Yup, I'm late. Sorry about that. I've still updated this story every day so far, considering it's 11:02 PM. Still, I should've written this and put it up earlier. Blah.

This chapter didn't really go as I planned. I was hoping to do some random things between Toph and Aang, but I started to go off track. Hopefully what I wrote makes sense, and it doesn't seem like I just pulled something out of a hat. Blah. This chapter's probably a dud.

Anyway, thanks again for the reviews and everything. Make me feel giddy every time I check my inbox. I love it!

DISCLAIMER - I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, and give all rights to the amazing people who do.


Toph counted her days. Day one was with Katara. Day two was with Sokka. Day three was with everyone, and she's spoken to Zuko that night. Day four was with Mai and Suki. Today was day five. She had two more days left of sight. So far she'd spent time with everyone in the group, getting to know them better with her newfound sight. Everyone except…

"Aang," Katara said. "What are you doing?"

They'd moved back to the Western Air Temple. It was early in the morning, and only half of the Gaang was awake. Sokka was passed out. He was leaning up against a column, snoring away while Momo was napping on top of his head. Suki was waking up, picking up her clothes and drifting off into the temple to find a place to change.

Zuko and Mai were asleep by the fire brazier, in each other's arms. Katara was dressed and awake. Aang was on top of Appa, loading few things into his saddle.

"Since everyone's gotten some time with Toph," the Avatar said slowly. "I thought I'd take some time with her. Is that okay?" he asked her.

Toph shrugged. "I'm down with it. No earthbending around me, though. That's not cool."

Aang grinned. "Climb aboard."

While Toph climbed on Appa, Aang and Katara embraced and kissed.

"Be sure to have Sokka and Suki help you fill up some water," Aang said, brushing her hair back. "We'll need some more of it for our flight home."

"No problem, sweetie."

The two of them kissed again. Toph stared at the scene, completely grossed out. So that's what kissing looks like, Toph thought. Ugh. Sokka was right. Totally oogie. (A/N – Reference to The Promise :D)

Aang left Katara and on Appa. The bison soared into the air, high into the sky, like Toph had felt a thousand times before. Toph was still trying to get used to seeing while she was flying. It was still pretty scary, being up that high in the air.

"So," Toph said lamely as they flew over the forest. "What's on your mind, Twinkletoes? I didn't know you wanted a field trip with me. You should've put in your request sooner; I could've booked you for an earlier time."

Aang laughed. "Well, you might not like it…but you'll see."

To Toph's surprise, Aang landed Appa on the mountain she'd climbed with Sokka. She gazed out at the vast view, once again awestruck by the things she saw. Seeing. She still couldn't seem to grasp the concept. I'm actually seeing. I can see this.

"Why are we here, Aang?" Toph asked, using his real name instead of his notorious nickname.

Aang looked nervous. He fiddled his foot on the ground. "I know you don't like flying. It's because you can't see, when you're not on the ground. But…you can see now. I know you're more comfortable on the ground, but I thought, since you can, I was wondering if…" Aang sighed and opened his glider. "I wanted to take you for a ride."

Toph stared at the glider, and then looked out at the air around her. "Aang, you know I hate flying."

Aang nodded. "I know. But Toph, flying isn't all that bad. I want you to see what flying is like for me, and what it's like being up in the air– aside from on top of Appa. It's amazing, Toph. It's an amazing sight and experience. I want you to try it…if you will."

Toph studied the glider, and her airbending friend. Aang. Her first friend. When she'd first met him, she'd kicked his butt. At least until he threw out that airbending move.

An airbender. A real airbender.

As far as Toph had known, airbenders were extinct. She'd heard rumors – the Avatar was the last airbender. He could still be alive. He could be hiding. And then Aang had shown up on her doorstep, announcing he was the Avatar, and needed her help. Toph had run away to help train him, to be on her own, and to help free the world from the fire nation's grasp.

When Toph was first getting to know Aang, he had confused her. Whenever he would fly with his airbending, he would disappear from her line of sight. Katara said he was flying up in the sky, above his enemy, and attacking them from the air.

It was difficult for Toph to get used to that during battle. One minute Aang be next to her, fighting in unison like an earthbending tag-team. Then, suddenly, he'd just be gone.

When he first did that during combat, Toph had thought he had vanished. Like seriously, into thin air. Like, nobody just disappears without Toph Beifong feeling them leave. Even if they jumped on a table, sat on a chair, she could feel the vibrations from both of the objects, and sense them on top of it. Nobody could hide from her.

