At First Sight
A/N: So, hello again! I'm sorry that I have taken so long to update. I have been rolling high with the news that I am not PREGNAT! That is like the best news ever! But back to the story; I am sorry if some of you didn't like the dark twist it took. I am also sorry that Sun's character developed so soon! I was mad and irritated at my situation that I wanted to get on with the story. I didn't like where it was heading, so I advanced it. I even rewrote the story like four times and that's how it came out! So, please, make your comments known and just keep on reading. (Review!!!)
They Will Come, Part II
"Retribution- she wants retribution! Mai kidnapped Zuko. She is going to kill him. They also want you dead. Your father doesn't care if you marry that Han guy. He wants you dead for disobeying his orders. Your mother has been brutally beaten; there is not a chance that she'll survive. All your friends have been killed! There is no way that you'll escape." The sadistic sound of Sun's words echoed in Toph's mind.
Toph stared at Sun's lifeless corpse. The blood that slowly seeped through her tiny body enclosed her in a red sea of death. The sight made Toph's stomach churn.
She turned away from the body and continued to walk up the flight of stairs that led to the deck of the ship.
She walked carefully, listening to her surroundings. There were muffled sounds coming from the outside. She leaned against the doubled giant metal doors that led to the deck, trying to listen better.
Her ears couldn't understand the words that were being spoken. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and relaxed her trembling hand.
Everything was happening so fast. She was supposed to be with Zuko. They were supposed to be together, smiling carelessly. She wanted him back. She needed his smile, warmth and love.
She missed his kisses. Mai couldn't have taken him away from her! He was her life! Her world! She didn't want to believe that it was all over in a matter of minutes.
Still, she wanted to believe that all this was a huge mistake. Perhaps a prank! Let it all be a joke, a bad dream, she prayed in her mind.
With her eyes still closed, she began to concentrate. Little by little, the words began to take shape. She could see what was going outside the massive metal doors. The vibrations that she was picking up from the metal floor, gave her the image of the man she loved. He was being held by two guards. Mai stood before him. Her sinister smile spread across her face.
Anger began to flood her reasoning. She wanted Mai dead. She needed to regain her composure, before she attacked. She continued to listen to Mai's monotonous voice.
"Fire Lord Zuko," Mai said in a droning voice, her hand on her hip, "This was too easy! Too bad you chose her over me!" she said, walking towards him. Her steps were graceful and elegant.
"What do you want, Mai!" spat an angry Zuko. "What did you do to Toph? I swear if you hurt her I will person-" his voice was drowned by a large thud.
Toph gasped, she wanted to run to him. But she needed to analyze the situation before she planned a defensive strike.
Mai's guard punched Zuko in the gut. Her laughter was dull as her whole existence. "Please, keep it quiet. You're in no authority to give orders." she said, stroking Zuko's pale face.
"What did you do to Toph?" Zuko demanded, taking deep breaths. His hands were being held by two guards that laughed at his weakened state. "She better be alive and well!" he groaned, as he tried to pull himself free.
"Tie his hands behind his back!" Mai ordered, her voice was loud and saturated with power. "When you are done leave!" she yelled.
She watched as the guards tied Zuko's hands. When her guards were done, she walked up to him.
"I like to see you bowing before me. I understand why Azula wanted the power. Too bad she went crazy! She would've been a better Fire Lord!" she hissed, her golden eyes staring at him.
She paced around him. Her eyes fixed on him, watching him, examining the Fire Lord's agonizing face. She noticed that he didn't care about his predicament, he only cared about Toph. The thought of Zuko loving Toph was excruciating.
"Your beloved Idiot is dead. Sun is an excellent assassin. She'll make Toph agonize with pain. She'll suffer. Her death will be a slow one. But I guarantee you, that she will DIE." she said, cruel smile on her lips.
Zuko's bangs covered his worried face. "I will kill you with my bare hands if you so touch a hair on Toph!" Zuko threatened, as he stared into Mai's face.
