Fight 62: Prisonbreak
The new prisoners were made to line up before the warden. Sokka rushed from the stairs and nudged some guards aside, excusing his way through and getting closer for a better look. Still, for safety, he stopped behind a line of tall, imposing guards.
"Welcome to the Boiling Rock. I'm sure 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 do everything I say." Masato paced before his new tenants before stopping in front of Hakoda who was looking down. "Look me in the eye when I'm talking to you."
"No." The Water Tribe Chief stubbornly refused.
"Oh, you'd rather look at my shoes? Then take a look!" The prison director pulled down Hakoda's handcuff to the floor with his foot, bringing the rebellious one to a kneeling position. Sokka gaped in surprise. "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!" He demanded again. Hakoda lifted his hateful eyes towards him. "See ? Isn't that better?" Satisfied after having displayed his authority, he looked at the other prisoners. "You will all do as I say or pay the price. You will all-" Right as he lifted his foot to start walking, Hakoda lightly raised his hand, tripping the warden who fell face first on the ground. Sokka stifled his snickering... embarrassing himself like that just when he was trying to show off his supremacy... Two guards rushed to their superior's aid. The Water Tribe prisoner stood up on his own and went back in line in the very same position as before as if nothing had happened. The warden had also stood up by himself though, and due to his wounded pride, lashed out at those who had come to help him, taking it out on them. "I'm fine! Get these prisoners out of my sight!"
Some time later, Sokka went to his father's cell. It was an exceedingly small one with only a mattress on which the prisoner was sitting. When the boy entered, his father mistook him for a real guard and was about to beat him up. Hakoda finally recognized his son when the latter removed his helmet, and he was so happy and relieved to see him well that his eyes filled with tears, and he suddenly pulled his child in a hug. Sokka held him too.
"You know Sokka, you should be more careful with that guard outfit on. I almost punched you in the gut." The Water Tribe Chief cautioned his son after this short but strong embrace.
"Yeah, I ran into that problem earlier." The young one good-heartedly admitted, recalling his reunion with Suki.
The head of the penal institution entered another cell where Chit Sang, who had been recaptured, was strapped to a chair and watched by two guards.
"Are you comfortable Chit Sang ?" The prison supervisor inquired as he circled around the bound man like a shark around a wounded prey.
"If you're trying to get me to talk, forget it. I'm not a squealer." The convict replied challengingly.
"Chit Sang, I only asked you if you were comfortable."
"Well, yeah. Actually, I am pretty comfortable." Chit Sang smiled. The warden kicked the back of the chair, making it fall forward, and causing the detainee's head to violently hit the floor. Chit Sang groaned. Masato asked if he was still comfortable . "No."
"I know you and your cronies are not smart enough to come up with that little escape plan. So you're gonna tell me. Who is?" The warden left. The two guards lifted Chit Sang's chair back into position, and one of them closed the door.
Sokka looked through the opening in the door of his father's cell to make sure it was still all clear and proceeded to question his parent about Bato and everyone else from the invasion. They were apparently all being held at a prison near the Fire Nation palace, except Hakoda who had been singled out as their leader and sent here. But before coming, he had met the Kyoshi Warriors who knew Sokka. The boy told him that as their leader, Suki had also been sent here and was gonna escape with them.
"Good, we'll need all the help we can get." The veteran placed a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Chenlian's also with us. She used to be a prisoner here and... hrrm... volunteered... to serve as guide and advisor despite the risks." Sokka kindly rephrased the threat in a more positive light. "And she really helped me out. I was against it, but I'm glad she came." There was nothing more reassuring than having such a trustworthy and competent ally... friend... by your side and who'd go so far for your sake. That was what was written on his visage. That expression brought a smile to his father's face. "And you know Prince Zuko ?" The boy went on. Although the adult had not met him, he of course knew of the son of the Fire Lord. "Well, he's here too." He informed. Hakoda thought it was a major problem, but not his child. "Actually, he's on our side now." That claim earned him an extremely dubious look. "I know, I had the same reaction. After all he has done, it was hard to trust him. But he's really proven himself and I never would have found you without his help. Actually Chenlian didn't want me to come here and he helped me convince her. He also did a lot for me here."
"How does Chenlian feel about him?"
"Well it's... complicated. They were childhood friends but when her parents were accused of treason he abandoned her. Then she helped Aang while Zuko tried to capture him. Still they fell deeply in love and were together for some time. Yet he betrayed her in Ba Sing Se and threw her in jail. So she really doesn't want to forgive him and accept him. But it's Chenlian. She just cannot keep scorning someone's sincere efforts and feelings forever. I mean, even I can tell he's a different man from before. He truly changed. I can't say about back then, but from what I see now, I know his love for her is real. It'll be hard given how much he hurt her but I believe it'll be fine, he will open her eyes and win her back through persistence."
"I see... So, do you have a plan?" The Water Tribe Chief inquired after an understanding nod.
"We had one but some of the other prisoners got involved and ruined it. However Chenlian told me some things that should prove pretty useful... It might just be her assumption but... "
"Sokka, believe in your friend. And you should know, there's no prison in the world that can hold two Water Tribe geniuses." Hakoda patted his son's back successfully comforting him, and the two proceeded to hatch a new escape plan based on all the gathered information.
