-Maya's Point of View-

I just couldn't shake off the fact that I really thought Sokka and Katara had a serious act when they said they were going to 'fight'. Well, it worked anyway, so now we just have to follow wherever the fire nation soldiers are taking Katara.

"We need to get on Appa quick!" Aang shouted as soon as Katara was out of sight. "Are my ears really that big?" Sokka asked. "Now's not the time Sokka, let's go!" I shouted at him. All three of us ran back to the barn and packed our stuff.

When we were about to leave the place, I saw Sonya outside the barn, waiting for us. "You guys are leaving?" she asked. I looked at her, and I can see that her eyes were still swollen— probably from crying. "Yes, I am really thankful for everything that you've done for us. That's why we will make sure to get Haru back." I answered.

"What are you planning to do?" she asked. I was about to answer her but then Sokka shouted at me, "Maya! Let's hurry before we miss Katara's trail!"

I looked at Sokka and then back to Sonya. "I'll make sure Haru will be back safely," I told her, and then I gave her one last hug before I ran back to Sokka and Aang. They were already on top of Appa and everything was ready for flight.

I hopped aboard on Appa and then we went flying into the sky. We passed by the town square and there we saw that Katara was being led by the soldiers towards the docks.

They took her into the ship and set sail somewhere far from the town. We made sure to have a safe distance from the ship while we were following it.

The trip was so long, that the sun is now about to set. I noticed Aang who was sadly looking at the ship where Katara was. I scooched in beside him and then I said, "Don't worry Aang, Katara will be fine. She knows what she's doing." I hope it would comfort him— at least even for a bit.

He looked at me and then he smiled at me. After that, he looked at the ship again but he seems determined this time.

After a few hours, we finally arrived at the destination the ship was heading to. The place was terrifying. It was an all-metal prison cell in the middle of the ocean! Just the perfect cage for earthbenders where they are miles away from any land or earth.

As expected of the fire nation. They aren't really called bad guys for nothing... They are taking away their prisoner's ability to bend. They are just really plain ruthless.

"The ship has docked," Sokka said. "So this is where they are hiding these earthbenders? Classic fire nation." I angrily said.

"What do we do now Sokka?" Aang asked. "For now we're on stake-out. We'll just keep on surveilling the perimeters until Katara's 12 hours are up." Sokka answered.

"But there's no land to land on. How are we gonna survey the area?" I asked. "Well, we'll just have to hope that Appa won't exhaust himself from flying. He's gonna have to fly from one cloud to another to keep us hidden." Sokka answered.

"Don't worry, Appa's a tough guy! He can handle it." Aang assured and then Appa let out a roar. After that, we stayed hidden behind the clouds waiting for Katara's 12-hour deadline.

After a few hours, Sokka and Aang switched places for the meantime in leading Appa. The sun has already set and the sky has turned into a deep dark blue color. Aang is now seating beside me on the saddle and he's still looking sad.

"Are you still worried about Katara?" I asked him. "No, It's not her I'm worried about," he answered. "Then what's wrong?" I asked again. Aang took a deep breath before speaking. "I just couldn't understand it. I had friends from the fire nation back then. Why are they doing this?" Aang asked back.

He was filled with pain and anguish as he said those words. I looked at him filled with sadness in my eyes. "Nobody knows what the Fire Lord intends to do. This could be all because for the sake of feeling powerful or ruling the whole world, but a deeper question as to why, I don't exactly know either..." I sadly answered.

"Ugh! This is so messed up!" Aang shouted as he stood up. "You have to calm down Aang," I said. "How can I calm down when the fate of the world depends on me?!" he shouted. "Hey Aang, I know you're stressed about this whole—saving the world thing, but we'll think about that later, right now our focus is on helping Katara save Haru. You need to chill." Sokka suddenly butted in while he crawled to the saddle.

"Sokka's right Aang, why don't you take a little nap in the meantime." I agreed. "Yeah Aang, a little snooze might help improve your mood, besides Katara still have 6 hours left," Sokka said.

"Alright, I guess I am feeling quite clouded because of this hazy atmosphere. Wake me up when it's time to save Katara." Aang said and then he laid down on the saddle.

"You too Sokka, why don't you go take a rest for the meantime. I'll handle things from here." I said and then I placed my hand on his shoulder.

"Alright, here," Sokka said, and then he gave me his pocket watch and binoculars. I nodded at him and then he proceeded to lie down beside Aang.

I sat on top of Appa's head and then I patted it. "Looks like it's me and you buddy," I said. Suddenly Momo flew beside me and then he laid down on top of my lap. "Three of us..." I said while smiling at the resting lemur.

Alright Katara, you have 6 hours left... You better make it count.

