-Maya's Point of View-

I was in the middle of forcing myself to firebend when I suddenly heard Katara's voice, not far from where I was standing.

"NO! LET GO OF ME!" she shouted.

"Katara?" I asked myself. I hurriedly grabbed the lit firewood and went to where I heard the voice. 

When I got closer to the riverside, I suddenly heard the voice of Zuko. "Tie her to the tree! Make sure she doesn't escape," he said.

I quickly hid behind the bushes as I killed the fire I was holding. I peeked my head on top of the bush just enough for me to see what was going on.

I saw Zuko with his small troop and the pirate crew on the other side. They were all looking at Katara who was tied to a tree.

WHAT ARE THEY ALL DOING HERE?! If only I knew that this would happen, then I never would've agreed to let Katara go alone!!!!!

"Tell me where your other friends are, and I won't hurt you or your brother," Zuko said. I can't believe how persistent this guy is.

"GO JUMP IN THE RIVER!" Katara said angrily. The fire nation prince suddenly walked around her as he tried to explain, "Try to understand, I need to capture them to restore something I've lost— my honor." then he stopped behind her. He suddenly drew his head closer to Katara and she tried her best to look away.

"Perhaps in exchange, I can return something you've lost?" he said and then he held in front of Katara her mother's necklace. How did he get that?! I thought Katara lost it at the metal rig. Don't tell me he followed us there too.

"My mother's necklace!" Katara shouted. The fire prince walked away with the necklace in his hand. "How did you get that?!" Katara asked. "I didn't steal it if that's what you're wondering," he replied. "Tell me where they are!" he shouted. "NO!" Katara quickly answered.

The pirate captain suddenly interrupted the conversation as he said, "Enough of this necklace garbage! You promised the scroll!" Zuko suddenly grabbed the scroll from behind him and then he lit his other hand with fire while holding the scroll on top of it. "I wonder how much money this is worth?" he asked. The whole pirate crew gasps in fear as one of them said, "No!" The prince smirked as he continued, "A lot apparently..." 

This good for nothing prince; I better think of a way to free Katara before they do anything bad to her.

"Now you help me find what I want, you'll get this back, and everyone goes home happy," Zuko said tauntingly. "Search the woods for the boy and the red-eyed water tribe girl then meet me back here" he commanded the pirate crew. The captain stormed off as he agreed, "Fine" he said under his voice.

The pirate crew then went away and while Zuko and his guards weren't looking, I threw a small stone at Katara, making her notice me. "What are you doing here?" she whispered, just loud enough for me to hear. "Rescuing you!" I whispered back. And then I tried to step out of the bushes. "No! Go get Aang and Sokka! You must not let the pirates capture them!" she whispered again. 

"Hey! Who are you talking to?" one of the fire soldiers shouted. I hurriedly hid behind a tree as he walked towards Katara. "None of your business!" she shouted. "You better behave and not plan to escape or else you'll get hurt." the soldier warned and then he walked away. Katara looked back at me and then she mouthed the words, "Go"

I nodded my head and then I hurriedly ran back to where we set out camp. I hope the pirates weren't that fast! 

I looked up and then I noticed that the skies have already turned blue. The sun has started to rise, I hope the guys are already awake! Oh Aang, Sokka, please be fine!

____________________________

-Aang's Point of View-

"I don't believe it!" I heard Sokka shout. I slowly sat up while rubbing my eyes and letting out a big yawn. "What's wrong?" I asked him. "Katara took the scroll! She's obsessed with that thing. It's only a matter of time before she gets us all in deep-- AHHH!" he replied. 

Someone suddenly tossed a bola weapon on Sokka's arms and dragged him away. The man then retrieved his weapon and use the stone at the end of the bola to knock Sokka out. Good thing he was able to quickly roll away.

He grabbed his sword and charged over the man who attacked him. I hurriedly went to Maya's sleeping bag to wake her up. "Maya get up!" I said as I removed the blanket but what revealed to me was only her pillow.

