Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender.

A/N: I apologize for the long wait. Better late than never, I guess. This is a long chapter, as in twice as long as the others, but I could not bear to divide it into separate sections/installments. Hopefully, it will make up for my absence. I am finally getting back into the swing of things, such as being able to write, after finals.

There is a shout-out in this chapter for the wonderful and talented Artemis Rae. Thanks for all your help and support!

OoOoOoO

Darkest Before Dawn

Chapter Four: Vision

OoOoOoO

"Where are you going?"

Sokka stopped at the door. He let loose a sigh but did not turn around. "Out."

Toph snorted. "Obviously." The earthbender sat up on her bed and leaned forward, her hazy eyes falling somewhere just over his shoulder. "But where are you going? Specifically?"

He knew better than to lie to her. Even though the wooden floors would ensure she did not have that uncanny ability to sense his heartbeat, Toph had a knack for picking up on tiny untruths.

Especially when it came to a certain Water Tribe warrior, he reflected.

Sokka sighed once more and ran a hand along the doorframe. The old oak felt smooth against his callused palm and helped soothe his nerves.

"To a tavern on the east end of Hi Do. It's called…" He trailed off, thinking better of it. She would just follow him there. "I'm going to a tavern," he said.

"Okay. Are you going to this unnamed tavern on the east end to get drunk?"

The warrior caught the accusation and winced. It was red-hot and demanding. Now she was glaring at him. He worried the inside of his cheek. "No, I'm not." When she did not say anything, but was still scowling, Sokka added, "Really, Toph, I'm not."

"Then why go?" She studied him for a moment. How a blind girl could study anyone was beyond him. Toph's face brightened after a moment. "You're going to see Chen, aren't you?"

He nodded and then remembered she could not see it. "Uh-huh. He left a note for us this morning. A maid gave it to me at breakfast. It said he has some information for us. I'm going to see what's what before we pull this thing off."

Toph jumped off the bed and grabbed her cloak.

"What are you doing?" asked Sokka, even though he knew the answer.

"What's it look like I'm doing? Are you sure you're not the blind one around here, Sokka? I'm putting a cloak on." The earthbender clasped the front and stood at attention. The large garment made her look smaller than she actually was. "I'm coming with you."

His reply was swift and firm. "Uh, no, you're not."

She scowled. "Why not?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

He was the one scowling now. Why did she have to be so stubborn? "Because I said so."

"Oh, that was mature." She grinned at him. "C'mon, Sokka, take me with you. I'm a part of this mission, too, remember?"

"I know. You remind me constantly." Oh good. Her sarcasm had infected him. She laughed. "I'm still not taking you with me," he said.

The frown returned to her face. It was both frightening and adorable, though he would rather get fishhooks stuck in his thumb again than tell her. "Why not?" she asked again. "If this is about what happened in Geta…"

"No, this isn't about Geta. Seriously, Toph, it's not," he said, noticing she was about to speak up and argue. "Even if you hadn't caused a riot in that pub, I still wouldn't take you with me. Like you said, we're on a mission."

"And…?"

"And we're trying to keep up our disguises. I'm the loyal, strong, and handsome bodyguard," he said, unable to swallow the self-compliments during the short speech. "And you're-"

"The mute, blind and helpless girl," she finished. Toph sounded disgusted. "Ugh. Remind me to hit you later for that one."

He smiled. "If that means you'll let me go without being so stubborn." Toph unleashed a tiny growl. "No bodyguard would take his charge into a dangerous tavern," continued the warrior.

"Even if the charge kicks a great deal more ass than the supposed bodyguard?" she asked, falsely sweet.

Sokka disregarded the jab and said, "If we want to work in Hi Do, we have to play our parts, and not draw attention to ourselves. We went over this after-"

"Geta. I know, I know." Toph sighed and frowned. He recognized it as her reluctant one and knew he was in the clear. "Fine, go. But next time I get to be the bodyguard and you the helpless little girl."

The Water Tribe warrior glowered and crossed his arms. "I'm not a girl, Toph," he deadpanned.

"Oh? Really? Sure could've fooled me. You certainly scream like one, Snoozles," Toph said, snickering.

"That wasn't very nice," he said. He tugged at one of her unruly bangs and smirked at her indignant "OW!" Ignoring her now colorful, and downright nasty, tongue, Sokka added, "So you'll stay?"

"Yes. I said I would, didn't I?" she said, glaring uselessly at his chest.

"You won't follow me? Ask around the east end or any other district? Unleash massive destruction in the streets for your personal amusement?"