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-Katara's Point of View-

I was finally able to find Haru. Not only that, I saw his father too— as well as the rest of the other earthbenders that were taken away.

Back then at dinner time, I asked Haru's father Tyro about their escape plan, and I couldn't believe they don't have any!

Even after my heartwarming speech they still look hopeless and afraid! Are they seriously planning to stay here forever?! They can't expect the fire nation to set them free— even if the war's over, the fire nation is definitely going to keep them locked up!

Right now, the sun has already set and everyone's preparing to sleep. I walked towards Haru hoping that I would be able to convince him to hatch an escape plan this time.

"Haru, you have to talk to your father. You can't stay in here forever like this!" I told him. "Katara, you heard my father. We have no chance of fighting them. They have taken our ability to bend. There's no way out." Haru argued.

"You can't give up!" I argued back. "Enough Katara. I know that you are only looking out for us, but there's nothing else we can do." Haru said cutting me off.

"The sun has already set, it's time to go to bed. Go to sleep Katara. Good night." Haru continued and then he walked away from me.

That's it. I'm not leaving this place until you all are coming with me.

I need to get Aang and the others to hatch an escape plan for these people. Sokka might have an idea.

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-Maya's Point of View-

"Aang, Sokka, wake up! 12 hours are up! We're going to see Katara now." I said to the two sleeping men.

"Where is she?" Sokka asked as he sat up while rubbing his eyes. "She's right over there near the cabin. Let's go." I quickly said and then I hurried to sit on top of Appa's head. "Yip-yip!" I exclaimed.

We swiftly flew towards Katara's location and once we got there I made Appa stay below the rig. "Wait here guys, I'll go get Katara," I said, and then I proceeded to enter inside.

I sneaked into the cabin where I saw a dozing Katara. I tapped her back and quickly she opened her eyes and when she saw me, I held a finger in front of my lips telling her to keep quiet.

I grabbed onto her wrist and then we ran back to where Aang and Sokka were. Once we got there I carefully jumped back on Appa's saddle, but Katara stayed on the rig. "Your 12 hours are up, where's Haru? We've got to get out of here!" Sokka asked Katara.

Katara looked sternly at Sokka and then she answered, "I can't." I looked at her—confused, and then I asked, "What do you mean you can't?"

"Katara we don't have much time. There are guards everywhere! Get on!" Sokka continued. "Katara, what's wrong?" Aang asked. Katara seemed to be deep in thought and she was looking back at the prison hold.

"I'm not leaving," Katara answered. All three of us looked at her—shocked. "I'm not giving up on these people." she continued.

"What do you mean you're not leaving?!" Sokka angrily asked. "We can't abandon these people! All of the other earthbenders from Haru's village are here! They've been locked up for months and we need to get them out! There has to be a way to help them." Katara answered.

"Maybe she's right. What do you say Sokka, Maya?" Aang asked agreeing on Katara. "I say you're both crazy!" Sokka angrily replied. Just then the guard's spotlight system passed over us. We all ducked to get out of the light's way. This is bad, we're gonna be discovered if we stay here.

"Last chance! We need to leave now!" Sokka proposed again. "No." Katara strongly opposed it. I looked at Sokka and then I looked at Katara. I can see the determination in her eyes, plus, she's right, as long as these people are in the hands of the fire nation, there's no thinking of what might happen to them.

"We're helping them Sokka," I said. "What? Not you too!" Sokka shouted. "Come on! We're already here, and we can't leave them be! You know very well how ruthless the fire nation is!" I said trying to convince Sokka.

Sokka changes his gaze from Katara to Aang, and lastly to me. He then let out a sigh of defeat as he said, "I hate it when all of you become like this." Suddenly we heard footsteps getting closer and closer.

"Come on, we better hide." Sokka suddenly said and then we quickly ran towards the stack of crates and hid behind it. Aang whispered something to Appa before following behind us and then Appa soar through the sky to hide in the clouds. Momo flew towards us and followed behind Aang.

Once we were out of sight from the fire nation soldiers we huddled in a circle to strategize for a plan.

"What now?" I asked. Sokka then crossed his arms and started thinking. He then suddenly looked at Katara and asked, "Katara summarize the situation. What are we facing up against?"

"These village people won't do anything. They've given up on freedom, but I just can't let them be! I want to break them out." Katara answered.

"Then, we better come up with a plan. We don't have much time. What are we gonna do?" Sokka then looked at us hoping for suggestions.

"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane!" Aang suddenly said. All three of us looked at Aang—confused. "What are you gonna do with a hurricane?" I asked.

"The warden would run away and we'd steal his keys!" Aang confidently answered. "Wouldn't he just take his keys with him?" Sokka then questioned. "I'm just tossing ideas around!" Aang said as he shrugged.

"I tried talking the earthbenders into fighting back but, it didn't work! If there was just a way to help them, help themselves." Katara suddenly said.

"For that, they'd need some kind of earth or some rock—something they can bend," Sokka suggested. "But this entire place is made of metal!" Katara contradicted.

She's right, we're miles away from any form of land or earth. Where are we gonna find some rocks on this metal rig in the middle of the ocean? If only we can also bend metal, then we'd be sailing our way out of this place in a dash.

I wandered my eyes into the horizon, looking for anything that can work. I suddenly noticed the black smoke emitting from the pipes. Geez, fire nation also has no care for the environment. I can't really believe this.

Wait— smoke? That's it!

"Guys! Look at the smoke!" I shouted. "What are we gonna do with that?" Sokka asked. "Smoke means they are burning something to power their machines! They could be burning coal or in other words—" I said but then Aang cut me off. "Earth!" he continued.

----------------------------------------------------------

-Katara's Point of View-

"It's almost dawn, we're running out of time! You guys sure this is gonna work?" Maya asked as she walked closer to us. We're now here in the middle of the prison hold standing in front of a ventilation shaft.

"It should. These vents reminded me of our little trick back at the village. We're gonna do the same thing but on a much bigger scale." Sokka answered. "There's a huge deposit of coal at the base of the silo, and the whole system is ventilated. Aang had closed off all the vents except one. When he does his airbending, the coal only has one place to go—right back here." Sokka explained.

As soon as he was finished explaining the plan, we suddenly heard a shout. "THERE'S THE INTRUDERS!" Then suddenly, a group of fire nation soldiers surrounded us while pointing their spears at us. Maya, Sokka, and I stood together back to back as we face the fire nation soldiers.

"STAY BACK! I'm warning you!" Sokka shouted as he drew out his weapon. Suddenly all the other prisoners went outside of their cabin and stood to witness the situation.

"Katara stop! You can't win this fight!" Tyro suddenly shouted at me. NO! I'm not giving up on you all! Please! You have to help yourselves! You have to learn how to fight! Stop living in fear!

"Listen to him well, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand." An old man suddenly said. Ah, I remember him, he's the warden that welcomed us when I first got here. I looked at the old man and stared at him angrily.

The fire nation soldiers then started closing in on us but then we felt the floor rumble and we heard noises coming from the vent.

Then came bursting out of the vent in a pile of coal. After that, Aang came flying outside of it. I hurriedly ran on top of the coal, held on to a small piece, and then shouted, "Here's your chance earthbenders! Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!"

Haru was about to walk closer but his father stopped him. I looked around and I saw that all of the earthbenders are one by one stepping back farther from the scene.

"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Foolish girl! You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank hopeless faces..." the warden shouted and then I stared at the earthbenders while they were looking down cowering in fear.

"Their spirits were broken a long time ago! Oh—but you still believe in them? How sweet. They're a waste of your energy little girl. You failed." the warden said and then I heard him walk away.

"I'll show you who failed!" Maya suddenly shouted as she was about to throw a small piece of coal but Haru suddenly stood in front of her and he did it instead.

The warden angrily looked back and then he shot fire aimed at Haru but he was protected by a lump of coal that was earthbent in front of him. It was his father Tyro's doing! We did it! They're now fighting back!

"SHOW NO MERCY!" the warden commanded at the soldiers who were with him. Then all of them aimed fire at us but Tyro together with the other earthbenders blocked it by earthbending a huge amount of coal that acted as a wall.

After the fire was depleted they earthbent the coal towards the fire nation soldiers. "FOR THE EARTH KINGDOM, ATTACK!" Tyro shouted.

"Katara! We have to help!" Maya shouted and then he charged towards a fire nation soldier and kicked him down to the ground.

I ran towards another fire bender that was attacking Maya from behind and water whipped him. "Got your back!" I said. "Thanks!" Maya replied.

Sokka and Aang were fighting off against some fire nation soldiers as well and so is everyone else. I can't help but smile. They're now going to be free after all these years!

Just then I saw Tyro and Haru earth bent a lump of coal and turned it into a dense boulder. They blasted the boulder at the prison hold's gate creating a wall that leads to the outside.

"Get to the ship! We'll hold them off!" Tyro shouted to everyone as he stayed behind to take care of the remaining fire nation men.

Aang, Sokka, and everyone else started running towards the hole but I saw Maya hanging behind. "Maya! Let's go! We need to get out of here!" I shouted at her.

"DON'T LET THEM ESCAPE!" the warden shouted once more and then he blasted fire towards the exit.

