?" Her hazel eyes stared down at her daughter who was being supported by Zuko, "I'll take her."
"No, it's okay, I got her." He said before picking her up once more, she was still confused and things were still blurry for a few minutes. "Sokka, I thought you thought this through."
Sokka went into hysterics, "I thought you told me it's okay not to think everything through!"
Zuko clenched his teeth, "Maybe not everything. But this is kind of important." Sokka placed a finger on his chin in thought.
"Hey, uhh, fellas. I think your girlfriend's taking care of it." said Chit Sang. Sokka peers behind Chit Sang's elbow in surprise. Suki runs and jumps on their heads. Suki running rapidly on their sea of prisoners' heads. The brunette was now nearing the tower. She leaps onto the tower and scales the wall rapidly. She pushes herself from the wall as she back-flips to land her feet on some pipes below the platform. She flips herself from below the platform to a railing as a guard comes by and starts to firebend. She flips off the railing, narrowly missing the flames and gives the guard a series of punches that knocks him unconscious. Two guards ran out from a corridor. One of the guards aims a firebending kick towards the Kyoshi Warrior leader but she dodges and uses her arm to trip his other leg, sending him to the ground with a loud thud. The other guard firebends but Suki dodges and jumps to the railing behind him. She quickly jumps onto the wall. The guard stares at her, dumbfounded. She scales the wall with fierce determination. The warden who looks down with shock. Suki flips herself over the railing and landing down on the platform. The guard near the warden gets into a stance and before he does so, Suki slides on the ground and trips him over. The warden attempts to move but Suki gets up and holds his arm in a deadlock grip. Her other hand is positioned dangerously in front of the warden's face should he attempt to fight back. She stares at him.
"You wouldn't dare," said the Warden. Suki turns the warden around and brings his hands together as she ties rapidly them with a red string. Suki remains behind, pulling down the warden's headband and turning it around so the tie is on his mouth.
"Sorry Warden," She tightens the tie and lets go, "you're my prisoner now." She slams him against the wall. The guys finally caught up and ran towards her from the other side of the platform. "We've got the Warden, now let's get out of here. " She looks at them as they tried to catch their breath.
Hakoda held his stomach, "That's some girl. "
Sokka looked at his girlfriend, "Tell me about it."
The group is running up a staircase towards the gondola.
Suki turned to look at Sokka, "We're almost there." The warden is carried on Chit Sang's shoulder. Guards at the gondola proceed to firebend at the group. Zuko shoves Sokka aside and intercepts the flame, dissipating it immediately. More guards join in to help.
"Back off, we've got the Warden." said Zuko, Amaterasu was now at his side. Conscious, excited, and ready for action. The warden looks up from Chit Sang's shoulder and mumbles under the tie. The guards loosen their stances. "Let's go." The group slowly and warily walk past the guards with their arms outstretched should the guards attack them. Zuko stops at the end of the platform while the rest run towards the gondola with Amaterasu at his side. The door slides aside to reveal Suki.
"Everyone in!" shouted Suki. Sokka boards the gondola firs as the rest run in. Zuko and Amaterasu still remain at the platform, she waits and he runs to the lever, pushing it down. The gondola ropes loosens and uncoils. The gondola slowly leaves, leaving Zuko and Amaterasu behind. Amaterasu kicks the lever several times.
"Zuko, it's not breaking!"He turns his head and sees guards running towards him. With one final kick, she successfully breaks the lever and runs towards the gondola. Zuko grabs her hand flies over the railings with fire balls sailing over their heads. They are now going towards the gondola. Sokka reaches out his arm as he catches Zuko's hand. He struggles under the weight. Amaterasu climbs on Zuko manages to grab hold to the sides of the gondola to help them climb in, and they succeeded.
"What were you both doing?" asked Sokka.
"Making them not able to stop us." answered Amaterasu.
Sokka nodded, "Way to think ahead."
"We're on our way." said Suki.
Hakoda looked at the gondola tower, "Wait. Who's that?"
