Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, or any of it's characters.


One year after the war, the Gaang met up and decided to stay in Ba Sing Se for a couple weeks to catch up.

Since they were all older, they'd began to indulge in alcohol and other things. Especially Toph, who had been encouraging everyone to, which caused a lot tension between the earth-bender and her former student. He became rather annoyed with the constant drinking.

One morning Toph and Katara decide to have a sparring session. Toph, wanting to make things interesting, suggested they drink some cactus juice. Katara immediately dismissed the idea, but when Toph called her a "goody-two-shoes wimp", she drank three bottles full.

Sparring while on cactus juice is not a safe idea.

Katara ended up with a black eye and a bloody nose when Toph hurled a chunk of rock at her, thinking she would dodge it. But she was too slow, and the rock hit her. The hit sobered Katara up, and the worry for her friend sobered Toph up. After many apologies and throwing the cactus juice into a river, they began walking home.

"Don't worry about it." Katara assured. "I'll heal myself as soon as we get home. But I think I'll take you up on your offer on that spa day and shopping."

Toph relaxed when she saw Katara wasn't mad at her. Three years ago she would've said "Rub some dirt on it and let's go brag about my win, Sugar Queen!" But now Toph was more mature and a gentler person. But, of course, she was still Toph.

"I owe you that much, Sugar Queen." Toph replied, still feeling bad.


When they entered the house they were greeted by Aang.

"Hey guys! How was your d-" Aang stopped rambling when he saw Katara's black eye and dried blood in her left nostril.

"Katara! What happened?"

"It's nothing, Aang. " Katara said turning to face him.

"No, Katara. Tell me what happened. Bloody noses and black eyes don't just happen." He demanded an explanation. Katara had explained she didn't feel the way he felt about her shortly after the war ended, and he accepted it. She was now with Zuko, and Aang was fine with it, happy even. But he was still very protective over his first love.

Zuko, Sokka and Suki came hurriedly, having hear Aang raise his voice.

"Toph wanted to spar and we made it interesting by drinking some cactus juice. I wasn't paying attention when Toph threw a chunk of rock at me. Sorta' my fault, not paying attention while sparring with Toph." Katara chuckled. "I'm fine though, just gotta heal myself and I'll be all better."

Aang was glaring at Toph. "How could you be so irresponsible?" He sneered, anger running through his veins. They'd been arguing a lot lately anyway, but now that she had hurt Katara..

"Look, I've already apologized to Katara and she accepted, Twinkle Toes. But to make it up to her, I'm going to-" She didn't get to finish her sentence, as she was interrupted by a very strong gust of wind, courtesy of the young Avatar. The force sent her flying back into a cabinet.

"HOW COULD YOU HURT KATARA LIKE THAT? YOU'RE A TERRIBLE PERSON LATELY, TOPH! YOU CARE FOR NO ONE BUT YOURSELF! NO WONDER YOUR PARENTS HID YOU AWAY LIKE THAT, THEY WERE PROBABLY DEEPLY ASHAMED AND EMBARRASSED BY YOU! AND, YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU'RE JUST A-"

Aang didn't get to finish his sentence either, as punched by Zuko.

Zuko didn't love Toph like he loved Katara, but he did love her alot. She had been the first to accept him into the Gaang, he could tell her anything and she was his best friend. So, he was very protective of her like a big brother would be of his little sister.

Zuko stood over him, breathing heavily with smoke coming out of his nostrils and mouth.

Aang looked around the room. Sokka, Suki, and Katara were all kneeling down next to a bloodied Toph. When he had blown her into the utensils cabinet, two large knives had fallen down on her. One had left a large scratch on her left cheek, and one was lodged in her stomach. Her head was also bleeding from how hard it had hit the cabinet. She was staring at him with her sightless eyes.

She slowly stood up, ignoring all the hands outstretched to help her. She grabbed the handle of the knife in her stomach and pulled it out as if it was a splinter, grimacing slightly at the pain.

She opened her mouth to speak and they were all expecting her to yell at Aang.

"Katara, can you heal my stomach, please?" She asked quietly, so quiet she was barely heard. Everyone was scared, from her injuries and the fact she just said please. Toph never said please or asked for things, she demanded.

Katara began healing her with water from her skin, that she still carried around, while everyone watched.