Aang suddenly created a small whirlpool of air that looks like a pipe. "Guys! Throw some coal inside the whirlpool!" he shouted. One by one, I threw in some coal and it shot the firebenders. Sokka threw in a lump of coal and it scattered everywhere shooting them down.

Suddenly a firebender soldier that wasn't shot was able to injure Maya who was running towards us. She fell to the ground as she held on to her wounded arm.

"MAYA!" the three of us shouted. "I'll go get Maya! You guys go!" Aang shouted and then he flew towards her. "Katara let's go!" Sokka said as he held on to my arm.

"No! I'm not leaving without Aang and Maya." I declared to him and then we stood there waiting for the two. Aang airbent the fire nation soldier away from Maya and then he carried her in his arms.

Just then, Tyro and the remaining earthbenders compiled the coal into one big surface that carried the fire nation soldiers. They hovered it on top of the sea. "No! Please! I can't swim!" the warden shouted. "Don't worry, I hear cowards float," Tyro replied and then he dropped the coal along with the firebenders on it.

"Father the ships are ready!" we suddenly heard Haru shout from outside the prison hold. "Then let's go! We better hurry before reinforcements arrive!" Tyro said. Aang ran towards us and placed Maya on the ground.

"Thanks for carrying me Aang but I can run from here. My arm's injured not my legs." Maya said. "Oh, alright..." Aang replied and then all of us ran towards the rig's dock. Suddenly, Appa came flying towards us. "You guys go ahead on the ship, I'll go ride on Appa," Aang said to us.

"I'm coming with you Aang—Maya and I. I have first aid in the saddle that will treat Maya's wound. Besides, we're not going back to the village, we're going to resume our journey to the north pole as soon as possible. We'll just escort them halfway and then we're leaving." Sokka suddenly said while holding onto Maya's arm. Aang nodded and then he looked at me. "Katara?" he asked.

"I'll have a few words with Haru and his father before we leave. You guys go ahead, make sure to take good care of Maya." I answered and then I ran up to Haru and joined them aboard the ship.

A few minutes later we were able to set sail and now we're headed back to Haru's village.

"Katara, I want to thank you for saving me—for saving us," Haru said as he walked towards me, his father was behind him. "All it took was a little coal." I bashfully answered. "It wasn't the coal Katara. It was you." Haru suddenly said.

I felt a faint blush on my cheeks as he said those words. He's truly a gentleman and he's good with words.

"Thank you for helping me find my courage, Katara of the water tribe. My family and everyone here owe you much." Tyro suddenly said while placing a hand on my shoulder. I smiled back at him and then I asked, "So, I guess you're going home now?"

"Yes, to take back my village—to take back all of our villages! The fire nation will regret the day they set foot on our land!" Tyro shouted with his voice echoing to everyone else nearby. The other earthbenders started to cheer and I can feel their spirits beaming with hope.

"Come with us." Haru suddenly said. I looked back at him and then I answered. "I can't. Your mission is to take back your home. Ours is to get Aang to the north pole." then I looked at Aang who was on top of Appa that was swimming beside our ship.

"That's him, isn't it? The Avatar." Haru said. I smiled as I answered, "Yes, and we're helping him."

"Katara, thank you for bringing my father back to me. I never thought I'd see him again. I only wish there was some way..." Haru said and then I cut him off. "I know..." I said and then I slowly moved my hand to hold on to my mother's necklace but I didn't feel it there.

"MY MOTHER'S NECKLACE! IT'S GONE!" I shouted. "Oh no... You must've dropped it back in the prison hold when things were getting chaotic. We should get it back!" Haru suggested.

"No... We're already far away. Just... Let it go... I mean it was worth losing it anyway because I get to free all of you." I answered. Suddenly Haru gave me a hug that lasted for seconds before he pulled away.

"I will never forget this Katara, I owe you big time," Haru said. Just then Appa went on top of the ship and then Sokka stepped down from the saddle.

"It's time to leave Katara," Sokka said. He then looked at Haru and then he continued, "I'm sorry Haru but we can't escort you back to the village. We have our own path to take."

"It's alright. I understand." Haru answered and then he looked at me. "Good luck on your journey Katara. I hope one day we'll meet again," he said.

I looked at him and smiled. "We will..." I answered. Sokka started walking back towards Appa and I followed behind him. I climbed up on the saddle and I looked at the ship one last time before bidding farewell to Haru, Tyro, and everyone else.

"Until we meet again everyone!" I shouted. Suddenly Maya sat beside me and shouted, "Haru! Say goodbye to your mother for me! Tell her I'll brew her again a cup of tea once we meet again!" as she waved her uninjured arm.

"I will!" Haru shouted back.

And with that, Appa went soaring into the sky. We are once again back on track.