Hello again! I want to thank those who reviewed. Made me want to write this chapter faster! Amazing people you are!
Honestly, this chapter was hard to write. I'm better at emotionally depressed scenes so… bare with me folks. Enjoy!
Chapter 2: Toph's Party
Aang's endless parade of nightmares seized to a much appreciated halt. He had never been so happy to wake up in the middle of the night by being dragged along the sea shell-coated sand of Kyoshi as the ocean's tide summoned him to the deeper waters. He scrambled to his feet immediately in a threatening water bending stance. Well, it could have been threatening if it weren't for the sea weed draped over his shiny, arrow-covered head. Aang groaned in frustration as he stood. He hurriedly swiped the dark green foliage from his head. Unfortunately, the smell remained.
He looked up at the waxing crescent moon and let out a long, uncontrollable stood there dazed as he tried to recall why he was out on the cold ocean shore in the dead of night. Confusion racked his brain with questions. Once his thoughts were in order and he was once again able to grasp coherent thought, it hit him.
Just like that every detail of last night poured back into his unprepared mind. The fight. The harsh words exchanged. The daunting nightmares.
The nightmares! Sokka, Katara, and Zuko being taken from him to be tortured or killed. Those screams. And he wasn't there to help. Nope! He was off dusting Air Nomad paintings while Toph cried out for him. For the sweet relief that was death. He shook the terrifying thoughts from his head. He needed to know they were safe; he couldn't leave them unprotected. What would he do if the clear pictures that his inner-conscious painted were to become a reality. Are these dreams a sign? Or am I just upset about leaving? I could really use some advice… Where's Iroh when you need him most?
He was afraid to let go. After a year of traveling with them, he now thought of them as family. He could miss it all. Birthdays. Weddings. Becoming an uncle.
He sighed tiredly and wiped his hand down his face to remove the sand. This was going to be a long day.
Toph awoke with a scream for the third time since she got home from her recent battle with Aang. Covered in sweat and salty tears, she recalled the all too real nightmares.
Aang struggling for his life. Losing his life. Giving his life for his "duties." His unfair sacrifices.
Who could blame her for worrying about him? She gets locked up in a Ba Sing Se prison for one hour!And she comes back to find him struck dead by Azula's lightening. Death. That seemed to be the reoccurring theme in her terrifying dreams.
She growled to herself in anger. She concluded that caring had its downsides.
Swinging her feet off her bed, concluding also that everyone was in there rooms sleeping except Aang. It must still be dark out, she thought. Her arms stretched above her untamed locks. She trudged out the door, not bothering to look in the mirror of her room. There was no way she could go back to sleep after hearing what her dreams wanted so desperately branded into her memory. She needed to unclog her jarred mind; she wanted someone to vent to. I wonder if they have badgermoles on Kyoshi.
As Aang walked along the beach, he couldn't stop himself from letting his anger escape through his thoughts. He was angry with Katara for sending those mixed signals that drove him mad! He was mad at Roku for expecting so much of him! He was infuriated with Toph for forcing this painful guilt on him for doing his spirit-appointed job!
Avoiding the thought of Toph, he tried reminding himself what order he was going to visit the Air Temples in after he left the island. He approached a wide cliff as he went over his simple plan.
Southern. Western. Ea- OW!
Aang observed the object that was hurled at him as it sank into the wet sand next to his bare feet. He examined the small stone closely then heard the familiar sound of smashing earth. He gazed up to the top of the cliff that cast a shadow on the raving sea. Toph?
Toph lunged forward, arms extended, her fists directing columns of obeying rock diagonally in a course leading to the ocean. Nothing cleared her mind better than practicing. Bending her element always felt right.
She remembered running away many times to the welcoming caves of her blind companions. Who apparently don't subsist on this island… Oh, well.
Toph had been on the overhang for a while and the sun was already beginning to uncover itself on the horizon, not that she could see it.
After bending herself breathless, she stood panting softly from the exercise in her usual untidy posture. Thoughts of Aang enfolded in her brain. Toph shot back into her horse stance, shifting her feet to their correct spots quickly. She angrily molded a statue of stone that vaguely resembled Aang. The only tells would be the staff in its right hand. It stood a few feet in front of her, blocking the slowly rising sun from sending its rays into Toph's useless eyes.
The rock dummy flew through the sky and into the nearby waters at an impressive speed as she thrust her palm in its direction. She listened for its slap as it landed in the water and instantly started cracking by being rammed into stones hidden underneath the ocean's surface. T he statue's shattered remains swarmed the nooks of the pointed rocks that lined the coast.
