Book 4 - Air
Episode 3 "Toph's home coming"
Part 1
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After Toph's strategic absence during the last few episodes it's time to bring the little spitfire back into the spotlight.
Also a quick thanks to all the people who have reviewed so far, keep up the comments, ^^ I still have a small hope of somehow reaching a larger audience… (Queue violin)…
Reminder format note: As the document manager continues to kill my formatting, look for the - symbols, they indicate a change in scene.
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- The sun was already high into the morning sky, helping to provide a soft, soothing, orange glow to the scene of party-induced destruction that was the main living area of the gang's temporary residence in Ba-Sing-Se.
Between the sea of dirty plates, cups and various scattered items was a large futon spread out onto the floor. Sprawled in the middle of this soft bed, surrounded by large cushions, lay a snoring Sokka. Suki was snuggled up to him on one side resting on her boyfriend's shoulder. Toph was sprawled out inelegantly at the other end of the futon using one of Sokka's legs as a pillow. Nearby on a large circular and padded cane chair, Aang and Katara were snuggled together sleeping comfortably.
Just outside, through the large open double doors slept Momo and Appa, the small lemur's stomach seemed to be severely bloated from overeating.
Entering this scene from the hallway appeared Mai and Zuko. Both were immaculately and officially dressed and shook their heads in amused disapproval.
"Wake up sleepy heads" commanded Zuko loudly.
Zuko was rewarded by a series of groans, followed by a few exaggerated yawns and mumblings.
Aang stretched animatedly and then put his arm around Katara's waist, the young woman having sat up in the meantime.
"Is it time to go to the next celebration already?" Aang asked with a lazy smile, seemingly ready.
"No! No more celebrations… need rest" moaned Sokka, sticking his head under a pillow.
"You wouldn't feel so bad if you stopped drinking and eating everything you got your hands on" said Katara sternly, lazily stretching a little more, but seemingly otherwise ok.
"I swear cactus juice was in that strange stew I was given last night before we left that dance" replied Soka, his face barely making it out from underneath the pillow.
"Then what in the world possessed you to share it with Toph?" asked Suki, who was looking ok and had stood up.
"I didn't think it was that bad" said Toph who was opening and closing her mouth, trying to figure out why her tong felt so strange.
"And what about that?" asked Suki with a shrewd smile, pointing to a large opening in a nearby wall, "I don't remember that window being there two days ago."
"Oh yeah", said Toph, blushing a little as she suddenly remembered, "my bad."
"I leave you alone for one night" said Mai with a smile, walking over to the doorway to inspect the mess outside.
"Luckily for you Sokka, the three days of official celebrations are over, it's back to normal life and normal responsibilities" added Mai.
"For some of us the party finished a lot earlier" commented Zuko, "let's get this place cleaned up a bit and make some lunch. I have to talk to you about what's been going on."
"You mean Breakfast?" asked Sokka.
"Yeah, breakfast" replied Zuko, crossing his arms.
- Soon all the youngsters were seated around the large table in the partially cleaned kitchen having 'breakfast'.
"So the meetings have been going on for the last two days?" asked a surprised Aang.
"I was given the timetable on the evening after I returned to Ba-Sing-Se" answered Zuko.
"Apparently the affairs of state couldn't wait for the party to end" said Mai flatly.
"And I wasn't invited" asked Aang, a little annoyed.
"I was a little surprised too" admitted Zuko "but the officials that organised the meeting on both sides felt that the discussions didn't directly concern you. They felt that it was more of a matter between our two nations."
"What were the meetings about?" asked Katara.
"A delegation from the fire nation colonies has arrived to discuss their future" said Zuko.
"What future?" interrupted Sokka between mouthfuls, "they should all go home, end of problem."
"It's not that easy" replied Zuko, "some of the settlements are almost a hundred years old now, they are effectively home to the fire nation people who have lived there for generations."
Sokka looked somewhat unsympathetic.
Aang still looked like he was annoyed at being excluded. Zuko noticed the Avatar's seeming hostility
"It was mostly me and the Earthking listening to a bunch of bureaucrats discussing prisoner handovers, zones of control, pullout time tables, logistics…"
"And so on and so forth" added Mai, who had obviously not found most of the discussion exactly thrilling.