A dull laughter escaped her throat. "Please," she said with satisfaction, "look at yourself. You are worthless. You were never able to beat me. You are pathetic. Everything about you is sad. You are a dishonor to your nation." she yelled, her golden eyes filled with ire, as she gently touched his shoulder. He furiously shrugged.
"You're just jealous!" Zuko hissed back, his eyes penetrating hers. "Jealous that Toph is better than you! More woman than you'll ever be!" he retaliated, a satisfied smile on his lips.
Toph listened carefully as she calculated her next move, thankful that he was buying her more time to come up with a plan to save him.
Everything needed to be well-thought out. She couldn't have a margin of error; Zuko's life depended on it. She continued to listen, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.
"Jealous?" screamed Mai, her voice full of hatred. She knelt down before Zuko and pulled his hair, causing his head to snap back. "Jealous of that idiot? Of a blind woman? You really think I am jealous?" she asked him, fury in her eyes.
Zuko didn't answer. He just stared at her. His expression was blank.
"I'm not jealous, Zuko. I'm angry! You left me for her. You fell in love with her. I went to jail for you defending you, yet you fell in love with her. I'm not jealous-I'm angry! Angry at her! She took everything good about me. She took you from me." she clarified.
She grabbed his face in her hands. "She took you from me!" she repeated, a silent tear strolling down her soft face. She pressed her lips to his. "You were the only good thing in my life. When I was with you I felt alive. No one ever made me feel human the way you did." she whispered softly.
She slowly removed her hands from his face and stood up. She walked away from Zuko, staring at the giant doors. "What's taking Sun so long?" she muttered.
This was the chance Toph was waiting for. She began to concentrate, stretching her arms outwards; making the metal around the door hinges separate. The doors began to tremble. Toph took a few steps forward, moving the door towards Mai, quickly wrapping it around her.
"What the fuck are you doing?" Mai began to scream, as she released two shurikens from her sleeves.
Toph continued moving the enormous doors, shielding herself from Mai's shuriken attack. She molded the metal doors to Mai's contour. She heard Mai's tedious screams. The metal doors were shaped into a rectangular box around Mai's body. She elevated the box, directing it toward the water.
"Toph, don't!" yelled Zuko in agony. "Don't become a killer!" he begged her, as he slowly got to his feet. "She's not worth it." he whispered, as he moved closer to her.
Toph stood near the edge of the deck that overlooked the water. Her face unexpressive, not yielding any emotion.
"I can't." she said, facing him. "If I let her live, she'll come after us. There will never be a happy ending. She needs to pay for killing my friends." Toph said quietly. Her voice was strained and indifferent.
Zuko stood closer to her. He tried to wriggle his hands free. "Will you be able to live with the knowledge of taking someone's life?" he asked, concern filled his eyes.
"We can always have our happy ending, Toph. I promise." he reassured her.
Toph couldn't move. She still manipulated the gigantic metal box that was now Mai's prison in front of her. "I'm sorry, Zuko. I can't! I have already taken someone's life." she said sadly, turning away from him and throwing the colossal metal box into the water.
She watched as the rectangular metal box began to sink into the water. Mai's screams were muffled by the sound of Zuko's guard coming to where they stood.
"Fire Lord, are you alright?" asked the first guard that reached them. He took out his dagger and cut the ropes that tied Zuko's hands. "The guards captured Mai's accomplices. Avatar Aang instructed us on Mai's plan to seize the Fire Lord and the Fire Lady." he continued, as he bowed before Zuko.
Toph gasped. "Aang is alive?" she asked, her voice barely an audible whisper.
The guard turned to face her. "Yes, my lady. They are all waiting for your arrival." the guard informed. He stood waiting for any order from the Fire Lord. "Is there anything more that you might need, my lord?" he asked, facing Zuko and then turning to Toph.
Toph just shook her head, and turned to face the horizon. Her body softly trembled with every sob that escaped her mouth.
"You may leave." Zuko ordered, his gaze never left Toph. He heard the steps of the guard disappearing into the distance. He walked to where she stood, wrapping his strong arms around her small waist.
"Everything will be alright, Toph." he whispered against her ear, pressing her closed to his muscular chest. "I'll always love you!" he said, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek.