Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender is created by Michael DiMartino & Brian Konzieko and owned by Nickelodeon.
Based on "The Boiling Rock Part 2" originally by Joshua Hamilton.
Zuko was taken away, and the Warden found out about the impostor and came to question him.
"Well, well, well. I never thought I'd find you in here, Prince Zuko," said the Warden.
"How did you know who I am?" Zuko asked.
"How could I not?" The Warden furrowed his eyebrows. "You broke my niece's heart."
Zuko leaned dismissively against the wall. He stood straight up. "You're Mai's uncle? " Zuko added guilty, "I never meant to hurt her."
"Quiet! You're my special prisoner now. And you best behave. If these criminals found out who you are, the traitor prince who let his nation down. Why, they'd tear you to shreds," replied the Warden.
"So what's in it for you? Why don't you just tell my father and collect the reward?" Zuko questioned.
"Oh in due time believe me, I intend to collect," the Warden replied darkly. He walked out. The door closed and the room went dark.
A guard descended down a flight of stairs while Zuko and Suki mopped the floor under the stairs.
Sokka crossed arms, "Oh, good. You guys have met."
"Actually, we met a long time ago," Suki replied as she and Zuko mopped.
"We did?" Zuko asked.
"Yeah, you kind of burned down my village," Suki looked at Zuko angrily as Sokka put his hand on his helmet in a "You shouldn't have said that" gesture.
Zuko looked up and thought. Then he said, "Oh. Sorry about that. Nice to see you again." They put their mops against the wall as they sat down. Sokka checked his surroundings before he joined them.
"So listen, I think I have an escape plan," Sokka said sa he faced the two and knelt while he lifted his visor, "I checked out the Coolers again, the whole point of them is to keep firebenders contained, right?"
"Yeah..." Zuko replied.
"It's a perfect boat," he said as he moved his left arm across his body in a fluid motion, "for getting through the boiling water."
Zuko and Suki looked at each other skeptically. Zuko asked, "The cooler as a boat? Are you sure?"
"I'm telling you, it'll work. I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching point. I already tested it out. We'll roll the cooler into the water and just float with the current. It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound, no one will notice. And bing, bang, boom we're home free," Sokka explained.
"But how are you going to get the cooler out?" Suki asked.
"Yeah," said Chit Sang. Suki and Zuko were startled as they looked up and saw Chit Sang. "How are you going to get the cooler out?" He joined them.
"What?" Sokka replied panicked. He made gestures and continued, "We didn't. We... We didn't say that." He waved arm dismissively.
"Yeah, you heard wrong," said Zuko.
"I heard you hatching an escape plan and I want in," said Chit Sang.
"There's nothing to get in on," said Zuko
"Ok, well, I come with you or the Warden hears about this," Chit Sang said.
"I guess we have no choice," said Suki.
"Okay, you're in. Now, first we need someone," said Sokka as he reached into his pocket, "to unbolt the Cooler." He handed a wrench over to Zuko. "From the inside." Zuko put it into his pocket.
"Oh, I can get you inside," said Chit Sang.
Chit Sang and Zuko were going to scuffle, when the Warden came out. He ordered a lock down while new prisoners were being brought in.
Hakoda was among them. Sokka went into the cell where his father was.
"Thank goodness you're okay," said Sokka as he walked toward his father.
Hakoda stood up on the mattress rapidly with his fist out in an attack position and said. "If you take one step closer you'll see just how okay I am."
Sokka lifted his visor and said, "Dad, it's me." He pointed to himself.
Hakoda lowered his arm and teared up. He said, "Sokka, my son."
Sokka removed his helmet and hugged his dad. They parted after a few seconds.
"You know Sokka, you should be more careful with that guard outfit on. I almost punched you in the gut," said Hakoda.
"Yeah," Sokka replied as he rubbed his neck, "I ran into that problem earlier."
Meanwhile, a guard escorted Zuko to the interrogation room.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking me?" Zuko asked.
The guards shoved Zuko in. Zuko landed on a chair in the room. He turned back at the guards.
"I didn't do anything wrong," said Zuko.
"Come on," said Mai from the corner. Zuko looked to the source of the voice. "Zuko. We all know," Mai looked up and walked into the light, "that's a lie."
"Mai," said Zuko surprised.
Zuko on the floor staring up at Mai as she looks on with his arms crossed.
Zuko sat down in a chair with his head down. Mai leaned against the wall silently.
"How did you know I was here?" Zuko asked.
Mai was angry and replied, "Because I know you so well."
He looked up to her and asked, "But... how?"
Mai looked to the side. Then replied, "The Warden's my uncle you idiot."