Katara put a reassuring hand on Aang's shoulder.
"You can't take care of everything Aang, you should be happy that they are clearing things up on their own."
Aang thought about this.
"I suppose you're right…" said Aang after a second, "actually you are right" he added a moment later, suddenly much happier about the matter.
"Let the quill pushers take care of the details," said Toph enthusiastically "We'll take care of all the rough stuff that needs doing."
The young earth bender cracked her knuckles enthusiastically, a large grin on her face.
"Its going to take another few days to sort out the multitude of issues, and its not yet clear which of the problems has priority," said Zuko, sounding tired, and not because of lack of sleep.
Mai noticed his dejected tone, placing a kind hand on his.
"At least Iroh and some of the White Lotus members have decided to help in the matter," said Mai to inform the group, as well as remind Zuko, "they've been invaluable."
Zuko smiled a little at the reassurance.
"If you need help, we're there for you" said Aang reassuringly, realising how difficult his friend's situation suddenly was.
"Thanks" said Zuko honestly, "I'll let you know once we're finished"
"And what are we going to do for the next few days?" asked Sokka suddenly.
"You mean other then clean this place up?" countered Katara.
"That won't take long," dismissed Sokka.
"Hey, what about that list I heard you guys talking about. Aang's places with fun things to do" suggested Toph enthusiastically.
"There's a good idea" agreed Aang, pepping up suddenly.
"Toph" said Katara simply, her tone carrying a hidden reminder. All in the room looked from Katara to Toph.
"Oh come on Katara, you can't hold that over me know" whined Toph.
"What is it?" asked Aang.
"Toph promised herself that she would visit her parents as soon as things clamed down a bit."
"I wasn't hoping for things to calm down quite so soon" said a disgruntled Toph, crossing her arms, "and you shouldn't use my own words against me."
Katara smiled, knowing she had already won.
"Don't your parents live in GaoLing?" asked Suki suddenly.
"Yeah, what of it" replied Toph.
"That's close to Kyoshi Island" replied Suki, "I can drop in and see how the girls are getting along without their leader."
"We'll that's settled then" said Aang happily, "look's like we're off to catch up with old friends and family."
Katara turned to look at her brother, who suddenly had a large grin on his face.
"Why are you so happy?" she asked, "you're missing out on your holiday."
"Are you kidding me?" replied Sokka, "earth rumble seven is coming up, this is going to be great!"
Katara rolled her eye's as Suki looked over at her enthused boyfriend questioningly.
- Zuko and Mai were waiting near a loaded-up Appa as the rest of the gang finished what they were doing in their temporary residence.
"Don't lick me" instructed Zuko to the large ski bison as he scratched Appa behind the ear.
Appa let out a submissive low raw. Momo was also happily getting some attention from Mai as he sat on her shoulder.
"I think he likes you" said Zuko with a smile, referring to Momo.
"Just my luck" said Mai, though her tone clearly indicated that she actually enjoyed interacting with Momo.
First to appear was Toph, carrying a small bag which she threw up into Appa's saddle.
"Well, best of luck Lord Sparky, Sunshine" she said to the two on the way past, "hopefully we run into each other again soon."
Toph simply walked on towards Appa.
"Best of luck with your parents, bright-eyes" said Mai pleasantly, her tone carrying no malice.
Zuko cringed slightly, unsure of how Toph would react.
Toph stopped for a second, slightly surprised be the comment, she then smiled broadly and put her hand up, moving her index finger as if giving a point to Mai on an unseen scoreboard.
"Nice" said the earth bender approvingly, before earth bending her self up into the saddle.
Next to emerge from the house was Aang and Katara, closely followed by Sokka and Suki.
"I just got word that your father arrived to pick up the last of the Southern Watertribe prisoners still held back in the Firenation" said Zuko to the two Watertribe siblings.
"Does that include that strange Hama woman you were talking about?" asked Suki to Katara.
