Avatar Book 5: Chaos
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Avatar, I just enjoy it a bit too much.
Imagine a world. That's the one down there below us now. Just like any other world, you say? Almost.
This is the world of the Benders. Humans with the amazing ability to manipulate the elements in ways that seem to defy logic and the natural world. There are four types of Benders, for the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, and Air. Much is still unknown about the curious talents that many of the people of this world are born with and often this ignorance has cost them dearly. This world has been through much turmoil since its creation back in the dawn of time. The eternal quest for balance. The war against chaos. Most recently one hundred years of it but now its people are enjoying an era of peace. But we are not the only ones watching from the outside. Great and powerful beings watch from another place and some of them want to save it, many want to crush it. And so the fight for balance continues. It starts now, down in a little green valley to the south of a town called, Gaoling.
Here and there were still signs of the Hundred Year War - ten long years had past and here at the southern reaches of the earth kingdoms stood a broken, crumbling barracks and fortifications of the fire nation , even a few mounds of red and black rusted metal to show where a tank was abandoned long ago. But these signs were slowly disappearing as nature and the nations of the world worked hard to recreate a world of peace and prosperity.
Not far from the old fort were fields and a small village now populated with both Earth kingdom and Fire nation citizens - a small community of ex soldiers and colonists making a living from the fertile soil in their wide valley.
Many loving couples from this village had taken the path up into the low hills of the valley to watch the sun set behind the hills. The lookout was a favorite place not just for the locals but also for villages from all around. The fiery reds, yellows and purples of sunset somehow enhancing the vibrant greens of the fields below.
A lone hawk circled the sky looking down on a young couple making their way up the hill to the lookout and although there was a wide clear path up smoother slopes these two forged their way up an old animal trail. If the bird had been curious about such things (as they often are) it would have wondered why the young lady, in a flowing green dress , was casually and easily strolling along the track and the young man following seemed to be having such a difficult time, tripping and catching his fine robes on passing bushes. And if the hawk had circled just a little lower it might have wondered why these two, working their way up to "Lovers Lookout", were having such an unloving conversation.
"Lady Bei Fong, stop!" cried the young man, cursing as he caught his robe on another bush, "Your father has arranged this marriage and you WILL listen to me!"
Toph grunted, struggling to contain her temper. She would have liked nothing more than to crush the man under a rock but instead turned her head and smiled sweetly, "It's not much further." she said, batting her eyelids at him like Katara would do to get her way with Aang, "It's really worth the walk."
Toph, now 22 years old, had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her face had thinned and with her black hair and pale skin, people would often say she resembled a fine porcelain doll. Her dark hair she now wore loose, cut to just below shoulder length. She still kept a short fringe to cover her pale, blind eyes but the majority was held back by her old green and tan headband with the pom-poms on the sides.
Her blindness had never been a disability for Toph could 'see' better than most people, her other senses being acutely sensitive compared to ordinary people. She had discovered at a young age that she was a very capable Earth Bender and could detect even the tiniest vibrations in the earth around her. Anything touching or moving on the ground was 'visible' to Toph for many dozens of paces around her. Toph loved her element so much she was always a little dusty from what she called "A healthy coating of Earth.".
For today she was wearing a fine, green silk dress but underneath it was her usual, green and tan, loose slacks and tunic. Toph was always ready for action. Her feet were, of course, bare.
"You are lucky I agreed to this" said the young man, cursing as another branch tore through his robes, "When we are wed you wont need to walk anywhere. Anyway you'll be far too busy at home raising the children and the other woman's duties. I'll not have MY woman tramping around the countryside."
Toph stopped and hunched her shoulders as a shudder went up her spine.
All these idiots can see is a little blind girl, thought Toph, it makes me so mad.
Enough was enough. She spun about to glare at the young man, who, while still an arrogant , spoiled aristocrat, has sense enough to know something was wrong.
"YOUR WOMAN?" she growled down to him on the track below her.
"err" a snide remark died on his lips as a deep, ancient part of his mind looked out through his eyes and saw a predator about to tear his throat out.
Barely controlled rage caused Toph to tremble and the ground around her seemed to emulate her, causing dust and small stones to jump around her feet.
"I don't know how I let my father talk me into meeting you idiots." Toph raged, causing the man to take a step backward. "I promised to meet one suitor a year and what does he keep sending me? Brainless, jumped-up, smarmy little bone headed morons whose only concern is parading the worlds greatest earth bender around as their meek little wife."
As Toph ranted her cheeks darkened and the ground began to tremble more violently, causing the young man to fall to his knees.
