A/N: things get a little more mature this chapter and we'll be covering some decently dark subject matter eventually. I'll be placing trigger warnings in the A/N section for any chapters that is included in but this is your warning dear reader this stroy is rated M for a reason.
Disclaimer: I in no way own the rights to avatar the last air bender which is a good thing because i hate responsibility.
Chapter 6: Imprisoned
The midday sun filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows across the grassy plateau where five travelers had stopped to rest. A gentle stream gurgled nearby, its soothing melody contrasting with the growing tension of hunger within the group.
Katara knelt by the edge of the plateau, carefully folding one of their sleeping blankets while trying to ignore the persistent rumbling of her stomach. Since learning of Sona's waterbending abilities, she'd been spending more time observing her sister's movements, though a hint of lingering resentment still occasionally surfaced in her expression.
Nearby, Sona sat with her legs dangling over the edge of the plateau, her eyes fixed on the flowing water below. Unlike her sister's open frustration, Sona's hunger manifested as a quiet concentration, as if she could will their situation to improve through sheer force of thought.
Aang lounged against the gnarled root of a large tree, his usual energy subdued by hunger. Momo screeched overhead before landing on the plateau, drawing everyone's attention as Sokka emerged from the forest, his hunting bag conspicuously flat against his hip.
"Great, you're back!" Aang exclaimed, leaping up with a burst of airbending to land beside the Water Tribe warrior. The sudden hope in his voice made Sokka's empty hands all the more disappointing.
"What's for dinner?" Aang asked eagerly.
Sokka rummaged through his bag with exaggerated importance, clearly trying to disguise his unsuccessful hunt. "We've got a few options," he announced, pulling out a handful of nuts. "First, round nuts. And some kind of oval-shaped nuts?" He dug deeper, producing what looked suspiciously like rocks. "And some rock-shaped nuts, that might just be rocks."
He tossed one of the questionable "nuts" toward Momo, who caught it with curious paws. "Dig in!" Sokka declared with false enthusiasm.
Aang and Katara exchanged dubious glances.
"Seriously... what else you got?" Katara asked, unable to keep the disappointment from her voice.
From her position against a nearby tree, Lee watched the exchange with a carefully neutral expression. She sat cross-legged with her back perfectly straight, a small whetstone in one hand and a set of narrow throwing knives laid out on a cloth before her. The methodical rasp of stone against metal had been a constant background noise throughout the afternoon—a sound that seemed to soothe her even as it kept her hands occupied.
"I could set some snares," she offered quietly, her golden eyes flickering up from her task. "There's likely game in these woods, even if it's being cautious."
Sona turned from her contemplation of the stream. "That would take time we don't have. We should be moving on soon if we want to make any real progress north before nightfall."
Before Lee could respond, Momo let out a startled screech. The lemur had been examining the rock-nut Sokka had tossed him, tapping it experimentally against a stone. The moment it made contact, the ground beneath them shook with a sudden, powerful tremor.
"What was that?" Sokka exclaimed, instantly alert.
Momo, eyes wide with alarm, cautiously dropped the rock to test if he had somehow caused the disturbance. When the ground shook again, the lemur leapt away with a frightened chatter.
"It's coming from over there!" Aang pointed toward a distant rumbling beyond the trees.
The group's hunger was momentarily forgotten as curiosity overtook caution. Aang and Katara immediately rushed toward the source of the sound, their footsteps fading into the underbrush.
"Shouldn't we run away from huge booms? Not toward them?" Sokka called after them, exasperated but already moving to follow.
Lee had risen in one fluid motion, her knives disappearing into various hidden sheaths within her simple Earth Kingdom clothing. Sona noticed the shift in her posture—the casual alertness of before replaced by a tightly controlled vigilance, her golden eyes scanning the forest with practiced precision.
"Are you alright?" Sona asked quietly as they followed the others.
"Fine," Lee replied tersely, though her knuckles had whitened around the hilt of a knife she hadn't yet sheathed. "Just being cautious."
They caught up with the others behind a fallen log, where Aang, Katara, and Sokka were peering cautiously into a small ravine below. In the center stood a young man in simple Earth Kingdom clothing, his stance wide and powerful as he lifted a boulder with earthbending and sent it crashing into the ravine wall.
"An earthbender!" Katara whispered excitedly.
"Let's go meet him!" Aang suggested, already starting to rise.
"He looks dangerous," Sokka cautioned, pulling Aang back down. "So we better approach cautiously."
Before anyone could develop a proper plan, Katara had already straightened and stepped out from their hiding place. "Hello there!" she called cheerfully, waving at the startled earthbender. "I'm Katara! What's your name?"
The young man's concentration shattered at the unexpected greeting. The boulder he had been manipulating dropped to the ground with a heavy thud as he stared at Katara in shock. Without a word, he turned and fled, using his earthbending to trigger a small avalanche that blocked the path behind him.
"Nice to meet you!" Aang called after him, undeterred by the obvious rejection.
"I just wanted to say hi," Katara said, shoulders slumping in disappointment.
Sona sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Maybe next time try not sneaking up on someone who can hurl boulders with their mind."
"Hey!" Aang suddenly brightened, the gears in his mind visibly turning. "That guy's gotta be running somewhere. Maybe we're near a village? And I bet that village has a market!"
"Which means no nuts for dinner!" Katara exclaimed, her spirits instantly lifting at the prospect of real food.
"Hey! I worked hard to get those nuts!" Sokka protested as Katara and Aang eagerly set off in the direction the earthbender had fled. Momo chittered excitedly and flew after them.
Sokka stared forlornly at his rejected nuts before sighing in defeat. "Yeah, I hate 'em too," he admitted, reluctantly following his companions.
As the group moved to pursue the earthbender, Sona noticed that Lee had gone completely still, her eyes fixed on the stone barricade the young man had created. There was something unusual in her expression—a distant look that suggested she was seeing something beyond the present moment.
"Lee?" Sona ventured, touching the older woman's arm lightly.
Lee flinched at the contact, her hand instinctively moving to one of her concealed weapons before she caught herself. For a brief moment, naked panic flashed across her face—a stark contrast to her usual composed demeanor.
"I'm fine," she said quickly, her voice slightly hoarse as she forcibly relaxed her posture. "Just... remembering something."
Sona studied her with concern but didn't press further. "We should catch up with the others before they get themselves into trouble," she suggested instead, offering Lee the dignity of privacy.
Lee nodded, visibly gathering herself. "Yes. Let's go."
--
The mining village was a somber collection of weathered wooden buildings nestled in a valley, surrounded by barren hills stripped of vegetation by decades of coal extraction. As they wandered through its streets, the signs of Fire Nation occupation were immediately apparent—red banners hanging from public buildings, nervous glances from villagers, and the distinctive armor of Fire Nation soldiers patrolling in pairs.
Katara and Sokka walked cautiously through the marketplace, keeping their heads down and voices low as they took stock of the meager offerings. Nearby, Aang had stopped to admire an ornate hat displayed by one of the merchants, his youthful enthusiasm momentarily overriding their more pressing concerns.
"Great hat!" Aang exclaimed, trying it on with a grin. "I'll trade you some nuts for it!"
"Katara," Sokka muttered, nudging his sister and nodding toward one of the shops lining the square. "Isn't that the guy we saw earthbending?"
Katara followed his gaze to see the young earthbender entering a small shop. "It is!" she confirmed, her expression brightening. Without hesitation, she changed direction to follow him.
"Katara, wait—" Sona began, but her sister was already pushing through the shop's doorway. With a resigned sigh, she hurried after her, aware of Sokka and Aang following close behind. Lee lingered in the street, her posture tense as she surveyed the Fire Nation presence with guarded eyes.
Inside the dimly lit shop, the young earthbender was speaking to a middle-aged woman who bore a strong familial resemblance to him.
"Hi, Mom," he said, his voice carrying clearly in the quiet space.
"Where have you been, Haru?" his mother replied with a mixture of concern and reproach. "You're late! Get started on your chores."
Before Haru could respond, Katara burst through the doorway. "Hey. You're that kid. Why did you run away before?"
Haru spun around, his expression shifting rapidly from surprise to forced confusion. "Uh, you must have me confused with some other kid."
"No, she doesn't," Aang added helpfully as he and Sokka entered behind Katara. "We saw you earthbending."
The effect of Aang's words was immediate and dramatic. Both Haru and his mother gasped in horror, their faces paling as they rushed to slam the shop's door and window shutters closed.
"They saw you doing what?!" Haru's mother demanded, her voice tight with barely controlled fear.
"They're crazy, Mom!" Haru insisted desperately. "I mean, look at how they're dressed."
Aang glanced down at his air nomad attire in confusion, touching his conical hat self-consciously. Katara clutched at her Water Tribe dress with a bewildered expression, while Sokka merely raised an eyebrow and smoothed out his sleeve.
"You know how dangerous that is!" Haru's mother hissed, keeping her voice low even in the privacy of her shop. "You know what would happen if they caught you earthbending!"
The tension in the room was shattered by a heavy knock at the door. "Open up!" a harsh voice commanded from outside.
"Fire Nation!" Sokka whispered urgently, peering through a crack in the window blinds. "Act natural!"
Haru's mother reluctantly opened the door, allowing a heavily armored Fire Nation tax collector to enter. The man's cold eyes swept over the gathered group, taking in their awkward attempts to appear inconspicuous.
Haru was leaning against a barrel, his expression forcefully casual as he stroked his chin and stared cross-eyed toward Katara. Sokka had grabbed an apple and was examining it with exaggerated interest. Katara had stuffed her mouth with berries, her cheeks bulging comically as she hunched forward with unnaturally wide eyes. Aang had placed his hand atop a water barrel, beaming an enormous toothy smile that faltered when the barrel's lid spun, dunking his hand into the water and causing him to lose his balance.
Sona, who had entered last and remained near the doorway, kept her face neutral and her stance relaxed—a stark contrast to her companions' ridiculous poses. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a flash of movement outside the window; Lee had positioned herself in the shadows of a nearby alley, one hand resting on a concealed weapon as she watched the Fire Nation soldier enter the shop.
"What do you want?" Haru's mother demanded, her voice hard with barely suppressed anger. "I've already paid you this week!"
"The tax just doubled," the collector announced smugly, creating a threatening ball of fire between his hands. "And we wouldn't want an accident, would we? Fire is sometimes so hard to control."
The threat hung heavy in the air as Haru's mother reluctantly approached the counter, opening a small chest and removing a handful of Earth Kingdom currency. Haru leaned against the counter, his jaw clenched and eyes burning with helpless rage as he watched the extortion unfold.
"You can keep the copper ones," the tax collector sneered, dropping four copper pieces to the floor before exiting the shop.
"Nice guy," Sokka commented dryly as the door slammed shut. "How long has the Fire Nation been here?"
"Five years," Haru's mother replied wearily. "Fire Lord Ozai uses our town's coal mines to fuel his ships."
"They're thugs," Haru added bitterly. "They steal from us. And everyone here's too much of a coward to do anything about it."
"Quiet, Haru!" his mother snapped, genuine fear flashing across her face. "Don't talk like that."
"But, Haru's an earthbender," Katara pointed out, her brow furrowed in confusion. "He can help!"
"Earthbending is forbidden," Haru's mother stated firmly. "It's caused nothing but misery for this village!" She cast a meaningful glance toward her son. "He must never use his abilities."
Sona watched this exchange with a deep, personal understanding that the others couldn't fully share. The fear in Haru's mother's eyes, the weight of secrecy, the constant vigilance required to hide something so integral to one's identity—all of it resonated with her own experience of concealing her waterbending for most of her life.
"How can you say that?" Katara argued, her voice rising with indignation. "Haru has a gift! Asking him not to earthbend is like asking me not to waterbend. It's a part of who we are."
"You don't understand," Haru's mother said, shaking her head in dismay.
"I understand that Haru can help you fight back," Katara insisted. "What can the Fire Nation do to you that they haven't done already?"
"They could take Haru away!" his mother cried, her composure finally breaking. "Like they took his father."
Haru turned away at these words, his shoulders hunched with a grief that seemed too heavy for someone so young. The shop fell silent, Katara's righteous anger deflating in the face of this revelation.
Sona moved closer to her sister, placing a gentle but restraining hand on her arm. "I think we should go," she said quietly. "We've caused enough trouble."
"No," Haru's mother said after a moment, her expression softening slightly as she regarded the travel-worn group. "It's getting late, and it's not safe to be on the roads after dark. The Fire Nation patrols are more... aggressive at night." She glanced at her son. "Haru, show them to the barn. They can sleep there tonight."
"Are you sure?" Sona asked, surprised by the offer.
"It's the least we can do," she replied. "But you should leave in the morning. For your own safety as much as ours."
Outside, they found Lee waiting in the shadows beside the shop, her golden eyes alert and wary as she scanned the street.
"Everything alright?" she asked quietly as they rejoined her, though the tension in her posture suggested she already knew the answer.
"We have a place to stay for the night," Aang informed her cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents of fear and oppression that permeated the village.
"My mom said you can sleep in our barn," Haru added, studying Lee with cautious curiosity. "It's not much, but it's dry and the Fire Nation rarely checks it."
Lee nodded in acknowledgment, her eyes meeting Haru's with an intensity that made him shift uncomfortably. "Thank you," she said simply. "A safe place to rest is more valuable than most realize."
Something in her tone—a weight of experience beyond her apparent years—made Haru look at her more closely. "You've... had trouble with the Fire Nation before?"
"You could say that," Lee replied, her voice carefully neutral despite the tightness around her eyes. She absentmindedly rubbed at her left wrist, where the edge of a pale scar was just visible beneath her sleeve.
Sensing Lee's discomfort, Sona smoothly redirected the conversation. "We appreciate your hospitality, Haru. It's been a long journey, and we're all tired and hungry."
"I'll show you to the barn," Haru said, leading them away from the main street. "And I'm sure we can find something better than nuts for your dinner."
As they followed Haru through the village, Lee hung back slightly, walking beside Sona at the rear of the group.
"Are you alright?" Sona asked quietly, noticing how Lee's eyes darted from one Fire Nation soldier to another, tracking their movements with the hypervigilance of prey watching a predator.
"Fine," Lee replied automatically, then seemed to catch herself. After a moment's hesitation, she added more honestly, "Places like this... bring back memories. Not good ones."
"I understand," Sona said, thinking of her own complicated relationship with secrecy and fear. "Sometimes the past doesn't stay where we leave it."
Lee glanced at her, surprise briefly replacing the guardedness in her golden eyes. "No," she agreed softly. "It never does."
Ahead of them, Haru was pointing out a weathered wooden structure at the edge of the property. "My mom said you can sleep here tonight. But you should leave in the morning."
"Thanks," Aang replied with genuine gratitude. "I'll make sure Appa doesn't eat all your hay."
Inside, the barn was spacious and relatively clean, with fresh hay piled in one corner and sturdy beams overhead. Appa lumbered in behind them, immediately eyeing the hay pile with interest before taking an enormous mouthful, chewing contentedly despite Aang's admonishing look.
"It's not much," Haru said apologetically, "but it should be comfortable enough for one night."
"It's perfect," Katara assured him with a warm smile that made Haru's cheeks flush slightly. "Thank you for helping us, especially after... well, after we almost got you in trouble."
Haru's expression sobered. "Just be careful while you're here. The Fire Nation doesn't take kindly to strangers." He glanced out the barn door, checking for patrols before turning back to them. "I'll bring you some food later. Try to keep your bison quiet, and don't light any large fires. The soldiers might see the smoke."
With that final warning, he slipped out of the barn, leaving the group to settle into their temporary sanctuary.
—-
As evening settled over the mining village, a melancholy stillness descended with the fading light. Inside the barn, the group had organized their meager belongings and prepared to rest for the night. Sokka and Aang were engaged in a quiet debate about the merits of different nuts while Lee sat cross-legged in the corner, methodically sharpening one of her small blades.
Sona noticed Katara standing by the barn door, her gaze fixed on the distant hills where the last traces of sunlight still lingered.
"You're thinking about Haru, aren't you?" Sona asked, moving to stand beside her sister.
Katara nodded, her expression pensive. "I can't imagine what it must be like for him, having to hide who he is every day."
The irony of this statement wasn't lost on Sona, who had spent most of her life concealing her own bending. But unlike her, Haru hadn't chosen this path—it had been forced upon him by Fire Nation oppression.
"Maybe we should talk to him," Sona suggested. "We're leaving tomorrow, but at least we could let him know he's not alone."
Katara's face brightened. "That's a good idea. I'd like to understand more about what happened to his father."
"I'll come with you," Sona said, making a quick decision. After the revelation of her waterbending, she'd been trying to be more open with Katara, hoping to rebuild the trust that had been damaged by years of secrecy.
"We'll be back before dark," Katara informed the others as she and Sona slipped out of the barn.
They found Haru near the edge of the property, stacking firewood beside a small shed. He looked up in surprise as they approached, but his expression softened when he recognized them.
"I was just about to bring you some food," he said, gesturing to a cloth-covered basket nearby.
"We thought we'd save you the trip," Katara replied with a smile. "And maybe talk for a while, if that's okay."
Haru hesitated, glancing toward the village where Fire Nation soldiers could be seen patrolling the main street. "It's not safe to talk here," he said finally. "But I know a place."
He led them away from the village, following a narrow trail that wound through scrubby underbrush and up a gentle slope. As they climbed higher, the signs of mining became more evident—abandoned carts, broken tools, and great scars in the earth where coal had been extracted.
"The Fire Nation has taken so much from this place," Sona observed quietly. "Not just the coal, but its spirit."
"They've been slowly crushing us for years," Haru agreed, his voice tinged with bitterness. "First with taxes, then with restrictions, and finally by taking our benders away."
"Your father," Katara said gently. "He was an earthbender too?"
Haru nodded, his pace slowing as they reached the top of the ridge. The view from here was breathtaking—rolling hills stretching toward distant mountains, bathed in the golden light of sunset. But even this beauty was marred by the smoke rising from Fire Nation ships in the harbor below.
"My father was very courageous," Haru said, settling on a boulder and inviting them to join him. "When the Fire Nation invaded, he and the other earthbenders were outnumbered ten to one. But they fought back anyway."
"He sounds like a brave man," Sona said, thinking of her own father who had left to fight in the war.
"He was. Is," Haru corrected himself firmly. "After the attack, they rounded up my father and every other earthbender, and took them away. We haven't seen them since."
"So that's why you hide your earthbending," Katara realized, her voice soft with sympathy.
"Yeah." Haru knelt and picked up a handful of small stones, absently bending them into a circle above his palm. "The problem is, the only way I can feel close to my father now..." He closed his fist, crushing the stones to sand that blew away in the evening breeze. "...is when I practice my bending. He taught me everything I know."
Sona watched the sand scatter on the wind, feeling a deep resonance with Haru's words. She too had hidden her bending out of necessity, but unlike him, she had never fully understood what it cost her until recently.
Katara touched her mother's necklace, the familiar gesture drawing Sona's attention. "See this necklace?" she said to Haru. "My mother gave it to me."
"It's beautiful," he replied.
"I lost my mother in a Fire Nation raid." Katara's voice grew quiet, the pain still fresh despite the years that had passed. "This necklace is all I have left of her."
"It's not enough, is it?" Haru asked, understanding in his eyes.
"No," Katara admitted, turning away as tears threatened.
Sona watched her sister, a complicated mix of emotions rising within her. Their mother's death had shaped them both, but in different ways. For Katara, it had fueled a fierce determination to master her bending and help end the war. For Sona, it had reinforced the need to hide her abilities, to protect what remained of their family at all costs.
But sitting here with Haru, listening to him speak of his father, she began to question whether that protection had come at too high a price.
Before she could explore this thought further, a distant rumble interrupted their conversation. The ground beneath them shook slightly, and a cloud of dust rose from the mouth of a mine shaft further down the hillside.
"Help! Help!" A feeble cry reached their ears.
"The mine!" Haru exclaimed, already on his feet and running toward the sound.
They sprinted down the slope to find an elderly man trapped beneath a pile of fallen rocks at the mine entrance. More debris was still falling, threatening to completely bury him.
"Help me!" the old man pleaded, struggling weakly against the weight pinning him to the ground.
Haru pressed his back against the unstable mine entrance, trying to hold back the falling rocks while Katara attempted to pull the old man free.
"It's not working!" Katara cried, straining with effort. "We have to get help!"