"Yes" confirmed the water bender, looking serious, "the Watertribe elders will have to decide what happens to her."
Sokka nodded in agreement.
"That still leaves a lot of people not accounted for" said Sokka disapprovingly.
"I know" agreed Zuko. "Only the most dangerous benders were kept in Firenation territory, the rest were held in large camps scattered throughout the former Firenation colonies. My father new that he would have to separate this disgrace from the rest of the Firenation, or risk unrest at home."
"Out of site, out of mind" said Suki.
"But we know about them, don't we?" said Sokka.
"Not all it would appear" said Zuko.
"Apparently the former Firelord had a whole secret military detachment which ran all the camps, and undertook numerous other activities" added Mai.
"Sort of like a Firenation Dai-Li" suggested Aang.
Zuko nodded.
"Once Azula and my father were defeated the members started to cover their tracks, all the records were destroyed and most of the leaders simply disappeared."
"It's been a nightmare to try and unravel the system, we've been getting all types of information from all over the place, it's still a mess" admitted Mai.
"There appear to be a number of larger camps that we still don't know about" said Zuko "ones that hold water benders, and earth benders."
"Sounds like there is still a lot to sort out," said Aang, a little dejected, "I suppose we could just search around, see what we can find."
"With the help of Jeong Jeong I've been able to shake up the old military order, it will still take some time, but I have trusted units doing coordinated searches. I'm expecting a report from Jeong Jeong soon, once it's here I'll let you know."
"Speaking of 'letting you know' " interrupted Mai.
From her person she retrieved two very impressive looking identification seals, one from the Firenation and one from the Earthkingdom.
"We have two diplomatic seals for you, one from the Earthkingdom and one from the Firenation" said Mai, "this will ensure all communications are free and sent by the fastest means, you only have to inform the local mail station of where you are."
"We have diplomatic immunity?" said Sokka gleefully. He then rubbed his hands together with a devilish expression.
"I'm sure that is only valid for Aang" said Katara assuredly, taking the seals from Mai.
"Anyway you're from the Wattertribe, remember?" added Katara.
Sokka deflated, before replying proudly "hey, I'm a man of the world now."
"Well come on my worldly man, we have to go" said Suki, nudging him. Suki turned to bow respectfully to Zuko and Mai, using a standard Kyoshi gesture. Zuko and Mai replied with Firenation bows.
Sokka quickly jumped at the firenation couple, throwing his arms around them.
"Take care you two, send us a letter" he said over dramatically. Mai and Zuko gave similarly cringes, Mai patting the warrior on the back reluctantly.
With that, Sokka left with Suki, a tear in one of his eyes.
"I'm just a letter away" said Aang encouragingly. He and Katara bowed, each according to their custom, which Mai and Zuko reciprocated.
"So are we" said Zuko with a smile, "from what I heard about Toph's parents, it might be you who needs reinforcements."
Aang smiled. Moving over to his ski bison he earth bended himself and Katara up, Aang taking the rains of Appa. Momo rubbed his cheek against Mai's before taking off to fly to Aang's shoulder.
"Yip yip" commanded the Airnomad.
The youths waving to each other as Appa rose into the air.
- Aang was standing in the middle of a small camp site the next morning, water bending some soup into a pot above a fire for breakfast.
Nearby, Toph emerged from her stone tent, stretching sleepily.
"So you ready to face your parents today?" asked Aang happily.
"Ya I suppose so" answered Toph, her normal confidence faltering slightly.
"You've got my back though, don't you twinkle tows" Toph asked suddenly.
"Sure do" said Aang happily.
- Toph's mother was sitting alone in the gazebo in the picturesque garden of the Beifong estate. Looking up from the letter she was writing she suddenly looked a little shocked as Appa quickly came into view, flying down onto the lawn of the garden.
No sooner had Appa touched down then Toph jumped from his back, landing with one palm on the ground, feeling her surroundings.
Toph's mother got up and quickly walked to the gazebos entrance, recognising her daughter immediately.
"Toph" called out Mrs Beifong happily.
"Mum" called back Toph, her voice also filled with joy.
