It took no time for them to be on their way. Zuko needed to get back home as quickly as possible. It was going to be a long journey, but a much calmer one, now that the boy was in his custody.

Aang dragged his feet as he was forced down to the brig. He didn't want to leave everyone behind, but he knew he had to go in order to protect the people who put their lives on the line to protect him. He was done with people dying for him.

One of the guards pushed him forward, trying to get Aang to trip over himself, but it didn't work out that way. Aang was light on his feet, so he used the opportunity to duck down and slip behind the guard, giving him a big grin.

"Sorry, but I can't come along," Aang said as he began to make a run for it.

The guard stood in shock for a moment before finally running after him, making sure to hit the alarm as he did so.

The alarm ringing woke everyone, and soon all the guards were after Aang, but none could keep up with the young martial artist. They tried to fight back using their own fighting style against his, but he never seemed to fight back. All his focus was on dodging their attacks, and it was working.

One guard tried to pull his gun on Aang, but another stopped him, yelling that they needed the boy alive. All they could do was fight him with their bare hands.

Aang slid past guards one by one, and sometimes by three or four. He managed to jump through his handcuffs, and quickly found a guard to throw his arms over.

"Sorry!" He said as he used the guard to block the attacks from others. "You wouldn't happen to know where I can find-?" Before Aang could finish his thought, aonther guard made his way behind him and tried to grab at the teenager. Aang quickly turned, still holding onto the guard. He quickly slid his arms up and pushed one guard into the other.

"Sorry!" He shouted one more time before making his way up the stairs and hopefully out.

He thought freedom was just a door away, but as soon as he opened the door he wasn't greeted with an empty deck. Instead, Zuko was there waiting for him.

"Looking for something?" He asked as he held up the keys to Aang's handcuffs. "Looks like I underestimated you."

Aang laughed nervously. "I'm guessing you're not going to just give them to me."

Zuko didn't answer. Instead he just shifted into a defensive position.

"I'm taking that as a no." Aang said.

"You might've had an easy time with the guards, but it won't be so easy to defeat me."

"Listen. I really don't want to hurt you, but I can't go with you," Aang replied, shifting his feet to get ready to dodge any attack Zuko threw his way.

"Trust me. I'll be fine."

Before Zuko lunged forward to attack Aang, a bullet hit the ground in front of him, causing him to jump back.

"Don't you take another step closer," a voice called out.

"KATARA!" Aang nearly sang in glee.

"Next bullet is going right in between those eyes of yours." Sokka stepped forward, holding out his own gun, pointing it at Zuko.

Upon seeing them, Zuko growled in anger. "How did you get here?"

"You think you're the only one with a vehicle? Ours might not be as fancy as your land-ship, but it's faster." Sokka said.

"And you don't know the land like we do." Katara added, finally letting herself be seen by jumping down from one of the evergreens that was branching over the ship.

Zuko's glare moved from Aang to Sokka and finally landed on Katara. "You peasants don't know who you're dealing with." He took a step forward, and the moment he did, Sokka and Katara both had their weapons on him.

"Zuko," a voice called out from the bridge. "I believe it would be unwise to go against them as you are."

Only Aang and Zuko looked up to see who was talking.

"Uncle!"

"You are weaponless, and they have two guns on you. Do you think that you can defeat them like this? Live to fight another day."

"Listen to the old man." Sokka said. "Give us the keys and no one gets hurt."

While Iroh was speaking, Katara made her way to Aang's side.

"Drop the keys, and kick them over here," he ordered.

Still glaring, Zuko did as he was told. The keys were dropped onto the deck and were kicked over to where Aang and Katara stood. She quickly picked them up and freed Aang from the handcuffs.

"Finally!" He beamed. He didn't get to celebrate for long. Sokka was suddenly beside him as well, pulling him to follow.

"If you follow us, I will kill you." Katara hissed at Zuko.

Sokka lead the way to the rope he used to climb up. Katara followed, but kept her gun on Zuko until he was out of sight, and she was off the ship.

"UNCLE!" Zuko yelled out. "How could you let that happen? Why didn't you let me fight?"

Iroh let out a sigh. "You must pick and choose your battles, my nephew, and that was a battle you were sure to lose."

"I don't care!" Zuko growled as he stomped off, making his way back inside.

Meanwhile, Katara, Sokka, and Aang wasted no time getting away. They didn't stop to chat. Sokka hopped into the driver's seat and drove their off-roading car away, which was a much better fit for the landscape than Zuko's ship had been.

Once a few miles away, hidden in the thick of the evergreen forest that surrounded them, Sokka stopped. "Okay, off," Sokka ordered. "We need to think of some plans because I'm not driving off into the sunset."

Katara hopped off after, followed by Aang.

"Are we not going back to your home?" Aang asked.

"Are you kidding me? And put them back in danger? I don't think so." Sokka sounded insulted as he spoke. "We need to find a way to keep you safe and away from scum like Zuko."

Katara laid out map. "Where should we go?"

"We have to go here." Aang pointed to the map.

"What's there?" Katara asked.

"That's where I was taken. That's my home and… I need to know if it's safe."

Katara and Sokka exchanged looks.

"Then that's where we're going." Katara said.

"Thanks, Katara." Aang stared at the map, looking so defeated.

Katara placed a comforting hand on his back. "I bet they're okay, and they're going to be so happy to see that you're okay."

Aang smiled up at Katara, who was smiling back.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Sokka groaned and hopped back onto their vehicle. "Alright love-birds. You coming or not?"

"I can't wait to see Gyatso again! You're gonna love him," Aang said gleefully as he got in.

"I know we will," Katara replied.

And soon, the three were off to find the home Aang had left behind.