Fire and Aether

Chapter 37: The Boiling Rock (Part 1)

    Some time had passed since Zuko joined the new and improved Team Avatar and things were going well. Rose and Zuko were, once again, exploring their relationship and working towards the future they wanted together. The rest of Team Avatar had grown to like Zuko as well, considering him one of their friends. The only problem was Katara who still hadn't forgiven him for the incident in Ba Sing Se.
    One night, Team Avatar finally took some time to rest and relax, enjoying cups of tea while chatting amongst themselves. At some point, Sokka pulled Zuko aside as something was bothering him.
     Zuko worriedly followed Sokka. "So what's up?"
     "Remember when you saved Rose's mother? How did you know where she was?"
     "Aurora knew. Why?"
     "Would she happen to know where other prisoners captured by the Fire Nation would be taken?"
     "Who was taken?"
     "When the Invasion plan failed, some of our troops were taken. I just wanna know where they might be."
     Zuko turned away. "I can't tell you. Knowing would just make you feel worse."
     "It's my dad." Sokka confessed. "He was captured too."
     "It's not good, Sokka." Sokka pleaded and Zuko finally relented. "My guess is they were taken to the Boiling Rock, the highest security prison in the Fire Nation. It's on an island in the middle of a boiling lake. It's inescapable." Then, almost as an afterthought, "Now that I think about it, that's probably where the rest of Rose's family is too."
    "So where is this place?"
    Zuko snapped out of his thoughts. "Why do you need to know? What are you planning?" Sokka shrugged him off and Zuko stared him down as he explained, "It's in the middle of a volcano between here and the Fire Nation. You guys actually flew right past it on the way here. But definitely don't go there and under no circumstances do you even think about telling Rose."
    "Of course not."
    They didn't realize that Rose had heard the whole conversation and snuck away with a plan.
                         * * * * *
    Later that night, Sokka packed a few things, intending to sneak away while everyone was sleeping. As he attempted to sneak onto Appa, however, he found someone already waiting for him.
    "Not up to anything, huh?"
    Sokka fell. "Fine, you caught me. I'm gonna go rescue my dad. You happy now?"
    "I'm never happy."
    As Sokka launched into his explanation, Zuko retaliated by explaining himself. He understood better than anyone how Sokka was feeling. Yet, he hadn't thought ahead and would need help.
   "We'll take my war balloon." Zuko announced, leading Sokka to it.
    The two climbed up to the basket to find someone else waiting for them. "Oh look who finally showed up!"
    This time, they both fell.
    Rose rushed over to the side and shouted, "Sorry, guys!"
    They headed back onto the balloon. Zuko glared at his girlfriend as he said, "What are you doing here?"
    "I'm coming with you." Rose replied, smugly.
    "Oh no you're not."
    "Try and stop me, Zuko, but I'm not gonna stand idly by when I can save my brothers and bring them home. I'm the Avatar. It's my job to save people."
    "This is too dangerous."
    "Guys, can I say something?"
    "NO!!" They both shouted.
    "I'm coming with you." Rose said in a steely tone of voice. "Whether you want me to or not."
    With that, she prepped the balloon with the help of the boys. Once they were in the air and had made some distance, she laid down for a nap.
    The silence between Sokka and Zuko was awkward. After a few failed attempts at starting a conversation, they got onto the subject of their families first, Sokka encouraging Zuko that his uncle would be proud, then finally the subject of their love lives.
    "Don't you think you were a little harsh on her?"
    "What makes you say that?" Zuko asked, glaring at Sokka, his nostrils flaring.
    Rose turned in her sleep, waking up but pretending to still be asleep as she heard their conversation.
    "I just mean that she's only doing what she thinks is right. She's not trying to upset you."
    "I know." Zuko said, his demeanor changing to one of calm. "She always puts everyone else first, even before herself, and it worries me."
    "Why?"
    Zuko sighed. "Because I'm scared that one day I'll lose her forever. I don't think I could live with myself knowing she's gone. I love her far too much to let her go. We're soulmates, soulbound, and meant to be."
    Rose could feel her eyes cloud up with tears.
    "I know how you feel." Sokka explained. "My first girlfriend turned into the moon."
    "That's rough, buddy."
    Rose stretched and yawned. "Are we there yet?"
    "Not quite yet."
    Sokka yawned. "I think I'll take a nap for awhile. Wake me up when we get there."
    After Sokka fell asleep, the couple were quiet for awhile before Rose spoke up, wrapping her arms around Zuko from behind. "You don't have to be scared, yknow? I'm not going anywhere."
    He turned in her arms. "I'm just worried."
    Rose ran her fingers through Zuko's hair. "Ok. I promise I'll be more careful."
    They shared a loving kiss and cuddled as they continued their journey. Finally, Zuko woke Sokka up as they had arrived to their destination.
    The steam around the island was thick enough they could slip onto it undetected. Unfortunately, as they drew close, they noticed an issue: the heat of the balloon matched the heat outside, making the balloon crash land on the island.
    As Sokka confessed that he always knew there was a chance the balloon was a one way option, Zuko rebuked him by asking why he didn't think ahead. Sokka explained his plans hadn't exactly been working out for him so he was winging it. Besides, the two of them agreed to come.
    Rose sighed. "Can't argue with that logic."
    "I hope you know what you're doing." Was all Zuko said in response.
                       * * * * *
    Sometime later, the three stepped out in their disguises. Zuko and Sokka were dressed as guards while Rose had chosen an alternate type of disguise.
     "I don't like this." Zuko complained. "You're taking too big a risk by going directly to the Warden. What if he sees through your disguise?"
    Rose scoffed. "No more dangerous than shoving myself into armor and parading around where I can be caught. Besides, I can find out what we need to know fairly quickly."
    Zuko grunted. "Just promise me you will be careful and...if anything goes wrong, you'll find a way off this island...with or without us."
    His gaze was pleading. "I promise." She replied before leaning into him for a passionate kiss.
    They were broken from their reverie by Sokka coughing. They broke apart just in time for a bunch of guards to run past, one shouting for them to join as there was a scuffle out in the courtyard.
    Immediately, they all rushed out. The lead guard was arguing with a rather large prisoner he referred to as Chit Sang. The prisoner in question did not bow to the lead guard who retaliated by forcing Chit Sang to use firebending to defend himself from an attack by the guard.
    The lead guard smiled in triumph, declaring Chit Sang was going in the cooler. As he turned his attention to Sokka and Zuko, his eyes widened at Rose's disguise.
    A woman of about 20 with hair so black and wavy it appeared blue in some spots, dressed in a fancy dark blue gown with a pattern of two cresent moons facing each other on the bodice and a pattern of stars on the train stood before him.
    "And who are you?"
    "Who am I?" She said, voice raised. "I am sent here on official business by the Fire Lord himself. I must speak to the Warden."
    "The Fire Lord? Of course, milady. I will take you to him if you don't mind a quick stop to the coolers to punish this criminal."
    Rose stood to her full height. "Of course not. Lead the way."
                         * * * * *
    After dropping off Chit Sang, the lead guard took Rose to a room and knocked on the door. A booming voice answered, "Come in!"
    They entered and Rose met eyes with a large man with long hair. "Warden, this young woman has asked for you. She was sent by the Fire Lord himself."
    The Warden narrowed his eyes. "The Fire Lord, huh? Won't you sit and we can talk." He said in a rough voice. "Close the door on your way out."
    The door closed and the pair settled in.
    "So urgent business from the Fire Lord himself." The Warden said, preparing a drink for each of them. "What's this about?"
     "As you know the Fire Lord is intending to marry the witch Malvina after the war is won."
     "I've heard but I don't see the relevance. Perhaps you tell me first who you are so I know you're not lying to me."
    Rose glared at him with a look of malice, intent on selling that she was a despicable person. "I am Elysia, one of Malvina's many sisters."
     "I wasn't aware she had sisters aside from the one."
     "Oh she has many." Rose said, quoting something Aurora had told her during on of their many conversations. "Each of us serve a different purpose. As the eldest, she takes charge. Ambrosia, the youngest, is in charge of helping her in return for her constant protection. I, of course, am charged with carrying out orders as she sees fit.
     "Now," Rose continued, taking a sip of her drink, "the Fire Lord wishes to hand over some of his power to his intended. As such, Malvina wishes to keep an eye on many of the kingdom's strongholds, including their prisons. She asked that I come here today to shadow you and see how well you do your job. After all, Warden, you have not had a single prisoner escape in your entire career."
    The Warden puffed out his chest. "That is true."
    "Such an amazing record! How do you do it?"
    A prideful smile as he boasted, "I keep a very close eye on my prisoners, always checking that they don't do anything stupid or reckless."
    "And what kind of prisoners do you keep here?"
    "What kind?"
    "I was told very little before I came here. Only that you were the best Warden the Fire Lord could ever ask for. He said so himself."
    "He did?"
    "Yes. And I was told to interview you, learn more about your prison and prisoners, and to shadow you throughout the day so that we might get more of our prisons to reflect the same values as this one. All in the interest of serving the Fire Lord, of course. Winning a war is difficult, especially if any prisoners escape...of any kind."
