Fire and Aether

Chapter 38: The Boiling Rock (Part 2)

   The group of prisoners filed off the gondola where they were made to stand in a line. Hakoda didn't look much worse for wear aside from the grim look on his face. Will was cleanly shaven and stood impassively despite the hint of a bruise on his eye and jaw. Jasper, however, looked like he had been through hell and the glare he sent the Warden said it all.
    Despite being happy to see her brothers, Rose restrained herself for the time being. The Warden grinned as he lined up his guards with Rose at the head of them and began walking down the line of prisoners.
   "Welcome to the Boiling Rock. I'm sure you have all heard rumors about our little island. Well, I just have to tell you that they don't have to be true...as long as you do everything I say." He stopped at the end of the line where Jasper was standing. "Look me in the eyes when I'm talking to you!"
    "No." He replied shortly.
    "Oh you'd rather look at my shoes? Then take a look!" He growled as he knocked Jasper to the ground.
    "That's enough, Warden!" Rose said before she could stop herself. The Warden turned to glare at her. "Oh?" "I mean...look at the poor boy, at how much he's been disciplined. He surely could use a different type of handling."
    The Warden chuckled. "When you're right, you are right, milady." He turned towards Jasper once more. "Well, boy, it's your unlucky day. The Lady Elysia here will be taking care of your needs. And, trust me, she doesn't have a gentle touch. She's more brutal than me. Good luck, kid."
    Rose commanded in a strong voice. "Prisoner, follow! You are coming with me."
    With that, she took Jasper and steered him away from the others. The Warden seemed amuseduntil he tripped over someone's shoe and went flying. "Get the prisoners out of my sight!"
    That said, he stomped off.
                        * * * * *
    Rose sat Jasper down and checked around before wiping away her glamor spell. "Rose! How?"
    "It hasn't been easy. This disguise is hard to keep ahold of. One slip up and I'll be found out. But I managed to convince the Warden that I work for those witches that are working with the Fire Lord."
    "You are bloody brilliant, sis!"
    "Thanks."
    "So how is everyone? I know Will's here and dad is...gone." Jasper hesitated at that last word. "But how are you and Aang and your friends? And Catie? Oh and did you ever find mom?"
   "One thing at a time!" Rose giggled. "Everyone's fine. I'm fine. More than fine, actually. I found my soulmate."
    "I remember feeling it when you had your soulbond but we never got a chance to talk about it. Who is it?"
    "Um...you're not gonna like it."
    "How bad can it be?"
    Rose bit her lip. "It's Zuko."
    Jasper stopped for a second in surprise. "Prince Zuko? Like the Fire Lord's son?" Rose nodded. Jasper laughed. "That is so you!"
    "What do you mean me?"
    "Well you've never exactly done things the traditional way so of course you'd end up with the guy who originally tried to kill you."
    "I don't think there's ever been anything traditional about any of us. Will's marriage, my soul binding, and you're just weird." Jasper chuckled. "And apparently never learned how to keep your mouth shut."
    "Where's the fun in that, dear sister?"
    "Fun has nothing to do with it. That's what Will would say. Speaking of which, let's go find him."
                      * * * * *
    Rose had had to leave Jasper in the cell only moments later when the Warden asked for her. "We have a prisoner to interrogate. Care to join, milady?"
    Rose forced a dark smile on her face. "Of course."
    The Warden began questioning Chit Sang on how he escaped, kicking over his chair and insulting him. Rose laughed.
    "Something amusing, milady?"
    "Oh, Warden, you're too soft on these retches. " Rose said, pushing herself off from the wall and approaching the prisoner, circling him. "The constant yelling and all this treatment...he's not gonna tell us what we need to know. I have a much better idea in mind."
    The Warden smirked. "Have at him. But he'd better be compliant when I return."
    "Trust me, he will be."
    Sure enough, by the time the Warden returned, Rose had him ready to talk. Unbeknownst to the Warden, however, Chit Sang would be telling a partial truth. But when he pointed out the guard who was fake, it would be someone other than Sokka.