"I promise," said Toph. She rested her chin on her hand and slumped. "I'll stay right here, Sokka. I can play my part. I did it for years, remember?"

"I know." He easily noticed her glum, disappointed disposition, and sighed. The warrior could not help himself when she was upset. "Look, if you behave yourself, I'll bring you back some cake from that bakery we passed yesterday."

The blind girl's face brightened noticeably at the mention of cake. Sokka had touched on her love for the desert, which sometimes bordered on an outright addiction.

"Promise?" she asked. "You told me that last time, didn't do it, and told me you forgot." She crossed her arms, tapping a sole finger against her forearm. "You lied, by the way."

"I promise, Toph. A whole cake, just for you, if you stay here and be good." He almost laughed aloud at the pleased, dreamy look dancing over her features. "Now you promise me."

"Didn't I already?"

"Toph…"

"Okay, okay," she said, blowing at her wild bangs. "I promise. But I'll be expecting that cake."

"Good. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Sokka turned to leave but was stopped mid-way. Toph had grabbed his hand. She was far stronger than her tiny frame suggested. The warrior could not budge her, leaving him to wonder how she could do it on wooden floors as well as those of stone. Her little fingers clenched his own, thumb resting just above his pulse.

"What?" he asked.

Toph's face turned up to where his voice had come from. Her eyes landed on his face and, not for the first time, he was surprised by the accuracy. Worry had replaced the sarcasm and joking manner. Her wolfish grin was long gone.

"Be careful, okay?" she said. "When you go to that tavern, keep your guard up."

Sokka sighed and stared at the floor. Her hazy eyes seemed to stare straight into his soul. "I'm just going to see Chen, Toph. Nothing big, really. It's not like I'm infiltrating the Byakko Fortress tonight."

"I know that!" she snapped irritably. "I do. And I'm not saying you're not capable of doing stuff on your own. It's just…It's dangerous out there, Sokka. The Agni Tachi forces are gathering up, because of that Sun Festival, and there are guards all over the place. At least I look a little bit like Fire Nation. You stick out like a sore thumb."

His breath hitched in his throat. It was not like Toph to be so concerned over a simple mission. Most of the time, she was overconfident, almost arrogant, and gung-ho about each and every battle. It was not often she, of all people, got worried, and when she did, it was usually pretty serious.

The warrior squeezed her shoulder and leaned forward. Their foreheads touched, briefly, and he gently pulled away from her grip.

"What's with you?" he asked. A grin was pulling at his lips and he was sure she could hear it in his voice. "It's my job to be the cautious worrywart, remember? You're the one who throws a hissy fit whenever I'm overprotective."

She scowled and he laughed, roughing her hair. The blind girl shoved his hand away, still frowning, but visibly looked more amused.

"Don't worry, Toph. I'll be fine," he assured her. "I'm smarter than any firebender, right?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Sometimes. When you choose to be," said Toph, smiling again. He liked her smile. She was usually scowling, or smirking, so a true smile was rare and appreciated. "Most of the time you're just a complete idiot."

"Ouch. You wound me, Lady Toph," he said playfully. He punched her in the shoulder good-naturedly.

Toph burst out laughing. "Sweet spirits! Not only do you scream like a girl, Snoozles, you punch like one, too."

"Hmph. Here I am, trying to be nice, and you're just downright nasty. See if I ever try that again," he sighed, falling into the banter easily.

In apology, the earthbender punched him, hard, and grinned. Good, she was feeling better. Sokka didn't want Toph to worry about him. It wasn't worth it.

"Well, I'm off," Sokka said, after a moment. "You'll be careful too, right? No wild and crazy stuff while I'm gone, okay?"

"Nah. I only do that stuff while you're around."

"Yeah, I pretty much figured that. Lucky me."

"Yes. You are. Remember the cake!" she shouted at him, as he walked down the inn corridor to the stairs. "If you don't, and didn't take me with you, I'll-"

"Kick my ass, I know. You're predictable, Toph."

Her only reply was that scary and yet ultimately endearing, for him at least, wolfish grin.

OoOoOoO

Hi Do was a sprawling and bustling, if old, metropolis, one of the largest in the Fire Nation. It was also the most populous city in the western province. It was commonly called Way of Fire by its citizens and had once been the capital of the Fire Nation, in days gone by.

There were several districts and neighborhoods that made up Hi Do, all spiraling outward to four individual gates in each compass direction. In a way, it was the fiery equivalent to Ba Sing Se in the Earth Kingdom. It was a city of walls and rings, poor and rich, secrets and lies.