    The Warden grinned. "Then let us begin."
                         * * * * *
    Later that day, Rose met up with Zuko and Sokka. "I've gotten all the information I can. I'm sorry, guys. No war prisoners are on this island. Not my brothers and not your father, Sokka."
    "So what? We came all this way for nothing?"
    Sokka cheered up, however, when he realized Suki was there. Sometime later, when Suki was sitting in her cell, the door opened, revealing a guard.
    "Did I do something wrong?"
    "You mean you don't recognize me?"
    "You people all look the same to me."
    "Maybe this will help you remember." Sokka then attempted to kiss Suki, only for her to knock him back. His helmet fell off, revealing his face.
    "Sokka! You're here!" Suki said, happily, embracing him.
    "Are the other Kyoshi Warriors here?"
    "No. I don't know where they are. They locked me in here because I'm the leader."
    "Well you won't be here for long. I'm busting you out."
    "Oh, Sokka. I knew you'd come."
    Their moment was cut short as another guard tried to get into the cell. Zuko tried to stop here and Sokka had to continue his charade to keep them both from getting caught.
    Zuko was thrown into the cooler, wherein he was visited by the Warden and Rose in her disguise. "Well well well...I never thought I'd find you in here, Prince Zuko."
    "So this is the famous Prince Zuko?" Rose said. "I don't think we ever got the pleasure to meet." She sent him a snarl. "Forgive me if I stare. I knew you were young but even then I expected someone a little more...well more."
    She giggled evilly, the Warden joining in. "He surely isn't what I was expecting either."
    "How do you know who I am?"
    "How could we not?" Rose answered.
    The Warden scowled. "You broke my niece's heart."
    "You're Mai's uncle?"
    "I met her once." Rose said. "Briefly, of course. Just a lovely girl. A bit gloomy but nobody's perfect." She sighed, her words true but the intent much different.
    "I never meant to hurt her."
    "Silence! You're my special prisoner now and you'd best behave. If these criminals found out who you are--the traitor prince who let your nation down--why they'd tear you to shreds."
    "So why not turn me in to my father and collect?"
    "Oh believe me, I intend to collect."
    Then he shut the door.
                       * * * * *
    Rose was livid.
    "HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID, SOKKA?!"
    "It was either him or both of us. What was I supposed to do?"
    "Oh I don't know...save your tearful reunion until later so no one got caught?!" Rose said, exasperated.
    "Look, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking."
    "If anything happens to Zuko, I'll never forgive you."
                      * * * * *
    As the prisoners were mopping up the prison, Zuko and Suki met officially. "Actually we met a long time ago."
    "We did?"
    "Yea you kinda burned down my village."
    "Oh sorry about that. Nice to see you again."
    They found a spot to talk, away from prying eyes by the time Rose showed up. After learning of her disguise, Suki hugged her. "I missed you, Ro!"
    "Missed you too, old friend."
    Sokka then began explaining his escape plan. At some point, Chit Sang joined in and, after some blackmail, they agreed to let him in on the escape plan.
    A few minutes later, Zuko and Chit Sang faked a fight. The guards took down Zuko and threw him into the cooler. Sometime later, Rose showed up. "I can take you back to your cell if you've learned your lesson."
    "Oh I've learned my lesson completely." Zuko said, showing her the bolts he'd loosened.
    He smirked and she leapt into his arms for a kiss. That's when they heard a sound down the hall. Quickly, Zuko pulled Rose inside the cooler and shut the door as a couple guards passed by.
    At the mention of new prisoners, especially war prisoners, they were taken aback. "What should we do?"
    "We have to tell Sokka."
    At that moment, the door was opened, revealing Sokka. "Tell me what?" They explained what they'd heard from the guards. "Should I risk all of our freedom on the slim chance that my dad or your brothers are here?"
    No one had an answer.
                       * * * * *
    As the group prepared to leave, they made a decision: Rose, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki would stay to find out if Sokka's dad and /or Rose's brothers were being transported there.
    The next morning, the bell started ringing and the Warden shouted to lock up the prisoners and secure the perimeter, turning his gaze to Rose who hid her look of despair behind a mask of coldness.
    "Get the fugitives and throw them in the cooler!"
    "Uh...they are in a cooler, sir."
    "One that's bolted down and not floating in the water!"
    Meanwhile, Zuko, Sokka, and Suki watched helplessly as Chit Sang and his friends were captured. At that same moment, the gondola that usually transported the Warden appeared with a group of prisoners.
   Out of the gondola came many men but the group didn't breathe right until three familiar figures walked out of them: Hakoda, William, and Jasper.
    Rose stifled a gasp of surprise.