Amaterasu, Sokka, and Zuko turned their heads to see Azula, Ty Lee, and some guards back at the gondola tower as they look at the fleeing gondola. "That's a problem." said Zuko. The guards proceed to bow in respect. "It's my sister and her friend." Azula turns her head to the side. The Fire Nation princess grabs handcuffs from a guard that was clipped to his waist. Ty Lee cartwheels onto the gondola ropes. Azula is seen running ahead below the lines as Ty Lee proceeds to run on the line. The acrobat shoe runs on it. Azula is seen readying herself. Azula firebends a huge jet of blue fire. She propels herself from the ground into the air. The handcuff locks around it. Azula places an arm and a leg behind her and firebends another huge jet of fire. The force slides her across the line. Ty Lee was running on the upper line as Azula comes onto the lower line.
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for." said Suko, who is preparing herself.
"Me too." Zuko agreed. He proceeds to climb up the gondola's roof. Ty Lee and Azula are now getting closer. Suki, Amaterasu, and Sokka prepared themselves. Sokka unsheathes his sword as the trio now climbed onto the roof. Ty Lee cartwheels off the line, onto the roof, facing Suki while Sokka, Amaterasu, and Zuko are facing Azula who has an evil grin on her face. Azula firebend blue flame with her feet while Amaterasu sent a flame to dissipating the attack and Zuko fist firebends orange flames towards her and she kicks the flames away.
Suki makes the first move as Ty Lee attempts to chi block Suki but Suki blocks all her shots deftly. The Kyoshi Warrior attempts to punch the acrobat but Ty Lee brings up her arm and intercepts the punch. They struggle briefly with neither one gaining the upper hand. Suki punches again but Ty Lee flips away. Ty Lee flips into the gondola and while she is inside sh enters through the opening and swiftly exits by another opening back up onto the roof and appears behind Suki. Ty Lee attempts to chi block Suki again by punching the pressure point at the back of her neck and arm but Suki dodges at the last moment. The girls continue to fight. Suki was cornered near the gondola's metal extension which links to the cable. Azula sent another ball of blue flames toward Zuko who pushes her flame apart with his bare hands, dissipating it. Sokka proceeds to swing his sword. Azula dodges it and as the sword finishes its arc, she stands up again. She firebends towards Sokka but Amaterasu dissipates the flame with her own blue ones, and sent a whip of blue fire towards her feet Azula jumps and turns before landing back down with a grin. Her eyes suddenly widen and blink at Sokka's sword as it glints in the sunlight. The Fire Nation princess moves back. Azula is pushed near the edge of the roof. Sokka who moves back and Zuko taking the lead by firebending at his sister's feet. Azula jumps and lands in a push up position. She is balancing only on her hands. Azula moves her legs across her body and firebends at the trio, but they move to the side. The fire travels towards Suki and Ty Lee as they also part to let the flame pass by. Inside of the gondola Chit Sang looks up at the scene. The warden is seen fidgeting. The warden's tries to loosen the string.
"There's the Warden. I see him!" said a guard as he looked with a telescope. The other guards turn towards him. The warden's hands successfully breaks the string. The warden appears beside Chit Sang and pulls down the tie covering his mouth.
"Cut the line!" shouted the warden. Chit Sang covers the warden's mouth and holds him back.
One of the guards heard him, "He wants us to cut the line."
"But if we cut the line, there's no way he'll survive." said another guard.
The other guard brings down his telescope." He knows that. A metal object was being brought near the wheel that contains the line as it sparks under friction. A guard struggling to hold the metal object in place. Two guards behind him who are holding a huge hacksaw.
Azula fires a shot towards her brother but Zuko once again, breaks the fire apart and sends another shot towards his sister. Azula jumps and firebends back as she lands. Zuko breaks the fire apart again. Suki and Ty Lee lose their balance as the gondola stops suddenly. The gondola sways to and fro precariously. Sokka begins sliding off the roof. Zuko moved towards Sokka while Amaterasu covered them from any surprise attacks by Azula. Zuko grabs his hand and pulls him up as the gondola sways some more. Ty Lee is climbs up the metal extension while Azula is regaining her balance. Ty Lee jumped to the top of the metal extension, looking back at the tower.
"They're about to cut the line!" warned the ex-circus performer. Ty Lee's back looking down at Azula as Azula turns her head back to the tower. Two guards proceeded to saw the line. Azula turns back. Azula, Ty Lee and Suki look at another gondola coming in.
