Authors note: I'm sure you're wondering why this is being uploaded now in the middle of the night at 2 something in the morning but that's just because I do all my best writing at night. But the good news is that you will most likely see this sometime around 9 am or whenever you wake up. And who doesn't want to wake up to a new fanfic chapter right?. Sooooooooo... Enjoy!!!

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(Aang)

So.. the great and powerful avatar, in my presence oh how lucky can I be. Ozai chuckled sarcastically. He walked circles around Aang as he continued. "I must admit I am disappointed, after all the talk I've heard about you I was hoping for more of a challenge.

" Let me go" Aang yelled continuing his struggle.

"What so you can run free"? "So you can continue your pathetic attempt to stop me"? His amused tone dropped to a dangerous level." Now, why would I ever do that".

"Please listen" Aang pleated. The four nations are meant to be just that four. Why can't you see that what your doing is wrong? You're hurting a lot of people and destroying their lives. But you don't have to play the bad guy. You can still fix this. You can still be the best Firelord for your people.

If Aang could he would have offered Ozai his hand. he refused to believe that anyone can be that heartless.

Ozai stared at the monk who swayed upside down from his ceiling. Then Aang wasn't sure but he heard a small chuckle. Was the Firelord was laughing at him? Ozai gave a slow sarcastic clap.

"Wow...I mean bravo avatar bravo" he laughed. " I feel so touched he said while placing a hand over his heart. or at least the spot where his heart would have been if he had one."You've brought tears to my eyes. Ahahaha. he fake wiped away a tear before sobering.

"Save your breath I'm not here because I feel bad about winning" he sneered."No, I'm here because my trader of a brother is messing with my plans and until I have him and the rest of the white lotus members in my custody he will continue to be a nuisance". "He nearly reconquered Ba Sing Sa in the name of the earth kingdom during Sozins Comet. That can not happen again. That is why you are going to tell me where they are hiding.

" What makes you think I would know where he is"? Aang has no idea where Iroh could have been though he had glimpsed a sight of a camp on his way to fight Ozai and wouldn't be surprised if it belonged to Iroh. But Ozai didn't know that so maybe he could feign Cluelessness.

"Call it a hunch" Ozai retorted.

"Well, it looks like your hunch was wrong. I don't know anything about his whereabouts.

"Don't play dumb with me avatar. your not a very convincing lier you know".

Aang stayed quiet keeping his head turned and avoiding eye contact. " I wonder Ozai continued. "If you would be as clueless if one of your dear friend's life depended on it". "At this Aang's eyes meet Ozais and he knew he got the avatar's attention."Maybe that female worrier"? Aang said nothing. "Or that earth bender"? Aang said nothing. "Or how about my traitorous son or that pathetic excuse of a worrier from the south". Still, Aang said nothing. "Or maybe that waterbender that managed to escape my grasp so long ago". Aang flinched at that and Ozai gave an evil smile on this.

" Ah the waterbender, Tell me young avatar what would you do if I had her right now"?

Aang closed his eyes tightly while Ozai continued not wanting to imagine it at all.

"Would you shout",? "Would you scream to me at how much you hated me"? "Or would you beg for me to let her go"?

Aang eyes closed tighter.

" Tell me avatar could you bear to watch as I tortured her. As I tore her apart limb by limb until she is nothing but a lifeless corpse in my hand.

Don't you dare touch her"!Aang yelled unable to keep it in any more. Ozai Wore a smirk before turning to Ling." Take him back to his sellers and don't let him out of your sight". Ling nodded before waving over two additional guards to his side. Ozai licked his lips as he walked out. The clanger of two metal bars was all Aang heard before he was let down.

"You," Ozai said before gripping the soldiers shirt and hosting him off the ground until they met eye to eye. Ozai spoke in a low tone."Take your best men and search the woods". Find that waterbender. I don't care how you do it just bring her back alive. The Guard nodded quickly and when Ozai through him to the ground he scattered to his feet then out the door. Leaving only a shadow in his wake.

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(Katara)

Zuko and Katara sat crouched underneath a window. They choose a very rich widowed noblewoman which Katara had noticed are quite plentiful in the firenation capital. They were both dressed in their black jumpsuits. the ones they used when they went hunting down Yon-Ra. The two carefully peeked in through the window. The house was dark and by what she could see they were glancing into the living room. The women had a red couch that could seat four people comfortably facing her fireplace. A glass side table sat next to it holding a large oil lamp and a golden egg. Zuko pulled at the window and surprisingly it opened. Guess she didn't think that anyone would dare steal from a noble Katara mused. Zuko pushed himself through before holding his hands out for her. Katara took them and easily hoisted herself up and over the windowsill. from there, they split up.