But jumping into the air, and not landing? That was different. They weren't touching the earth whatsoever. The most frustrating thing Aang did was that confounded air scooter. He'd fly all around and laugh giddily, and it annoyed Toph when he first did it. It was like he was in front of her, but he wasn't. First she thought he was taunting her. Then she realized it was just Aang – the goofy, happy, playful little monk who thought of his bending as mere amusement rather than a fighting tactic.

Toph looked up into the air. Even though she hated aerial travel, a small piece of her always wondered what it would be like if she could fly in the air? A small piece of her. A very tiny, wimpy, microscopic piece of her. A piece of her hidden her solid, ground-loving, dirt-rolling earthbending personality.

"Well, Twinkletoes," Toph decided. "I suppose I could give it a try.


Flying hundreds of feet in the air on a glider was even more terrifying than riding Appa bareback. Toph held on tightly, fearing every second that she was going to slip and plunge to her death. Aang seemed to be enjoying himself, flying up high above the clouds, swooping up and down. For a scary second she thought Aang was going to drop them, but she chided herself for mistrusting him.

If I can't trust Aang, she thought. I can't trust anyone.

After getting over her gripping fear, Toph began to slightly relax. She focused on the clouds and the sky, and the birds flying below her. A small smile crept across her face.

"This isn't…that bad," Toph decided.

Aang grinned. "Are you kidding? This is what I live for! This is great!"

Aang started laughing – a bright, joyful, laugh that resonated through the air. He swirled around and did a loop-de-loop. Toph was about to smack him for being such a goof, but soon she, too, found herself laughing.

Aang soared higher and higher. He circled the mountains and trees, flying up and down, around and around. Toph found herself laughing as she flew, enthralled by the sights that her eyes picked up.

She couldn't believe it. She was actually flying, but not on top of Appa. She was actually seeing, but not with her feet. She felt like she was living for the very first time. She felt free, like she was rising from a pit of ashes, and galloping away on a white stallion.

"Spirit," Aang said, confirming her thoughts. "It's called spirit."

They flew around for a while, laughing and talking, exploring and sightseeing. After about an hour they went back to get Appa, and landed back at the Western Air Temple. Instead of finding all five of their friends relaxing and waiting for them, they arrived to mass panic, and only three of them.

Zuko was standing by the fire pit. The fire had risen up to his chest, and his hands were above it, raising the flames with his will. He did this whenever he was frustrated or angry. Suki was pacing rapidly, appearing on the edge of despair. Even Mai looked concerned, which was saying a lot.

Aang landed Appa quickly. "What's going on?" he asked, jumping down. "What happened? Where's Katara and Sokka?"

Zuko threw his stream of fire back into the pit. "Where were you two? We needed you, Aang! Katara and Sokka are missing. They've been taken."

"What?" Aang demanded. He charged Zuko, staring him in the face. "What happened? Where's Katara?"

Suki stepped between them, sensing their tension. Her eyes were red from crying.

"I went with them," she said quietly. "To the river. Katara and Sokka. We were gathering water for supplies, and…" Suki covered her face. "He moved so fast. Pretty soon they were on the ground, and I myself couldn't move. A chi-blocker. It had to be a chi-blocker."

"Who?" Aang asked. "What happened?"

Zuko created a massive ball of fire, and released it out into the open air. "My lieutenant," Zuko growled. "My own lieutenant. Entrusted to help us restore this world to peace. I was sensing disloyalty in him, but now I know he's a traitor. That no-good, backstabbing, piece of – "

Mai calmly stepped in front of Zuko and Suki and shoved them out of the way.

"These two aren't lucid," she said in her dull tone. "Let me explain: Suki and the other two went to fetch more water. Suki said they were attacked by a chi-blocker. He took Katara and Sokka. Suki managed to escape. She caught a glimpse of his face. When she described the man to us, we knew it was one of our lieutenants. He's been helping us keep order with the Harmony Restoration Movement. We've been hearing rumors that he's working against us, and the fire nation. Zuko's been watching him. We were beginning to think they were just rumors, and that the lieutenant was still loyal, until Suki described his face. It's him. He betrayed us. He has Sokka and Katara."

"And where were you two?" Zuko accused, getting into Aang's face. Toph could tell being betrayed was something Zuko didn't like. "We've got a traitor on the run, and he's got your girlfriend, and you two are off playing games in the sky. This is your fault!"

Suddenly Aang was angry. "Well maybe if you tried to go after them!" he growled. "And actually did something aside from getting angry and complaining all the time!"

"Stop it," Toph said, stepping in-between the two. "We've got a crisis, and you two don't need to be arguing. Let's get on Appa and go find Katara and Sokka."

"It's a trap," Mai said gloomily, swinging her knife. "The lieutenant's trying to bait Zuko. That's why he took Katara and Sokka. He wants the firelord…" she gave Aang a look. "Or maybe the Avatar."

"I don't care," Aang said, opening up his glider. "You four get on Appa and start looking. I'll go on my own."

The four of them did as ordered, and launched an aerial search for the two water tribe siblings. After roaming the forests for a while, Zuko landed in a clearing, and said they should split up. Mai and Zuko went together. Suki went in one direction, and Toph went in another.

Toph wished desperately she could earthbend at the moment. A couple of stomps on the ground and she could've sensed where they were. She kept her eyes peeling, searching desperately for her friends. She ran and searched for twenty long minutes, running as fast as she could. She drew her knife just in case. She reached the top of a low cave, probably only six feet tall, and peered down below.

That's where she saw Sokka.

He was standing below her, very quietly, as if he were waiting for something. The bushes next to the cave rustled, and a man a came out. He was lean and muscular, and carried no weapon.

"Your sister is incapacitated," the chi-blocker said. "And you are no threat to me."

"Where's my sister?" Sokka demanded, taking a stance. "Where's Katara?"

The chi-blocker pulled out a small knife. "Doesn't matter about her." His voice was dark. "You should be worrying about you. I only needed one of you to bait the firelord and the Avatar. A girl will give me much more leverage. You, however, are disposable."

One of the things Toph was good at was waiting and listening. Waiting for the perfect moment. Listening on when to strike. Neutro-jing, the key to earthbending.

But at this very moment, Toph forgot every single thing she'd ever taught herself. Sokka was in trouble. She had to do something.

Toph leapt off the top of the cave, and tackled the man before he could strike. They tumbled and flew in different directions. Sokka ran out into the woods – no doubt to look for Katara.

Toph stood and drew her two knives, which she'd kept under her belt since she'd gotten them. The man stood to his feet, growling at her.

"I see another one wishes to be disposed," he said. "No matter. I will deal with you first, and then the water tribe peasants."

Toph began to fight the man – knife on knife – until she knocked the knife out of his hand. Then he began to fight with his fists. He moved around her like some sort of madman, poking at her weak points, trying to chi-block and take her down. Toph moved quickly and stealthily, dodging some of the attacks, but she was weakening.

Sokka and Katara emerged from the woods as she was fighting. Katara was leaning against Sokka. She obviously couldn't bend yet – she could barely even stand. Sokka was weaponless. The man advanced against her, backing her into a corner. There was no way they could win this.

Toph raised up both of her hands. "Listen up, meathead. I'll go with you, and be used as your bait, if you let these two go."

"Toph, no!" Sokka said, struggling to keep his sister standing. "You're playing right into him!"

"Interesting bait," the man said. "A frail, little girl with no bending abilities."

Toph was angry. I'll show you frail and little. I'll kick you around to Timbuktu, bucko.

Sokka was insistent. "Toph don't!"

Toph didn't listen to him. She stared the lieutenant down. "Run, Sokka. Find the others."

"But –"

"Go!" she growled.

Sokka left, dragging Katara out of the woods.

Toph looked at the lieutenant. She wished she could pull a rock up from the ground and send this guy flying to Whale Tale Island, but she didn't have any bending. This man was a skilled fighter. There was no way she could take him down.

Toph dropped her knives and held out her hands in surrender.


TOTALLY TOPH BEIFONG!

For those of you who have watched Legend of Korra, I just ran a parallel here. You know, when Lin Beifong jumps on those airships to save Tenzin and his family? (FLIPPING AMAZING). Well, Toph just surrendered herself to save Katara and Sokka. Not by sacrificing her bending, but she still surrendered over to an enemy to save them.

Seems like a Beifong thing to do. Give up yourself to save a friend.

Annnnyyyywayy, I promise I really do have a point to this random chapter. I hope the whole "lieutenant" thing doesn't seem like a wild card, or something pulled out of a hat. I was doing this to sort of do something between Aang and Toph, just to show how much Toph means to Aang, and what Aang would do to save her. Friendship sort of thing. I'm going to try to tie this together tomorrow, and hopefully it won't end up sounding/going awfully. (I was also going to delve into Zuko a tad, on how the pressures of the firelord is bugging him, doesn't want to end up like his father, blah-blah-blah.)

Three more chapters after this: Part Two of Aang, Toph getting her bending back, and that little surprise chapter I had planned.

Thanks for reading, those who have still managed to stay with my shabby writing. If anything doesn't make sense, ask. I sometimes leave holes in my stories…should probably work on that :)