Sokka pushed his way through the throng of people that busied the dry streets of the south end, which bordered the south gate. It was market day. Families, and thieves, were out and about. Peddlers shouted out their wares. Children dashed across the main highway, their laughter echoing above the general din. Dialects from across the Fire Nation mingled and mixed together, creating an unidentifiable babble that rang in his ears. The smell of fish and produce drifted through the smoky air.

The heat pressed down on everything, though, and crimson shirts and pants were stained with sweat. It was summer all year round in the Fire Nation. Sokka, born and bred in the chilly climates of the South Pole, and used to the more temperate climates of the Earth Kingdom, hated it. It was uncomfortable.

He heard a distant bong that echoed across all of Hi Do. It was the clock tower, one of the oldest pieces of architecture in the city and located in the middle of the town square in the uppermost ring.

Noon, then, he thought, counting the chimes. I'd better hurry. Chen wanted to meet about lunchtime.

The tavern he needed to find was called the Crusty Wyvern. He had seen it the day before, when he and Toph had come through the east gate. A simple establishment, it was boring, for lack of a better word, and did not attract much attention from the city guards or the dreaded, and more dangerous, Agni Tachi.

Better yet, the Crusty Wyvern had upper rooms where paying customers could sit and talk in private. He and Chen would buy one and, ultimately, finalize plans for the rescue.

Sokka briefly wondered what Chen would have for him. The note had been hurriedly written and was barely legible. The Water Tribe warrior took it that the news was urgent. That bothered him. Chen was pretty sturdy. If anything had gotten under that man's skin, it was bound to be bad news.

And I hate bad news.

Wiping a bead of sweat from his brow, Sokka stopped at a corner and looked across the street. The east end lay just ahead. The poorest section of the district was situated near the wall of Hi Do. It, and the east gate that gave the area its name, was crumpling and in obvious disrepair. He could smell the refuse and garbage from the safety of the south end, a relatively safe if shabby neighborhood.

Of course, this was the way it was for most of the neighborhoods and districts located in the lowest ring of Hi Do. Slums in every sense of the word, this was where the poorest of the poor lived, where the taverns and brothels took up residence, and thieves and roving gangs ruled supreme.

Further up the street, however, and deeper into Hi Do, the threatening nature was replaced by a colorful and lively atmosphere. There were still poor folks, of course, but they were happy. The Crusty Wyvern lay in just such a neighborhood.

The warrior side-stepped a buggy, and its cursing driver, and scurried into the east end. Immediately, he left the east gate, and its dangers, behind. It did not take him long to reach cleaner streets and nicer citizens.

He topped a rise and leaned against a lamppost to catch his breath. Even though he was only exploring the outermost fringes of Hi Do, it was a long walk from the Dragon Scale inn and the pub. It reminded Sokka, unfavorably, of Ba Sing Se during his first trip to the Earth Kingdom capital.

Just in the distance, he made out a hulking fortress. The large structure took up most of the horizon of the west end. Dark and imposing, its towers and turrets jutting into the sky, it was bathed in a blood-red glow from the setting sun. A lone flag fluttered in the dry breeze, on the central tower, overlooking the guarded courtyards and barred windows below.

The Byakko Fortress. Sokka's brow furrowed and his right hand clenched the end of his machete. And the main headquarters of the Agni Tachi in the western province. It's…it's bigger than the plans suggested.

He was suddenly very glad that Chen had decided to have their meeting in the east end. For all the long walk, it was far away from the Agni Tachi, men and women he would rather avoid if he could help it. The Agni Tachi was a far more threatening force than the normal guards and police of Hi Do.

The Agni Tachi was a group that had been formed by Zuko only recently, at most a year and a half ago. Composed of elite firebenders, they were excellent fighters and strategists, the best of the best from all over the land. Only a select few joined their ranks. They were easily identified by their red robes, hued in lighter to darker shades to reveal station, and golden insignias that depicted the Fire Nation emblem.

Outwardly, they were yet another security force created to protect the increasingly dangerous Fire Nation. They upheld the law where the local authorities failed and took on missions deemed too delicate for the army. But, as with all creations in the Fire Nation, the Agni Tachi had a dark side. It was known by all but whispered by few.

The Swords of Agni, as they were commonly called by civilians, had been directly inspired by the disbanded Dai Li of Ba Sing Se. They were the Dai Li, reborn, as a phoenix from the flames. They were the secret police of the Fire Nation, brutal and dangerous, and loyal only to the Fire Lord.