Zuko put his hand to his forehead and groaned.
"The truth is," Mai said as she unrolled a letter, "I guess I don't know you. All I get is a letter." Mai continued angrily, "You could have at least looked me in the eye when you ripped out my heart."
"I didn't mean to-" Zuko replied apologetically.
"You didn't mean to?" Mai interrupted. " 'Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving.' "
"Stop!" Zuko said harshly as he looked at Mai. "This isn't about you. This is about the Fire Nation."
"Thanks Zuko. That makes me feel all better," Mai replied sarcastically, as she threw the letter at his head. Zuko grabbed his head and rubbed the spot she threw the letter at.
"Mai, I never wanted to hurt you," said Zuko as he got up from his chair and faced Mai. "But I have to do this to save my country."
"Save it? You're betraying your country," said Mai.
"That's not how I see it," Zuko replied.
Mai folded her arms and turned to the side and sulked.
Meanwhile in the cell, Sokka and Hakoda caught up.
"So where's Bato? Where's everyone else from the invasion? Sokka asked.
"The others are being held at a prison near the Fire Nation palace. They singled me out as their leader and sent me here. But before I left I met some young women who said they knew you. The Yoshinama Fighters?" Hakoda replied.
"You mean the Kyoshi Warriors?" Sokka asked.
"That's right," said Hakoda.
"Their leader Suki is here and she's gonna escape with us," Sokka informed his father.
"Good," said Hakoda, "we'll need all the help we can get. So, do you have a plan?"
"We had one but I don't know if everyone will be able to escape. I don't know if there's another way off this island," said Sokka.
"Sokka," Hakoda patted his son's back, "there's no prison in the World that can hold two Water Tribe geniuses."
"Then we'd better find two," said Sokka. They both laughed.
"Sokka," said Suki as Sokka looked through the opening of Suki's door, "what's going on?"
"I don't have much time. If I'm seen with you," Sokka replied as he looked out of the opening, "the guards might think something's up." He lowered his visor before he pushed back up again. "I just talked to my Dad."
"That's great," said Suki enthusiastically.
"Yeah and we're escaping today. On the gondola," said Sokka.
"What?" Suki asked confused.
"My dad and I came up with a plan together. We're gonna commandeer the gondola and," said Sokka as he placed both hands on Suki's shoulders, "we're gonna take a hostage with us so they won't cut the lines."
Suki lowered Sokka's arms, "We'll never make it onto the gondola. There's too many guards."
"My dad already thought of that. He said we'll need a distraction. That's why we're gonna start a prison riot," Sokka continued.
Suki was skeptical. "Okay. Let's say by some miracle this all works and we make it on the gondola. The Warden will still just cut the lines, even if we have a captive."
"Not if the Warden is the captive," Sokka explained. A sound from outside the cell stopped their conversation. Sokka peered at the opening. "I have to go." Suki rushed and hugged him. "I'll find you before we start the riot."
With Chit Sang's help the prisoners started rioting. Suki captured the Warden. The group, which also included Chit Sang's girlfriend and buddy, ran up a staircase toward the gondola.
"We're almost there," said Suki to Sokka.
The warden was carried on Chit Sang's shoulder. The guards at the gondola firebent at the group. Zuko shoved Sokka aside and intercepted the flame, and dissipated it immediately. More guards joined in to help.
"Back off, we've got the Warden," Zuko said.
They moved aside. The warden who looked up from Chit Sang's shoulder and mumbled under the tie. The guards loosened their stances.
"Let's go," said Zuko.
The group slowly and warily walked past the guards with their arms outstretched in case the guards attacked them. Zuko stopped at the end of the platform while the rest ran towards the gondola. Suki was beside the inside of the gondola.
"Everyone in," said Suki.
Sokka boarded the gondola first, then everyone followed. Zuko temained at the platform and he ran to the lever, pushed it down. The ropes of the gondola loosened and uncoiled. The gondola slowly moved off, and left Zuko behind. Zuko kicked the lever until it broke while the guards ran toward him. After he broke the lever he ran and jumped into the gondola. Sokka caught Zuko's arm and Zuko climbed in.
"What were you doing?" Sokka asked.
"Making it so they can't stop us," Zuko replied.
"Way to think ahead," said Sokka impressed.
"We're on our way," said Suki.
Hakoda looked back at the gondola tower.
"Wait. Who's that?" Hakoda asked.
Sokka and Zuko turned their heads. Azula, Ty Lee and some guards were at the gondola tower and they looked at the fleeing gondola.
"That's a problem," said Zuko, as the guards bowed in respect, "It's my sister and her friend."
To Be Continued...
AN: I decided to change this part up and shorten The Boiling Rock story.