"There's no time," Haru responded, his voice tense with exertion. "Pull harder!"
Sona assessed the situation quickly, her mind racing through possibilities. They could try to use water to lubricate the rocks, making it easier to slide the old man free, but there wasn't enough water nearby. And even if there was, using waterbending might raise too many questions.
"Haru," Katara said suddenly, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "There's a way you can help him."
Haru's eyes widened in understanding and fear. "I can't."
"Please," Katara insisted, "there's no one around to see you. It's the only way!"
Sona watched the conflict play across Haru's face—the fear of discovery warring with the need to save a life. In that moment, she recognized her own internal struggle, the constant weighing of safety against necessity.
After a heartbeat of hesitation, Haru made his decision. He moved away from the collapsing entrance and assumed an earthbending stance. With a powerful, precise movement, he sent the rocks blasting back into the tunnel, freeing the old man.
"Haru, you did it!" Katara exclaimed, rushing to help the elderly villager to his feet.
Relief flooded Haru's face, followed quickly by caution as he glanced around to ensure no one else had witnessed his bending. Together, the three of them helped the old man back toward the village, each lost in their own thoughts about the choice Haru had just made.
Sona found herself examining Haru with new respect. Despite years of oppression and fear, he had chosen to use his abilities when they were truly needed. It was a simple act, but one that required immense courage—the courage to be who he truly was, regardless of consequences.
That night, after returning to the barn, Sona sat up long after the others had fallen asleep. She watched the moonlight filter through cracks in the wooden walls, creating patterns of light and shadow across the earthen floor.
Haru's words echoed in her mind: "*The only way I can feel close to my father now is when I practice my bending.*" She wondered if the same might be true of her mother. Had hiding her waterbending been a way of honoring Kya's sacrifice, or had it actually distanced her from her mother's memory?
Kya had died protecting Katara, giving her life so that her daughter could live freely as a waterbender. Yet Sona had responded to that sacrifice by burying her own abilities, living in fear rather than embracing her heritage.
"You're still awake," Katara's voice came softly from the darkness.
Sona turned to see her sister sitting up in her bedroll, her face pale in the moonlight.
"Just thinking," Sona replied.
"About Haru?"
"About Mom," Sona admitted. "And about bending."
Katara moved closer, settling beside her against the wall. "What about them?"
Sona was quiet for a moment, organizing her thoughts. "When Mom died protecting you, I thought the best way to honor her sacrifice was to keep hiding my bending. To stay safe, to keep our family from losing anyone else."
"That's understandable," Katara said gently.
"Maybe," Sona agreed. "But watching Haru today—seeing him use his bending to save that old man even though it put him at risk—it made me wonder if I've been dishonoring her memory instead."
"What do you mean?"
"Mom died so that you could live freely as a waterbender. So that our people's traditions could continue." Sona's voice grew stronger as the realization solidified within her. "But I've been so focused on staying hidden, on being safe, that I haven't been living at all. I've been existing in the shadows, afraid to embrace who I really am."
Katara reached out to take her hand. "You did what you thought was right."
"I did what was easy," Sona corrected. "What was familiar. But that's not what Mom would have wanted for either of us." She looked at her sister, resolution forming in her eyes. "She would have wanted us to master our bending, to help end this war so that no other family would have to make the choices ours did."
"Is that why you finally agreed to travel north? To find a master?"
"Partly," Sona admitted. "But I think I'm only now understanding what that really means." She looked toward the barn door, beyond which lay the oppressed village and its hidden earthbenders. "It's not just about learning techniques; it's about embracing our heritage and using it to make a difference. Like Haru did today."
A comfortable silence fell between them, the first since Katara had discovered Sona's secret. In this simple moment of shared understanding, Sona felt the beginnings of healing in their relationship—a small but significant step toward the bond they once had.
"We should get some sleep," Katara said finally. "Who knows what tomorrow will bring."
"Hopefully nothing too exciting," Sona replied with a small smile. "I think we've had enough adventure for one day."
Neither sister could have imagined just how wrong that hope would prove to be.
--
Dawn broke with a crisp clarity that belied the chaos to come. Sona woke early, stepping outside to fill a water pot at the nearby pump. As she bent to her task, she noticed Haru's mother standing at the edge of the property, her gaze fixed on the distant ocean with an expression of profound grief.
When the older woman turned, the tears glistening in her eyes told Sona everything before a word was spoken.
"They took him," Haru's mother said, her voice hollow with shock and familiar despair. "They came at midnight."
Sona's heart sank. The water pot slipped from her numb fingers, shattering at her feet. The sound of breaking pottery barely registered as understanding washed over her like ice water: the old man had reported Haru.
She rushed back to the barn, where Aang and Sokka were just beginning to stir. "They took Haru away!"
"What?" Aang sat up, instantly alert.
"The Fire Nation—they arrested him for earthbending!" The words tumbled out in a rush of anger and guilt. "It's all my fault—well, our fault. Katara and I forced him into using his earthbending when we helped that old man!"
"Slow down, Sona," Sokka said, rising to take her trembling hands in his. "When did this happen?"
"Haru's mother said they came for him at midnight."
"Then it's too late to track him," Sokka concluded grimly. "He's long gone."
Katara had been listening silently, her expression shifting from shock to a determined resolve that Sona recognized all too well.
"We don't need to track him," Katara declared, turning toward the barn door with fierce purpose. "The Fire Nation is going to take me right to Haru."
"And... why would they do that?" Aang asked cautiously.
Katara's eyes flashed with a dangerous light. "Because they're going to arrest me for earthbending."
The audacity of her plan left everyone speechless for a moment. Then Sokka found his voice, incredulity plain on his face. "That's insane! You can't earthbend!"
"They don't know that," Katara replied with grim determination.
From her corner of the barn, Lee spoke up, her golden eyes calculating as she considered Katara's plan. "It could work," she said slowly. "With the right staging. The Fire Nation is nothing if not efficient at imprisoning benders."
Something in her tone caught Sona's attention—a bitterness that seemed too personal to be casual observation. But there was no time to dwell on it as Sokka began pacing, his tactical mind already working on the logistics.
"I thought you were crazy at first, Katara," he admitted, "but maybe this can work. There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines. All Aang would have to do is send an air current from one vent to another, and boom—a rock moves without anyone touching it."
"Fake earthbending," Sona realized, seeing the plan's potential. "But it's risky. If they discover it's a trick..."
"It's a risk I'm willing to take," Katara insisted. "Haru saved that old man, and now he's paying the price. We can't just abandon him."
Sona studied her sister's determined expression, recognizing in it the same courage that had driven Haru to use his bending despite the danger. Last night, she had questioned whether she was truly honoring her mother's memory with her cautious approach to life. Now, Katara was offering a chance to prove that she could be brave enough to make a difference.
"I'll help," she decided, her voice steady with newfound resolve. "We'll all help. But we need a solid plan—this isn't something we can improvise."