After that, Sokka met with his fellow guard and infiltrator and told her all about the jailbreak scheme he and his father had just contrived. Of course, she had no objection. They divided work. He would inform the others while she would secure their escape route. The two went their own way. But then, in one of the corridors, Chenlian saw Mai being accompanied by guards. Her breath caught in her throat for a moment. She stepped out of the way and bowed slightly, joining her hands into a Fire Nation salute. Since she had cut her hair and had her visor down, Mai should not be able to recognize her, especially with Zuko being on her mind. It was going to be alright... But against all expectations, Mai stopped before her.
"You guys, here is enough. That one will take over." The Warden's niece pointed at Chenlian with her thumb. The fake female guard gasped. However, due to having received strict, direct orders from her uncle, they refused. "I want time alone with just her. You don't know what happens to boorish men who get in the way, do you?"
"...We'll let you have time together, but return soon. We will accompany you to the prisoner." They backed down as much as they could. The poor men must be feeling stuck between the hammer and the anvil.
"Come." The princess' friend gestured to the girl who followed her without a word. They turned the corner, pretending to be headed to the restroom. But then, all of a sudden, Mai grabbed her companion, threw her in a cell, went in with her, closed the door, and pinned her against the wall, a stiletto at her throat.
"What are you doing here, Chenlian?!"
"I'm also glad to see you well. How did you recognize me?" Chenlian did not even try to defend herself.
"Scars are identification marks."
"... You were looking at me much more closely than I thought you did." The girl with mahogany hair smiled with a hint of self-derision. She had not expected that at all. Even though those people had all completely discarded her and thus she had been supposed to be beneath their notice... It appeared that one person at least had properly looked at her despite having come a single time... although she had no idea whether that attention was due solely to her relation to Zuko or if she was being esteemed for herself... In any case, Chenlian seemed to have been too dismissive of her feelings, hence her current predicament. It didn't look like Mai was going to sell her out, but that could change at a moment's notice.
"I'm saying it again. What, are, you, doing, here?"
"...Helping someone out."
"Is it Zuko? Did you fake your death just so you could destroy him, fill his thoughts with you and forcefully draw him back to you?"
"...That wasn't how things were supposed to go. Once I was gone, he was supposed to be free. This was supposed to have fully severed all ties and put a definitive end to our relationship. He should have just forgotten about me. I thought he was doing a relatively good job at it and just needed one final push. I thought it would be fine since you were there to console him. That was how it should have been... Sorry. Looks like I miscalculated..." Her smile turned sad and apologetic. "But I'm doing my best to set things right and correct my mistakes. You should be Zuko, not me. Being with me only ever brought him confusion and pain after all." However, it seemed lately all her attempts to persuade him, all her words and deeds had backfired on her, and she couldn't say how much effect she had on him.
"Chenlian... you... you still love him, don't you?" Mai's anger and resentment seemed to have all but faded. The short-haired young woman merely kept smiling without replying. She did... but so what?
Hurting the other, being hurt, and still clinging... it might look like a warped and noxious relationship, but was it really? They both did all they could to try and escape from this mutual attraction, but everything failed. Chenlian and Zuko were both very passionate people whose feelings ran deep, but not all that good with social skills. They only seemed to be struggling and clashing in all of their awkwardness, trying to settle their tumultuous feelings in these turbulent times and their own circumstamces. They held onto each other while caught in a storm. Then, once that storm passed, and they calmed down, wouldn't they be able to walk hand in hand? Someone who cared for you in the worst and best times... Wasn't Chenlian the only one for Zuko? He had realized that. And Chenlian could not realize her full potential without Zuko. He had to believe in her and fully support her too. Despite her awkwardness and shortcomings, Chenlian possessed charisma and kindness that drew people to her and made them trust her. With the status and authority he could give, there was no telling how much she could do.
Mai lowered her arms, stepped back and hung her head. She too had tried very hard to hate and resent Chenlian for having stolen Zuko away, for having made him suffer so much and go through all that, for minimizing their feelings, her betrayals... but it had been impossible. Even now... knowing Chenlian must be there to help people escape, which would greatly mar her family's reputation, she was still unable to sell her out...
"Why are you going that far... what are you trying to accomplish by opposing the Fire Lord and betraying your home country to this extent?"
"This is all for the Fire Nation. Tyrants about to destroy the world, who sacrifice their family, their people, just to satisfy their own ego must be deposed. I understand that sacrifices are sometimes inevitable... But someone who doesn't know the weight of life or the meaning of love doesn't deserve to stand at the top. Ozai and Azula don't actually care about the country or the people. They just see them as tools. What the Fire Nation truly needs is a just ruler who will bring it back to its rightful place as one of the four pillars supporting the world and usher it in an era of peace. Rather than destruction, coexistence, cooperation, and creation. That is the future I'm fighting for. What about you?" Chenlian's eyes bore into hers.