Zuko Took the living room while Katara Head straight for the kitchen. The kitchen had white marble floors and black marble countertops. The table was also glass with a black frame. And around it sat six empty chairs. Katara Faintly wondered why she would need so many chairs if it was just her but she pushed that thought aside when her eyes set on the brown wicker fruit basket in the middle of the table. She opened the brown bag she had sitting at her waist and slid the apples, moon peaches, and grapes into its waiting mouth. Katara then soundlessly brought one of the chairs to the base of the nobles cabinets before standing on it. The extra two feet it gave her allowed Katara to reach and bag the bread on top. She then jumped down landing lightly on her feet. Katara then made her way to the frig. Inside was packed with all types of Fish, Borr-roasts, and fruits. Katara ignored the meat. There was no point in taking it when it would go bad in a matter of days. Instead, she took everything else and by the time she was done, it looked like there had been almost nothing there, to begin with.

"Katara". She heard Zuko whisper from the kitchen entrance. Katara turned to him in a silent yes. " Come look at this" he insisted tilting his head for her to follow. She followed him up the stairs wincing at every creek they made. Katara glanced into the room at the top of the stairs. She held in a gasp when she saw the sleeping form of the noblewomen. She froze worried that any move she made would wake her. Katara felt a warm hand grasp hers before pulling her along."Don't worry" Zuko whispered shes asleep. They made their way to the room in the far back. The room had a small twin bed in the far corner and a large pink dresser that held another oil lamp along with three pictures. Katara stopped to look at them.

One of them was a painting of the window. The other two had a boy no older then Zuko and a man with a black beard. There was a scroll underneath it and Katara carefully picked it up. It read: Ozak and Luther may angi light your path. "Its what people say when a soldier was killed in battle" Zuko answered her unspoken question. Katara felt a wave of sympathy wash over her. That's why the noble lived alone. Her husband and son were killed. Katara felt sorry for the women she knew what it was like to lose someone to the war. She sighed placing the scroll back underneath the photo. Katara saw Zuko standing in the closet and joined him. He was looking at a chest that sat on the closet shelf." What do you think is in it"? She asked.

"Money hopefully" he replied. Zuko brought the chest down and held it in front of her. Katara uncorked her water pouch and froze the water on the lock. With a jerk of her arms, the lock expanded then shattered. The pieces made a clinking sound as they hit the ground. Zuko and Katara stood very still looking at each other with the same worried expression on their faces. Only when they heard the peaceful snores of the sleeping women did Katara dare relax letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding in.

Zuko opened the chest to reveal thirty gold and silver bits. The two teens looked at each other asking an unspoken question. Should they take it or leave it? Katara was torn. On one hand, she felt bad stealing from a lovely lady who lost her family but on the other hand she knew with a home this big there was more money filled chests were this o e came from and Katara was sure she wouldn't miss one chest. She nodded to Zuko who nodded back before letting the chest drop into his bag that was full of pillows and blankets from the living room. "We should go"Katara whispered. Zuko only nodded his head before following her out the way they came.

(Time skip)

The moon showed brightly over Katara's head. It's soothing light cast over her as she and Zuko run through the firenation capital. The two stopped when they made it to the center of the capital streets and hid behind a building. The reason? Because of the two voices, they heard in the distance. The sound of metal boots hitting the sidewalk got closer and closer. Katara crouched low listening closely as the voices grew louder.

" Sigh I don't know why we have to do this every night" one guard grumbled

"You heard what Ozai said this was the last place the waterbender was seen" The other chastise. "Our job is to get rid of all opposers to Ozai's rule that might become a threat.

Zuko and Katara shared a glance.

" What opposers? we already won the war who does he think is going to challenge him"?

"Well, What about the fire prince? Rumors say he ran off with the avatar and hasn't been heard from since".

Katara felt Zuko tense beside her at the mention of his title.

"Yeah right, that's just a myth".

"No, it's true I tell ya haven't you seen the ember island players"?

Katara cringed at the mere thought of the play and she silently cursed whoever wrote the awful thing. But they were right about one thing she couldn't help but think. She could almost here acter Ozai menacing laugh. You see its too late. the comet is already here and I'm unstoppable. Katara shivered. when she first saw that play she refused to believe that they would lose the war and had pushed any form of doubt from her mind. She wished before she and Zuko went to battle Azula that the play had it wrong. That Ozai didn't win and that Aang came back. I guess I didn't wish hard enough she thought.

