I'm happy with this idea and I hope everyone enjoys reading this.
-sorrowXdarkness
Chapter 2: Sudden Recruitment
I wondered what Sokka was thinking when he saved me. In those last few moments, he could have let go and saved himself before the arrival of the reinforcements. Why didn't he?
"How do you feel about…well you know…about Sokka?" I asked. Katara continued to brush as my mind continued to think of a sufficient answer.
"I'm beyond sad. I mean all I had, was my father and Sokka. As you know, I lost my mother when I was a little girl. Losing Sokka was like losing a part of me." Then the way she was brushing my hair began to hurt. I didn't want to complain but I guessed she noticed after I let out a sharp wince. "Oh, sorry…"
"No, it's alright…go on." This time she stopped as she took a breath. Perhaps to calm herself down. Good, any more of the hair pulling and I might've earthbended her through the ceilings.
"Okay. Toph, Sokka was…still is my bother. We have been together through it all. Since meeting Aang, we went to all sort of places and even after all those close calls we had, somewhere in the back of my mind, I had the foolish idea that Sokka would be fine. That no harm would be done to him. Silly right?" I grabbed a hold of her hand as I sat there. I could easily relate to her. She was like me in a way. There was just something about Sokka that made this battle against the fire nation almost a fantasy. He brought in the humor, the light air, and even the plan to progress through the story.
"No, it's not silly Katara. I thought so too. I mean, I was right there when it happened. I heard it all. Every sound."
"Heard what?"
"His screams. For a moment, I could hear his voice screaming in pain while the fire took its effect onto his body. Then suddenly, it stopped and before I realized it, I was inside the river."
"Oh Toph." Katara embraced me from behind. I could feel my back getting wet. I was also crying as images of Sokka's form began to appear. He was here for a moment, but then he was gone. What was left over was a gap. How do I fill this gap? How do you replace someone that was irreplaceable?
The answer was simple. You don't. If I were to find someone else to replace Sokka, it would be like he was never there to begin with. I have to deal with this my way without ever truly filling it in.
"Thanks Katara. I feel better now." We stood like that for a while and eventually everyone else began arriving. I could feel them making their way to Iroh's house.
"Oh, and thanks again Katara." And right on cue, the door opened and twinkletoes and everyone else came rushing in.
"Katara, Toph! You missed a great speech by the Avatar himself." Suki said as she spotted us by the back.
"I'm sure it was something, right Katara?" I asked, earning a fairly similar smile from Katara. We both stood up and walked over to them as they gave out more details of what happened after we left. It weren't much, just some more talking of how twinkletoes entertained everyone else and how they gave special mentioning to several of our friends.
"So why did you guys leave mid-way through the celebration?" Zuko, or rather Firelord Zuko asked, with Mai by his side.
"Yeah, why did you guys leave? Something happened?" Twinkletoes asked. Great, thanks Zuko. You really know how to gather everyone's attention like that.
"Toph and I needed some time to ourselves. I'm sure you can understand." Katara said. Thanks Katara, hopefully that would end that topic and start anew.
"So now what? I mean, with Zuko being the new Firelord and me overseeing the development of each nation as they rebuild, where does it leave the rest of you guys?" What twinkletoes brought up was important. After defeating ex-firelord Ozai, what will become of Team Avatar?
"I don't know about you guys, but I'm planning on staying with this man right here." Mai said, latching herself into Zuko's arm. I smiled to myself. I heard from Ty Lee that Mai had it in for Zuko since they were kids. It was kind of sweet to experience "seeing" their love blossom. I'm sure everyone agreed with Mai's decision, even Zuko himself. I could perfectly hear his heart beating up a storm as she planted a small kiss to the side of his face.
"What about you Suki?" Katara asked.
"Me? I'm planning to return to my home island so I can look after my people. I've been away for so long that I have no clue what's going on there." Suki said. "And you Katara? Are you returning to the South Pole or are you going to stay by Aang's side and help him with the rebuilding of the nations?" Suki said playfully. I knew she was trying to stay strong. Maybe returning to her island was what she needed.