"What do you want, Twinkle Toes?" she asked annoyed, keeping her back towards him. She wasn't surprised by his sudden arrival. She's gotten better at detecting his light footsteps. Almost expecting them. Aang had been there watching for a while actually. And she was sure that he wasn't shocked to find that she knew he was standing there. He's known her long enough to infer that sneaking up on the Blind Bandit was a challenge.
After a long pause Aang gathered every ounce of courage he had and began his apologetic speech he'd been rehearsing, "I just wanted to apolo-"
"It's fine, Aang," she interrupted, "I was getting out of hand last night. I get it. I'm sorry." She clenched her jaw at the lie. Things weren't fine. She was as angry as ever, and it was all she could do to stop herself from tearing into him again. He's leaving today, Toph. Don't waste your last morning hating him… Or at least don't let him see it, she reasoned with herself.
"Oh, okay then." He wasn't sure what to say to that. Aang was expecting some sort of retaliation. Some sort of sign that told him that she still thought she was right. That what she said last night was true. How Aang didn't care enough. He had told her the truth last night on the beach. Whether his heart quickened its pace or not, Toph was stubborn, and Aang was astonished at her unexpected statement. "Do you want to help me pack then?" he asked changing the subject. But the gnawing sensation remained when he felt whose heart rate had actually changed. She wasn't sorry. Toph was lying.
They spent the rest of the morning with Katara. She had met up with them during their walk back to the village. They were glad to have someone there to help ease the torturous tension between the two.
They helped him pack. Ate breakfast. Talked with both Sokka and Suki.
The time came for Katara and Aang's scheduled talk. Toph sighed and left the room quietly. She honestly hoped that Katara's would go better than hers did.
She walked through the small town with her shoulders hunched, not really thinking about anything. Not that there was a loss for topics. She could mull over where to live next month when the group goes their separate ways? Hmm… Going home to my parents or freezing and blind in the South Pole? Both wonderful options.
Toph wandered aimlessly through the forest until she stumbled across a small stone to rest on under a tree. She spread her feet across the ground, raking her toes through the soft grass, forcing her nerves to relax under the shade of the miniature oak. Before she knew it, the slumber she lost from the nightmares commanded her eyes to drift close, and she was asleep.
Aang was disappointed with his conversation with Katara. It was almost exactly like the one he had with Sokka, except for the kiss. Yep. A kiss right on the cheek. Damn those mixed signals. She had also pointed out his sea weed scented head.
Everyone came to the opening at the end of the main road where Appa was waiting for his passenger.
Aang scanned the crowd of Kyoshi citizens who had come to grant him luck on his traveling. His heart sank at the realization. His glider opened on command.
From the cloudless sky he had a good view of everything. Except Toph.
His search ended in the evening. Roku's voice called at him. Told him to leave. To give up and hop onto Appa's back. But every part of Aang screamed for him to stay and continue his pursuit until he had her in his arms. He told Roku and himself that he wouldn't leave. Toph hadn't said good bye. He suddenly didn't care that she wasn't sorry. He forgave her the second he discovered her mysterious disappearance.
It wasn't until the sun was replaced by the moon when Aang relentlessly airbended himself to the saddle on his flying bison's back after he hugged each of his friends one last time. They kept quiet about Toph not appearing. Understandable. He told himself that Toph would forget about their past and write to him. Suki, Sokka, and Katara didn't know what happened between the two benders last night. But Aang knew. He would always know. And it would haunt him for the next 6 years.
He would complete his tasks.
He would remember the greatest mistake of his life. Leaving without saying good bye. Toph didn't write. Not once.
On the rare occasions when they knew where to send them, the others would forward letters. He would here of upcoming celebrations or events that they wouldn't bother to invite him to. He could never go anyway.
Aang's appreciation for being remembered is what kept him from deteriorating. From crumpling under the weight of his responsibility. He did in fact miss birthdays and weddings. He missed becoming an uncle. But what hurt the most was missing Toph's party. Sokka depicted the details for Aang in a letter that he retrieved about five and a half years into his mission. He told of special entertainment, lavish furnishings, important guests, and he stressed the Earth Kingdom's lightly cooked desserts their servants offered. He would have given anything to be at Toph's extravagant party.
Toph's engagement party.
Uh-oh! Toph's moved on? Poor Aang.
Yes I know. Slow chapter. Sorry! But Aang's "good bye" chapter was always going to be a slow one. It had to be done. Forgive me? And before you point it out to me, I also know that I've barely mentioned Katara, Sokka, and Suki. Those of you, who are bored with the emotional baggage, just be patient. Stick with me till then readers!
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