"Then it's time to leave." Azula smiles and propels herself from the roof with her firebending. Azula sailed through the air, looking down at the roof. "Goodbye Zuko." She stops bending as she back flips and lands on the other gondola's roof. Ty Lee also flips onto the roof. Amaterasu, Suki, Sokka and Zuko looked at the other gondola as it sails back to the tower. Ty Lee and Azula look back as the gondola continues moving. Zuko flips back into the gondola.
"They're cutting the line. The gondola's about to go!" said the exiled prince.
"I hope this thing floats." said Hakoda of the water tribe.
As guards were still sawing, stilettos fly as the guards holding the saw are thrown off. At the docking area, stiletto pins the guard's wristguard to the structure. He looks at another guard with the same fate "What are you doing !" shouted a guard.
"Saving the jerk who dumped me." Mai said as guards move toward Mai, she releases a stiletto into her hand while a guard proceeds to firebend at her. She throws the stilettos and dodges the flames. Some of the guards got pinned by her weapons while others others, untouched, began to send fire at her once again. She slides across the floor, narrowly missing the flames. She slides across the two wheels as she stands up and releases more stilettos into her hands. The guards run towards her and some of the are pinned and Mai pins a female guard to the floor, and pinks her with a stiletto by her wrist guard to the floor.
Mai kicks away the metal object that is preventing the lines from being loosened. The wheel turns and the gondola continues to move. Sokka looked out at the opening of the gondola. "Who's that?" he asked as the others join in to look back at the tower. Mai continues to fend off the guards by herself. She turns her head back to the gondola.
Zuko is shocked. "It's Mai."
"What is she doing!" Azula yelled furiously. Ty Lee shrugs and makes a "I don't know" noise. The gondola reaches the outer part of the crater. Atinside of the entrance tower as the door opens and Suki rushes out followed by Sokka, Zuko, Amaterasu Hakoda and Chit Sang. Hakoda turns towards Chit Sang and points to the inside of the gondola. Chit Sang proceeds to throw the warden back in.
"Sorry Warden, your record is officially broken. " He said while looking at the warden, who was lying on the floor and struggling. The group ran up a rocky incline.
"Well, we made it out. Now what?" asked Suki.
Sokka stopped and looks back at Zuko, who pauses in his tracks, thinking. "Zuko, what are you doing?"
"My sister was on that island." said the ex-Fire Nation prince.
"Yeah and she's probably right behind us. So let's not stop." Sokka countered.
"What I mean is she must have came here somehow." He ran to the edge of the rocks and looked down. "There. That's our way out of here." He pointed at a Fire Nation zeppelin docked at the shore.
Azula's zeppelin docked near the temple's, Katara and Toph stand in front of the zeppelin as Zuko, Amaterasu and Sokka walk out.
"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?" asked a curious waterbender.
Amaterasu bit her lip, "It kind of got destroyed."
"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip." added Aang.
"Did you at least get some good meat?" asked a hungry earthbending master.
"I did." Sokka closed his eyes. "the best meat of all." He opened them. "The meat of friendship and fatherhood." And with that said, Suki and Hakoda disembarked at the entrance of the zeppelin with Chit Sang and Amaterasu's mother, Xing, following behind them.
"I'm new. What's up everybody!" said Chit Sang as Xing smiled at the group, Hakoda at her side.
Katara started to tear up. "Dad." She ran toward him.
"Hi, Katara." He said as she met him to embrace. Katara soon let go. "How are you here? What's going on?" She then looked at her brother. "Where did you go?"
"We... kind of went to a Fire Nation prison." said Sokka before Katara grabbed his arm and pulled him to embrace their father in a group. Zuko smiles as Amaterasu's mother embraced her daughter shortly after.
Toph rolled her eyes, "Seriously, you guys didn't find any meat?"
"Sorry Toph." Amaterasu apologized. Hakoda smiled as his children let them go and walked over toward Xing, his arm now around her waist. Amaterasu and Katara were completely confused.
"What the hell?" Amaterasu said, looking at the two.
Katara folded her arms, "Dad?"
"Well, Xing is my girlfriend." Amaterasu and Katara looked at each other before looking at their parents. "
"What about dad!" Amaterasu shouted synchronizing with Katara when said said, "What about mom!"
Xing and Hakoda lowered their heads. "Me and your father had separated a long time ago, Amaterasu. He kicked me out of the tribe because I didn't love him anymore." The princess gaped in shock before her mahongany eyes revealed fury.