It was rumored they had solved the mystery of the brainwashing techniques once used by the Dai Li, experimenting with prisoners and those off the street no one would miss. They quelled rebellion and resistance, snuffing it out like a candle, and hunted down those they perceived as threats to the crown. The members of the Agni Tachi were specters of flame, swift and powerful, sadistic and unrelenting, and held most in their power through fear and intimidation.

The Agni Tachi commanded the foul spirit of the Dai Li when Long Feng was in charge, though, if truth be told, the Swords were far stronger. They not only held a city under their control, but an entire nation. The Agni Tachi agents were, then, deadly enemies to the ideal of the rebellion and the rebels themselves.

The Agni Tachi held fortresses in each of the four provinces. Each fortress was a headquarters for the province's sect of Agni Tachi, each led by a commanding officer who answered only to Fire Lord Zuko, though members traveled throughout the Fire Nation to ensure order. Named for the Four Gods of ancient Fire Nation lore, the fortresses not only housed new recruits and master firebenders of the Agni Tachi, but held captured prisoners as well.

It was said that escape from those torture chambers, the belly of the beast, was impossible.

And that's exactly what Toph and I are trying to pull off.

Sokka took in a deep breath to steady his nerves. The very magnitude of the feat that lay before him and his partner in crime, as Toph liked to put it, was enough to make him doubt their abilities to save the woman.

Toph's probably excited, he thought. But she's crazy like that.

He hurried up the street, turning his eyes away from the imposing sight. Instead of focusing on it, and the horrors it contained, he remembered the blueprints, the plan, everything he and the others had worked out in the past few days.

The small act helped to calm the Water Tribe warrior. So long as he was able to see the mission through, and had Toph by his side, Sokka knew nothing could go wrong.

He had to believe that.

Sokka reached the Crusty Wyvern a few minutes later. The pub, although small compared to some of the richer establishments in the upper and middle rings of Hi Do, looked a lot better than the inn where he and Toph had been forced to stay. The roof was shingled red, though a few were missing, and the structure was thick, ancient wood. It was not the metal most of the newer houses and buildings had in the great Fire Nation cities. The Crusty Wyvern clung to the older traditions of the land.

The inside was much of the same. There was a bar towards the end of the first floor room. Several tables and chairs were scattered across the front. He saw a stage, or at least an upraised dais, meant for entertainment, though it was still too early for that. There were not many customers, either. Most of the citizens of this district were working class folk and it was still working hours in Hi Do.

Sokka took a seat at the bar. Chen had not arrived yet, or he would have seen him at one of the tables, and the warrior was not prepared to use his gold pieces to secure one of the upper rooms. He and Toph would need the money once they left the city, with an extra traveler in tow.

"Can I get ya anything, son?" asked the barkeep.

"Uh, yeah. Sure. I'll take a…" He trailed off, sighed, and rubbed at his chin. He had promised Toph he would not get drunk. Although he was sure he could get away with it, he valued his word.

He valued Toph's trust even more.

"Just some cider, okay?" finished Sokka, at last.

The barkeep nodded and soon returned with a glass. "Three copper pieces, son."

Sokka handed him the money and gulped down the drink. The cool cider relieved his parched, aching throat and chapped lips. The sooner he left this hot, dry place, the better.

He quickly finished the glass and ordered another, as well as a bowl of meat stew to help stave away his hunger. There was no telling when he would get back to the inn, after all, and it had been a while since breakfast.

There was a distant bong that reached the doors of the pub. It was half past noon now. Sokka wondered where Chen could be. Worry clenched his gut and he struggled not to appear too anxious. He did not suspect anyone in the Crusty Wyvern to be in league with the Agni Tachi, but he did not want to take an unnecessary chance that could blow the mission.

The mission. There it was, rearing up its head again. Sokka swished some of his cider in his gums before swallowing.

It had only been a couple of weeks ago when Aang had first brought the subject up. Then, he had been at the Western Air Temple, and Toph had been grumpy after the Geta incident…

OoOoOoO

"So what does Aang want to talk about?" asked Sokka.

He and Toph were walking down the halls of the uppermost reaches of the Air Temple. Monuments and engraved murals, etched deep into the ancient stone, lined the way and kept watch over the spiritual place. Outside, framed by an open balcony and domed roofs, he could see green, dark mountains, and mist and clouds dancing over the jagged peaks.

"How should I know?" Toph shrugged and, hitching up the oversized trousers she insisted she wear, said, "I'm an earthbender, not a mind-reader. All I know is that Katara said he wanted to see us this afternoon, after lunch. As in now."

