My wrists were shackled above my head in the cell and stretched my sorely scabbed back. I had been lashed 5 times with a fire-whip on the back. The price wasn't much if those damn earth-benders would just fight!
"Argent. Argent?"
I looked around curiously,"Sokka? Is that you?"
"Yeah, how are you holding up?"
I looked back at my scabbing burns,"Um, fine."
"Good, because we have a plan. Just hold on and Aang will get you out."
"Alright," I whispered.
Aang crawled in from a vent only minutes later and sliced the weak chains from my arms. I fell and quickly made my way out of the conveniently unlocked cell door. Idiots. I easily found Katara and Sokka, they were the two surrounded by guards.
Tyro yelled at them,"Katara, stop! You can't win this fight."
Haru looked pained,"You'll get taken away like Argent did. You know they hurt her."
Sokka whipped around,"They hurt her?!"
Katara sadly nodded,"Yeah."
The warden spoke,"Listen to him, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand...just like your cheeky, little friend."
The people I knew gasped,"What?"
I rolled my eyes,"Such a liar."
I watched from above, on a metal railing, as the guards crowded closer . I had to wait for the right moment. That's when a mountain of coal sprang from a large vent beside Sokka and Katara. Aang then jumped from it as well and landed happily on the coal. What a goofball.
Katara began another speech,"Here's your chance earth-benders! Take it! Your fate is in your hands!"
Again no one stepped forth, but I saw people begin to shuffle forward and shake in want. The warden decided to open his ugly mouth and mock Katara and the prisoners. It made me so proud when Haru hurled the first stone right at the warden's head. The guards turned on Haru ready to fire. That was my cue.
I landed in front of Haru, slashing the fire away with a blade of water,"Argent!" Haru exclaimed happily.
Pretty soon, the prisoners began fighting back! Finally! They all started working together and pummeling the Fire Nation soldiers. Haru and his father bended a large bullet-shaped boulder and smashed a hole in the cabin of the ship.
"Get to the ship!" Tyro commanded,"We'll hold them off."
With pleasure, I helped Tyro and Haru bend the warden and the rest of the soldiers over the ship's side,"Please. I can't swim."
"Don't worry," I snarled,"I heard cowards float."
With that, they were dropped in the ocean. The ship was siezed in the name of the earth kingdom.
Katara and I were saying our 'good-byes' to Haru and his father,"Thank you two for helping us. Saving us."
Katara modestly rubbed her neck,"All it took was a little coal."
Haru stood beside me and lay a soft hand over my wounds with purpose,"It wasn't the coal, Katara. It was you both."
Tyro held both of our shoulders, mine a little more tenderly,"Thank you for helping me find my courage, Katara of the Water Tribe and especially you, Princess Argent of Omashu. My family and everyone here owes you much."
"So," I began,"I guess you're going home now."
Tyro answered,"Yes. To take back my village. To take back all our villages!"
The army of earth-benders cheered and let loose battle-cries.
"Come with us," Haru offered to both of us, but I noticed his eyes never left mine.
"I can't," Katara spoke instantly,"Your mission is to take back your home. Mine is to help Aang to the North Pole," she hugged Haru and then jumped onto Appa.
"That's him, huh? The avatar," Haru asked.
I nodded proudly at Aang who was getting Appa ready to go.
"What is your answer?" He asked softly while stepping closer.
I turned to him forlornly,"I must leave. I am to protect the avatar, but more importantly, protect my friends. Aang, Sokka, Katara - they've become so important to me and they need me."
Haru took my hands in his,"I need you too."
I bit my lip before reaching up to kiss the corner of Haru's mouth with tenderness,"We will see each other again. I know it, but I bet when that time comes, you'd have already met a girl whose a way better earth-bender than me." (((Foreshadowing maybe???)))
He laughed at that," I wish you happiness and success, but I wish I could give you something greater."
I smiled sweetly,"Knowing you care is enough. Thank you."
We were all on Appa, sailing away, when Katara suddenly exclaimed,"My mother's necklace! It's gone!"