                        * * * * *
   Sokka and his father chatted some before coming up with a plan. Sokka then snuck to Zuko's cell to tell him the plan. But they were interrupted when two guards showed up to drag Zuko off.
    He was thrown in a cell. "Where am I? I didn't do anything!"
    "Oh, Zuko, you know that isn't true."
    "Mai?" Zuko shook his head. "How did you know I was here?"
    "The Warden's my uncle, you idiot." She insulted angrily. "I guess I don't know you so well though. All I get is one measly letter?"
    She cleared her throat as she read: "I'm sorry, Mai, but I have to leave. I hope you'll understand one day. I once loved you but I found my soulmate and I need to help her."
    "I didn't mean to hurt you." Zuko protested. "Besides, I thought we had broken up."
    "That doesn't mean I didn't wanna work it out! But no. You left."
    "I had to do it to save my country."
    "Save your country? You're betraying your country! And all for that woman!" Mai folded her arms. "What's so special about her? Is she really that much better than I am?"
    "It's not like that!"
    "Then what is it, Zuko?"
    Zuko sighed. "I don't know how to explain it but she's my soulmate. She loves me and I her. We care about each other. We fight but she makes me happier than I've ever been. Truth is, you and me were never gonna happen. I cared about you once. But we don't go together. Like you said, I'm too angry.
    "But Rose gives me a feeling of hope. From the first moment I met her, I knew she was mine. Our relationship is complicated and messy but we are meant to be together. I guess what I mean is...I don't want to hurt you but I can't think of any other way for you to understand."
    "Soulmates? You actually believe that Aetherbender crap? You're an idiot!"
                         * * * * *
    The Warden ordered all the guards to be put in a line. Walking down the line, he said, "One of you is an imposter who thought he could fool me. But now that person is going to be in a lot of trouble." He nodded towards Chit Sang. "Who is it?"
    "That's him, Warden! That's the imposter!" Chit Sang said, pointing at the guard who had embarrassed him the day Rose and the others showed up.
    The guard was dragged away. In the cell, Rose stood by while the Warden began asking questions. That's when someone entered the room.
    "Who told you to interrupt me?"
    The Warden changed his attitude when he realized who it was, dropping to his knees. "Princess Azula, it's an honor to welcome you to the Fire Nation's most exemplary prison."
    "Who's this?" She asked, ignoring his words.
    "A guard who was part of a feeble prison escape attempt."
    "No he's not. You're wasting your time."
    "How do you know?"
    "Because I'm a people person." She turned her attention to Rose. "And who are you?"
    "I'm Lady Elysia, one of Malvina's sisters. Pleasure to meet the famous princess."
     "I wasn't aware Malvina had a third sister."
     "It was not your place to know."
     Azula turned and stomped back  to Rose. "I am the Crown Princess. You should show me some respect."
     "And I am his future. Without me and my sisters, your father wouldn't be able to do all the things he's done. Besides, my sister is to be his queen, little princess."
     "Relationships fade but family is forever." Azula scowled.
     Rose smirked. "Is that why your father tossed his son to the side? Ooh...if you fail him, I wonder if you'll be next."
     She had hit a nerve and she knew it as the princess forced a look of calm to take over her features. "It was very nice meeting you. Welcome to the family, Elysia."
    "Likewise, Princess."
    Azula walked out and slammed the door.
                         * * * * *
    Sokka began putting the plan into motion. "Hey I just got orders. Let the prisoners out into the yard."
    "But we're in the middle of a lock down!"
    "Oh OK. I'll just go tell the Warden you said that. I'm sure he'll be glad about you undermining his authority. What's your name again?"
    "Please don't tell the Warden. I'm just a little confused."
    "Hey I'm confused too but the Warden's in a bad mood and irrational. So, if you ask me, it's best not to question it and just do what he says."
    That said, they let the prisoners out into the yard. Unfortunately, starting a riot was more difficult than they thought. Luckily enough, Chit Sang appeared and greeted them.
    "You're lucky I didn't rat you out but my generosity comes at a price. I know you're planning another escape attempt and I want in."