"err, Lady Toph?" he squeaked.
"And so far, not one of you stupid little rich snots can even Bend to save yourselves." Toph dropped easily into her stance and raised her arms in front of her. Then with a twirl and a sharp twist of her wrists she caused the earth to jump up and encase the young man in a ball of hard packed dirt. She did not relax her stance although her voice lowered and became tinged slightly with regret.
"I promised Dad I'd give you a chance and I did" she sighed and clenched her fists, causing the dirt ball to compact until it was harder than stone and only half as tall as she was. She could see the man inside with his knees around his ears completely unable to move. "And now you've had your chance I think its time to go"
With a wry grin and a stomp of her foot a pillar of earth shot out of the ground , striking the ball hard enough to send it flying over her head and up the hill. It struck the ground at the lip of the lookout, balanced for a moment and then began to roll and bounce back down the slope. As the balls momentum increased it crashed through the shrubs beside her and from within she could hear cries and the unmistakable sounds of retching.
Toph sighed again and with the diminishing sounds of crashing below her she turned and walked the short distance up the hill to the lookout. The moment her bare feet touched the flat stone of the lookout she sighed with satisfaction. Like everyone else she came here for the view but unlike everyone else she had a very different view from this vantage point. The flat stone of this small plateau was the tip of a hard volcanic plug of stone which reached right through the hill into the ground below and standing here, with her earth bending enhanced "sight" she could "see" for miles around. When it was quiet, like now, she could sit and "look" out over the entire valley. If it was especially still she could even pick up conversations in the village over 3 miles away.
A distant thump told her that her suitor had come to a stop somewhere down on the valley floor. She supposed she would have to check on him on the way back down but for now, with the last rays of the setting sun warming her face, she was in no hurry. She sat down on the smooth stone to relax and her thoughts turned to her family.
The first year after the war she had been reluctant to go home to her parents but Aang and Katara had pestered her until she gave in and went home. It had been awkward at first as her parents had not changed one bit from their over protective ways but it had helped when kings and famous masters had come to visit and show her the respect due a hero of the war. Her father had remained as stubborn as ever though, wanting her to stay hidden in their house, safe from the outside world.
That is until her mother became ill. It had been over 8 years but still her breath caught in her throat and tears sprang into her eyes as she remembered. The best healers from the earthen kingdoms could do nothing. Katara and some of the best healers from the water tribes came, even Firelord Zuko had come with a shipload of the best surgeons from the fire nation but in the end all anyone could do in the end was make her passing easier.
Toph had been devastated but her father had become a broken man. Unable to deal with the loss of his love he locked himself away in his house and would see no one.
For nearly a year, Toph had handled every aspect of the family business, keeping things going while trying to console her father. And when he finally began to take an interest again he had been astounded at Toph's business sense. Not only had she kept the business afloat but his fourteen year old little girl had expanded their dealings to all corners of the Earth Kingdoms. She remembered that first night he had sat looking over the books with a bemused smile on his face until he had suddenly swept all the papers onto the floor, leapt over his desk and swept his daughter into his arms.
"I'm so proud of you." he had sobbed, "Oh my little Toph, I'm so proud."
Toph had been so shocked that at first she had hung stiffly in his arms, hardly daring to breath, but soon her own tears had begun to flow and she threw her arms around her father and they sat together in his study, crying, laughing and talking through the night and well into the next day. It had been the start of a closeness between them they had never experienced before. At her fathers encouragement she had continued to handle most of the business while he enjoyed a semi-retirement looking after her mothers gardens, only stepping in to help her when she asked. Between the two of them the business was running so well now that they left most of the actual work to their employees and were able to enjoy most of their time relaxing or enjoying life. He'd even started coming to a few of her tournaments as the Blind Bandit down at the Gaoling arena and she was forced to chuckle at the memory of her father screaming with the crowds and hurling rocks and abuse at her opponents.
Of course, he still wanted to marry her off to a wealthy family but had at least agreed to let her have the final say on who she would marry. She even suspected their 'deal' for her to meet one suitor a year was more a way for him to save face with the other nobles than any real desire to see her married and she knew her father only pandered to the whims of the other nobles for the sake of the business. Something of Toph seemed to have rubbed off on the man and for some reason this made her extraordinarily proud of her father.