"Yeah right everyone knows its strick speculation".

"Oh yeah well what do you think happened to him"?

"He probably got some foreign illness from his time away from home and died".

"Well, in that case, don't you think his death would have been reported"?

The guard shrugged whatever let's just get this round done.

The two guards stood in the clearing in silence for a few moments. Zuko and Katara were about to slip away when the guard started to speak again.

Hey, Bob you going to the end of the war parade?

What and listen to The Firelord brag about capturing the avatar? I'd rather pass. are you, Meuska,?

So Aang did come back Katara thought. Does that mean he was killed? No, he said captured so does that mean...

Meuska shrugged his shoulders. Maybe. With that, the two guards continued on there way.

The sound of footsteps faded and Katara slowly raised herself from her crouching position. She felt warm. Like the kind of warmth, she felt when she and Sokka got a letter from their dad. Or when Sokka busted their father out of prison and she got to see him again which at the time she thought she never would. Aang was alive. Her friend was alive...The avatar was alive.

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(Sokka)

Sokka sat hunched below deck. he hugged the tiger seal furred blanket closer around his body. They sat in the mess hall on the other side of the bedroom chambers. He sighed as he looked around. They were surrounded by soldiers who all took a spot around the center table talking and gossiping to there fellow warriors. The sound of their voices faded away however when his mind wandered back to the day of the comet. He remembered the airships and watching Aang fight the Firelord. He remembered how Ozei had spotted them and how he and Toph had plunged into the freezing cold, mercy, black water. The memory was so vivid he felt almost transported back in time. His teeth chattering in his head. The sound of Burning metal and the taste of seawater rushing in his mouth every time he dares to take a breath. His legs and arms burning desperately trying to keep himself afloat and the overwhelming constant feeling of how close to death he really was.

But the worst thing was the feeling of his heart being torn in two when he watched Ozei fly off with Suki screaming for him. Or the equally as painful moment when he realized that this was probably the last time he would ever see her. His heart ached at the thought. It was almost unbearable to think he could live in a world where Suki wasn't by his side. A large hand rested on Sokka's shaking shoulder bringing him out of his dark thoughts. "Cold,"? asked a deep voice. Sokka nodded his head without taking his eyes from the floor. It wasn't a total lie. The last thing he remembered was it being summer. now it sure doesn't feel like summer. It wouldn't be so cold had it been a little less windy or if it was actually day time Sokka mused. He wondered just how long he had been unconcise.

It took Sokka a few seconds to realize the man was still talking and he only caught a few words. Something... something...glad you're ok... yadda...yadda...hope you get better...something...something...Tea. When the man stopped talking Sokka thought he had finally left. But when his eyes caught sight of his boots he realized he was being asked something. " I'm sorry what did you say"?

"I said do you want some tea" the voice repeated. Sokka nodded. The man walked away and came back a few minutes later to hand Sokka a full cup. He took it gratefully and drank it slowly. The man took a seat across from him with his own cup in hand. They sat in a comfortable silence enjoying the warmth of their tea. Sokkas gaze shifted from the floor to the dark brown liquid. He watched the tea swirl in his cup letting the steam tickle his face in its calm dance. He sighed. He supposed that he should say thank you. It was the polite thing to do he reasoned. Really he was just afraid of slipping back into his thoughts of Suki if he sat quietly for much longer. Sokka tore his gaze from the cup and opened his mouth to speak but when his eyes landed on familiar copper eyes his voice died in his through.

His mouth opened and closed before it broke out into a large smile. "Chit-sang"? he gasped. Sokka remembered him from the boiling rock when he and Zuko went to bust his dad out of prison. He looked exactly the same as he did before. The only change is that instead of the marron prison outfit he wore the southern water tribe warrior garment. He also remembered the last time he saw him was when he, his dad, Haru, and the others had escaped through the tunnel Toph created and that felt like a long time ago. Chit-sang gave a half smile " So you do remember me". he said jokingly.

"I.." before Sokka could get out a word Toph came stumbling in next to him. "Oh, Toph...Toph Guess who it is"! Sokka said pointing excitedly to Chit-Sang. Toph followed the sound of Sokka's voice to the wooden bench holding onto the wall as she inched. She plopped into the seat next to him saying " Ok Sokka you got me who is it"? Sokka briefly remembered that the floors were all wood and that Toph couldn't see who he was pointing at.

"Its Chit-sang"! a few seconds went by before Toph turned her head sideways and asked"...Who.."?