Mother and child began to hurry towards each other before Toph's mother suddenly stopped, spotting Aang and the others dismounting Appa.
"Guards!" called Toph's mother automatically, her face suddenly changing from joy to anger. Several guards had immerging from the house anyway to check who the sudden intruders were.
"Mum wait!" called Toph, also stopping "I told you in the letter that I wasn't kidnapped" said the suddenly distressed earth bender.
"I don't know what lies he has told you to make you believe that" said Toph's mother angrily towards Aang, "but he still took you away from us without our permission."
Toph's expression turned from distress to anger.
"There were no lies!" she yelled angrily, "It was my decision to go with the Avatar, I gave my permission! I was the one who decided to stay with him the whole time, and it was my decision to come back."
Toph's mother didn't back down from her daughter, despite the earth rumbling slightly with every stomp of Toph's foot.
"But you are just a little girl" dismissed the older woman.
"This little girl has travelled all over the world" countered Toph, "stormed the Earthkingdom palace, faced off the Dei-Li, been lost in a desert, travelled through enemy territory and helped destroy the Firenation air force!"
To punctuate her comment Toph stomped her foot again, sending the group of guards high into the air on a sudden podium of earth.
Mrs Beifong looked astonished at her daughter's outburst, and then looked up at the hapless guards. Her anger quickly disappeared, her expression turning to one of slight sadness and defeat.
"But you are still my daughter" she said more meekly.
"I know" said Toph, her own voice becoming softer.
"So please, let them stay as your guest, for me."
Toph started to close the shot distance to her mother.
"They can stay." said her mother, more interested in suddenly hugging her missed daughter then being upset.
The two Beifong women embraced in a hug.
From behind, the other youths smiled at the scene.
Toph, realising that her normal tough reputation was at this moment taking a battering, pulled away from her mother for a second to hold her at arms length.
"Guy's, could you give us some time alone?" she said simply.
"Sure thing" said Aang with a grin, aware that they were sort of intruding.
"And could you get the guards back down?" she asked a moment later.
The small group of guards looking on with worried expressions from their high perch.
Toph turned back to her mother. During her turn to talk to Aang one of her hands had slipped forward on her mothers waste to her side.
Toph suddenly froze, seemingly in shock, brining her other hand forward she placed it on her mother's stomach. She then lowered herself to put her ear to her mother's waist, as if not trusting her hands.
Surprised at first by Toph's actions, Mrs Beifong then raised Toph lightly by the shoulders.
"Yes Toph, you're going to be a big sister."
"Wow…" said Toph, unbelieving.
- Looking out of the window of the large study in the Beifong household, the sun was already setting on the horizon. Aang was sitting with Katara to one side playing Pai Sho while Sokka sat nearby with one of the large family volumes which chronicled the extensive Beifong Family history.
"Are you sure you're allowed to be looking through that?" asked Katara while making her move.
"And why not, it was just there sitting on a shelf. It makes for interesting reading. Did you know that the Beifongs have always had small families, only one or two children per generation?"
"Maybe they just didn't like kids?" suggested Aang off-hand. He was obviously not listening, instead concentrating on the game.
"No, I think it's just a way for them to ensure that the wealth stays concentrated, no fighting amongst siblings for the money and stuff."
"Well, considering that Toph said her mother was pregnant, I think that sort of sinks your theory" said Aang, who made his move.
"Maybe not, I think Toph has made it pretty obvious that she doesn't really want to carry on the family business" thought Sokka out aloud.
"I hope Toph is OK" interrupted Katara, not really interested in her brother's thoughts. She talked while making another move.
"Her dad came home over an hour ago, and she still hasn't come back from going to talking to him with her mother."
"She'll be fine" said Aang, making another move, grinning as he thought that he had gained the upper hand.
Katara made one final move which caused Aang's face to fall, it had been a trap.
"So are you guys coming to dinner or what?" asked a sarcastic voice by the door.
All looked up to see Toph leaning against the doorframe.
"Toph, how did it go?" asked an anxious Katara, getting up. Behind her, Aang was still desperately trying to find a way back into the game.