Sokka went to Zuko's cell, but did not go in. They talked in low voices, with the door separating them. Sokka filled him in, that he and his dad had devised a new plan. However, before he could say more, he was interrupted by two guards, a man and a woman, who startled him and asked him what he was doing here. The... 'new recruit' having quite trained his quick-wittedness in many such situations, immediately replied he was just telling this dirty lowlife what he thought of him. The pair told him to do that later, that prisoner coming with them. Orders straight from the warden. The teen pleaded to have just ten more seconds to rough him up a bit . The real jailers crossed their arms and gave permission. Sokka entered, and soon familiar manhandling noises were heard such as 'Take that! And this!' and other grunts of pain. The female guard shook her head while her collegue uttered a dismissive 'Newbie...'
However, the newbie was only roughing up a rolled up mattress held by Zuko who played along by letting out fake grunts.
"We have a new plan but it's gonna need a big distraction. Be in the yard in one hour." The young Water Tribe man instructed. Just then, the door opened. In a hurry, Sokka lunged at Zuko who dropped his mattress. With their pose, ressembling a choking hold, they had managed to deceive the prison staff. Play time was over though. The male guard shoved Sokka off and the two led Zuko out of his cell.
"What are you doing? Where are you taking me ?" The former Crown Prince demanded, only to be ignored. They brought him to another cell and pushed him inside. He landed on the wooden chair used to chain criminals and looked back at the guards. "I didn't do anything wrong!"
"Come on Zuko. We all know that's a lie." A female voice surprised him. The woman who had been waiting in a corner of the room walked over to him.
"Mai?!"
Masato returned to Chit Sang's interrogation room. Two burly men were holding the captive's chair upside down. Chit Sang's face was red because of the blood rushing to his head due to gravity.
"How is he?"
"I think he's ready to talk." The guards threw the chair back into its original position. The detainee was panting and perspiring profusely as his complexion returned to normal. The smirking warden approached the prisoner from behind and bent his head over his shoulder.
"Have you had enough time to think about what I asked?"
"Yes. You're right. There was another person involved in the escape plan. It's a guy who's disguised like a prison guard, only he's not a prison guard. He's the mastermind. He came up with the plan." Chit Sang revealed. Masato patted his head and left.
Zuko was sitting down in the interrogation chair with his head down while Mai was quietly leaning against the wall. He was the first to break the silence, asking how she knew he was there.
"Because I know you so well?" The deserted girlfriend glared at him.
"But... how?"
"The Warden's my uncle you idiot." She looked away. The former prince held his head and groaned. A thought nagged him. Had Chenlian known about it? Had she known and kept quiet on purpose? "The truth is, I guess I don't know you. All I get is a letter?" She unrolled said letter. "You could have at least looked me in the eye when you ripped out my heart." She had expected more courage, respect, and honesty from him.
"I didn't mean to-" The young man looked at her apologetically.
"You didn't mean to?" She cut him off, walked to stand behind him, and started reading out loud. "Dear Mai, I'm sorry that you have to find out this way, but I'm leaving-"
"Stop!" He glanced back at her. "This isn't about you. This is about the Fire Nation."
"Thanks Zuko. That makes me feel all better." Mai threw the letter at his head, glaring more fiercely. Zuko rubbed the spot it had hit. "But be honest here, this isn't about the Fire Nation either. It's about Chenlian, right?"
"I do love Chenlian, and will do all I can so that she will accept me back. Mai, I'm sorry for using you as a substitute. I never wanted to hurt you. You deserved much better. But even if Chenlian had not been there, I would have still joined the Avatar. I didn't even know she was still alive when I left the palace. And this isn't just about following her last will. I took the decision after observing, listening, hesitating, and thinking a lot. This is something I have to do to save my country." He stood up and faced her. He had spoken with all his conviction.
"Save it? You're betraying your country."
"That's not how I see it." He disagreed, looking straight at her. Mai was the one who looked away first and sulkily turn to the side, folding her arms.
After Zuko, Sokka headed towards Suki's cell. He went in while she was practicing her martial art. There was not much time though as the guards might think something was up if he was seen with her. He quickly explained the strategy. He had just talked with his dad and they were escaping today. They were going to commandeer the gondola and take a hostage with them so they would not cut the lines. Suki, however, did not believe they could ever make it to the gondola. There were too many guards. The planners had already worked through that problem... and found a solution. They needed a distraction... that was a prison riot. And knowing the warden would not hesitate to sacrifice any hostage they might have and cut the lines to prevent further disgrace, they had decided to have the warden himself as their hostage... A sound stopped the conversation. It was time to go. Suki tightly hugged him. He would find her before starting the riot.
Sokka snuck out of the young woman's cell, closed the door and walked away. But then, he was suddenly hailed by guards. The warden wanted to see him. The boy asked why but they didn't know as they hadn't asked. So he hoped to reschedule the meeting to a later date and tried leaving, only to be caught by other guards and led away. No making the Warden wait.
Sokka soon found himself lined up with other male guards on one of the topmost platforms. It turned out they had gathered all the new male recruits. And they all had their helmets off so their faces could be seen clearly. The infiltrator's eyes were wide in shock and fear. He attempted to hide behind his neighbor but the latter nudged him away with an annoyed expression.