The group gathered around Sokka as he outlined his strategy, each contributing ideas and identifying potential pitfalls. Even Lee, usually reserved and watchful, offered suggestions that revealed a surprising familiarity with Fire Nation protocols.
As they finalized their plan, Sona caught Katara's eye. "Are you sure about this? Once they arrest you, we don't know what might happen."
"I'm sure," Katara replied without hesitation. "Some things are worth fighting for, even when it's dangerous." She placed a hand on Sona's arm. "Mom taught us that, remember?"
Sona nodded, her throat tight with emotion. "I remember. And I think I'm finally starting to understand."
Together, they left the barn to put their plan into motion, each step carrying them further from safety and closer to the kind of courage their mother had embodied—the willingness to risk everything for what was right.
—-
The plan unfolded on a rocky roadside near the mining operation. Sokka and Katara worked together to position a large boulder directly above one of the mine's air vents while Aang prepared to hide behind another nearby vent. Sona and Lee crouched behind a cluster of boulders, ready to observe and intervene if necessary.
"I still think this is crazy," Sona whispered, watching her siblings with nervous anticipation. "But it might just work."
"It's not the worst plan I've heard," Lee replied, her golden eyes scanning the road for approaching soldiers. Something in her demeanor had shifted—a coiled readiness that made her seem more dangerous than the quiet traveler they'd come to know.
Sokka straightened up, wiping sweat from his brow as he examined their handiwork. "Come on, men! Move it, move it!" he called in an exaggerated commander's voice, directing the placement of the final rocks. "The Fire Nation won't wait for us to be ready!"
"There are ventilation shafts throughout these mines," he explained, turning to make sure everyone understood their roles. "All Aang has to do is send an air current from that vent to this one right here. The boulder levitates and ta-da! Fake earthbending."
"Aang? Did you get all that?" Katara asked, turning to where the young airbender was supposed to be focusing on his crucial role.
Instead, Aang was completely distracted, snapping small puffs of air at a sooty butterfly that fluttered just beyond his reach. "Sure, sure. I got it," he replied dismissively.
"Do you remember your cue?" Sokka pressed, clearly worried by Aang's lack of focus.
"Yeah, yeah. Just relax," Aang waved him off without taking his eyes from the butterfly. "You're taking all the fun out of this."
"By 'this,' do you mean intentionally being captured by a group of ruthless firebenders?" Sokka asked incredulously.
Aang grinned. "Exactly! That's fun stuff!"
From their hiding place, Sona groaned quietly. "I sure hope he's paying more attention than he seems to be."
"Here they come!" Sokka suddenly hissed, darting back to his position. "Get in your places!"
A patrol of Fire Nation soldiers was marching up the road, their spears glinting in the sunlight. Aang immediately abandoned his game with the butterfly and ducked behind the ventilation shaft, while Momo tried in vain to catch the insect as it fluttered away.
Katara and Sokka took their positions on opposite sides of the boulder, preparing to enact their ridiculous charade. As the soldiers drew closer, the siblings began their performance with theatrical overacting that made Sona cringe.
"Get out of my way, pipsqueak!" Sokka shouted, pointing angrily at Katara while the soldiers watched in confusion. One of them even raised an eyebrow at the strange display.
"How dare you call me pipsqueak, you giant-eared cretin!" Katara responded, hunching over with exaggerated anger, her hair loopies swinging dramatically.
"What did you call me?" Sokka demanded, matching her overdramatic posture.
"A giant-eared cretin!" Katara exclaimed, flailing her arms for emphasis. "Look at those things! Do herds of animals use them for shade?!" She proceeded to imitate an elephant's ears with her hands.
"You better back off!" Sokka towered over his sister before quickly leaning in to mutter, "Seriously, back off."
"I will not back off!" Katara dramatically rose to her full height, now towering over her cowering brother. "I bet elephants get together and make fun of how large your ears are!"
"That's it! You're going down!" Sokka declared, puffing out his chest.
"I'll show you who's boss!" Katara pointed aggressively at the boulder. "Earthbending style!"
With an overly dramatic leap, she extended her fist toward the boulder, which remained completely stationary. After an awkward pause, she repeated, more forcefully, "I said, earthbending style!"
There was another uncomfortable moment of silence before Aang, finally realizing he'd missed his cue, gasped and quickly sent a powerful burst of air through the ventilation shaft. The boulder suddenly lifted into the air, revealing Momo behind it with his arms raised, casually licking himself.
"That lemur!" one of the guards exclaimed, pointing at Momo in shock. "He's earthbending!"
"No, you idiot," Sokka shouted, waving his arms frantically toward Katara. "It's the girl!"
"Oh," the guard replied, blushing with embarrassment. "Of course."
From their hiding place, Sona buried her face in her hands. "I can't believe that worked," she whispered to Lee. "They actually think Momo was earthbending?"
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity," Lee replied dryly, though her expression remained tense as she watched the soldiers approach Katara.
Sokka placed his hands on Katara's shoulders as the boulder dropped back to the ground. "I'll hold her," he announced loudly before leaning in to whisper to his sister. "You've got twelve hours to find Haru. We'll be right behind you."
Sona watched with a mix of pride and fear as the guards surrounded her sister, binding her hands before leading her away. Katara took one final glance back at them, her expression determined despite the gravity of what she was undertaking.
"Sokka, you have some big ears!" Aang pointed out as they regrouped, causing Momo to fold his ears back and coo in protest.
"Now is not the time, Aang," Sokka muttered, though he self-consciously tugged at his ears to check their size.
"What now?" Sona asked as they watched Katara being escorted down the road.
"Now we follow them," Sokka replied, his playful demeanor replaced by the focused determination of a strategist. "At a distance. We need to see where they're taking her."
They hurried back to where Appa was hidden, quickly gathering their essentials before mounting the sky bison. Aang took his position on Appa's head while Sokka and Sona climbed into the saddle.
"Wait," Sona said suddenly, noticing they were one person short. "Where's Lee?"
Sokka looked around in surprise. "She was just here a minute ago."
"I think I know what she's doing," Aang called back, pointing toward the harbor where a Fire Nation transport cart was carrying Katara and other prisoners toward a waiting barge. A shadowy figure was moving stealthily along the rooftops, paralleling the cart's path.
"Is she... following them?" Sona asked incredulously.
"Not just following," Sokka observed with reluctant admiration. "Look."
As the transport reached the dock, they saw Lee slip into a narrow alley. Moments later, a Fire Nation soldier emerged from the same spot, adjusting the helmet of a uniform that hadn't been there before.
"She's infiltrating the prison," Sona whispered, stunned by the woman's audacity. "But how did she get that uniform so quickly?"
"I don't think I want to know," Sokka replied, his expression troubled. "But it looks like Katara will have some unexpected help on the inside."
"Clever," Aang commented, clearly impressed. "But risky. If they discover she's not really a guard..."
