Chapter 35:
The seven of them got Jet back to an apartment were they sat him in a chair and stood around watching him.
"How did Jet get brainwashed?" Toph wondered
"Well if he was arrested than maybe something happened then." Freya said "Think about it there are so many refugees here and yet there's no fuss over the war and there's no rebellion when it comes to the rings of the city too. Some are treated better than others and yet everyone's happy? Not likely." Freya asked "Plus everyone's scared of the Dai Li. They must have a process to manipulate people."
"The Dai Li must have sent Jet to mislead us, and that janitor was part of their plot too." Katara said in realisation
"I bet they have Appa here in the city." Aang said
"Freya you're too good at this." Toph said
"Well after spending how many weeks with the Fire Nation Prince you'd think I'd learnt how to think like those who like to control and manipulate." Freya admitted
"She's always been good at thinking things through." Aang smiled
"The question is, if they have Appa, where could they be hiding him?" Freya asked
"Maybe he's in the same place they took Jet." Aang offered before turning back to Jet "Where did they take you?" Jet had his head handing and seemed befuddled.
"Nowhere. I, I don't know what you're talking about." he said looking at them
"We need to find a way to jog his real memories." Aang thought
"Maybe Katara could kiss him. That should bring something back." Sokka provoked
"Maybe you should kiss him, Sokka." Katara returned annoyed
"Hey, just an idea." he said slyly
"A bad one." Aang grumbled
"Oo, wait. I got it." Sokka pulled out a piece of straw from a mattress and pocked it into Jet's mouth, regarding him thoughtfully.
"What's that meant to do?" Freya asked
"Jet used to always chew on a piece of grass." Sokka exclaimed. Freya rose an eyebrow.
"I don't think its working. Puh!" Jet spat it out.
"Try to think of something from your past that triggers your emotions." Toph offered
"The Fire Nation, remember what they did to your family." Smellerbee reminded him
"Close your eyes. Picture it." Katara instructed.
Jet did as she asked and was quiet for a minute before he shook his head.
"No! It's too painful." he believed
"You know, some memories can be like wounds on the mind." Freya turned to Katara "We could make it easier for him by healing though."
"Healing his mind?" Katara asked
"Yeah. In fact maybe we could even bring his memories back by doing so too." Freya thought. Katara thought before she nodded and moved to stand behind Jet.
"Maybe this will help." she offered and she drew some water out of her pouch and it began to glow on either side of Jet's head.
"Close your eyes Jet. And try to concentrate." Freya whispered quietly "Search you mind, find an imperfection. Your memories were altered, there'd be a jump in your memories from when you arrived. Think back to when you started working here. What were you doing before that?" Freya watched him as Jet stared at the floor and blinked slowly. His eyes closed and his face screwed up before he looked at Freya.
"They took me to a headquarters under the water, like a lake." he remembered
"Wait! Remember what Joo Dee said? She said she went on vacation to Lake Laogai." Sokka remembered. Jet jumped to his feet, causing Freya to move back to avoid being hit by the boy.
"That's it! Lake Laogai."
"Well then, guys, we're going on a vacation." Freya grinned as she stood up.
"But where is it?" Toph asked
"Well it'll be outside the inner wall if they're to keep that big a lake with an underground headquarters secret. If it was within the city than everyone would notice people being taken there. And I doubt there'd be that many large lakes around here." Freya offered. "Or, Jet can show us."
"I don't remember." Jet frowned
"Katara?" Freya asked smirking. "Close your eyes Jet and focus on what you just saw." the girl instructed as Katara began to heal some more of Jet's memories.
They found the lake and moved around it along the shore until Jet told them to stop. They faced the water but there was nothing there.
"Now we need an entrance." Freya thought
"So where's this secret headquarters?" Sokka wondered
"Under the lake I think." Jet said scratching his head.
"There's a tunnel right there near the shore." Toph said pointing to her right. She began to walk away whistling and Freya was first to move off and follow her.
Toph took a stance before she jumped into the air and slammed her feet into the ground. The water began to rise and then parted before a pathway and a small raised lid like circle sat at the end.
Toph moved over the path first, splashing through the water before she reached the lid of the tunnel. With a shove her of fist it moved away and everyone looked down to see a brick tunnel and a ladder. Momo chirped and flattened his ears before he took off into the air and away from them.