"But…?" he prodded. He had known Toph long enough to know when she had something on her thoughts.

She stopped in the middle of the wide corridor. A fresh breeze danced inside from the open windows to their right. It smelled liked the forests and hidden gardens below.

"I think it's something pretty important. Your sister seemed awful worried when we spoke. Fidgety, even, like she knew something she wasn't telling me."

"Maybe she saw something that bothered her when she was with Aang. You know how sensitive she is when it comes to him," said Sokka.

"You're probably right," agreed the blind girl. She leaned against one of the statues of the lost airbender nuns and crossed her arms. A thoughtful haze came over her face, though it did not reach her cloudy eyes. "Twinkle Toes has been pretty skittish this week. More than usual, I mean."

"So?" he said. "That's not a big surprise. The council has been giving him a hard time lately."

His countenance darkened considerably. Sokka thought of Aang as a part of his family. If you could even think of someone like the Avatar as a kid brother, that is. Watching the very people he was trying to protect outright insult him, question his motives, was enough for the warrior to have serious doubts about their involvement in the rebellion.

Ungrateful bastards.

"He's probably just had to deal with them at the meetings this week, Toph."

"Aang hasn't been to any of those meetings."

"What? Really?" he asked, surprised. Of course, he hadn't been to the council that week, opting to avoid stupidity when and where he could, but still. Aang was responsible and dedicated, a true Avatar, even if he did still have something of a breezy, free attitude. It was not like him to not take part in the talks.

"Yeah, haven't you heard? Katara's been taking his place. I tried helping a couple of times, but Sugar Queen won't let me anymore. She says I'm not that good at diplomacy." She flashed a smug grin, running a finger across the bridge of her nose. "Something about always wanting my way or the highway."

"If only we could have it your way, we'd probably be a lot better off," he muttered, sighing. Toph laughed but her humor did not reach him. "I wonder what's bothering him."

The tiny earthbender shrugged, again, and said, "I dunno. I haven't talked to him for a while. He's always off by himself, holed up in his room, flying Fluffy, or medicating or something."

"Meditating, Toph. He meditates."

"Whatever. Look, even Katara's had a hard time seeing him. I thought it must just be typical airbender shit, but…" She rubbed the bare sole of one foot against her other calf, brow furrowed. "Now, I'm not so sure."

"You're worried." It was not a question.

"Well, yeah, I am. I'm like my element but I'm not heartless. Aang's my friend. I care about him."

Her face swiveled towards him and her eyes landed on his forehead. "Don't you dare tell him, or anyone, I said that, Snoozles. I don't want people thinking the Blind Bandit's gone soft. I've got a reputation to keep up."

A grin tugged at Sokka's mouth and he said, "Even though we all know you're just a big, fluffy marshmallow inside? Face it, dear, you're a sweetheart."

After that eloquent gesture of affection, Toph promptly offered her eloquent rebuttal.

She stomped on his foot. Hard.

The Water Tribe warrior howled painfully and hobbled, almost falling over, and backed away before she could do more damage. He took the hint and decided not to call her 'sweetheart' ever again.

"Ow," he complained. "That hurt, Toph."

"Wuss," she said.

He grumbled but could not come up with a suitable comeback. He hated when she did that.

"C'mon, let's get to the top chamber," said Toph, tugging at his sleeve and dragging him down the hall. "I want to know what's going on. I hope it's worth me missing my afternoon nap."

Sokka knew better. She had admitted she was worried and was hoping they could help Aang with whatever was bothering him. He shared that wish, too.

Aang and Katara were the heads, or at least the faces, of the rebellion against the increasingly dystopian Fire Nation and, as such, had been given the largest rooms in the Air Temple. Once the home of the mother nun, leader of the Western Air Temple in days long past, their quarters were a series of interconnecting rooms and chambers, consisting of several bedrooms, two baths, a dining room, and a front foyer for entertaining guests. The main bedroom overlooked the mountains and overgrown orchards below.

It was a peaceful place and far away from the disturbances that played over the hidden headquarters to the north of Fire Nation shores. Sokka and Toph did not stay there, themselves. No one really considered them leaders of anything. They were shadows of the glowing Avatar and waterbending master and, like shadows, lived below the light.

Not that he minded. His room wasn't fancy or anything, not that these upper chambers were either (monks and nuns were very simple, he had noticed), but it was comfortable. Toph had a nice one, too, though he didn't think she used it all that much. The earthbender liked being outside far more and it was not an uncommon sight to see a little earth-tent in the Temple gardens early in the morning.