"So, you left without a word... YOU COULD OF TOLD ME! I would of understood!" shouted the princess, Aang walked over and grabbed her shoulder.
"Ammy, she seems like she regrets it." He tried to reason but Amaterasu shrugged his hand away.
"No! No... You could of told me and then I wouldn't of thought you died during your travels or just abandoned me." Holding herself, the princess felt to her knees crying. Hakoda looked at his daughter, who was just as upset as Amaterasu.
"Katara your mother has been gone for... years. It was time for me to move on and I'll always love Kya, you know that." He reasoned but Katara shook her head and walked away, refusing to let anyone see her tears. Aang followed after Katara with Sokka and Hakoda. The princess stood and ran, Zuko followed after her. Xing tried to hold back her tears.
"Don't worry, Xing, she'll come around. Probably faster then you think." Toph comforted the woman, who nodded her head.
"Don't you think your overreacting Katara?" asked Aang since the others didn't catch up with them yet, "Don't you think your dad deserves to be happy too?"
"But I thought he could love no other woman but mom!" said Katara as she crossed her arms.
"I still love your mother Katara, but I am sure that she did not want me to be alone forever." Hakoda said as he walked towards his daughter, holding her close. "Your opinion of Xing means so much to me."
"And she's a pretty awesome lady too." Sokka added, "And I'm not saying that to be saying that."
Katara looked at everyone, letting out a sigh. "I'll give her a chance, I feel bad for reacting like that, it just hurts that mom isn't here." She admitted, touching her necklaces with her fingerstips.
"We know, Katara." said the water chieftain. "Hopefully, Amaterasu will come around just like you did."
The waterbender looked at her father, "I'm sure she will, I guess I should be happy for you dad. You don't deserve to be lonely anymore." She looked at Aang who smiled before the three family members embraced once again.
"Ammy?" Zuko called out as Amaterasu was sitting on the edge of the fountain, wiping tears.
Looking up, she looked away. "Don't you dare try to make me forgive her."
"I'm not trying to. I can relate." He said before sitting next to her.
"How?" she asked, looking at him.
"My mother left me when I was a child, but figured out why, she did it to protect me. Maybe your mother was protecting you from the harsh reality that your parents fell out of love with each other." He explained.
"Your trying to make me forgive her, you said you weren't." Amaterasu folded her arms and looked away. "I would of understood it better if she had told me instead of leaving."
"I guess but you can't be angry forever." Zuko nudged her arm, causing her to look at him with a pout. "C'mon."
"Whatever, I'll forgive her eventually just not now." The princess stood before crossing her arms, "at least I know she's alive." Zuko frowned as he slowly thought about his mother, Ursa, but the thought stopped when he heard his friend crying once more. "What's wrong?" He stood and walked in front of her. The female looked up at him before looking down at her hands. "Ammy?"
"Would you hate me if you knew I killed innocent people?" She asked which startled the ex-prince.
Zuko raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"My father always told me to kill any Fire Nation soldier ame near our village. I killed so many soldiers e and I didn't feel bad, I think that's why my mother left. Because I was a killer, my village were filled with killers." She looked down.
"It's not your fault. Those soldiers were probably there to kill your village anyway. It has to be done." He said, taking her hands and holding them.
Amaterasu looked up at him with teary eyes, "I guess I'm so angry with her because she didn't take me with her. My father kept me locked in the house to raise me to be a killer, she saw the evil in me and didn't want to love me anymore."
"Ammy, she still loves you. Those soldiers were going to do wrong, it's their fault." He said, frowning.
"Should I feel happy? Is that wrong?" The princess looked at their joined hands.
Zuko shook his head, "You thought you were doing something good, it's difficult to explain but you had to do it."
"I'm just paranoid and tired." She sighed, "Thanks Zuko for being here, for me."
"You're my friend, it's the least I can do." The ex-prince smiled.
"Oh and by the way, I heard the conversation with you and your ex-girlfriend, Mai. You're a real douche." She said before walking away, the prince blushed before getting angry.
"How the hell! I did it for her safety!" He said, storming over to her.
Amaterasu looked at him and rolled her eyes, "A letter though?"
"I was scared."
"I guess your ball-less then."
"No I'm not!"
Other information:
Okay, I had to do the same thing with The Boiling Rock episode, really long... Too a lot of DVR and transcript searching. Oh and... I still need a Beta reader. Dx