"Then we'll have two people to rescue instead of one," Sona finished grimly. "Yip yip, Aang. We need to follow that barge."
Appa rose into the air with a powerful sweep of his tail, soaring into the clouds to avoid detection. From their elevated vantage point, they could see the transport barge cutting through the water toward a massive offshore rig in the distance. The metal structure loomed against the horizon, dark smoke billowing from its stacks—a grim fortress rising from the sea.
"Look at that thing," Sokka muttered, shading his eyes against the sun's glare. "It's a floating prison."
"For earthbenders," Sona added quietly. "Surrounded by nothing but water. They can't even use their bending to escape."
"Katara's going to need all the help she can get in there," Aang said, guiding Appa to maintain a safe distance above the prison rig. "Good thing she has Lee with her."
"If Lee's really there to help," Sokka pointed out cautiously. "We still don't know much about her, or why she joined us in the first place."
Sona considered this as they circled the prison from a distance, careful to stay hidden in the clouds. She had been wary of Lee from the beginning—those golden eyes that hinted at Fire Nation heritage, the combat skills that spoke of extensive training, the scars that suggested a difficult past. But there had also been moments of genuine connection, particularly after Sona's waterbending had been revealed.
"I think she is," Sona decided. "Helping, I mean. She could have left at any time, but she chose to put herself at risk. That has to count for something."
They settled into a secluded spot on a nearby island, close enough to observe the prison rig but far enough to avoid detection. As night fell, they set up a small camp, each lost in their own thoughts about what might be happening on that floating metal fortress.
"Get some rest," Sokka advised as he unrolled his sleeping mat. "Tomorrow will be a long day, and we need to be ready when Katara gives us the signal."
"If she gives us a signal," Sona couldn't help adding, voicing the fear they all shared but hadn't wanted to acknowledge.
"She will," Aang said with unshakeable confidence. "Katara's smart, and now she has Lee watching her back. They'll find Haru and figure out a way to let us know what's happening."
Sona nodded, wanting to believe in Aang's optimism even as worry gnawed at her. She settled onto her sleeping mat, eyes fixed on the distant lights of the prison rig, wondering what her sister was facing at this very moment.
--
The interior of the prison ship was as bleak as its exterior suggested—all hard metal and oppressive shadows, designed to crush hope as effectively as it contained its prisoners. Katara stood with the other new arrivals on the deck, trying not to let her apprehension show as a prison warden approached with smug authority.
"Earthbenders," he announced, his voice dripping with condescension. "It is my pleasure to welcome you aboard my modest shipyard. I am your warden. I prefer to think of you not as prisoners, but as honored guests."
Lee, positioned among the other guards with her face obscured by the standard Fire Nation helmet, felt her blood turn to ice as the warden came into full view. Something about him—the smooth, cultured voice, the measured stride, the way the firelight caught the insignia on his uniform—sent a wave of terror through her body so intense she had to lock her knees to keep from collapsing.
Warden Shima. A name she hadn't allowed herself to think in years.
Her hands began to tremble, a cold sweat breaking out beneath the heavy armor. Her breathing quickened dangerously as fragmented memories threatened to overwhelm her—metal doors, searing heat, that voice asking questions while pain blossomed across her skin.
The warden's pompous speech was interrupted when one of the prisoners coughed, a seemingly minor offense that provoked a startlingly violent response. Shima leapt forward with a blast of fire aimed at the man's feet, forcing him to cower back in fear.
"What kind of guest dishonors his host by interrupting him?!" he shouted, his veneer of civility instantly shattered. "Take him below! One week in solitary will improve his manners."
As guards escorted the terrified prisoner away, Shima smoothed his uniform and continued as if nothing had happened. "Simply treat me with the courtesy that I give you, and we'll get along famously."
The outburst—the casual cruelty behind it—nearly broke Lee's carefully maintained composure. As the guards around her snapped to attention, she forced herself to mimic their movements while frantically calculating her escape. She couldn't risk being recognized; Shima might not immediately know her face, but her golden eyes would raise immediate questions, and if he looked too closely...
Using the momentary chaos of the prisoner being dragged away, Lee slipped backward from the formation, moving with careful precision until she reached a narrow service passageway between two watchtowers. Ducking inside, she pressed her back against the cold metal wall, removing her helmet with trembling hands.
"Courage, fire, honor," she whispered to herself, her voice barely audible as she struggled to control her breathing. "Dauntless, Firestorm, Firehawk, Agni's Pride." The names of Fire Navy ships spilled from her lips in a desperate litany—a grounding technique she'd used for years, focusing on things that were predictable, organized, stable.
"Black Hand, Imperial Glory, Dragon Wing, Azulon's Fury," she continued, slowly regaining control of her breathing. "Crimson Dawn, Phoenix Flight, Crown of Flame." With each name, her heart rate slowed incrementally, the roaring in her ears subsiding to a manageable hum.
After several minutes, Lee felt steady enough to assess her situation. She had come too far to abandon the mission now. Katara was counting on her, even if the girl didn't know it, and there was Haru and the other earthbenders to consider as well. She couldn't let past horrors dictate her actions—not when others needed her.
Replacing the helmet, she checked that her face was properly obscured before stepping back into the main corridor, falling into the rhythmic patrol pattern she had observed from the other guards. She would have to be more careful now, avoiding direct contact with Shima at all costs. The past could wait; right now, there were lives at stake.
As prisoners were led on a tour of the facility, Lee maintained her distance while keeping Katara in sight. The girl needed to know she wasn't alone, but direct contact was too risky.
"You will notice, earthbenders," Shima continued, gesturing around the metal deck, "that this rig is made entirely of metal. You are miles away from any rock or earth." He smirked as Katara paused to glance across the vast ocean to the distant shoreline. "So, if you have any illusions about employing that brutish savagery that passes for bending among you people... forget them. It is impossible."
Guards escorted the new prisoners into the main yard, where dozens of earthbenders in ragged clothing milled about listlessly, their spirits visibly broken by captivity. Katara entered last, the metal gates clanging shut behind her with ominous finality.
Lee watched from her position at the perimeter as Katara reunited with Haru and was introduced to his father. The familial bond between them was obvious even from a distance, stirring something painful in Lee's chest that she quickly suppressed. Now was not the time for such distractions.
Throughout the day, she patrolled the facility with meticulous attention to detail, noting guard rotations, security protocols, and most importantly, locating the coal deposit at the base of the facility's main ventilation system. This information would be crucial if they were to have any hope of staging a breakout.
When Katara climbed onto a table to deliver her impassioned speech to the earthbenders, Lee positioned herself where she could observe both the girl and Shima's reaction from his watchtower. The warden's amused contempt was troubling—he was allowing this display because he was confident in his control. Breaking that control would require more than stirring words; it would require giving these earthbenders something to fight with.
Later that night, as the prisoners slept and the night shift of guards took over, Lee slipped away from her post to a secluded maintenance closet. Within its narrow confines, she finally removed the stifling helmet, pressing her forehead against the cool metal wall as exhaustion threatened to overcome her.
