"You want me to WHAT?!"
Zuko's outburst echoed through the strangely empty palace accompanied by the gentle rumble of his uncle's laughter.
"Do not worry about the Fire Nation, Zuko. An old friend of mine will take care of things while you are away." Iroh did his best to reassure his shocked nephew.
"But Uncle, you can't expect me to learn all those stupid, useless facts with some stuffy Fire Nation nobles! That would be-"
"You won't be going in the Fire Nation. I'm sending you to a place where the nations can learn together." Zuko continued to fume, made all the more angry by Iroh's placating words.
"I don't need it! I've made it this far without that kind of stuff, why should I bother to learn it now?" He narrowed his eyes and glared at his uncle in a way that would have made a dragon flinch. But the Dragon of the West was no ordinary dragon.
"Zuko, you need some proper schooling. I taught you everything I could during our travels together, but nothing can substitute a true education."
Travels... It was just like the old general to gloss over his three years of banishment, that time of pain and confusion that felt so much longer than the rest of his life had been. But he had made the choice Iroh wanted him to make- the choice he had wanted himself to make. Now the world was no longer plagued by the Phoenix King or his bellicose daughter. Now Zuko was Fire Lord.
And now, he had to go to high school.
--
"I won't do it! I won't know anyone! And I should be here, with you, rebuilding the South Pole! Not prancing around at some stupid school!" Hakoda had never seen this kind of rage come from his gentle daughter before. Not for the first time, he wished Kya was around to help him comprehend the thought process of teenaged girls.
He decided that this battle could only be won with superb military tactics, and resolved to calmly counter her arguments. "That's not true. Sokka's already agreed, Aang is going, and Toph's parents have decided that's what's best for her as well- even that Kyoshi warrior friend of yours is coming. Master Pakku and his students have already arrived, so we won't need any more help in that respect. And besides, a good education will allow you to help your Tribe on a much greater scale one day."
Katara's anger subsided slightly. She didn't want to admit it, but she was almost afraid to leave her dad again. The war had torn their family too much, and she'd assumed that everything would be normal again at its end. It stung a little to hear that she wasn't needed for the reconstruction of the Tribe, but she could find no real fault in her father's arguments except one. "What about Zuko?"
"His uncle is doing his best to persuade him, but there are no guarantees. Even if he doesn't come, it shouldn't be a real loss. I thought you hated him anyway." The last sentence was more of a question than a statement, and Katara turned away from her father's inquisitive gaze so he wouldn't see the pink rising in her cheeks.
"I.. uh... guess you're right." Now she was trapped. The choice was between years of fire and brimstone at high school or admitting that her feelings for Zuko might have changed a little in those last few weeks before their victory.
"Okay. I'm in."
--
Toph hurtled wildly around the corner and out into the maze of gardens, furious at being manipulated this way. She'd come back to her parents willingly, hoping the whole saving the world thing was enough to convince them she wasn't a delicate little flower anymore. Or ever.
And now she was leaving again. Not because they hadn't accepted her. Not because she'd chosen to run away. No, this was something totally different.
The Blind Bandit was going to high school.
She ran on without even bothering to sense the vibrations. Although this necessary bending was instinctive by now, Toph wanted to retreat. She needed some time in the dark to sort things out on her own.
A shrill cry pierced her world of night. She'd know that sound anywhere. Hawky!
The weight of the messenger hawk on her shoulder was a comfort, bringing with it the crisp feel of the South Pole wind that reminded her of Sokka. She remembered the one time she'd been there to visit, just a few days after the war had ended. Out on the ice, Toph had felt completely blind, totally vulnerable. The young Water Tribe warrior's steady grip had been her only guidance, but it had been plenty. She hoped privately that he'd seen through her sarcastic remarks and affectionate jabs, understood how grateful she was.
With fingers made clumsy by eagerness, Toph removed the scroll, a crinkled mess that had been tied off with a sloppy bow, and rubbed her fingers along it. Sokka, true to his claims of boundless ingenuity, as well as a boundless supply of hot air, had created a system so that Toph could read his letters. He would spill globs of ink onto the paper, then allow them to dry. Different patterns of bumps meant different characters. It had taken a while to learn the system, but Toph had been determined to do so. She hated relying on anyone, especially for something so simple as reading a note.
Toph-
Katara and I have been banished to White Lotus High for a "proper education". Now I know how Zuko felt. I wonder if he's been dragged into this mess too.
It's been a while, hasn't it? I can't believe the war ended two months ago- feels like Aang topped the Loser Lord yesterday! Speaking of that oh-so-epic battle, you'll never guess what happened! Aang went back to the site of the battle to check on the ecosystem or some vegetarian mumbo jumbo like that, and he found my boomerang! I'm really glad to have it back.
We should really get together sometime before Katara and I get shipped off.
See you soon,
Sokka
Toph grinned in a way that would have made a boulder balk. This whole school thing was about to get a lot more interesting.
and there's the first chapter! this one's going to feature almost every character, and i may even resurrect jet for the occasion. only time will tell though. R&R please!