"I'll go first." Freya grinned and to everyone's surprise she suddenly jumped feet first into the hole and disappeared into the darkness. At the bottom of the ladder were steps and fire shot out of Freya's feet to stop her before she landed on them.
Aang came down beside her and wind blew out to catch him as the others climbed down the ladder.
"If this is a secret headquarters it'll be filled with Dai Li agents." Freya believed as the others began to release the ladder and stand with the two benders. "I think our best bet is to be quick and quiet."
"What? You don't think we can't take on all those agents?" Toph asked annoyed
"I think we can. But Appa's more important. We don't want to get caught up in fighting and give them the chance to move him again." Aang nodded in agreement before they all began to follow Jet who moved through the halls.
They stopped every now and then as footsteps echoed through the wet and damp passage ways. Toph stopped them several times as well and they only moved when it was safe.
"It's all starting to come back to me." Jet remembered as they moved through the tunnels. He moved over to a door that was partially open and glanced in. He moved past it and everyone else glanced in as well.
Within the room was one Dai Li agent and before him were several women with black hair and wearing light pastel green robes.
"I'm Joo Dee. Welcome to Ba Sing Se." the agent said calmly
"I'm Joo Dee. Welcome to Ba Sing Se." The women all repeated him in perfect unison.
"We are so lucky to have our walls to create order."
"We are so lucky to have our walls to create order."
"Guess that explains Joo Dee." Freya mumbled and Aang nodded.
"I think there might be a cell big enough to hold Appa up ahead." Jet said. Everyone hurried up after him before Freya suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Freya what's wrong?" Aang asked. She was staring off down another tunnel as Aang moved up beside her.
"Nothing." she mumbled. But she continued to stare off, her eyebrows furrowing.
"Freya?" the girl turned to Aang as the others had followed Jet.
"You go on. I'm just gonna take a look at something."
"Freya we should stay together down here." Aang believed
"Don't worry. Appa's more important. Go." Aang glanced at her before he moved off after the others. Freya looked around before she moved off carefully in another direction.
Why can I feel heat…? There hadn't been a single torch around here… Freya moved carefully, keeping close to the walls.
The girl followed the feeling that tingled through her skin before she suddenly saw the familiar glow of fire. It was sitting above a hand and she stopped surprised as she suddenly faced Iroh.
"Iroh?" she whispered, managing to keep her voice from echoing too much around the stone walls.
"Seems your fire bending is getting quite refined." he smiled "You could feel the heat through the corridors."
"Yeah… I don't think it's the first time either." she mumbled as she faced him and glanced around. "Iroh what are you doing down here?"
"Looking for my nephew. He went out last night and was gone rather late. Missing from amongst his belongings was his mask."
"Mask?"
"It is a blue mask which has been dubbed as the Blue Spirit. Zuko uses it to hide his identity when he is out at night." Freya stared at Iroh before her eyes widened and pain crossed her face.
"He's looking for Appa!" she realised. Iroh nodded.
"Come with me," and Iroh moved off and Freya, with a glance back the way she'd came, followed. They were moving away from where Jet had lead the others. Could Jet be wrong about which cell the bison was in?
If he is then Appa will be found regardless. Freya thought and she fell into step with the old general.
They eventually reached a door and Iroh opened it before the two stepped inside. There was a person inside, covered in black and with a blue mask over it's face. When the door opened they turned around and spun two swords around in ready for a battle.
Freya looked shocked and then delighted as behind the man was Appa. He was on his feet and his saddle was missing while all sex legs were chained up.
"Appa!"
"Freya? Uncle?" Zuko's voice sounded from behind the mask
"So, the Blue Spirit. I wonder who could be behind that mask?" Iroh asked with faked puzzlement.
Freya completely ignored the masked man and ran straight for the bison who growled and looked at her happily. Zuko swung at Freya with his swords but she flipped straight over his head and with one foot landing on the ground she launched herself forwards and hugged the bison tightly on the head.
"Oh my god Appa! You're really here!" she grinned and her eyes stung at the happy tears that wanted to break through. "Oh my god are you okay?" The bison growled at her as Freya slipped back down his fur and to her feet. She looked around and noticed the cuffs on his legs, hissing annoyed at the sight.