"One of you is an impostor who thought he could fool me. But now that person is going to be in a lot of trouble. Who is it ?" Masato questioned Chit Sang who had just been brought to the front of the line. Chit Sang, who had his light eyes closed until now, finally opened them. The child was shaking and sweating like crazy. He tightly shut his eyes, thinking everything was all over for sure.
"That's him, Warden. He's the impostor." The one Chit Sang stopped before and pointed at was the guard who had previously bullied him.
"What? ! I am not. He's lying! He's a liar!" The thug... jailer was naturally outraged and grabbed the denouncer by his shirt. Chit Sang closed his eyes again and raised his hands innocently. Masato smiled and left. His subordinates dragged the designated traitor off and followed him. Chit Sang had perfectly accomplished his little revenge. Sokka exhaled, relieved. Wait. Now that he thought about it, why weren't the female new recruits here too, even though Chenlian had been disguised as a guard too? Did the women come earlier? Will they come later? Did Chit Sang purposely omit her existence? But there was no way he could ask now.
The hoodlum had been stripped off his guard uniform and strapped to a chair in prisoner garb and was still claiming his innocence.
"Save your breath. I know you've been working together. You threw Chit Sang in the very cooler they used to escape. It was all part of your plan." The head of the penal facility brought his face right up to the alleged impostor's.
"That was just a coincidence!"
"Sir, there's someone to see you."
"Who told you to interrupt me?!" Masato yelled back, only to freeze when he turned and saw his Princess standing at the doorway. The guards bowed down in respect.
"I did." Azula spoke. Ty Lee could be seen behind her. The women stepped inside.
"Princess Azula. Uh, it is an honor to welcome you to the Fire Nation's most exemplary prison. I didn't realize you were coming." The prison director stood up but kept a servile attitude.
"Who is this?" The Fire Lord's daughter was referring to the prisoner who defiantly looked away.
"He's a guard who was involved in a recent and feeble escape attempt."
"It wasn't me!" The bully maintained. The warden told him to shut up. Azula took a look at the bound guard before raising an eyebrow. "You're wasting your time. That's not one of them." She declared and walked away.
"How do you know ?" Masato was stunned.
"Because I'm a people person." She smirked. As an exceptional liar and schemer, she had instantly intuited that the man was being sincere here... and that he was a small fry who didn't have enough brains to cook up escape plans anyway.
Chenlian arrived at the control room overlooking the whole prisoner housing area and told the man present they had received orders to let the prisoners out into the yard. The sceptical guard argued they were in the middle of lockdown.
"Okay. I'll just go tell the Warden you said that. I'm sure he'll be glad to hear about you undermining his authority. What's your name again?" The teenager waved a dismissive hand and walked away.
"Wait! Don't tell the Warden, I... I'm just a little confused." The poor chap threw out his arm.
"I know, I was confused too. But he's still our boss, and we gotta listen to his orders, right? Besides, the Warden's in a bad mood, and that made him irrational. Now's really not the best time to question him. I think it's safer to just do what he says for the time being." Chenlian placed a comforting hand on her victim's shoulder, her sweet voice sounding very concerned about her colleague.
"Yeah, you're right. We're letting them out." He pulled various levers as the bell rang. The door of each cell opened up floor by floor. The detainees immediately left their cells.
A moment later, Chenlian joined Sokka, Hakoda and Suki in the yard. Now they had to start a riot... Hakoda smirked slyly and went to shove a big burly prisoner. That would have normally worked wonders, but unluckily, this time, the person was working hard to learn how to control his anger. As Sokka was complaining that things weren't working, a hand landed his shoulder.
"Hey you. You're lucky I didn't rat you out. But my generosity comes with a price. I know you're planning another escape attempt and I want in." It was an eager Chit Sang, who seemed to be smarter – or more intuitive - than than his appearance and usual behavior let on.
"Actually, we're trying to escape right now. But we need a riot. You wouldn't happen to know how to start one would you?"
"A prison riot? Please..." Talking as if it was as simple as plucking grass, Chit Sang went off, grabbed another prisoner and dragged him away. "Hey!" He called for attention, hoisting the prisoner up and down above his head. "RIOT!" As soon as he yelled that, the yard erupted into chaos as brawls broke out and flames shot all over the place.
"Impressive." Hakoda voiced his opinion and he and his son looked on, dumbstruck. Even the one who had been trying to control his anger wanted in on the fun.
"Who let these prisoners into the yard?! This is supposed to be a lockdown!" The Warden bellowed as he and other guards looked down at the pandemonium from a walkway up the tower. The one in charge of the control room who had fallen for Chenlian's plot raised his visor, backed against the wall, and snuck away as stealthily as he could.
Zuko and Mai were still in the room, the door open, when a soldier came rushing in.
"Ma'am, there's a riot going on. I'm here to protect you." He announced. She coldly replied she didn't need any protection.
"Hah, believe me. She doesn't." Zuko snorted.
"I'm sorry but I'm under direct orders from your Uncle to make sure nothing happens." The guard would not hear any of it and entered. Zuko took the chance to firebend at the man's feet and escape out of the room. The guard attempted to shield Mai from the fire. The former prince had also accounted for that though, the 'shield' actually working as an obstacle to Mai and an involuntary help to him.