She was glad he was taking a much needed holiday with Master Piandoa (Sokka's old mentor and friend) at the moment and wouldn't hear about the latest suitor he'd arranged for her, at least for a while anyway. Sokka had introduced Master Piandoa to her father and the two had been the best of friends ever since. Although Toph wasn't sure how good the master was for her father - many a night the guards had dragged them home roaring drunk from the local taverns. And one night a few years ago, when the Gaang had come to Gaoling to visit, Sokka had given her father and Piandoa some of his infamous "Cactus juice". It had been funny at first, then suddenly they had announced the two of them were off to "pick up" and "score" at the local tavern, then master Piandoa and her father had promptly stripped off their robes and ran off naked into Gaoling. It had been more than a little embarrassing when the guards had dragged them home that night.
Thoughts of the Gaang (as the group of friends had become known throughout the world) dragged a fresh sigh out of her. She'd only seen them all a few months ago but still it had been too long. Sokka and Suki were busy most of the time down at the south pole, raising 3 kids and bringing the southern water tribe back to its former glory. Aang and Katara had 2 kids of their own now and were constantly on the move performing the duties of the Avatar and master water bender. Since Toph handled most of the business with the fire nation government she got to see Zuko and Mai a lot more often, they didn't have kids of their own yet but last time she'd heard from Mai it was with an invitation to come celebrate her first pregnancy. Toph had grown very close to Mai and Zuko over the last few years and although she loved everyone in her Gaang she would have to admit, to herself at least, that Zuko and Mai had become something more than friends. Much more.
Toph's business and political sense, coupled with her close relationship to many nation's leaders meant that she was in a unique position to influence the worlds markets. Mai had pointed this out to her when Toph had first taken on the family's distribution and warehousing business and between the two of them they had soon hatched out a plan to change the face of the world. Zuko and Aang had been doubtful at first but Katara and (surprisingly) Sokka had loved the idea from the beginning. The two doubters were soon convinced and a rough draft presented to the other world leaders. It amazed Toph even years later at how quickly the idea took off.
It was simple really. The fire nation had a huge fleet of ocean going vessels sitting idle and able bodied crew to man them. The Bei Fong family controlled most of the distribution in the Earth Kingdoms and wanted to expand. So they went into business together. Mai came up with the name, it was the first joint venture between the Fire nation and the Earth kingdom, so the worlds first distribution company totally devoted to trade internationally became "Magma". Within just a few short years the world was nearly dependant on trade and today the world had changed almost completely. Officially the company 'Magma' was jointly owned between the Firenation, the king of Ba Sing Se and the Bei Fong family, but Zuko and King Kai had soon learned to leave the major decisions to Mai and Toph who both had an uncanny knack for knowing what goods could be traded and where.
The fire nations vast war machine had been mothballed at the end of the war but now Zuko reopened the factories and from them came farm equipment, industrial machinery and all manner of fabrications. From the Earth kingdom's many farms came a variety of foodstuffs while their mines provided the world with iron ore and rare minerals. The southern and northern water tribes discovered a massive market for exotic fish and other sea-foods while hospitals around the world were home to many water bending healers. Even Aang had managed to get a few Air nomad Herbs and spices onto the markets, and even though it was really Katara's creation she had insisted it be packaged with the triple spiral symbol of air. Today there were many smaller trading companies and new ones started every year, many of them secretly funded by Mai and Toph. Zuko had called them crazy for this but they had shown him how the competition was keeping prices down and he had pretended politely to understand and left them to it. He thought running a country was much simpler.
Zuko could rarely leave his nation so when the CEO's of Magma were required to travel it was always Mai and Toph traveling together. From the beginning of their friendship they had discovered a bond between them that went beyond simple friendship or even sisterhood and they had spent many an hour talking about themselves and their lives. They both had been exceptionally talented children but had been raised by overbearing and overprotective parents in societies that devalued their abilities because they were female. Early in their friendship Mai discovered she could easily see through the tough, arrogant Earthbender to the sweet, loving girl within and Toph could just as easily see through Mai's disguise of depression and apathy to see the wise and sensitive girl inside. When they weren't traveling Toph would spend as much time as she could at the Fire Palace with Zuko and Mai. Toph, at first, had had an odd feeling of being left out when she was with them. She was often self-conscious of herself when Zuko and Mai were together as she had confessed early on to Mai at how attractive she found Zuko's strength, vitality and wisdom. Mai had laughed, saying those were the very reasons she loved the man and she would often go out of her way to make sure Zuko and Toph spent time together. Mai had grown as close to Toph as she was to Zuko and she worked hard to foster a closeness between the three of them. Zuko himself had been slightly embarrassed at this at first but he soon confessed to Mai how much he truly admired Toph for her own wisdom, vitality and an inner beauty that reminded him so much of Mai herself. She had laughed at him so hard after his confession that Zuko had become angry but he soon saw things in a new light when Mai explained that Toph felt exactly the same about him. Of course Zuko and Mai were already close, but somehow the bond they now shared with Toph was something they had always been missing - yet had never known it - until they found each other. By the time Toph was sixteen the three friends had become nearly inseparable, only parting when duty or family required it.