Toph easily opened the doors to the front foyer. The vaulted ceiling, made from fine-cut stone and reinforced by thick oak, stretched down, transforming from earth to wind, to the tiled floor. It was simple but elegant. Sokka recognized both Aang and Katara's personal touches to make the upper rooms seem more like home.

"Oh, good, you're here."

Katara had been sitting at a nearby table. Now that the earthbender and warrior had arrived, however, she stood and offered a weak smile.

The contrast between his sister and Toph was astounding, though he was long used to it. Toph was bedraggled and almost grubby. Katara was beautiful and graceful, now a young woman of seventeen. She was wearing the blue and cream attire of a master waterbender, a golden sun sewn on the left sleeve to signify her as a student of Master Pakku, and had let her dark brown hair down. The afternoon light played against the sapphire gem of her necklace.

Toph snorted. "Was there ever any doubt? We're lazy but we keep our word." She shifted her feet. "Where's your main squeeze, anyway?"

The older girl blushed. The redness, creeping over her cheeks, was easy to see against her tanned skin. "Aang's in the dining room," she said. Her hands were clasped, the knuckles white, and Sokka frowned. "He…he'll be glad you came."

"Katara?" said Sokka. "Is everything alright?"

"I'm not sure."

She led them to the dining room. The smallest of the upper rooms, since not many would have ate there, even years ago when the Temple had been populated by the airbending sisters, it overlooked the turrets to the back of the Air Temple. A round table, also made from oak, took up the middle.

Aang was standing at a window, not moving, and staring quietly at the misty mountains.

"Aang," said Katara. "They're here."

The Avatar turned and grinned at the pair. "Hey, guys. Thanks for coming. I know it's kind of short notice."

"Don't worry about it," said Sokka. He could see the dark circles and heavy bags beneath Aang's eyes. Had he not been sleeping? "We're glad to."

His friend had grown a lot in the past three, going on four, years since the end of the Hundred Year War. Now sixteen, Aang was tall, almost as tall as Sokka now, though where the warrior was muscled and rugged, the Avatar was slim, almost willowy. The young man was wearing the robes of an elder monk, a mixture of bright oranges and yellows, and a talisman depicting the symbol of the Air Nomads. Aang was handsome, though now he looked tired, exhausted even.

"I know, but still. It means a lot. I know I've been worrying you all lately. And I'm sorry. It's just…"

The young man stared off, silently, for a moment, noticeably lost in thought. "It's been a long week," finished Aang, a haze still lingering in his weary voice. "And I shouldn't have put this off for so long. It's my fault."

"Put off what, Aang?" asked Sokka.

The Avatar looked at the Water Tribe warrior but did not say a word. Sokka was struck by how otherworldly he appeared. Aang was there, but was not, and it took a gentle voice to break the spell.

"Is that why you wanted to talk to us?" said Katara.

"Yes. It is." The young monk gestured towards the round table "You can sit, if you want. And have you eaten yet? I can go get some-"

Katara placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. The small gesture cut his rambling, and avoiding of the subject, off immediately. "Why don't we go outside?" she asked. "It's too beautiful of a day to waste it in here."

"Uh, okay. That sounds good," said Aang. He smiled at the girl and ran a thumb over her fingers. There was life there that had been missing before.

Sokka eyed the action with conflicting emotions. Toph smirked and nudged him with a foot.

The balcony was a large area, a room unto itself, and there were several tables and chairs scattered across the landing. The four friends took seats on a raised porch, the stone work framed by ivy and blooming flowers. The distant call of an eagle-owl echoed across the looming mountain range that towered over them all.

It was silent for the longest time. No one brought up the question that was wishing to be released. Aang did not seem willing to open the conversation, either.

"So, what's eating you, Twinkle Toes?" said Toph, once the quiet had become unbearable.

Leave it to Toph to be the blunt, confrontational one. Sokka was just glad it hadn't been him. She was never exactly polite, but words never failed Toph. They fumbled on his tongue.

Aang fingered his talisman for a bit, brow furrowed, and stared at his feet. "I've been having visions," he replied.

Shock raced across each of their faces. Sokka and Katara shared a meaningful glance while Toph tapped a finger against the stone table. They all knew the meaning behind Aang's visions. Something, usually dangerous, was looming in the distance.

"Visions? Are you sure, Aang?" said Katara, slowly.

"I am. I didn't say anything at first. I thought it might just be a weird dream. But when they continued, and became stronger, more insistent…" He shrugged. "I knew it was time I told the truth."