    "Actually, we're trying to escape right now but we need a riot. You wouldn't happen to know how to start one, would you?"
    "A prison riot? Please." Chit Sang said, waving Sokka off. He grabbed a random guy, lifted him over his head and shouted, "Riot!"
    Immediately, a prison riot broke out. The Warden began yelling and belting out orders, allowing Rose to slip away to join her friends. Zuko escaped from his cell, locking Mai inside.
    Will and Jasper met up with the others moments later.
    With the gang all there, a fight broke out and Suki kidnapped the Warden. "Sorry, Warden, you're my prisoner now."
    With the Warden, they were let onto the gondola with almost no problems. Zuko turned it on and broke the lever so they couldn't be stopped. He used firebending then to propel himself into the air, getting caught at the last second by Rose and Sokka.
    At that moment, Rose's glamor spell finally wore off. From down below, she noticed Azula and Ty Lee eyeing her up and down. And Azula had an evil look on her face.
    "Who's that?" Hakoda asked.
    "That's a problem."
    Azula and Ty Lee followed the gondola, the latter simply running across the lines while the former used firebending.
    "This is a rematch I've been waiting for." Suki said.
    "Me too." Rose and Zuko said in unison.
    Together, the three got into position on top of the gondola. "Well hello there, Elysia." Azula said. "And to think, for a moment, I almost believed you."
    A fight immediately broke out. Rose and Zuko protected each other, fighting Azula while Suki fought Ty Lee. The Warden got loose from his bindings and yelled down to his men, "Cut the line!"
    The men used large pieces of metal to jam the gondola and began sawing at the line. Ty Lee noticed first and warned Azula who used her firebending to escape, taking Ty Lee with her. "Goodbye, Zuko. Bye, Avatar!"
    Mai had finally escaped from her cell. She stopped as she noticed the fight going on with Azula and Ty Lee against Rose, Zuko, and the rest. She watched as Rose and Zuko protected each other and even shared a kiss in the midst of the fight.
    A thought then occurred to her, a memory of the day she first met Rose. She remembered how kind Rose had been. How she had assured her, a perfect stranger and her enemy that her brother was safe.
    She groaned in realization, sending a shruiken at the guards cutting the line. "What are you doing?"
    "Saving the jerk that dumped me...and his weird girlfriend."
    Moments later, she singlehandedly defeated the guards and got the gondola running again. "Who is that?"
    "Mai?" Zuko asked.
    "What is she doing?" An infuriated Azula wondered.
    Rose suddenly shouted, "Mai, come with us!"
    "Don't be stupid, Avatar!" Mai shouted back. "Just take care of Zuko! Be good to each other!"
    The gondola reached the top and everyone piled out. "Sorry, Warden, your record is officially broken."
    With that, Team Avatar, their family, and their new friend escaped back to the Western Air Temple.
                    * * * * *
    Azula glared at Mai who gave herself up after the others escaped. "I never expected this from you. The thing I don't understand is why. Why would you do it? You know the consequences."
    "I guess you don't know people as well as you think you do. I've seen the truth. Zuko and Rose care about each other. Their love is true. They love each other more than they fear you. You miscalculated. And, the weird thing is, I care more about their happiness than I fear you."
    "No you miscalculated! You should've feared me more!"
    As Azula moved to attack Mai, something in Mai's words stirred something in Ty Lee. She used her abilities to block Azula's chi, knocking her to the ground. At that moment, the guards appeared and grabbed Azula.
    "What shall we do with them, your highness?"
    "Put them somewhere I'll never have to see their faces again and let them rot!"
                      * * * * *
   Back at the Western Air Temple, Katara and Sokka reunited with their father while Rose took Jasper and Will to reunite with Ophelia and Catie. Hugs were dispersed all around.
   Rose turned her head to see Jasper lock eyes with Aurora and she had a feeling it mirrored the day she finally gained feelings for Zuko.
   "We did it."
   "Yes we did." Zuko said, pulling his soulmate into his arms for a lingering, longing kiss before sneaking her away for some privacy....