Where is she? Don't tell me she's already been...

"Sokka! Maya's missing!" I shouted. Sokka looked back at me as he asked, "WHAT?!" and then suddenly the stone on the end of the bola weapon hit his face. 

"Sokka!" I shouted. He fell down to the ground. I was about to go and helped him when I heard someone behind me. I looked back and I saw a guy holding a gun with hooks and a net connected to it. He fired the net at me and I tried to airbend it away but the air just went past the net and I got captured.

Two other men grabbed the net I was in and they dragged me away, leaving Sokka behind.

"Oh, what? I'm not good enough to kidnap?" he shouted and then suddenly he got caught with a net too.

"I got them let's go!" one of the men said, and then they dragged us away. 

Where's Maya and Katara? I hope they're both fine.

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-Maya's Point of View-

I got to where the guys were but I was already too late. The sleeping bags were empty and there were signs of struggle and fight.

Blast it!

I hurriedly ran back to where Katara was when Momo suddenly flew towards me. "Geez! You scared me Momo!" I yelled. He handed me Sokka's dagger and then landed on top of my arm. I then heard Appa slowly walk towards us, so I faced him and then I held on to his nose. "Appa you stay here, Momo and I are gonna get them back. I promise." then I hurriedly ran back to where they were. 

_______________________________

-Iroh's Point of View-

I woke up from my nap and when I went around the ship, it was already empty. Had they all gone out? This is bad I need to get out there and make sure Zuko doesn't bring Maya back to the fire nation. 

I hurriedly went out of the ship and walked towards where my nephew was. "Zuko, why didn't you wake me?" I asked him. "You were so deep in your sleep that I didn't bother," he replied. I noticed that they have already captured the waterbender who stole the scroll. 

Just then the pirate crew came walking towards us with the avatar and the water tribe boy tied up. Where's Maya?

"Where's the other water tribe girl?" Zuko asked. "She wasn't there." the captain answered. "Wait, she's not here?" the avatar suddenly said. "Where is she?" Zuko angrily asked the Avatar. "I don't know! I thought you guys had her," he answered. 

Where could that girl be? 

"Enough of this nonsense! Give us the scroll back!" the captain shouted. "Not until I completely have what I want!" Zuko shouted back. 

No, this is enough! 

"Zuko," I said as I held onto his shoulder. "The Avatar is far more important. Don't ruin your chance." I whispered to him. It's better that Maya is not here. In fact, I am glad she's not here. 

"Fine," Zuko said and then he faced the pirates. The waterbender then looked at the Avatar as she said, "Aang, I'm sorry... This is all my fault". The Avatar looked back at her and replied, "No Katara, it isn't". 

"Yeah, it kind of is your fault." I interrupted.  If she had not stolen the scroll then Zuko would never have had to cross paths with Maya.

"Give me the boy." Zuko suddenly said and then he walked three steps forward closer to the pirates; ready to make the trade. "You give us the scroll." the pirate captain demanded.

Suddenly, the water tribe boy got in the way of the trade. "You're really gonna hand over the Avatar for some stupid piece of parchment?" he said. 

"Don't listen to him! He's trying to turn us against each other!" Zuko shouted. The pirate captain didn't listen to him and he looked at the Avatar while asking, "You're friend is the Avatar?" 

I don't think this trade is going to end well. 

"Sure is! And I bet you'll fetch a lot more on the black market than that fancy scroll!" the water tribe boy agreed. "Shut your mouth you water tribe peasant!" Zuko shouted once more. "Yeah Sokka, you really should shut your mouth." the Avatar agreed. 

I've got to say this water tribe boy is good with his words. And he's also very strategic.

"I'm just sayin'! It's bad business sense. Just imagine how much the fire lord would pay for the Avatar! You guys would be set for life!" He said convincingly. The pirate captain then faced Zuko and said, "Keep the scroll! We can buy a hundred with the reward we could get from the kid." and then they started walking away.

There it is! Impressive. That boy sure knows how to convince someone.