"Get off of me!" The girl threw the hindrance to the side and ran to the door... too late. Zuko slid the door shut and meddled with the lock. Mai glared at him through the opening. He stared back at her for a time, then closed his eyes and rushed off.
Chit Sang, Sokka, Hakoda and Suki were standing at the bottom of another tower, trying to stay out of the chaos. Zuko joined them after throwing a guard who had attempted to subdue him over his shoulder. He was looking straight at Chenlian, but refrained from asking what he wanted, now being obviously not the time.
"Zuko, good. We're all here. Now all we need to do is grab the Warden and get to the gondolas." Sokka pointed at Masato who had not moved from his vantage point on the other tower. Zuko asked how they were going to do that. "I'm... not sure."
"Argh, I thought you thought this through!"
"I thought you told me it's okay not to think everything through!" Sokka panicked, throwing his arms.
"Maybe not everything. But this is kind of important!" The renegade prince grabbed his head while Sokka put a pensive finger on his cheek.
"Hey, uhh, fellas. I think your girlfriends are taking care of it." Chit Sang said. The men looked on in surprise as Suki headed straight towards the melee and crossed the sea of scuffling prisoners by jumping on their heads. Chenlian had removed her helmet and was flying straight at their prey, revealing herself in order to draw his attention. And the future escapees decided to get moving too or they would never catch up to them in time.
"Heya, Warden. Do you remember me? I was in the vicinity and thought I should drop by to say hello. I wanted to thank you for taking care of me. How is your family doing?" The girl with short mahogany hair spoke as if she was truly just here for a courtesy visit but the prison director knew well just how ironical she was being.
"Chenlian!" He was shocked to see her here, but her presence made everything click into place. Everything must be the fault of that impossibly rebellious, cunning, and tenacious woman, that unrepentant devious wretch who continually betrayed his niece and caused her so much pain! It was possible to wear her down with much time and efforts, but it had proven impossible to break her spirit. So be it! "I'll bring them your head as a souvenir. I'm sure Mai will be particularly pleased. Get her!" He was truly seething with rage and hate. Following his order, the soldiers shot at her. Chenlian avoided some fiery projectiles and retaliated... Her flaming arches absorbed their fire balls and went on to hit her attackers full force. They crashed against the walls behind them and were knocked out. Thus, Suki's path was free.
"Now, now, shouldn't you be greeting me yourself... if you can, that is? Or did you leave it to your subordinates because you were scared of me? I instantly got rid of your meat shields but what will you do? Will you grovel in fear now that you're alone?"
"It's YOU who will grovel before me!" Masato cracked a fire whip at her that she evaded wonderfully.
While Chenlian was successfully taunting the target and monopolizing its attention, the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors leaped onto the tower and quickly scaled the wall. She pushed herself from the wall and backflipped to land her feet on some pipe right under the walkway, and flipped again to land with her hands on the railing. More guards had come as reinforcement but she quickly dispatched them and proceeded to climb the next wall to the higher walkway. A few seconds later, she was on the same ground as the Warden. As Chenlian sent a burning arch at the prison director, forcing him to shield himself, Suki slid on the ground, quickly stood up right as she reached their target and caught his arm in a deadlock grip before he could move, her other fist ready to punch him in the face. She stared at him. The man stared back, obviously shocked.
"You wouldn't dare." The prison superintendent challenged her. Suki turned him around, brought his hands together and tied them with a string. Then she pulled his headband down and turned it around so the tie was on his mouth.
"Sorry Warden, you're our prisoner now." She tightened the knot and shrugged with a smug look before slamming him against the wall.
"Nice Suki." Chenlian landed next to them. The girls made a high five. Leaving it to Suki had been the right call. Right now, Chenlian might have lacked restraint during the capture. "People with lots of useless pride are always so easy to trick." She smiled at the Warden. Soon, the guys finally caught up with them. Now, they had to try and catch their breath too.
"We've got the Warden. Now let's get out of here." Suki said.
"Those are some girls." Hakoda commented, holding his stomach.
"Tell me about it." His son and Zuko replied simultaneously, looking at their respective incredibly capable girlfriend (though one would deny that status with all she had).
The group ran out of a staircase atop a tower. They only had to cross the bridge to reach the gondola station. However, that bridge was guarded. The soldiers firebended at them. Zuko shoved Sokka aside and dissipated the flames immediately.
"Back off, we've got the Warden." He stepped aside. The men saw their superior look up from Chit Sang's shoulder and mumble under his gag. They loosened their stances and moved out of the way. "Let's go." Zuko motioned to his comrades and the group slowly and warily walked past the guards, ready to retaliate if something happened. The Fire Lord's son stopped to protect the rear, watching out for attacks as the others ran inside the gondola. Zuko ran to them but first pulled down the lever, getting the gondola going. Then he started kicking the lever to break it. After several failed attempts, he looked to the guards who were rushing forward to capture him. He finally managed to break the lever and dashed towards the gondola. He leapt and flew over the railings among the fire balls that missed him. Sokka reached out his arm and caught Zuko's. He struggled under the weight for a moment. Zuko grabbed the side and climbed inside, aided by Sokka.
"What are you doing?!" The Water Tribe boy, who had been very worried, scolded him. But when his firebending friend told him he had made it so they couldn't stop them, he complimented him. "Way to think ahead."