"As I expected, he is being stubborn and unreasonable" said Toph, sounding drained by the experience.
"Was it that bad?" asked Katara, putting a reassuring hand on the girl's shoulder.
"He at least listened to me, which is all I could hope for" said Toph, a little more confidently.
"Yah, we thought that was going on when we felt the house shake a few times" said Aang kindly, the Airnomad had given up on the game he had been playing.
"he he", chuckled Toph, blushing slightly. "I got a little emotional, but there was no other way to get him to listen."
"And what was the outcome?" asked Katara.
"He said he would sleep on it" replied Toph.
"I don't see what the problem is," said Sokka coolly, "it's not like he can stop you from going. You could take down an army of guards on your own after all."
"I think she would prefer to keep travelling with us with her parent's wishes, instead of against them" interjected Katara, Toph simple nodded.
"We should head over for dinner. My mum insisted that we all eat together."
Getting up, Sokka walked beside Toph down the hall, rubbing his tummy in anticipation. Katara and walked Aang behind.
"Did Suki get away well?" asked Toph.
"Yep, she should be back tomorrow night" replied Sokka.
"You didn't want to go with her?"
"No, I'd just be in the way… anyway I may be needed here if we have to break you out."
"Hopefully it wont come to that" said Aang reassuringly from behind.
- Zuko sat next to the Earthking on a raised podium which overlooked a large map of the world, across it were strewn numerous smaller maps and documents, surrounding it were a multitude Earthkingdome and Firnation dignitaries, discussing amongst themselves and occasionally addressing the sovereigns for council.
Zuko noticed Mai enter through a door on the side, quietly waiting until Zuko saw her a moment later.
The young Firelord leant over to the Earthking, who was stifling a yawn.
"We've been sitting here for almost seven hours, I think its time for a break." Zuko suggested.
"I would have to agree" confirmed the Earthking. Standing up, the Earthking raised his hands to draw the attention of the delegates.
"Gentlemen" said the Earthking, "It's been a long and productive afternoon session. But I think we could all use a break, lets continue this after dinner."
All delegates in the room bowed respectfully as Zuko and the Earthking got down from their seats. The delegation began to file out as Zuko made his way over to Mai.
"How's it going?" asked Mai with a smile.
"Well enough" replied Zuko, giving her a short kiss now that they were mostly alone, "how about you?"
"Jeong Jeong's report makes for interesting reading" replied Mai, "particularly when placed next to Master Piandao's report of what's been going on back home."
"Anything I need to worry about?" asked Zuko.
"Potentially, yes" said Mai honestly, "but don't worry too much, I've sent instructions off and started my own line of enquiry through other channels."
"Thanks Mai" said Zuko honestly, "I'm totally lost when it comes to the inner workings of the Firenation upper classes and families."
"I help where I can" said Mai sweetly, "my parents had planned to marry me off to half of these families anyway, who knew that all that social information and gossip would come in handy."
"I thought it didn't interest you?" asked Zuko.
"It does and it doesn't" replied Mai, "and that doesn't mean I didn't listen. I may not get on well with most of the important people in those circles, but I know who they are, and being the Firelord's girlfriend brings a lot of instant friendliness."
"Thanks a lot for doing all this" said Zuko honestly, putting his arms around her.
"No one said being the Firelord's girlfriend was going to be easy, and this way my parents relentless socialising may actually prove to have of worth."
Mai put her arms around Zuko's neck and kissed him.
A moment later there came a reluctant cough from behind the couple.
"I'm sorry your lordship, but everyone is waiting for you and your ladyship in the dining hall" said a very nervous servant hesitantly.
Zuko coughed to cover his embarrassment, Mai glared at the hapless servant then smirked as she noticed the comical discomfort of the two men.
"We'll be right over" said Zuko, trying to regain his confident voice.
"Come on, we'd better go" said a suddenly smiling Mai, dragging the Firelord behind her.
End Part 1
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So there we go, the other half will be up in a few day, it only needs checking. Keep up the comments, I need a lot more to make this story stand out in the crowd! ^^ It takes a long time to write these things, and only a minute or two to write a comment. :)
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