Toph shifted on the flat stone of the lookout, leaning back to rest on her elbows. She smiled at the memories as the last warm rays of the sun left the sky. Her grin widened and a blush crept onto her cheeks as her thoughts turned to more recent times.
About a year ago she had been staying at the Firelord's Palace enjoying one of the Gaang's frequent get-togethers. It had been late, her father and Master Piandoa had joined the group for the trip and were snoring together on the big couch before the fireplace. The rest of the Gaang had retired to their rooms and Mai, Zuko and Toph sat together talking on a large futon in the corner. Their close friendship meant they would often lounge together in a tangled pile and that night had been no different. Zuko and Mai lay on their sides facing each other and Toph, who lay between them - it was their favorite way to relax and talk. Although, often they would have to hastily separate themselves when someone knocked on the door but this night it was late and Zuko had given the order that they were not to be disturbed.
Zuko and Mai were wearing their fine royal robes but Toph had opted for a traditional firenation tank top and tight pants. She delighted in the way Zuko and Mai's hearts pumped harder when they saw her dressed so scantily and often chose what to wear just for this reason.
"Did you realize you're legally an adult in the fire nation now?" Zuko asked Toph conversationally.
"Zuko, her birthdays only a month away, she's been 21 for nearly a year now." said Mai, softly.
Mai's hand rested on Toph's bare stomach and Zuko was gently stroking his hand across the back of hers, caressing Toph as often as Mai. Toph giggled, whether from the gentle touches or Zuko's statement, she wasn't sure.
"You mean you have to be twenty-one before you're an adult here?" she asked, "That sucks."
"Unless your married." said Zuko, "You can marry at sixteen an then you're an adult but for singles, yep, gotta be twenty-one."
"You know," said Mai, drawing herself up slightly to look down at Toph, "Its customary to ask if you have any regrets from your childhood."
"Well," said Toph and paused as a blush started on her cheeks.
"Come on, Toph." said Zuko, reaching up to brush a few stray hairs from her face, "you know you can talk to us about anything."
"I, I regret, um," Toph's blush deepened and her voice dropped to a whisper, "I wish I had what you guys have."
Mai reached up and stroked a finger along Toph's jaw.
"What do you mean?" she asked Toph, "You know Zuko and I love you as much as we do each other."
"I know," said Toph, "but, you know when you guys, or Aang and Katara or Suki and Sokka, when you face each other and your hearts start beating so hard an then you lean in an then, well, you know?" Her breathing kept getting faster as she spoke and the last few words came out in a rush.
Mai and Zuko were silent for a moment looking at each other across Toph. Then at some unspoken signal they smiled and jumped up, pulling Toph up from the lounge.
"What?" Toph asked, slightly alarmed, "What wrong?"
"Nothing." said Mai, pulling her in for a hug, "We just need to be somewhere else right now. Come on."
Together she and Zuko lead Toph through the hallways to the Firelord's chambers. Once inside Mai bolted the doors and drew Zuko and Toph to herself for a three way hug. Toph was the shortest of the three, with her face pressed into Zuko's chest while Mai rested hers on his shoulder. Their arms went around each other and as Zuko pulled them closer a collective sign rose from all of them. Mai was the first to step back but she didn't release her hold on them.
"I love you both," said Mai, "and I know you both feel the same way. I think its time we stop pretending to be just friends and accept how we feel."
"What do you mean?" asked Toph. Her breathing began to increase again as a storm of emotion raged though her.
"This." said Mai, stepping into their embrace once more.
And suddenly Toph felt lips, soft and yielding pressing against her own and the world, herself, everything melted away except for that kiss. For an instant and an eternity it continued but eventually the lips parted from hers and Toph was left standing, head turned up, lips still tingling from that touch and yearning for it to return. And suddenly another set of lips were there, firmer, the kiss slightly rougher but somehow just as sweet.
The next morning she had awoken with that lost, contented feeling that all was now right with the world and it had taken her a moment to realize just why. She was once again lying between Zuko and Mai in a tangle of limbs and for the space of a heartbeat she was shocked to find herself (and them) naked before memories from the night before came flooding back. With a contented sigh she snuggled a little closer to her friends.
"Good morning, sleepyhead." came Zuko's deep voice beside her.
"What are you doing up?" Toph asked, reaching across to touch his face.
"I rise with the sun." he said leaning across to kiss her.
"Hmmm," came a sleepy voice from beside them, "where can I get some of that?"
"Right here." said Toph, turning her head to kiss Mai deeply.
"And here." Zuko said as the girls broke off their kiss and he leaned over Toph to kiss Mai too.
For Toph it had been the start of something at once ultimately exciting and yet terrifying at the same time. For the political side of things and the unusual nature of their relationship they decided to keep it quiet so as not to stir up trouble for Zuko or the Firenation. But to their friends they were honest and open. Suki had congratulated them immediately although Sokka's eyes had kept flitting between the trio with a sly grin on his face. Sokka had appeared the next day nursing a black eye and Suki giving him the silent treatment - when asked why Suki would only say that Sokka had "opened his mouth". Strangely it had been Katara who had had the most difficulty with the idea but Aang, who came from a background of peace and free love with the Air Nomads had soon talked her around to acceptance. In fact, most of their friends had known of the trios closeness for some time and had seen the relationship as an inevitable outcome. Suki had admitted to them later that she had been annoyed at them for taking so long. The only one Toph couldn't bring herself to tell was her father. She was too afraid to risk the close bond she now had with him. For the last year the three lovers had spent every possible moment together but the last few weeks Toph had had to return home to Gaoling for the business and her fathers latest marriage proposal.
Toph sat up with a start. The cool evening breeze had become a slightly chill night breeze. She had spent so long reminiscing she had probably missed dinner.
Oh well, she thought happily, at least I'll be headed back to them in a few days.
She could almost hear Zuko and Mai's voices calling her name now.
"Toph!"
What?, she thought and stuck a finger in her ear and gave it a wiggle.
"Toph!" that time she recognized Zuko's shout.
She leapt to her feet, planting them firmly on the stone and strained with her senses yet could find him nowhere, but that could only mean…
Yes! She heard Appa's bellow echo across the valley and soon enough she could see him as he touched down on the stone of the lookout. She ran across to him and hugged his nose as two familiar voices spoke down from Appa's saddle.
"What's a rough n' tough girl like you doing in a nice place like this?" came Zuko's deep voice, followed by Mai's soft laughter.
"Hey Toph," said Mai, "jump in quick. Aang and Katara are waiting down the bottom of the hill for us."
Toph stomped a foot, creating a pillar of stone to lift her up and let her step into Appa's saddle. She threw herself into Mai and Zuko's arms and kissed them both soundly.
Zuko had filled out quite a bit in the last 10 years. His rigorous daily training regime meant that his tall frame was well muscled (much to Toph and Mai's secret delight). His burn scar over the left side of his face, from eyebrow to cheekbone and extending back to include his ear, had smoothed out into a slight discoloration, only the lack of eyebrow or lashes on that eye gave an indication of the seriousness of the damage once done. Mai, on the other hand appeared not to have aged a day in ten years. Her hair still flowed like black silk down her back, with two small buns at the top of her head and a straight fringe that almost came down to her eyes. Her thin frame and graceful movements made her an object of envy to many in the royal court or wherever her travels took her.
Tonight, Zuko had surrendered his fine, royal robes for tight slacks and a sleeveless tunic. Mai was wearing what she called her 'traveling outfit', a long dress cut from the finest black silk. Mai was not overly fond of 'roughing it'.
Appa, of course, was Appa. A massive, white, six legged shaggy beast with two long curved horns and a wide, flat tail. An Air Bison, the traditional familiar of the Air Nomads. They were fiercely loyal to their chosen Nomad and a life long friend. He had large, wide tan markings like an arrow on his head, which traveled along his back to the end of his wide, flat tail. On his back the three humans sat in a saddle the size of a small boat.
"I missed you guys so much." Toph said as Appa took off into the sky, "Hey, wait. What are Twinkles an Sweetness waiting down the bottom of the hill for?"
"Well," began Zuko, extracting himself from the girls embrace to grab Appa's reins, "On our way to find you we found a battered and bloody nobleman at the bottom of the hill who claims he was jumped by bandits." He turned to look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Heh." chuckled Toph, although she began to blush and dropped her face to hide it, "Maybe just one Bandit."
"Your dads latest proposal?" asked Mai, running her fingers through Toph's hair to straighten it.
"Yeah, but he was just the same as all the rest." Toph said dismissively.
"Good." said Zuko softly, "I'm glad of that."
"What?" the two girls asked skeptically.
"Well," started Zuko, now embarrassed, "If you met one of these guys you liked then me an Mai couldn't be with you anymore, at least, not the way we want to."
Mai laughed softly, "He's been like this since you left." she said, kissing him gently on the cheek, "He kept saying you'd find someone and then we'd never see you again. Twenty-five years old, the leader of a nation and he spent the last month pinning like a lovesick schoolgirl."
"Hey!" cried Zuko, going red.
"Aw." said Toph, catching Zuko's face in her hands and turning it to hers, "I already have my love. Three hearts, beating as one." And with that she kissed him deeply.
"Hey!" came a familiar woman's shout from below them, "Not in the saddle! I just cleaned that."
Toph hadn't even noticed Appa descending, so happy was she at the reunion.
Below them came the familiar 'Whoosh' of Airbending and with 2 small thumps, Aang and Katara were in the saddle with them. Appa immediately began to ascend once more.
"Whoa." Toph exclaimed, caught off balance on her way over to her friends.
Aang caught her around the waist and drew her into a hug with himself and Katara.
"Thanks," said Toph, hugging them tight, "I missed you guys."
Katara squeezed her friend warmly, "Hm, we missed you too."
"Hey Toph." Aang said with a touch of sadness in his voice. He kissed her temple and went forward to take the reins from Zuko.
Toph noticed something was wrong with Aang but before she could ask her enhanced senses noticed something about Katara's abdomen pressed against hers. She slipped her hand against Katara's stomach and focused.
"Oh Twinkle toes, you dirty, dirty nomad." Toph exclaimed laughing, "You've done it again, haven't you?"
Aang looked around at her confused, until he noticed where her hand was resting. Then, his eyes went wide and the old goofy smile spread across his features.
"Really?" he asked, squeaking like an excited 12 year old, "A baby?"
"Well I told you I was late." Katara chided him.
"Wahoo!" cried Aang and scurried across to scoop Katara into his arms.
The others gave congratulations while Katara and Aang held each other and kissed until a sudden outburst from Toph made them all jump.
"Oh wow! I forgot" Toph turned to Mai and quickly pressed her hand to her girlfriend's stomach, focusing her senses. The wide smile never left her face but a small knot of concern appeared between her eyes.
"What is it?" asked Mai, who could see the deeper concern in Toph's features.
"Oh nothing," said Toph, trying to banish her concerns, "It just seems a little, small. You should be what? About 3 months along?"
"Four." said Mai, fear edging into her voice, "How small?" she asked in a quiet voice. Zuko came over behind her and put his arms around her.
"Here, let me see." said Katara coming over to them, "Open your robes Mai, so I don't wet the silk."
"Err, I, um." Aang went redder and redder as Mai opened her dress to expose her midriff and underwear.
"Why don't you go fly the bison, Loverboy." Said Katara with a hint of warning in her voice. Aang hurried to comply.
Swiftly Katara called forth water from the skins at her waist forming undulating gloves around her hands. As she put her hands to Mai's stomach and concentrated, the water took on a bright blue glow. Not only was Katara one of the world's most powerful Waterbending Masters but she was also one of the most sought after healers.
"I see him." Katara said after a minute, still running her blue glowing hands over Mai's abdomen, "Sorry to ruin the surprise but definitely a him."
Mai and Zuko looked at each other in surprise and broke out into huge smiles. Mai's quickly subsided though.
"But, his size?" she asked Katara while reaching for Toph's hand, clutching it to her.
"Don't worry." said Katara soothingly, "He's perfectly normal. I've seen it many times, Mai. All babies develop at different rates. If anything the ones that start small tend to grow big."
"Oh great" said Mai, dropping into her usual monotone, "That'll be something to look forward too, a big baby to give birth to."
They all shared a laugh and began to relax until Toph asked the obvious.
"So what's going on guys?" she asked, moving to sit next to Zuko, "I thought we were going to meet in month or so at Sparky's place. What's with the sudden pick up and the mad dash? Where, in short, are we going?"
"Just," Katara paused to look at Aang, "Just give me a moment and I'll explain everything."
"Don't be long." Toph said, throwing her arms around Zuko and Mai and pulling them close, "Or we might make a mess in your saddle."
THE OTHE DISCLAIMER: It helps to have some knowledge of the series but I've tried to put some background in for those who are new to it. Criticism is appreciated and your reviews do help.