"Wait. Who's that?" Hakoda, who was looking back at the gondola tower, pointed. 'That' was referring to Azula and Ty Lee. They were standing on the platform, watching the escape taking place. The boys came to see.
" That's a problem. It's my sister and her friend." The Fire Nation prince answered.
Azula appeared to be thinking. Then she quickly seized the handcuffs clipped on the nearby guard's waist. Ty Lee jumped onto the lines from the rooftop of the station and ran across them. The princess propelled herself with jets of blue fire and locked the handcuff around a line. Then she bended fire again to move forward.
"This is a rematch I've been waiting for." Suki said.
"Me too." Zuko concurred. The two climbed onto the gondola's roof. Chenlian sighed, advised Sokka to protect the ones inside and also went up. She had to be there and see things for herself. Leaving Ty Lee to Suki, this would be the first time the three of them, Azula, Zuko, and Chenlian would face each other since that fateful day in Ba Sing Se. Ty Lee jumped and landed on the farther end of the gondola. Suki turned to face her. While they were distracted by her, Azula landed on the closest end. The two ladies had effectively trapped the three escapees in a pincer attack.
"Well, well, well... would you look at that? How heart-warming..." The princess mused. "Or so I would like to say... but... Zuko, even though you're my dear brother, don't you have any shame, running off to your ex after having dumped her as cruelly as you did? And Chenlian, isn't it pitiful of you to accept him back like that despite the way he treated you? Looks like you truly don't have a shred of self-esteem left."
"What shameless words, coming from someone without a shred of honor like you..." Chenlian coolly brushed her off. After all, such banter was only natural with Azula. As such, it didn't hurt or even itch. She was entirely used to it. Obvious attempts to upset her could not reach her. What more... she still didn't trust Zuko or had accepted him yet. Yes, she could tell he was putting in the effort... but so what? A mountain of efforts could be washed down the drain in an instant.
With a sweep of her leg, Azula bended an arch of fire at Chenlian's feet in response but she stopped it. Suki and Ty Lee, both non-benders but still fearsome martial artists, engaged in close-quarter combat, punching, parrying, avoiding... Unable to find an opening to chi block for one but also unable to land critical hits for the other, neither of them seemed to be gaining the upper hand. Azula was of course firebending at her opponents. However, she was clearly concentrating her fire on Chenlian who had come forward. And she had not given up using words to destabilise her hated rival.
"Still, what a nostalgic lay out. Zuko, won't you choose me, choose your family again like you did then? Won't you save me like I saved you?" The Fire Lord's daughter continued. But both other firebenders could tell her words were not aimed at recruiting Zuko but at reviving Chenlian's trauma.
"Shut up!" Zuko angrily stepped forth and launched some fire balls. Against all expectations though, the mahogany-haired girl laughed good-heartedly.
"If that was the case I'd just need to position myself smartly and duck so you'd take each other out. And if he does turn against me again... well, that would be good in its own way." She was smiling, like she was finding that possibility very amusing, interesting, almost like she was waiting for it to happen. The royal siblings frowned.
Azula was extremely displeased. Chenlian no longer had a weakness, a catch to pull on that would tear her apart again. Zuko knew he wouldn't be rebuilding her lost trust any time soon, and while he was relieved that his sister's plot was failing, to hear Chenlian talking like she had given up on him, like she didn't care whether he'd betray her again was somewhat painful after all. But she was only protecting herself. That was why he could never give up. One day, she would finally deem him worthy, rely on him, and let him protect her, and then, instead of chasing each other, they would finally stand side by side, walk hand in hand.
However, while she dominated the verbal fight, it was not like Chenlian could go all out with her bending as she had people to protect. So she approached the princess and brought it to close combat. Azula too did not wish to risk involving Ty Lee and complied while occasionally still aiming at her brother. Zuko was also dealing with the 'stray shots'.
While the fights continued atop the gondola, monopolizing the attention of those inside, the warden took advantage of the situation to try and loosen his bindings. A guard saw him through a telescope and kept watch of things. The superintendent managed to free his hands. He immediately pulled down his gag and ran to lean over the side of the gondola.
"Cut the line!" He yelled back at his subordinates. The shocked Chit Sang quickly covered his mouth and held him back, but it was too late. The soldiers hesitated. If they cut the line, there was no way for him to survive. But it was the warden who knew that best, and he still gave this order. If he valued his honor more than even his life, they had to respect his wishes.
However, they first had to stop the line. It was simply impossible to cut such a thick line of many interwoven steel threads while it was moving. They succeeded in forcefully blocking the huge spool with metal objects. The brutal stop caused the gondola to sway, bringing the fighting to a halt too. Ty Lee climbed to the top of the metal coupling that held the gondola to the line and looked back at the tower to see what was happening.
"They're about to cut the line!" She shouted as two guards were sawing the line. The girls saw another gondola, this one coming down towards them.
"Then it's time to leave." Azula smirked and propelled herself from the roof with her firebending. "Goodbye Zuko." She landed on the roof of the other gondola and was joined by her acrobatic friend. As they slowly returned to safety, only Ty Lee wore a sad expression as she gazed back at Zuko, Chenlian, and the others.