"You know Chit-sang".

" Right because saying his name twice means that I know who he is" Came Tophs Sarcastic reply". It had acquired to Sokka that Toph had never had a real conversation or formally met Chit-sang.

"He helped Me, Suki, Zuko, and my dad escape from the boiling rock". He forced back sorrow at the mention of Suki's name. It felt like she just got her back and now she was gone again. Sokka was spared from the thought when his dad finally came down the stairs.

Hakoda walked through silencing everyone. Hakoda didn't even look their way instead, coming up to him and Toph. His voice was low when he whispered" follow me" to them both. They both stood up and Toph discretely held on to Sokka's shirt. Hakoda led them to a secluded part of the boat on the other side. when the doors were open Sokka recognized the war room. "Sorry," Hakoda said, "I just thought it would be better if we had a privet place to talk". Sokka and Toph haven't even made it to a seat before Hakoda started talking.

After we were separated in the air temple Hakoda began we had run into a few members of our crew that escaped during blacksun. They had recovered one of our boats so we set out to sea in search of you. Finally, our search took us to the earth kingdom. We found Haru along to way. We arrived when your airship went down. Sokka nodded his face looked grave as he remembered that day. That's how we found you two Hakoda finished his sons change of mood did not go unnoticed by him.

"Three" was all the stoic teen said.

Hakoda looked at his son in complete confusion. Sokka's eyes didn't leave the ground when he said "There were three of us. Hakoda then turned to Toph or at least she thinks he did. she had felt so. someone's eyes on her.

"Suki was with us but she was captured by Ozei," Toph said her shoulders slumped. There was a moment of silence that followed her statement. Hakoda looked at his son before breaking the silence."I'm sorry" he said. "Sokka... where are the others". it was clear what Hakoda meant by that. He was worried about his daughter. Aang was also taken, hostage and Katara and Zuko had gone to face Azula. They could be anywhere. Another stretch of silence.

Sokka shook his head and raised his eyes. "It's ok we'll get her back". "We'll get them all back." We just need a plan".

"Sokka". but he ignored his father." Last time you and Suki were captured they took you to the boiling rock, right?

"Sokka".

well, odds are that's where they have Suki and maybe Katara and Zuko also.

"Sokka".

So all we need to do is break in and rescue them. So maybe if we...

"SOKKA"! Hakoda's son had looked up his eyes full of hope. He rested a hand on Sokka's shoulder and sighed. " We can't just go and break into a fire nation camp especially not now."Well of course not we have to be sneaky about it but...

No, you don't understand we are not breaking into a fire nation prison. Hakoda could see his sons face fall and all of his hope had drained in that instant. It broke Hakoda to say what he said next. "Look you and the avatar gave it your best shot but the war is over now and we didn't come out on top. The best thing we can do now is to go back to the South pole and prepare to defend our tribe. Sokka shook his father's hand off. "I can't just leave Suki, I won't. Hakoda could hardly meet Sokka's eyes. He knew that look. It had plagued his own when Kya had been killed. The look of a broken heart.

I'm sorry, Sokka. but Sokka cut him off. How could you! How could you just give up and go home! How can you abandon Katara again when she needs you. Sokka was standing now. A real warrior knows when to stand and fight! A real warrior also knows when to step back Sokka! His dad was yelling now as the two stood eye to eye. Do you think I want to leave my little girl in some prison to rot? I don't but there are more pressing matters to deal with. It's my job to make the hard choices whether you like them or not. A long moment passed as the two had a silent battle of wills. Sokka was the first to break eye contact before storming out of the room and slamming the door behind him.

(Time skip)

(Toph)

Toph felt her way down the hall grabbing the walls each time the boat would rock. By this time the sun had started to creep over the horizon. Toph had given a few hours to let the fight blow over before she started her hunt for Sokka. She found him in the room they had woken up in. When she heard the bed squeak she imagined him laying on his back glaring up at the ceiling. Toph stumbled her way to the bed and sat at the end. Sokka didn't move.

" He's right you know". Toph hated to admit it bit Hakoda was right. The war had just ended so the fire nation will be on guard more. then ever now and she said as much to Sokka. "It's all my fault" Sokka whispered. Toph wasn't sure if he said it more to himself or to her."It's not your fault Sokka".

"Yes, it is"!Sokka buried his head in the relatively flat pillow. " If I had just gone faster Suki could have made it, she would have.

"Should of, would of, Could of it doesn't matter how". Sokka said nothing. Look Sukis not a firebender and from what you told us about the boiling rock she should be fine. "Sukis not helpless and this isn't the first time she was there". Sokka nodded or at least Toph thought he did when she heard the pillow ruffle.