"Just how specific are these visions anyway?" asked Sokka. "I mean, you don't have the greatest track record in understanding these things."

"I know. That's why these have been so strange. They're so clear, like I'm actually talking to someone." The faraway haze returned to Aang's eyes. It was almost haunting; even Toph seemed to feel the weight behind the otherworldly gleam. "I've had one every night this week. They're all the same, too, with more bits and pieces each time I see them."

Katara's blue eyes went bright with worry as she watched the young man. Ever since he had almost been killed by Azula, all those years ago, she had kept close to him, probably out of fear he would fall again if she was not there to catch him.

She bit her lip and said, "What are they about, Aang? Is it…bad?"

"I'm…I'm not sure, really. I mean, they're not bad in of themselves," said Aang, "but there's always this foreboding when I have them. Like if I don't listen, something bad will happen."

He fell silent and rubbed sleepily at his eyelids. Just talking about his trials seemed to have lifted a burden off his shoulders. "In my vision, there's a woman-"

"A woman?" said Katara, managing to look both insulted and interested at the same time. Toph and Sokka snickered and she glared daggers at the pair.

"She's an old woman," Aang said, blissfully unaware of the other's mixed reactions. "About Kana's age, I think. I don't know her name, though. But I do know she's in the Fire Nation."

"Well, this sounds promising already," muttered Sokka. "We all know everything great and wonderful is born in the Fire Nation."

"I like those fire flakes," Toph said with a grin. "They're pretty tasty."

"GUYS!" snapped Katara. The warrior cringed while Toph scowled and pointedly ignored the waterbender. Watching the two troublemakers with a guarded expression that threatened retribution, she said, in a far more lovely voice, "Aang, please continue."

"We're alone. I think we're in a cell. It's hot, and I feel like someone's watching us, but everything's really quiet. I can understand her thoughts, though, and she talks to me. She's in trouble."

Aang looked at them all in the eyes, even Toph. "She's been captured, in Hi Do, and they're going to take her to Zuko."

Silence fell over the group once again. Unlike before, where there had been nervousness stalling the discussion, there was a sense of foreboding. It crept over them all and a heavy weight settled on their shoulders. The looming danger now felt closer than before.

"What does Scar Face want with some old lady?" said Toph, all in a rush. Sokka saw that she had ground her fingers into the stone table without realizing it. Her joking manner had been swept away by the revelation.

"I'm…I'm not sure," admitted Aang.

Sokka sighed and leaned his chin against a palm. "That's incredibly helpful, just so you know," he said dryly.

The younger boy chuckled sheepishly. It was a small hint of his more carefree personality, which seemed to have been crushed by the haunting visions and the passage of a long week. "Well, like you said, I'm not exactly good at figuring these visions all out."

The seriousness returned to his weary, almost worn, features quickly, however, and he said, "But I do know that if Zuko gets her, it will be very bad. For everyone. I don't know how, but it will."

Worrying the inside of his cheek, Sokka pulled at his warrior's wolf tail, and struggled to find the right words. The question ached in the back of his throat. "So…what are we going do about it?"

He dreaded the answer he knew would come.

"Well, that's easy." He was surprised, and yet not, when it was Toph who answered his question. She leaned back against her chair and, a determined smile coming to her face, crossed her arms. "Isn't it obvious? We save the old lady."

"But…but won't that be uh, you know, dangerous?" He hated how indecisive he sounded.

Katara, tugging at a lapel on her outfit, said, "I agree with Sokka. Hi Do is the western headquarters of the Agni Tachi. And it's deep in the Fire Nation. There are hardly any rebels in that area, either. We'd be on our own. It would be very dangerous."

"Since when is anything regarding Aang's visions not dangerous?" asked Toph bluntly. Her face turned in Aang's general direction. The earthbender's blank eyes bore into him. "Besides, that's what Twinkle Toes is driving at, isn't it? In his roundabout, airbender way."

Aang looked very uncomfortable with the way the conversation was going. He, too, like Sokka, knew the end result, and did not like it in the least. "Yeah," he said. "It is."

The boy savior straightened and said, with more strength and fervor than before, "I know my vision was true. If Zuko finds her, something bad will happen. Not just to the rebellion, but to a lot of innocent people in the Fire Nation. Maybe even the world. I know it sounds strange, but she's important.

"And even if it all turns out to be wrong, we can't just abandon her. I don't know how, but she was able to speak with me on a spiritual level. She needs us. She needs our help, guys. We have to save her, no matter what."