"They're cutting the line! The gondola's about to go!" Zuko shouted as he returned inside.
"I hope this thing floats..." Hakoda commented. If not they would all take a dip in that rather hot bath below them... and be boiled alive.
"It'll be fine even if it doesn't. I'll go handle it." Chenlian, who had remained atop the gondola, jumped and zoomed straight back towards the tower faster than the cable car. However, right as she was about to firebend at the grinning men sawing the line, she saw Mai throwing stilettos at the guards, pinning them against the wall by their wristguards. The blades had been thrown with such force the guards had let go of the saw and been driven this far back.
"What are you doing? !" One immobilized soldier demanded.
"Saving the jerk who dumped me and the girl he left me for." Mai flatly replied. The two other guards firebended at her but she dodged the flames and threw knives at them in the same time. She slid across the floor to the other reeling spool, stood up and incapacited more of the people trying to catch her. She suddenly closed in on a female guard she used as shield and launched more stilettos, each reaching with mechanical precision. Mai then pinned her unwilling 'shield' to the floor by the wristguard too. Soldiers took advantage of that to attack her, but they were blasted away by fire. Chenlian had come to her help and landed behind her. They both kicked the objects blocking the spool in the same time, allowing the line and thus the gondola, to start moving again.
"It's Mai." Zuko was stunned when he saw that the girl he had abandoned was actually helping him escape. She and Chenlian were fighting back to back, protecting each other and the line. Even though Mai should be considering Chenlian as someone to defeat... and even though Chenlian would never entrust her back like this to someone she should be wary of... they were showing wonderful collaboration. Mai glanced back at the gondola where the jerk who had dumped her was.
"What is she doing ?!" Azula looked furious, but Ty Lee was simply shocked. Chenlian looked at the other gondola, the one that was coming their way on which the Fire Nation princess was riding, and frowned. She unleashed a torrent of fire with her two fists, forcing every coming guard to flee from the unbearable heat. This wasn't a level of firebending they could counter. Under the nourished fire, the metal started glowing red. Then she turned to her comrade and rival in love.
"Mai, I can take us both out of here. Come with me." She reached out her hand to her. Mai hesitated for a moment then held out her hand. But then, she suddenly threw herself at Chenlian, tackling her right as a bolt of lightning passed over them. The girls quickly stood up, and against all expectations, Mai threw Chenlian out of the tower.
"Mai?!" A normal person would have likely fallen to her death but not a firebending master like her. Despite having understood her friend's intention to let her escape, she still tried to return to her.
"Go!" Mai threw a knife in her direction. Azula was also blocking her way by sending lightning and fire at her. Chenlian could not come close.
"I'll be back for you too!" The short-haired firebender yelled before leaving. The escapees safely arrived at the station at the rim of the crater and quickly dashed out. Well, Masato was useless now and would only prove a dead weigth to them so they tossed him back in the gondola.
"Sorry Warden, your record is officially broken." Hakoda quickly apologized. They ran... and stopped a distance away. Now what? They had no way out of the island.
"This way!" Chenlian spoke from above them. She landed atop the very edge of a nearby cliff. Upon hearing and seeing her, Zuko placed a hand on his chest and exhaled, visibly relieved. After all she had been quite reckless here. They joined her and she showed them something down the rocky incline. That was a Fire Nation zeppelin docked at the shore, the one Azula had used to come here.
In the end, Mai was caught and brought to Azula. Her head was lowered so her fringe hid her eyes. Azula ordered the guards to leave them alone. They obeyed. Mai lifted her head up to look straight at the angry princess.
"I never expected this from you." The Fire Lord's daughter admitted. Ty Lee clasped her hands before her face, her gaze anxiously wandering between her two friends. "The thing I don't understand is 'why'? Why would you do it? You know the consequences." She glared at the woman who had betrayed her.
"I guess you just don't know people as well as you think you do. You miscalculated. I like Zuko and Chenlian more than I fear you." Mai spoke simply. She knew that what Zuko needed wasn't just a girlfriend, but a consort suitable to a ruler, and that no one was more suited to this role than Chenlian. She thought of her country, of her people, of the world... and only she kept extending her hand, reaching out to others, even to those who had hurt her. She protected people while Azula hurt them. In this world and time where the Fire Nation was hated for having hurt others, Chenlian was the one the country needed... the only one who could serve as a bridge so that the era of peace they dreamed about could be realized. However, her answer caused the princess' face to scrunch up in sheer fury.
"No, YOU miscalculated! You should have feared me more!" Azula took a bending stance. Seeing that, Mai also brought up her stiletto, ready to defend herself. But right as Azula was about to bend lightning, Ty Lee hit her with a series of punches and jabs, chi-blocking her. Both Mai and Azula were dumbfounded but Ty Lee had made her choice. She had decided to follow her heart. She ran to Mai and pulled her arm.
"Come on, let's get out of here!" She tried to drag her friend away but guards surrounded them.
"You're both fools." The princess fiercely glared at them from the floor before being helped up by guards. Someone asked what they should do with the captured girls. "Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again. And let them rot!"