Appa however sat down and licked the girl before he muzzled her with his nose. Freya giggled as she was thrown to the floor on her back.
Zuko had watched the girl and couldn't help but smile at her excited expression and her laughter. But he sighed and turned back to his uncle before removing the mask regardless.
"What are you doing here?" Zuko asked his uncle, ignoring the girl.
"I was just about to ask you the same thing. What do you plan to do now that you have found the Avatar's bison? Keep it locked in our new apartment? Should I go put on a pot of tea for him?" Freya stopped as she looked up at Zuko and Iroh.
"First I have to get it out of here." Zuko admitted and he turned to Appa who growled as Freya got up to her feet.
"AND THEN WHAT?!" Freya looked surprised at Iroh's sudden ferocity as he shouted. "You never think these things through! This is exactly what happened when you captured the Avatar at the North Pole! You had him, and then you had no where to go!" Iroh was shouting and Freya had never heard him do such a thing.
But he was right. Zuko's ambition stopped him from thinking, he rushed ahead and into things without thinking of an exit plan or the consequences.
"I would have figured something out!" Zuko replied.
"No! If Freya and their friends hadn't found you, you would have frozen to death!" Iroh believed and Freya frowned.
"I know my own destiny uncle." Zuko thought turning away in anguish.
"How on earth can you know that?" Freya asked and Zuko turned to her "I asked you not to go looking for Appa! I told you how important he was. I told you not to mess with this!" Freya's voice rose and she walked towards the boy as her eyes turned amber. "You came to steal Appa away from me!" she shrieked
"It's my destiny to capture the avatar!" Zuko shouted back at her
"Said who?" Freya asked and Zuko was suddenly stumped
"Is it your own destiny? Or is it a destiny someone else has tried to force on you?" Iroh questioned
"Stop it Uncle. I have to do this." Zuko believed
"Said who!?" Freya repeated, demanding as Zuko turned to her as she stood before Appa.
"Move Freya." Zuko instructed. The girl responded by raising her arms and taking a stance. Zuko stared at her as he ground his teeth.
"I'm begging you Prince Zuko! It's time for you to look inward, and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you? And what do you want?" Zuko closed his eyes in anguish and frustration and Freya watched as he became more and more angry, but it wasn't the anger he threw at others that she'd seen before. This was the expression he used when he was angry at himself.
The girl watched as Zuko suddenly raised one of his swords and with a giant shout that echoed through the chamber, he threw down the swords and his blue spirit mask. Freya looked surprised.
She stood and waited before Zuko looked up at her.
"You want him back?" he asked. She nodded
"Very much." she whispered.
"You asked me not to look for him." he nodded and she saw the resignation in his expression.
"Actually, I more asked you not to take him." she said and Zuko looked at her as she relaxed. "We need to get the cuffs off him. Can you help me?" Freya asked and Zuko looked at her. He looked for signs of distress or distrust but she was calm and collected and was generally asking for him for help.
"If Appa's here, then who knows what the others ran into. Long Feng could be coming to move him, we need to get him out, fast." She looked at Iroh and he nodded before the two began to move to the first cuffs around Appa's feet.
"Don't move Appa, stay still." Freya said as her hand glowed red hot and she grabbed the metal. It began to melt in her hand before it fell away. Iroh did the same before Zuko swiped at the last two beside Freya with his swords. Freya looked at him and he turned to her before he nodded.
"I'm sorry." Freya stood up stepped forwards to hug him, releasing a breath, relieved before she stepped back and placed her hands on his cheeks.
"You're more than forgiven." she assured "After all, if you hadn't found Appa, who knows what would have happened." Freya looked up at the animal as he shook his fur and moved now that his leg's were free.
"Zuko. You saved him." Freya smiled "And I don't think I can thank you for that. I know these things are hard for you. But I'm so proud that you decided to help me and Appa, rather than use him for your own gain." Zuko watched her as Appa came up to them and licked the two, causing Zuko to groan and Freya to complain.
"Appa thanks you too." she mumbled, shaking her hands from the bison saliva as Iroh laughed.
"I gotta figure out how to get him out now." Freya said as she bended the stuff from her and looked upwards. The roof was rather high and through it was a beam of light.
"Well…" she mumbled and Zuko glanced up as well. "Guess it wont be that hard after all." the boy chuckled from beside her before he suddenly stumbled. Freya grabbed him.