"You'll regret breaking a deal with me." Zuko angrily said and then he, together with two other soldiers blasted fire at the pirate crew. All of them evaded it and then one of the pirates attacked back with smoke bombs.

Soon enough the place was a complete chaos with everyone fighting. I took a step back from the scene when suddenly, I felt something sharp behind my back. 

"You are going to pretend you didn't see me as I free my friend from that tree." a girl's voice said. Could she be...

I froze and placed my hands in the air. She slowly walked around, still with the blade pointed at me. And then behold, in front of me, the daughter of Anika.

I was right. It is Maya. This is the first time I get to see her up close and I can say, Bumi was right. She looks exactly like her mother.

She stared at me angrily before quickly running towards her waterbender friend. She hurriedly cut the rope with the dagger in hand. 

________________________________

-Maya's Point of View-

"Katara!" I yelled as I hurriedly ran towards her. "Maya! Where have you been?" she asked. "I tried to get to them before the pirates could but I was late," I answered and then I freed her from being tied up. "It's alright. It's a good thing you didn't get caught. Now let's get out of here." she said. "How?" I asked. "The pirate's ship. We can use that to sail away," she said. I nod my head in reply and then she ran away

I stood there for a little while as I notice the waterbending scroll behind Zuko. "Momo, get the waterbending scroll." I said and then he flew off. I was about to catch up with Katara when suddenly...

"Maya." I heard someone call. I looked back and it was the old man from the fire nation that talked. 

I looked at him strangely as I asked, "How did you know my name?" He looked at me with a smile on his face. I feel like he wants to say something but he's holding back. He was slowly walking towards me and I was slowly backing away when suddenly Katara waterbent him away from me. He fell to the ground with a loud thud, and then Katara grabbed onto my elbow to make me run. "Let's go hurry!" she said and so I ran along with her to the pirate ship. 

That's weird. Who was that?

______________________________

-Aang's Point of View-

I'm now in the middle of the fight and we were surrounded by smoke that's why it's hard to see as well as breathe.

I'm in the middle of trying to look for Sokka when a blade suddenly went past me. I bent over trying to dodge it and luckily it cut through the rope that was tying my hands. Another blade came through behind me and I dodge it not too far so that it would cut the rope that was bounding my body. 

Once I was free from being bound, I tried to look to Sokka once more. I suddenly heard him calling out to me. "Aang! Are you there?" He shouted. I jumped high to get away from this thick smoke as I shout, "I'm over here! Follow my voice!"

"Where? I can't find you!" he shouted once more. "I'M RIGHT HERE!" I yelled as loud as I could and then I airbent the smoke out of the way, but it revealed to me pirates and soldiers pointing their swords and spears right at me. I hurriedly airbent the smoke back and ran away from that spot. 

"Ugh... Nevermind! I'll find you!" I shouted and then I ran away as far as I can from the smoke. Just then from a distance, I saw Sokka crawling his way out from the smoke too. I jumped over him as I yelled, "RUN!!!!" and then both of us went running away. 

We then suddenly see Katara and Maya who were trying to push the pirate ship off of the riverside. 

"Katara! Maya! You guys are alright!" I shouted. I was just about to ask Maya where she has been hiding all this time but she got to speak first before me. 

"Guys! Help us get this boat out on the water so that we can get out of here!" she said. All of us then tried to push the boat with all our strength but it won't budge.

"We'll need a team of rhinos to budge this ship," Sokka said. I looked at the ship and then on to the water and then an idea suddenly came up. "A team of rhinos or... two waterbenders," I said while looking at Katara.

"Come on Katara. Let's push and pull the water until there's enough to make the boat float." I said and then I stood at the right side while she stood on the left. Together, she and I pushed and pull the water 3 times until the boat was finally able to float.

"Everybody in!" Katara shouted. One by one we climbed up the ladder leading to the pirate ship's deck. Katara was first, next was Sokka, then me, and then last was Maya. When I got on board, I hurriedly look back at Maya and held out my hand to help her climb up faster. "Thanks." she said and then I smiled at her as I say, "No problem!" 

