A few hours passed before Sokka, Aang, and Azara hopped onto Appa to return to the Fire Nation prison. Reaching the lower decks of the prison, Aang hopped off and ran to find Katara.

Sokka and Azara waited tensely in silence as Katara and Aang hurried over. Leaning over Appa's side, Azara turned to Katara. "We have to go! Where's Haru?" Azara whispered as Katara shook her head.

"Katara, what's wrong?" Aang asked in concern.

"I'm not leaving. I'm not giving up on these people," Katara stated with a firm tone.

"What do you mean you're not leaving?"

"We can't abandon these people!" Katara replied as the searchlights drew closer. "There has to be a way to help them."

"Maybe she's right. What do you guys think?" Aang questioned, turning to Sokka and Azara.

"I think you guys are crazy, but I'm in," Azara nodded, a small smile on her face.

"I say you're all crazy! Last chance, we need to leave now!" Sokka demanded as he ducked a searchlight.

"No!"

"I hate when you get like this. Come on, we better hide," Sokka conceded, before they hurried out of the searchlight's path, Aang whispering to Appa and Momo to hide. Finding a safe place around some crates, the group gathered to come up with a plan of action. "We don't have time. What are we going to do?"

"I wish I knew how to make a hurricane! The warden would run away, and we'd steal his keys!" Aang exclaimed as the rest of the group exchanged unimpressed looks.

"Wouldn't the warden just take his keys with him?" Azara pointed out gently.

"I'm just tossing out ideas," Aang sighed, leaning back as the rest of the group contemplated some ideas quietly.

"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 sighed, as Azara looked up at the smokestack, ideas starting to swirl in her head.

"For that they'd need some kind of earth, or some rock. Something they can bend," Sokka replied as Azara leaned over.

"There is some earth here," Azara stated, glancing back up at the smokestack. "Haru's mother said that the Fire Nation uses their town for coal, right? Just about every Fire Nation ship and building is heated using coal, including here." Azara pointed up at the smokestack. "If we can just get the coal from the smokestack to the earthbenders, they can use it to break out of here."

"We'll have to be quick. It's almost morning," Sokka nodded as they hurried off to set the plan in motion. Azara watched Aang climb into the ventilation system before running towards the open vent Sokka and Katara were waiting beside.

"It's almost dawn. We're running out of time! You sure this is going to work?" Katara commented, glancing over at her brother.

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

"There's the intruder!"

"Stay back! I'm warning you!" Sokka yelled, pulling out his boomerang as they stood back to back. Azara raised her hands, prepared to firebend.

"Katara, stop! You can't win this fight!" Tyro warned, stepping forwards as the earthbenders walked closer to see the spectacle.

"Listen to him well, child. You're one mistake away from dying where you stand," the warden drawled as he stepped out. The facility started to shake before the ventilation shaft burst off, a flood of coal covering the floor. Aang hopped out after it, covered in soot and coughing. Katara ran over to the coal, picking up a piece.

"Here's your chance, earthbenders! Take it! Your fate is in your own hands!" Katara shouted, lifting the piece of coal in the air. Haru moved forwards but was blocked by his father. The rest of the earthbenders stared at Katara blankly as she slowly lowered her arm. The warden's laugh pierced the air.

"Foolish girl. You thought a few inspirational words and some coal would change these people? Look at these blank, hopeless faces. 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 stated, before turning and walking away.

The sound of something flying through the air made Azara look up as the warden was struck in the back of the head by a piece of coal. He whirled around, anger flaring. Haru stood glaring back at him, his eyes narrowed as he bended more pieces of coal. The warden moved to retaliate, sending a fire blast at Haru.

He flinched but was protected by a wall of coal bended by his father. "Show no mercy!" the warden ordered as the Fire Nation guards jumped forwards, sending more fire blasts. More earthbenders stood alongside Tyro, raising a wall of coal to block the fire blasts.

"For the Earth Kingdom, attack!" Tyro shouted, sending the wall of coal flying at the warden and guards. Azara smiled at the change in events as the earthbenders rose up and started to fight back against the Fire Nation guards. Running forwards, Azara blocked a blast of fire from a guard, sending one back in retaliation. The guards were surprised to see her, but she simply used it to her advantage.

Haru and his father worked together to blast a hole in wall with a ball of coal. "Get to the ships! We'll hold them off!" Tyro yelled to the earthbenders as the Fire Nation guards regrouped.

"Do not let them escape!" the warden cried out as they sent more fire blasts at the earthbenders. Azara jumped in front of them, blocking the shots, and glaring at the warden. "Princess Azara," the warden gasped, staring at Azara with surprise. "So, the rumors are true."

"Sorry to disappoint," Azara smirked before leaping forwards and sending fire blasts of her own, knocking the guards back one by one until only the warden remained. The warden jumped forwards, retaliating, but Azara was prepared and kicked a fire arc at the warden, sending him backwards.

The warden looked up at her as the remaining earthbenders took over. Bending the coal under the warden and the other guards, Tyro and two other earthbenders formed an island of coal. Azara watched as they moved the pile of coal over the ocean, the warden looking terrified as he hung over the open ocean.

"Please I can't swim!" the warden pleaded, clawing at the coal pile.

"Don't worry, I hear cowards float," Haru's father replied before the earthbenders released the coal, causing the warden and his men to fall into the water. A distinct cheer echoed around the prison as the earthbenders commandeered the Fire Nation vessels and started launching them.

Azara stared at the place where the warden had disappeared from when she heard footsteps behind her. Turning around, she spotted Haru and his father approaching her. Haru looked surprised, but Azara could detect a more firm and judging expression in Tyro's eyes. "So, you're a firebender?" Haru asked, as Azara turned around, clasping her hands together.

"Not just any firebender. A princess of the Fire Nation," Tyro elaborated as Azara grimaced.

"Uh, technically not anymore. I don't think they let you keep the title when you commit treason," she shrugged awkwardly as Sokka, Katara, and Aang walked over.

"Well, thank you, anyways," Haru offered as his father remained silent.

"It was an honor to fight alongside you," Azara replied, bowing slightly. They walked silently towards the ships, Katara following Haru up onto one. Sokka and Aang walked in after her, Azara pulling up the rear of the group. Before she could board the ship, an earthbender stood in front of her.

"The ship's full, I'm afraid," the earthbender spoke coldly as Azara took a step back, a slightly shocked expression on her face.

"What's the problem here?" Katara asked, turning around, and walking over, Aang and Sokka behind her.

"The ship's full. It's fine, I'll just go ride on Appa," Azara replied calmly, her hands clasped together, as Sokka and Aang shared a look.

"I don't think one more person would hurt," Aang pointed out, stepping closer.

"I think it's best if she rides on the bison," Tyro spoke out, crossing his arms over his chest as Haru looked up at him questioningly.

"It's fine, really, guys. Besides, Appa deserves some company," Azara shrugged, turning and walking away slowly. The sound of footsteps behind her made Azara turn around, surprise on her face when she spotted Aang and Sokka behind her. "What are you guys doing?"

"Well, the ship was full, so we thought it would be best if we joined you on Appa," Aang smiled as Azara's eyes widened slightly.

"Besides, Appa deserves some company," Sokka added, placing a reassuring hand on Azara's shoulder. Azara smiled widely at them as Appa came up from behind them, licking all of them over with his large tongue.

"Oh, Appa," Azara giggled, wiping some saliva off her and patting the flying bison lovingly.

A.N. Spoiler--these earthbenders aren't going to be the only ones who don't like Azara because of her background (stick around to see who else).