"Almost there," she whispered to herself, running through ship names once more to steady her nerves. "Eastern Dawn, Southern Cross, Royal Ember..."
The plan was taking shape in her mind—dangerous, but possible. Tomorrow would bring opportunity—or disaster. Either way, she would be ready.
—
Night had fallen over the prison rig, its metal surfaces gleaming coldly under the moonlight. Most of the prisoners were asleep, their exhausted bodies curled on thin mats in the crowded barracks. Katara sat alone by one of the small windows, staring out at the distant shoreline, her thoughts consumed by the plight of those around her.
A soft sound behind her made her turn. Aang had slipped silently through the window, his gray eyes luminous in the darkness. He gestured for her to follow, and she moved quietly through the sleeping prisoners to join him outside.
In the shadows between two watchtowers, Sokka and Sona were waiting, tension evident in their postures.
"Your twelve hours are up," Sokka whispered urgently. "Where's Haru? We've got to get out of here!"
"I can't," Katara replied, her voice firm with newfound resolve.
"We don't have much time," Sokka pressed, glancing nervously at the patrolling guards. "There are guards everywhere. Get on Appa and let's go!"
"Katara, what's wrong?" Aang asked, concerned by her refusal.
"I'm not leaving," she declared, her eyes flashing with determination. "I'm not giving up on these people."
"What do you mean you're not leaving?" Sona asked, stepping closer to her sister.
"We can't abandon these people!" Katara insisted, her voice low but passionate. "They've lost hope, but I know there has to be a way to help them."
"Maybe she's right," Aang said thoughtfully. "What do you say, Sokka?"
"I say you're both crazy!" Sokka hissed, ducking as a searchlight swept over their hiding place. "Last chance! We need to leave, now!"
"No!" Katara's voice was quiet but unyielding.
Sokka sighed, running a hand over his face. "I hate when you get like this." He looked at Sona and Aang, resignation clear in his expression. "Come on, we better hide. If we're staying, we need a safe place to regroup."
"I'll tell Appa to stay hidden nearby," Aang whispered, moving to the edge of the shadows.
Sona touched her sister's arm. "Are you sure about this, Katara? These people seem to have accepted their fate."
"That's exactly why they need our help," Katara replied with quiet conviction. "Someone has to stand up for them, even if they won't stand up for themselves."
Aang slipped back to join them. "Appa and Momo will hide on that small island we passed. They'll come when I call."
"Ok, we need to find somewhere safe to hide until morning," Sokka said, his tactical mind already working through the problem. "Somewhere the guards don't check regularly."
"What about the ventilation system?" Sona suggested. "These metal rigs need constant air circulation for the fires below."
"Good thinking," Sokka nodded appreciatively. "The shafts should be large enough for us to move through."
As they prepared to separate, Katara grasped Sona's hand. "Thank you for understanding."
"We're family," Sona replied simply. "We stick together, even when it's crazy."
Katara slipped back to the prisoners' barracks while the others found an access point to the ventilation system. They crawled into the narrow metal tunnels, careful to move silently as they sought a secure location to wait for morning.
"Look!" a guard suddenly shouted from the deck below. "In the sky!"
The siblings froze, exchanging alarmed glances. Had Appa been spotted?
The shout had alerted other guards, who rushed to report to Warden Shima on the upper catwalk.
"Tell me exactly what you saw," they heard Shima demand, his cold voice carrying through the metal grating.
"Well, sir, it looked like a flying bison," a guard reported hesitantly.
"What?"
"It was a giant flying buffalo, sir. With an empty saddle." Another guard's voice, quavering with fear.
"Which was it? A buffalo or a bison?" Shima's voice dropped dangerously.
"Uh, I'm not sure what the difference is, but that's not really the point, is it, sir?"
Through a small vent, they witnessed Shima's face contort with rage. "I'll decide what the point is, fool!" Without warning, he seized the guard and threw him overboard. The man screamed in terror, his cry abruptly silenced by the splash far below.
"You!" he barked at the remaining guard, who was staring in horror at where his comrade had disappeared. "Wake up the captain. Search the entire rig!"
"Uh, sir," the guard stammered, clearly terrified. "That was... the captain you just threw overboard, so..."
"Then wake up someone I haven't thrown overboard and search the rig!" Shima snarled. "There's something going on here and I don't like it."
Sona, Sokka, and Aang retreated deeper into the ventilation system, finding a junction where several shafts met—a space just large enough for them to sit.
"We don't have much time," Sokka whispered, his expression grim. "What are we gonna do?"
"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane!" Aang mused, earning unimpressed looks from both Water Tribe siblings. "The warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!"
"Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?" Sokka pointed out.
"I'm just tossing ideas around," Aang shrugged.
"I tried talking the earthbenders into fighting back but, it didn't work!" Katara had told them earlier. "If there was just a way to help them help themselves."
"For that they'd need some kind of earth, or some rock. Something they can bend," Sokka reasoned.
"But this entire place is made of metal!" Sona exclaimed, placing her palm against the cold surface in frustration.
"No, it's not," Aang said suddenly, his eyes widening as he pointed to the smokestacks towering above them. "Look at the smoke! I bet they're burning coal. In other words, earth."
The four of them exchanged excited glances as a plan began to take shape.
Morning arrived with a burst of activity as they put their hastily formulated plan into action. Sokka and Katara positioned themselves near one of the air vents on the main deck, keeping careful watch for guards.
"It's almost dawn," Katara said nervously, peering down into the dark vent. "We're running out of time! You sure this is gonna work?"
"It should," Sokka replied, his confidence belied by the worry in his eyes. "These vents reminded me of our little trick back at the village. We're gonna do the same thing, but on a much bigger scale. There's a huge deposit of coal at the base of the silo. And the whole system is ventilated. Aang closed off all the vents except one. When he does his airbending, the coal only has one place to go, right back here."
"There's the intruder!" a guard suddenly shouted, pointing directly at them.
Before they could react, they found themselves surrounded by Fire Nation soldiers, spears leveled at their throats. The earthbender prisoners gathered at a safe distance, watching with resigned curiosity.
"Stay back!" Sokka warned, drawing his boomerang. "I'm warning you!" He positioned himself back-to-back with his sister, both scanning for any opening in the circle of guards.
"Katara, stop!" Tyro called from among the prisoners. "You can't win this fight!"
Warden Shima appeared at the edge of the confrontation, his lips curled in a satisfied smirk. "Listen to him well, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand."
A distant rumbling interrupted the standoff. The ground beneath them began to shake, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing second. The ventilation shaft suddenly exploded outward, sending the metal grate flying as a massive surge of coal erupted from below, forming a towering black mountain on the deck.
Aang leapt from the shaft, covered in soot and coughing, Momo following close behind as the last of the coal settled around them.
Katara seized the moment, climbing atop the coal pile and raising a piece high above her head. "Here's your chance, earthbenders!" she called out, her voice ringing with newfound confidence. "Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!"