________________________________

-Maya's Point of View-

Were now sailing on the ship trying to get away from the pirates and the fire nation, when suddenly just right behind us, a fire navy boat can be seen. It seems like the pirates have hijacked Zuko's boat.

"Uh, guys..." I said. Aang saw the boat and then he looked at Sokka who was steering the wheel. "Sokka! Can't you make this thing go any faster?" he asked. "I don't know how! This thing wasn't made by the water tribes!" he answered back. 

Just then the pirates had already caught up to us and are now sailing beside us. One by one the pirate crew jumped from the fire navy boat to the pirate ship, and soon enough most of them are already on board. 

Aang tried to waterbend the pirates off the ship but some were able to hold on. "Ugh! Take that!" I suddenly heard Sokka shout and I saw that he was fighting off three pirates while driving the ship. I quickly ran towards him and kicked one of the pirates down to the deck. 

I jumped down to where the pirate was and kicked him for the second time, finally throwing him off the board. I went back to Sokka and tried to get the other pirate away but he was too strong. He threw a strong kick on my core that made me fall down to the ship's deck. 

"Maya!" I heard Aang shout. "I got her! Go help Sokka!" I heard Katara shout back. She helped me get up as I held on to my stomach. "You okay?" she asked. "I'm fine," I answered. I looked up and saw Aang airbending the two pirates off of the ship and then afterward helping Sokka, who was completely beaten by the pirates, stand up on his feet. Suddenly Katara shouted, "GUYS! WE HAVE A BIG PROBLEM AHEAD OF US!"

I looked at where she was looking and there it revealed a massive waterfall. Holy cheese crackers... We're doomed!

Sokka and Aang went down to where we were. Aang suddenly draws out a bison-shaped whistle from his pocket and blew at it for a good 5 seconds. "Have you lost your mind?! This is no time for flute practice!" Sokka yelled. Aang then hid the whistle and then Katara suddenly shouted, "We can stop the boat! Aang! Together! Push and pull the water!"

The two of them stood in the middle of the ship's deck and then they tried pushing and pulling the waters beneath us to stop the flow of the river. Slowly and steadily, the boat slowed down and we're now facing sideways from the waterfall. 

I thought we were already safe when suddenly I saw the fire navy boat that was quickly approaching us. "Guys we have another problem!" I shouted and then just after I said that the fire navy boat crashed into us. 

The pirate ship is now inclined, almost about to turn upside down when I suddenly felt Aang hold onto my left hand. I grabbed Sokka's hand and then Aang shouted, "JUMP!!!!!"

All four of us jumped out of the ship and went skydiving just beside the waterfall. Halfway through the fall, Appa suddenly showed up and caught all of us on his back. We quickly settled ourselves into the saddle.

That was by far the craziest and most thrilling experience I've ever had since we left the south pole. 

"I knew a bison whistle would come in handy," Aang said as he took the whistle out once more. "Thanks, Appa." he continued. "Yeah, we owe you one." Sokka agreed. Momo then came flying to us and he landed on top of Sokka's head with his tail wrapped around him.

"I feel exhausted after all that," Sokka complained. "You bet. They tied me up too tight I felt like it left a mark!" Aang agreed. "I agree. My wrists hurt from being tied up to that tree." Katara seconded. 

"Maya's the only one who didn't get tied up. By the way, where were you all this time?" Sokka asked. "I was out in the woods taking a stroll when I suddenly heard Katara at the riverside. That's where I saw Zuko and the pirates." I answered. Wow, talk about great lying.

"I told her to go and fetch you guys but you were already taken by the pirates when she got to the camp." Katara continued. "Well, I'm just glad that none of us got hurt," Aang said. 

"Speaking of camp, there were still a lot of things we weren't able to pack up. Let's go back there and fly away immediately once we got our things back." I suggested. 

"Yeah let's do that," Sokka said and then we flew back to the forest.