Katara spread her hands against her lap, trembling, and released a heavy sigh. Nodding, she said, "I agree with you, Aang. We should help her, no matter how dangerous the situation is. I believe in you."

He beamed at her. In the afternoon light, and thanks to his clean-shaven face and bald head, it was easy to see the blush making its way up his neck and across the bridge of his nose. "Thanks, Katara."

"Okay, now that the fuzzy moment is over," interrupted Sokka, stamping over the urge to separate the pair by any means necessary, "can we actually come up with a plan on how we're going to save this woman?"

"You and I could do it, Sokka," said Toph.

The two Companions and the Avatar jolted in their seats. Three pairs of eyes darted to land on the young earthbender, who was nonchalantly picking at a toenail. Sokka felt an odd lump come to his throat, one he could not swallow, and his fists clenched. He had been afraid of this.

"What?" The shrill voice, heightening with every syllable, had to belong to Katara. "What did you say?"

Toph replied, easily and without reservation, "I said Sokka and I can save the old lady."

"Toph…" said the waterbender, slowly but surely. "Maybe that's not such a good idea."

"Why not? Me and your brother work well together. And Geta was an accident, I swear."

Katara pursed her lips but did not seem angry. Rather, she looked worried, very concerned even, almost afraid. "Toph, you know it is not safe for you to be that deep in the Fire Nation."

The blind girl frowned and, for only the second time during the discussion of plans and visions, was visibly nervous. "I know. But you can't expect me to sit back and not help people just because some idiot doesn't really like me."

"That idiot," said Katara firmly, "is the most powerful man in the Fire Nation! And it's more than just a 'not liking' you thing. If you were captured-"

"Katara, I can't stand down," Toph insisted. "If I can help, I'm going to do it, no matter what. Letting him rule my life just isn't the way it's going to go."

She sighed and cracked her knuckles. "Uncle wouldn't have wanted that."

There was another moment of stillness as the foursome remembered the jovial man. It was horrible to imagine, to know, how hurt he would be if he could see the darkness that had descended on all he had once loved. Perhaps, in the Spirit World, he wept.

"But…" Katara paused. "Wouldn't it be better if we all went?"

"No, it wouldn't be. You guys are needed here and now, with the refugees, the sick and injured, snotty kids and everyone else, more than us, Sugar Queen. Besides," she said, smiling at her sister, by bond and not blood, "we're much better liars than you two are."

Sokka, shoulders stiff and neck muscles hardened by his clenched jaw, tugged at his warrior's wolf tail yet again.

"She's right, Katara." Katara looked at him, disbelieving. "We should be the ones to do it. You and Aang are too important to risk in something like this. At this point and time, from a logical standpoint, Toph and I are the best people for the job."

Even if I don't like it.

And Sokka didn't. Doing this himself was one thing, but with Toph? The last time he had done something like this, with another person, she had died. What if he failed Toph?

"You two are important, too," whispered his little sister. "If only to us…"

"Jeez, stop worrying. We are going to come back, with some old woman, too!" said Toph, with trademark boldness. She punched Sokka in the shoulder and he winced, rubbing at the aching bruise that was already forming. "There's nothing me and my partner in crime can't do!"

Aang and Katara shared a glance. They both knew the sense of the plan, even if it was in the rudimentary stages, and that it needed to be done. That did not change the heart of it at all, however, or their dislike of the danger it would put part of their family in.

It was Aang who broke the uncomfortable silence. "Okay. We'll start planning, and getting in touch with some contacts, tomorrow. Right now, let's just…"

He smiled at them all. "Let's sit together for a little longer. It's been a while and it might be a long time 'till we get to do it again."

OoOoOoO

"Sir? Sir?"

Sokka started, waking from reveries and dreams mingling as one, and smacked his dry lips. Groaning, he blearily rubbed the sleep from his heavy eyes, and sat up from the bar. It was darker than before and a few more customers were straggling into the Crusty Wyvern.

Did I fall asleep? he wondered. What time is it?

Cricking his neck, he yawned, and tried to gather back his bearings and aware senses. It was hard. Part of him just wanted to go back to sleep, or drowse, or whatever he had been doing.

He glanced at the maid who had shaken him awake. "Yeah? What is it?" asked Sokka.

"Someone is here to see you, sir. At least, he asked for you," the girl said nervously. She pointed towards a corner table in the room. "He's over there."

Sokka swiveled in his seat to see who it was.

In the shadows, only glimpses of his face and uniform revealed by the flickering lights, was a Fire Nation guard.