Haru started forward immediately, his face alight with determination, but Tyro held him back with a cautionary hand. The other prisoners remained motionless, their expressions uncertain and fearful.
Shima laughed, the sound echoing across the now-silent deck. "Foolish girl. You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people?" He gestured contemptuously toward the earthbenders. "Look at these blank, hopeless faces. Their spirits were broken a long time ago."
Katara's expression faltered as she surveyed the downcast eyes of the prisoners, but she stood her ground.
"Oh, but you still believe in them," Shima continued mockingly. "How sweet. They're a waste of your energy, little girl. You've failed."
He turned dismissively, preparing to walk away. Without warning, a single lump of coal flew through the air, striking him sharply in the back of the head. Shima whirled around, face contorted with rage, to find Haru standing defiantly, three more pieces of coal suspended above his palm by his bending.
With a roar of fury, Shima sent a blast of fire toward the young earthbender. Tyro leapt forward, raising a wall of coal that blocked the flames before they could reach his son.
"For the Earth Kingdom!" Tyro shouted, his voice powerful and commanding once more. "Attack!"
The effect was immediate and electric. The prisoners, galvanized by this display of resistance, surged forward as one. They began bending the coal in unison, raising massive waves of black earth that crashed against the Fire Nation soldiers. The guards responded with blasts of fire, but the earthbenders' newfound courage could not be dampened.
Amid the chaos, Lee moved with lethal precision. She had discarded her helmet, relying on the confusion of battle to hide her identity as she methodically took down one guard after another with swift, targeted strikes. Her movements were fluid but ruthless, each blow calculated for maximum damage.
Sokka raced through the battle, using his boomerang to slice through the guards' spears, rendering their weapons useless. Aang created powerful gusts of air that sent soldiers flying, while Sona and Katara worked together, using waterbending to sweep guards off their feet.
"Get to the ships!" Tyro commanded the liberated prisoners, directing them toward the harbor where the Fire Nation vessels waited. "We'll hold them off!"
"Do not let them escape!" Shima bellowed from the upper catwalk where he had retreated to direct his forces.
The battle raged across the deck, coal and fire flying in all directions. Aang created a swirling air funnel, into which Sokka and Katara deposited handfuls of coal. The young Avatar then unleashed this makeshift cannon, pelting the guards with rapid-fire projectiles that knocked them unconscious.
In a coordinated effort, Tyro and several other earthbenders used their bending to lift a massive platform of coal beneath a group of soldiers, including Warden Shima. With powerful movements, they raised this improvised raft high into the air, suspending it precariously over the ocean.
"No, please!" Shima begged, his earlier arrogance completely evaporated. "I can't swim!"
"Don't worry," Tyro replied coldly. "I hear cowards float."
With that, the earthbenders prepared to release their hold, sending the warden and his men plummeting toward the water below.
As they did, Lee moved through the battle with singular purpose, tracking Shima's trajectory. Using the chaos of the fight as cover, she slipped to the edge of the rig, positioning herself on a narrow maintenance platform just below the main deck.
When the earthbenders released their hold on the coal platform, Lee acted with decisive precision. As Shima fell past her position, she reached out with lightning speed, catching him by his uniform collar and yanking him onto the narrow ledge while the other guards plunged into the sea.
Shima sprawled on the metal grating, momentarily stunned by the unexpected save. When he looked up at his rescuer, his expression shifted from confusion to dawning horror as recognition set in.
"You—!" His eyes widened in stunned disbelief. "It can't be. You're dead. They told us you were—"
Lee's hand flashed in the sunlight, a hidden blade suddenly extending from her sleeve. With one swift, precise motion, she drew the blade across his throat, opening a deep crimson line that fountained blood down the front of his uniform. His words dissolved into a wet gurgle, his hands clutching frantically at his neck as blood poured between his fingers, hot and thick as it splattered across the metal platform.
"The dead remember, Shima," she whispered, her golden eyes cold and empty as she watched the life drain from his face. His body convulsed, eyes bulging in terror and pain as he tried and failed to stem the torrent of blood. "And we always come back."
With a single shove, she pushed his still-twitching body over the edge, watching dispassionately as it hit the water with a splash, red billowing outward like smoke in the blue sea. The crimson cloud spread beneath the surface, a vivid stain that quickly dissipated in the current, carrying away the evidence of her execution.
Lee wiped her blade clean on her stolen uniform, her face betraying no emotion as she methodically retraced her steps, returning to the main deck where the battle was already winding down. No one had witnessed her detour, all attention focused on the evacuating prisoners and the remaining guards who were surrendering or fleeing.
Within the hour, the earthbenders had secured the rig and commandeered the Fire Nation vessels docked at its base. Families reunited on the deck, embracing loved ones they had feared never to see again. Haru and Tyro stood at the prow of the lead ship, their faces alight with the promise of returning home to free their village after years of captivity.
"I want to thank you for saving me," Haru said as Katara approached him. "For saving us."
"All it took was a little coal," she replied modestly.
"It wasn't the coal, Katara," Haru said, his eyes warm with admiration. "It was you."
Tyro clasped Katara's shoulder with a weathered hand. "Thank you for helping me find my courage, Katara of the Water Tribe. My family and everyone here owes you much."
"So, I guess you're going home now," Katara said, a hint of sadness in her voice at the impending farewell.
"Yes, to take back my village," Tyro confirmed, then raised his voice to address the gathered earthbenders. "To take back all of our villages! The Fire Nation will regret the day they set foot on our land!"
The crowd erupted in cheers, their faces transformed by hope and determination where only resignation had existed before.
"Come with us," Haru offered Katara impulsively.
She smiled but shook her head. "I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Aang to the North Pole." She glanced over to where Aang sat atop Appa's head in the water below, Momo perched on his shoulder.
"That's him, isn't it? The Avatar." Haru's voice was filled with wonder. "Katara, thank you for bringing my father back to me. I never thought I'd see him again. I only wish there was some way..."
"I know," Katara said softly, reaching for her mother's necklace only to discover it was missing. Her hand flew to her bare neck in panic. "My mother's necklace! It's gone!"
As the earthbenders' ships sailed away, carrying the liberated prisoners back to their homeland, Team Avatar regrouped on Appa, setting course for the continuation of their journey north. None of them noticed the patch of red that stained the water near one of the rig's lower platforms, already dissipating into the vastness of the ocean. Nor did they see the expressionless calm with which Lee cleaned a slender blade before tucking it back into a hidden sheath beneath her sleeve.
Some debts, it seemed, could only be paid in blood.
Back on the prison rig, Zuko stood on the abandoned deck, examining the destruction left behind by the uprising. His eyes narrowed as he bent down to pick up something that gleamed in the afternoon sun—a blue pendant on a delicate ribbon. Katara's necklace. He studied it for a moment before pocketing it, a grim determination settling over his features as he turned to continue his pursuit of the Avatar.