It was night when the zeppelin docked at the Western Air Temple. Aang, Katara and Toph greeted Zuko and Sokka with questions as they walked out.
"What are you doing in this thing? What happened to the war balloon?"
"It kind of got destroyed."
"Sounds like a crazy fishing trip." Aang commented.
"Did you at least get some good meat?" Toph asked.
"I did. The best meat of all. The meat of friendship and fatherhood." Sokka gestured towards the entrance of the zeppelin as Suki and Hakoda disembarked. Chit Sang appeared shortly behind them.
"I'm new. What's up everybody?" Chit Sang waved.
"Dad!" Katara ran up to her parent, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Hi, Katara." Father and daughter hugged tightly.
"How are you here? What is going on? " The confused waterbender then looked at her brother. "Where did you go?"
"We... kind of went to a Fire Nation prison." Sokka confessed. Zuko nodded. Katara grabbed her brother and brought him in for a group hug. Chenlian warmly watched over them. Zuko also smiled as the reunited family embraced each other.
"Seriously, you guys didn't find any meat?" Toph questioned again.
However, later, Zuko took Chenlian away. He chided her for her recklessness in going back and overstaying. Far from fazed, she struck back.
"Are you serious? How many times are you planning to abandon the girl who loves you before you're satisfied? She even went so far as to defy Azula for your sake. You chose her over me. Of course I would save her! I won't let you treat her like this. I like her too, so don't hurt her any more than this. It's not too late for you Zuko, you can still redeem yourself. You can still patch things up with her."
It looked like she had forgotten that she had also defied Azula countless times for his sake. He recalled Azula's words again from that day in the catacombs "It's not too late for you Zuko, you can still redeem yourself." Even though their words were often the same, their hearts and intentions stood at the opposite of each other. She was doing it for Mai, and for him, because she wanted them to be happy. She was no longer thinking about how he had abandoned her, but how he had abandoned Mai... and that was what was hurting him more than anything... she no longer included herself as part of his life, his heart... she didn't believe, didn't want it... Even though she was starting to open up to him again, bit by bit, meeting Mai again had stoked her fears, her memories, and her resolution to give up on him... as to not suffer again. And it would be easier for her to do that if she saw him happy with another woman, a woman that she liked too.
"Then did you know that the Warden was Mai's uncle?"
"Of course. He was quite intent on making me regret having hurt his beloved niece after all."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Are you not aware? When cornered, people reveal their true nature. We already experienced it, didn't we? That day we learnt what it was that we wanted more than anything, more than each other."
"So you tried to make me remember, to make me return to Mai, and give up on you... Sorry, but your plan was a huge flop. What I remembered, what I ascertained was how much you mean to me, how much I love you, and wanted to save you back then. I know I was horrible to her and to you... The more I tried to forget you with her, the more I thought about you, and only you. I kept looking for your traits in her. I was... I realized she was just a substitute. If she found another man, I'd be happy for her... but if it's you... I could never accept it. I know you don't want to hear it, but it's the truth. The one I love is you, and only you. I'll say it as many times as it takes. I love you. And what you want for our country is also what I want. We can accomplish it together. That is another reason why I absolutely need you. Likewise, you need me for the change to proceed as smoothly as possible. We're finally seeing the same dream, the same future... so Chenlian, won't you live it with me?" He had been slowly approaching her... and he was so firm, so strong, and sincere... she had been backing without noticing. The moment he touched her hand, she slapped it away like she had been burned. However, her rejection had the opposite effect. He closed the distance, grabbed her other wrist and pulled her into his chest. She struggled to break free, used all her strength to push him away, but the arms imprisoning her were even stronger.
"You say that now, but who knows when you'll have another change of heart or take a wrong turn. And I know I cannot stop you. I could never stop you." In the resort following the battle at the North Pole, when they were wandering the wilds with Iroh or in the Crystal Catacombs, she had never been able to stop him from leaving her. Then one day, he'll surely be leaving her for good.
"Didn't I tell you? Whenever you're scared and rejecting me, I'll hold you and reassure you. No matter what I tried, I always returned to you, so I already know that I don't have the strength to keep away from you... but now, I have the strength to hold onto you. I'll grow stronger, wiser. And we're not alone anymore, are we. Now, we have people who will stop us from taking the wrong path, from going too far." His words caused Chenlian to stop resisting. She had Aang, Katara and Sokka. And now Toph and Suki too, and others. Could they give her the strength she lacked? She knew how much they cared about her. She could rely on them, at least to a good extent. Then, with their help, maybe... Zuko withdrew slightly, just enough to lock eyes with her. And indeed reflected in his eyes were all his passion, his devotion, his tenderness. Could she extinguish a heat that intense? Chenlian didn't feel like she could. The young man placed a hand on her cheek and stroked it with his thumb. "I already gave up on fighting my love for you. So you too, give up..." And give in... He slowly leant in.
But the second before their lips touched, they were called. Surprised, they pulled back. Chenlian took advantage of that to shove him away and escape. Zuko reached out to her, before lowering his arm and head. He looked at his hand and sighed. Then he clenched his fist with determination.
Author's note: fufufufu, we're getting closer! Only a little left before she finally does give in!
Next chapter: 'Fight 63: Revenge'