Aang was jerked out of his thoughts when he felt Zuko's fist hit his jaw roughly, then another punch to his stomach.

"I'll stop there. Because unlike you, I know when enough is enough." Zuko spat coldy. Then, he walked over to Toph, who's healing session was done, and lightly pressed a kiss on her forehead, and walked outside.

Sokka walked over to Aang, jerked him up by the arm and dragged him outside.


Once they were outside, Sokka began talking.

"What the hell, Aang? How could you do that? To Toph of all people?"

"I didn't mean to hurt her, but I can't say she didn't deserve it. She's been so selfish and irresponsible lately. I even warned her that was only a matter of time before her recklessness got someone hurt." Aang remarked, his voice emotionless.

That earned him a punch to the face by a certain Water Tribe warrior.


Katara put a gentle hand on Toph's shoulder. She had just gotten done healing her and she was perfectly fine. Physically.

"Aang was just upset, Toph. He.. he didn't m-"

"Katara, it's fine." Toph interrupted, removing her hand from her shoulder.

Zuko and Sokka entered the room and shortly began their attempts to make Toph feel better.

Without any warning, Toph walked over to each of her friends, and gave them a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.

"I love you guys." Toph said, with a smile as fake as Azula, and walked outside. But before anyone could follow her, she earthbended an earth tent around herself.

They all stood there in silent worry.

Zuko was the first to speak up.

"Me and Sokka are gonna go talk to Aang again. Katara, you and Suki go talk to Toph. Sound good?"

Sokka, Katara, and Suki all nodded at the young Fire Lord.

"Good. Come on, Sokka."


"Aang," Zuko started, sitting down next to the young Avatar. "You were way out of line."

"Yeah," Sokka agreed. "You were so out of line that you weren't even near the line anymore! You can't even see the line!"

Zuko rolled his eyes at Sokka's lame joke. "To make it worse, you hurt Toph really bad.."

"She'll be fine." Aang said carelessly.

"Toph is the toughest person I've ever met, I know she'll be fine. But she's still a woman, and man should never harm a woman, unless out of self-defense. And, no one should ever hurt their friend like you've hurt Toph, physically and emotionally."

"You may have hurt her pretty bad physically, but you hurt her more emotionally. You know how Toph is about her parents." Sokka added, agreeing with Zuko.

"You shouldn't have said what you said, Aang." Zuko pointed out. "Accidents like that happen to us all the time, and Toph is going to make it up to Katara by taking her to the spa tomorrow and getting her new clothes, Katara told us."

"That's what Toph was trying to tell you earlier right before you went Azula on her."

"If anything shows how upset she was at what you said, it's the fact that she didn't scream at you or hurt you." Zuko said, standing up and walking over to Sokka before continuing.

"Me and Sokka are gonna let you think alone. But you'd better apologize to Toph by tomorrow." With that said, the two older boys left the younger boy to his thoughts.

Deep down Aang knew from the very moment he'd realized he'd hurt Toph that he was in the wrong. But his anger kept him from admitting it. He was so worried about Katara getting hurt. It took another few hours or so before he started feeling truly sorry for what happened and made up his mind to apologize to his earthbending sifu.


Aang entered the house.

No one said a word.

Aang sighed, and broke the silence. "Where is Toph? I need to start apologizing."

"She earthbended her little earth tent around herself," Suki said, gesturing to Toph's earth-tent. "ever since Katara got done healing her and hasn't come out since."

Aang's mouth dropped open. "That was four hours ago!"

"Exactly why we're worrying, Aang. She hasn't come out once, and won't answer when we talk to her." Zuko replied, his tone of voice indicated he still was upset at Aang.

"The earth did start shaking a few hours ago, but we figured that was you." Sokka remarked.

Aang's jaw dropped open. "I-I haven't been earthbending at all."

The Gaang, exchanged a look, then they all ran to Toph's earth-tent, calling for Toph.

"Toph!"

"Spirits, Toph! Come out! Or just give us a sign you're still in there!

"Toph! TOPH!"

"COME OUT, TOPH!"

Their only response was silence.

Aang earthbended Toph's earth-tent down.

She wasn't there. She was gone.


A/N: Re-writing this story and I'm probably going to continue it. Oct 2016.

Anyways, please review, people!