Title: Afterwards (Part 1 of 5)
Rating: PG
Originally published: Jan. 24, 2010
Notes: I'm embarrassed to admit that Season 3 hadn't even begun when I first started this. I'm not sure where the timeline for this fic diverges from canon, though I don't think it really matters. One of the main differences that you need to be aware of is that Iroh is the Fire Lord and everything else, I think you can figure out.

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It's what comes after that's most difficult.

So you've taught yourself earthbending. Great! Now what? So you've decided to leave home and become the Avatar's teacher. Great, now what? So you helped save the world from a destructive madman and his psychotic daughter.

Now what?

You can't go home and wouldn't want to even if you could. (Or at least that's what you tell yourself.) You could stay here in the Fire Nation. But what will you do? You can't just sit by Zuko's turtle-duck pond, getting fat and lazy.

"Hi Sokka," you say, as you feel the Water Tribe boy's vibrations head towards you.

"Hey, Toph. Did you know that Zuko was looking for you?" he asks as he plops himself down next to you.

"Yes."

"Ummm… It doesn't look like you're trying to find him. In fact, I'd say that it looks like you're trying not to be found."

"You trying to start something, Snoozles?"

"No, no, no!" he stammers out and you smirk at how panicky he sounds.

"I'm not really avoiding him. I just needed to think for a bit," you sigh.

"About what?"

"Stuff," you reply helpfully. He falls silent for a moment, thinking.

"You're still upset because King Bumi was able to sneak up on you, aren't you?"

"HE CHEATED! As soon as I figure out how he did it, I will have my revenge," you promise. "And I'm not upset," you add somewhat after the fact.

"Sure, you're not," Sokka agrees in that nauseatingly patronizing voice of his. "So why else have you been avoiding the guy?"

"I told you I'm not avoiding Zuko!"

"Oh, yeah. You're avoiding him too. But I meant King Bumi."

"I'm not avoiding Zuko OR King Bumi. I… I just don't have an answer yet."

"An answer to what? Toph, I can't hear you if you talk into your arms like that."

"I said, whether I would be willing for King Bumi to adopt me."

"Adopt you?"

"Yeah."

"But your parent's are still alive… aren't they?"

"Last I checked. What difference does that make?"

"Well, don't you think they might have a problem with someone else claiming their kid?"

"Hey, if the King of Omashu wants to make your kid his heir, are YOU going to object, because my parents sure wouldn't."

"Heir? As in heir to the THRONE?"

"Yeah, kinda. If I want it, I guess. I mean, that's why Bumi wants to adopt me."

"Toph, are you planning on ruling the entire freaking world?"

"Huh?"

"It just that I was figuring that you well on your way the first earthbending Fire Princess and now you're going to rule the Earth Kingdom!"

"Not the entire Earth Kingdom. Just Omashu."

"AHA! You see! You have already made up your mind!"

"No! Are you crazy? How can I decided something that big?" you object. You can feel Sokka giving you THE LOOK. Damn. You thought that it only worked on Katara because she was his sister. "Well, okay. Maybe I have. I just don't know how I'm going to tell Pops and Sparky."

"Zuko and Iroh will be happy for you! Why wouldn't they be?"

"I don't know. I… If I do this, then everything will change."

"Probably. But not as much as you think. Zuko will still be broody and short-tempered. Iroh will still be trying to make you tea. And they'll both still consider you family. The only difference is that you'll have a small army at your command."

"I AM an army."

"And the universe has been set back in the proper order," Sokka sighs. "Well, my work here is done."

"Yeah. You can run along now," you joke, waving your hand in dismissal. "You may continue on with your usual busybody behavior."

"Yes, your highness," Sokka replies with a half decent bow, despite the fact that he has remained seated.

"So, what's next on the agenda? Teaching the Dai Li the value of public service over power trips? Trying to get the Unagi to admit his aggression is just because he's painfully shy?"

"Actually, I was looking for Suki," he says and you can feel his heart speed up. "Yeah. I had better go find her, I guess." He stands up, takes a deep breath and walks off as if he's about to face a rabid iguana-moose single-handedly. You think of the suspicions that Katara had shared with you about future sister-in-laws and you realize what he's off to do.

"Hey, Sokka!" you call out. He stops without turning around. "Good luck!"

"Thanks, Toph," he sighs. "I'm going to need it."

"No you won't," you say, even though you know he's already gone. There's a chill in the air. It's gotten late. You really should find Zuko. But first you're going to have to have a long talk with King Bumi. Maybe if you're careful you can sneak up on him.

Rule the freaking world, hun? You grin. Well, it beats watching turtle-ducks.