The Burning Truth-Harmony

Part 32~Sukie

Isu pulled Sukie aside. "It's good to see you again."

Sukie nodded, glancing at the others. "So, do we have a plan?"

Sokka grinned, giving Sukie a proud smile. "I checked out the coolers again, and their point is to keep fire benders contained, right?"

"Yeah," Zuko hummed as Sokka continued.

"So they're completely insulated and sealed to keep the cold in. Well, to keep the cold in, it also has to keep the heat out, right?"

"Just get to the point, Sokka," Sukie snapped as Sokka grinned.

"It's a perfect boat for getting through the boiling water."

"The cooler as a boat? Sweet," Isu smirked as Zuko frowned.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm telling you, it'll work. I walked around the perimeter. There's a blind spot between two guard towers. It's the perfect launching point. I already tested it out. We'll roll the cooler into the water and just float with the current. It'll take us straight across. As long as we don't make a sound, no one will notice. And bing-bang-boom, we're home free."

"But how are you going to get the cooler out?" Sukie glanced at the others when a fellow prisoner walked over.

"Yeah, how are you going to get the cooler out?"

Chit Sang smiled as Isu screamed. "Spy!" She grabbed him, flipping him and throwing him into the ground.

"Woah, cool it. I heard you hatching an escape plan, and I want to go in."

"There's nothing to get in on," Zuko snapped as Sokka nodded.

"Yeah, the only thing we're hatching is an egg!"

Zuko and Sukie both sighed in annoyance as Isu gave Sokka an unimpressed look.

"Okay, well, I come with you or the warden hears about this egg too." Chit Sang looked at the others as Sukie sighed.

"I guess we have no choice."

"Okay, you're in. Isu release."

Isu glared at him before gently hopping off the prisoner. "So, how are we going to unbolt the cooler?"

Sokka grinned. "We are gonna have someone unbolt it from the inside."

"How do you plan on getting someone in?"

Sukie questioned as Chit Sang grinned. "Oh, I can get you inside." Chit Sang turned, walking into the open as the rest followed. "Hey, what are you, stupid? Watch where you're going!" Chit Sang pushed Sukie as she glared.

"Hey, you watch who you're shoving!" Sukie pushed back.

"I think you mean whom I'm shoving."

They started to fight as Isu ran over. "We need backup over here."

Sukie dodged Chit Sang before throwing the weird paper thing Sokka gave her. It burst into fire, much to everyone's surprise.

"No firebending! Into the cooler," a guard shouted as they grabbed her and took her away.

~~~

Sokka opened the door as Sukie stepped out. "That was so cold."

Zuko walked over, using his fire to warm her up. "We already got Chit Sang. We should go."

"Someone's coming," Isu snapped as the group hid. The guards walked past, talking to each other.

"Yeah, new arrivals coming in at dawn."

"Anybody interesting?"

"Nah, just the usual. Some robbers, a couple traitors, some war prisoners, though I did hear there might be a pirate."

"No fooling."

The two walked away as the rest reemerged. "War prisoners, it could be your father," Zuko stated as Sokka frowned.

"I know."

Isu hopped over. "What should we do? Are we going ahead with the plan or are we waiting another night?"

"I don't know. Is it right for me to risk all of our freedom on the slim chance that my dad is gonna show up?"

"It's your call, Sokka," Zuko announced as Isu nodded.

~~~

Outside the prison, the group remet outside, spotting Chit Sang and a few of their friends. "Took you guys long enough. This here is my girl and my best buddy. They're coming, too."

Sokka frowned. "Fine. Everybody in the coolers. Let's go." Sokka pushed the two coolers into the water as Zuko grabbed Sokka.

"Are you sure you wanna go? You're the one who said you wanted to redeem yourself. Redeem your honour. Rescuing your dad is your chance."

Sukie blinked. "Your dad?"

"If I had just cut my losses at the invasion, maybe we wouldn't be in this mess. Maybe sometimes it's just better to call it quits before you fail."

"No, it's not. Look, Sokka, you're going to fail a lot before things work out."

"That supposed to make me feel better?"

"Even though you'll probably fail over and over and over again."

"Seriously, not helping."

Zuko grabbed Sokka's shoulder. "You have to try every time. You can't quit because you're afraid you might fall."

"Hey, if you two are done cuddling, can we get a move on?" Chit Sang stood next to the boat as Sokka shook his head.

"No, I'm staying. You guys go. You've been here long enough." Sokka took Sukie's hands as she smiled.

"I'm not leaving without you, Sokka."

"I'm staying too."

Isu cheered. "More prison breaks! Hachi is gonna be so mad."

"Well, not me. I'm out. Let's roll, baby." Chit Sang pushed the cooler into the lake and jumped in."

"We gave up our only chance of escaping. I hope we haven't just made a huge mistake," Sokka muttered as Isu shrugged.

"Isn't that our whole thing?" Isu smiled, grabbing Zuko before he could leave. "You did well. You're becoming an amazing avatar."

~~~

"The gondola's moving," Sokka muttered as he watched the gondola stop. "This is it. If my dad's not there, we've risked everything for nothing."

"We had to." Sukie held Sokka's hand. They watched each person walk off, holding their breaths.

"Where is he?" Isu tapped her foot on the ground as they watched more and more walk off until there was no one left.

"That's it? That can't be it," Sokka shouted as Sukie rubbed his shoulders.

"I'm sorry, Sokka."

Sokka lowered his head in despair. "Oh no."

"Hey, you. Get off the gondola," a guard shouted as Sokka's head snapped up.

Hakoda walked out of the gondola. "Dad."