"What about Katara," He asked. "Zuko and Suki have been there before but not her".

Toph scooted closer." "Maybe she's, not there". "They could have escaped capture as we did". Sokka could at least take comfort in that Toph thought. Though she would never admit it that was the only thing keeping her from marching into Hakoda's chambers and demanding they turn around. Sokka sat up and Toph rested her head on his lap. She pulled her knees up on the bed and the two just sat there together in silence.

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(Katara)

Katara pasted around the living room of the old cottage. She and Zuko had gotten home just as the sun started to rise and her head was spinning. The relief and joy she first felt at the thought that Aang was still alive had left and was replaced by a thick almost smothering feeling of worry and panic. Aang was alive. He is alive but captured. He is being held right now and by Ozai who is the most ruthless person shes ever known. Who knows what he could be doing to him.

Back and forth, back and forth her feet went. Starting from the left then to the right in an oval like a circle as her mind spun up possible things that could be happening to him right now.

Ozai could be torturing him right now. Is he? Katara wouldn't put it past him. And if he is what was he doing to him. Is he ripping out his teeth, slicing his skin with a boiling hot dagger or could it be something far worse? She could almost see Aangs bruised and battered face moaning in unimaginable pain looking up at him begging Ozai to stop.

Kataras pacing started to grow quickly the more and more she thought about it.

And what if Ozai did plan to kill him? Katara had been with Aang for so long she felt as if she grew up with him. She couldn't Imagin a world without him and didn't want to. With this, another thought struck her mind. Sure Aang was alive now but for how long? Were Aangs days numbered? If they are how many days did he have left? Would it be in a Month, A week,...Tomorrow? Katara's mouth became dry. Oh, La...What if it's TODAY!? What if he was being killed at this very moment? What if Ozai wanted to tell the whole firenation of Aangs death at this end of the war party...Or worse still. What if it didn't happen already and Ozai wanted to instead do a public execution for the whole world to see? What if...

Katara felt a warm hand on her shoulder disrupting her path and stopping her in her tracks.

" Katara breathe" Zukos soft voice demanded. Katara had only just realized she was hyperventilating. Her legs were burning and her heart beat as if she had just run a marathon. Katara turned to face him. "Zuko what if Aangs... I mean what if Ozai"...

" He won't," Zuko said gently squeezing her shoulder reassuringly." How can you be so sure"? Katara stared him in the eye when she spoke the hesitant words. "Because Aang is the avatar if he dies another one would just be reborn and Ozai knows it" Zuko answered his golden gaze never once wavering." Zuko I'm scared". Katara's voice sounded small and meek. As if her voice was still recovering from all the panicked screaming she did in her head.

"Don't be we'll find a way to get him out". Katara nodded taking comfort in the unspoken promise." Ok...ok" she said finally calming her breath to a normal rate.

"The real question is how" Zuko muttered to himself letting his hand fall from her shoulder. She faintly missed the warmth from it but the thought was pushed to the back of. her mind by the more pressing matter at hand. With her hysteria gone Katara remembered something, the guard had said. "What about the end of the year parade" She suggested. Zuko gave her a perplexed look prompting her to elaborate. "The guard...Bob was it"? "He said something about the Firelord being their to brag about capturing the avatar". "If we can get there, then we might be able to learn where he's being kept". Zuko nodded along in understanding.

" And then what"?" We don't know where the parade is happening and even if we did my face is known throughout the firenation, how are we supposed to get in without being recognized" Zuko reasoned.

"We'll find a poster. Surely Ozai wants a big crowd so he has to have some kind of publicity for it. " As for the other things we'll deal with it when its time," Katara said confidently fighting back a yawn.

"Let's get some rest and think about it in the morning" Zuko sighed.

Katara wanted to point out that it technically was already morning but decided to let it slide and instead made her way to her bedroom. She sighed flopping on her bed before staring up at the ceiling. She reached under her pillow pulling out a wood chunk that had came off of her dresser weeks ago. She swung herself horizontally on the vertical bed letting her head drop off the mattress. Katara pulled back the covers to reveal the wooden bedside that had tali marks edged into it. She held the wood chunk and placed next to the last tali then scrapped it along the side until a new mark was made. Katara sat up grabbed her quill from the floor and opened her journal to a fresh new page and started writing.

Dear Sokka...

MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

Authors note: So it begins. I think this is a much better way to start off fic. Until next time. Leopardcub out.