"Zuko?" Iroh moved around and felt his forehead.
"He's burning up."
"What? Why?" Freya asked worried
"I must get him out of here. Freya, you need to look after your bison." Iroh instructed
"But—"
"Trust me, I'm not going to let anything happen to him." Iroh said. Freya pursed her lips.
"I'll be around soon then." she nodded and Iroh returned it before Freya jumped up and climbed onto Appa's neck. His reins were gone and so was all the stuff the group had once stored in his saddle. Freya was annoyed at the sand benders for looting all their things for a minute before she grabbed a few fistfuls of Appa's fur. She looked back at Iroh who nodded.
"Appa, yip, yip." with a growl the bison shot off up into the air and Freya clung on with her hands and with her legs as they flew straight up and towards the sun. There was a grate at the top and Freya grit her teeth before she clung more with her legs and released her hands. With a blast of fire the grate in the way burst out and Appa burst up into the air and above the lake.
Freya laughed and Appa growled as the girl cheered.
There was a chirping and Momo suddenly appeared. Appa growled and the two flew around one another as Freya laughed before the lemur landed on her shoulder.
"Momo! Where's Aang?" Freya asked. The animal jumped off and flew off with Appa quickly following.
They flew around the lake until Freya noticed a few dots on the ground. Momo flew off and away towards them as she noticed the blue of the Water Tribe, the orange of the Air Nomads and Toph's green from Earth Kingdom. The four were surrounded by walls, two having been raised by Dai Li Agents, in which Long Feng stood on top of one, and the other was the cliff face. Water blocked the last side.
"Don't you dare!" Freya growled angrily "Come on Appa." and Appa dived down towards them.
Freya stood up on the bison's head as he dived and the sun shone from behind her.
"Appa!" Aang beamed as the bison growled and they got closer to the ground. Long Feng turned as Appa headed straight for him and Freya jumped before the bison bashed straight through the two walls.
She landed with the four and waved her arms to have the water of the sea swirl up and before any of them knew it the Dai Li agents were caught up in a whirlpool that surrounded the five. Freya took a breath before she turned and waved her arms to have the water run off and shoot into the lake, taking the men with it.
The girl turned as Long Feng had avoided her water and was getting to his feet. Her eyes glowed as though the amber was fire themselves and she raised her arms as Appa turned back towards him.
"You kidnapped Appa! And you had him in chains!" Long Feng turned to the girl as Appa landed behind her.
"I can handle you by myself." he believed. Earth went to launch him forwards and Freya blasted it with fire, surprising the man before Appa grabbed his leg with his teeth. Long Feng tried to remove his foot before Appa turned his head and sent the man flying into the water with his agents. Long Feng skipped like a skipping rock and Freya smirked.
"Good job." she grinned petting the bison. He responded by spitting out the man's boot.
"Freya! You found him!" Aang beamed as he ran towards the bison who licked him. He chuckled as Katara, Sokka and Toph followed the boy.
Freya hugged the bison as he sat down and everyone cheered. Aang launched straight at the bison's arrow as Momo landed on the bison's head and Sokka and Katara grabbed his legs.
"Well, I had some help." Freya whispered as Toph petted the beast's nose. Aang was already crying into his bison's fur.
"I missed you buddy." he admitted. Appa closed his eyes in content. "Freya…" he began
"No." she said and he looked surprised before Freya brushed her hands through the bison's fur. "He's just as important to me too, remember." Aang smiled and nodded
"Come on." Aang decided and he climbed up to sit on Appa's head. "Let's get out of here." Sokka helped Toph and they, Katara and Freya joined Aang before Appa took off and they flew over the lake. Katara stared at the water, her eyes filled with tears. Freya noticed and looked confused.
"What's…" she paused. "Wait, where's Jet?" she wondered and the two boys bowed their head as Katara closed her eyes. Freya pursed her lips and frowned as Aang put his hand on Katara's shoulder. She turned to him and then Aang pulled her into a hug before doing the same to Freya. The five of them shared a group hug and Appa growled.
Freya smiled before she glanced around and noticed the entrance to the headquarters below and watched, as Zuko and Iroh climbed out. She smiled, he could do the right thing, he knew how to put others first. All he needed was a little nudge from those around him to help him see the right path.