"Although I would love to return home, I think I'm more needed here with Aang." Everyone was smiling at her. "What?" She asked.
"Oh nothing. Don't mind us."
"Sheesh guys, can you all be a little mature?" She complained. "What about you Toph?" Then, as expected, all eyes were on me.
"Yeah, about that…here's the deal, I'm not planning to go back to my parents. In fact, I'm thinking of going on another adventure." I started. It been on my mind for a while and I just felt like it the only thing left I have to do before anything else.
"What kind of adventure?" Katara asked.
"By yourself?" Ty Lee added almost immediately after Katara.
"Well I'm not planning on going on my own. I was sort of hoping you would all join me on this mission."
"Toph, what sort of mission are we talking about?" Katara asked, now sounding concerned. Just then, I felt Iroh's set foot nearby so he would be joining us soon.
Oh boy, I wondered how they would react. "I want to go find both Sokka's boomerang and space sword. Any takers?" I raised my arms up in the air as I waited for any responses. The weird thing was, no one said anything. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Here I was, expecting everyone to join right in and take part in yet another exciting adventure, but instead, all I got was silence. "What?" I admitted, I did sound a bit rude but I 'saw' the way everyone was moving their bodies. The awkward silence, and I don't really do awkward silence.
Everyone looked among each other and eventually twinkletoes finally spoke. "Toph, I think it's great of you to think of about Sokka like that. I know you two were close and I also know it's a great idea to go and find Sokka's things." Thanks for stating the obvious twinkletoes. I may be blind but I could tell a "but" was about to come out of his mouth, out of everyone's mouth. "But, I don't think I can join you on your quest Toph. I'm sorry."
Was everyone else going to say the same thing? What about Sokka? What sort of excuses do any of you have that are more important than your friend?
"And why not?" I asked. I allowed myself to remain calmed and composed for a bit longer. I shouldn't be rash, maybe it was all a bit of a misunderstanding.
"Toph. As the avatar, it's my job to maintain the balance among the four nations. I can do that now by assisting everyone in rebuilding the nations. I can't go looking around for some stuff. That can take weeks."
"Some stuff? Those are Sokka's prized possessions! They are what is left of him in this world! Like Appa is to you, they were important to him." I firmly stood my ground as I took the extra energy to turn my head at twinkle toes' direction.
"Toph, you can't compare those to liv-"
"They are irreplaceable. Appa is irreplaceable. You are irreplaceable. I am irreplaceable. Sokka was IRREPLACEABLE!" I shouted at Suki. The girl who had the gall to say something like that. Some girlfriend she was. I wondered what he saw in her. Didn't she realize that beside our memories, we have nothing else from Sokka that had any significance to him? And everyone else?
"So what's your excuse? Huh?! We would go out of our way to help our friends and everyone that needed help during the war but when the war ended, we're too busy to even care. JUST WHAT THE POINT OF HAVING PEACE IF YOU'RE TOO BUSY TO HELP A FRIEND?!"
"Toph, you can't be unreasonable. My people needs me!" WHAT ABOUT SOKKA? WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE NEEDED YOU! I wanted to say that to her but I found myself unable to. The words just wouldn't escape from my mouth. Man, I'm too nice for my own good.
"Whoa, everyone…what's going on here?" Iroh came walking in with some boxes.
I didn't answer. I already said enough. It didn't matter if I go alone. I'll make sure to return with both of them in my hands and th-
"I'm going with you Toph."
Everyone, including little old me, were shocked by who said that. Well everyone but Iroh who, I was sure, was beyond confused. Especially when everyone else turned to the person, with startled eyes.
-END OF CHAPTER 2
I'm ending it here. Can you guess who would be joining Toph in search for Sokka's personal possessions? Also, let me know how I'm doing so far, k?
