Chapter 1: Letters

Letters started to find her, Letters from home. The very first one came several months after the end of war. Hawky, the messenger hawk found her playing Pai-Sho with the retired general, Iroh in Jasmine Dragon. The strong and steady yet petite earth bender panicked as Iroh said it was a scroll with Bei-Fong seal on it. She broke in to sweat and her small hands trembled. It was the reply. Months it had been. But she was not sure if she wanted to hear what it said.

"Toph?" Called Iroh's gentle voice. "Do you want me to read it for you?"

She did not answer. The normally strong stare was replaced by uncertainty. Her breaths shallow.

"Toph?" Iroh called yet again. She gave no answer. So He unfolded the scroll and read for her to here.

Dear Toph,

We are so relieved to finally here from you. You left us in utter dismay. The important thing is that you are safe. Though it still is like a dream, the tales of your journey have made me the proudest father in the world Toph.

Please come home dear. We want you to name your little brother, so he'll grow up to be strong and independent, just like his sister. Your mother was already pregnant when you left and we never found the right time to tell you. Please Toph, we are all waiting. The whole Gaoling is waiting. Come home.

Love

Dad. (Lao Bei-Fong)

Toph blinked in disbelief. She did not notice the tears forming in the brims of her eyes or the ones that were already falling down her cheeks.

"Toph!" Iroh started taking her trembling hand gently and giving her the scroll. But she just shook her head. She knew what he was about to say but she was not ready to face them. She is a big sister now? She wanted to 'see' him. To hold him and tell him she loves him. But she just couldn't make her mind to go home yet. She wasn't ready.

Toph made Iroh promise not to tell anyone about the letter. She did not want anyone's nagging or opinion on this. She was going to take her time on this. She was going to go home when she is fully ready to face them, when she is fully ready to accept their apology. She made Iroh right back to them for her, a short letter stating that she'll come home when she feels like it and to name her little brother "Prithvi" for the Earth.

The second letter found after a month from the first. She ran all the way to the Jasmine Dragon where Iroh sat playing the Tsungi horn. It read how they longed to hold her in their arms once more, how they suffer every minute apart from their precious daughter but that they respect her decision and will patiently await her return, that they love her.

The third found her eight months later on Prithvi's first birthday. It described how he looked so much like her. According to it, he had ebony hair and bright green eyes. It detailed how he goes to sleep every night listening to his sister's adventures, how he would always toddle towards the family picture of the Bei-Fongs and stare at Toph in it, saying 'tofu'. They have sent a terracotta plate with a tiny foot print to her with the letter. Prithvi's.

Her parents were writing to her once every six months, filling her ears with Prithvi's adventures, how much they love her and how much they want to see her.

Toph did not reply, though she sent pendent baring the symbol of earth that she metal bended herself for Prithvi. She was feeling bad not going back but she could not help it. She just wasn't ready yet.

Though Sokka and Suki were too busy to notice, Katara and Aang saw how Toph grew quieter and secretive. Though she was the same fierce, blunt and sarcastic self she used to be, Toph was becoming more caring and considerate with the years. Katara referred it as her growing up but Aang could have sworn he saw Toph's ears twitch or a smile grace her lips whenever she heard a little child's voice around her, a faraway look in her pale jade eyes. Aang tried to ask her few times but she would always let it slip, playing dumb.

Three years had passed. The gang was living in Ba-Sing-Se. They travelled occasionally to different corners of the globe with the avatar. Currently Aang and Katara were in Kyoshi Island, enjoying the hospitality of Koko. Sokka had gone to help Hakoda with planning a new city for the southern water tribe. Suki went with him. Toph was staying at Ba-Sing-Se, training few earth benders and awaiting her friends return. It had been nearly a month now. She missed them dearly. Only then she understood the situation of her parents, their desperation and she thought about her little brother. She will never get to see him grow up. So finally she was ready to pay a visit. She stood up from the training ground with a peaceful look in her eyes. She was almost at the exit of the training ground when she heard the familiar flapping of Hawky. He landed on her shoulder. Toph reached to his pouch and drew out yet another scroll. This time she could write back that she's coming.

Iroh had gone to the fire nation to escort Zuko to Jasmine Dragon and was not coming back for another two days.

A young boy around eight came running to her calling 'sifu'.

"You have a bird?" He asked dancing around.

"Leigh!" Toph said kneeling down to face him. "Listen, can you read this scroll to me?" She asked offering him the letter.

"Sure Sifu Toph!" He said earnestly, taking it and unfolding it.

This time it was not from Lao. It's from Poppy, her mother.

Dear Toph! It began.

Toph, one of our guards was an imposter. He helped kidnap Prithvi. Your father is hurt. Guards could not stop the kidnappers but they captured the imposter. He won't talk, no matter how hard we try. We still don't know what their intension is. A scroll came ordering us to keep quiet or Prithvi's life will be in danger. It said when the time comes, they'll let us know. I'm so lost dear. I need you Toph. We need you both!

Mum.

Leigh finished though he did not understand much of it. "Who's Prithvi?" He asked from now pale looking Toph. Toph felt her knees give away. She tried hard not to panic. She has to go back. Toph took the scroll from Leigh. "It's alright." She added convincingly. "I need you to write some things down for me. Can you?"

"OK!" replied Leigh taking her hand and running towards the little office nearby. There he scribbled down what Toph read. The letter was addressed to the gang.

Guys,

I'm going to go for a while. There is something I need to do. I'll be back when I'm done with it. I'll keep you posted if possible.

Toph.

"You are going away?" Asked Leigh in a small voice.

"I have to Leigh. But I promise, I'll be back." Toph said taking the letter from him. For authentication she took off the green and yellow head band of hers and wrapped the letter in it. "Take this to Aang and Katara." She said to Hawky, putting it in the bird's pouch, which squeaked in acknowledgement and took off.

Toph sent Leigh home and went to their house in the upper ring of the city. She locked the letter from home in the drawer of her bedside cabinet along with the others came to her over the past three years. She packed lightly and wore a long hooded cloak over her robes. She did not want to be recognized along the way. She could not ask help from her friends, because if the word gets out Prithvi could be in danger. She would not risk it. If only she was more attentive to her family, she could have prevented this. Now she was going to fix things. And she has to do it alone.