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Thanks to RandomBlondeWriter93, TheSummerNightingale, Guest (I hope you like this chapter. Lots of Taang romance!), Frosted Landscapes, Coffeelover222, cookiea2b3 and PlotbunnyChariot for your reviews.
This chapter is in Aang's POV.
I can't believe that I just told Toph about my crush on her! I really can't! I mean, for so long I thought that I was completely in love with Katara. And sure she is gorgeous and all, but in her own way, I think that Toph is just as beautiful as Katara.
They are two completely different people, so you can't compare them without getting a major headache. I mean, Katara is the responsible, motherly type who happens to be very good at bossing people around. I think that she will make a great mom. And Toph is sarcastic and humorous.
They are both masters in their respective elements. They both are headstrong and incredibly determined. Well, Toph is determined when she isn't laying down picking her feet.
I get it that I need to master all of the elements in a very short period of time. Three weeks to be exact. A shiver goes down my spine. It seems too soon. What if I am not ready? The world is depending on me to kill Ozai. But I am not a killer. I have problems with squishing those annoying mosquito-horses, the tiny little insects with the head of a horse that bite you and leave you covered in giant lumps all around your body. Just the thought of them leaves me scratching every available surface. They are nasty little boogers, and I can't kill them.
The mosquito-horse seems like a metaphor for Ozai, except times ten. He isn't just a nasty little booger. No. He is the nastiest, biggest booger there is. I refuse to curse. It goes against the principles that Gyatso taught me. The others have no such concerns, and curse as freely as walking in the park. Or in our case, walking through the dense forest heading to the lovely, blue waters of the lake where Katara likes to waterbend.
No matter how much I want to curse about my situation, I know that it won't help me defeat Ozai and it won't help the world recover after the Hundred Year War. The majority of the people I am trying to save from the evil of Ozai have been left devastated in all aspects of life. Businesses have been ruined in the smaller towns of the Earth Kingdom. Fire Nation soldiers come looking for high rent, which the people simply can't afford.
Toph squeezes my hand. I smile back at her. I remember why the world is good again. I can't think about the inevitable death of myself or Ozai yet, because one of us has to die for the world to become whole again. And suddenly I am filled with determination. It won't be me. I am not going to die. I am too young, I'm twelve years old for Gyatso's sake. Well technically, I am a hundred and twelve. But I haven't been around, you could say.
"Aang, what's wrong?"
Toph turns to look at me, her unseeing eyes filled with concern. They say the eyes are the windows to the soul, and in this instant, I agree completely. Smiling, I bend down to kiss Toph on the mouth. I will never get used to that feeling. Like I could kill a million Ozai's at once. It is quite peculiar, but I like it. Then I kiss her again.
"I'm fine Toph, really I am. I was just thinking."
Toph rolls her eyes.
"There is no need to think about Sozin's Comet, Aang. You don't need to worry, you will be great. You are the Avatar after all. And personally, I think that you are good at everything you do. Now come on, time to stalk Zutara."
A broad smile crosses my face. Toph is a crazy one. I will never know how she comes up with those nicknames. I find myself missing her nickname for me, Twinkle Toes. I don't like it when she is serious. It doesn't suit her; I like her the way she is. Funny, sarcastic, tomboy… Whatever, she wouldn't her if she weren't these things. She might wear a dress, but it doesn't mean that she likes it.
"Hello, Earth Kingdom to Twinkle Toes! Earth Kingdom to Twinkle Toes! Snap out of it!"
Toph. In that simple one syllable name, I fit so much memories and emotions. Happy memories, sad memories, frankly scary memories and funny memories. We have been through so much and we still have so much to go through. But we are going to get through this. At this thought, I banish all negativity.
"Come on Toph, let's go."
"Finally, I thought that we would have to wait until Doomsday."
I smile and shake my head. Toph branded humour is amazing. It is a gift really.
As we walk along the path, I point out the various trees and butterfilies, telling her to touch the bark whatnot. Gyatso taught me the various species, because he said that it was important to learn about the natural world, so you can save as much of it as possible in times of need. Sometimes, I think to myself that Gyatso is…or I guess I should use was, psychic. As if he knew the pressure was becoming too much for me.
"And this is the rarest butterfilies of them all. Just like you Toph."
I push her fringe off her face and place the flower which grows on the Tropicana Fly, behind her ear. She can't see but I know that she appreciates the gesture, judging by the red tint staining her cheeks. But she can feel, and as she gently touches the delicate wing of the butterfily, I am reminded of Toph. Of course, she isn't delicate and to me, she is the opposite of a butterfily, she is strong and persistent. She will go far. Nothing stops her.
We are near the edge of the forest now, and as we say goodbye to the lush beauty of the not so enchanted forest, a chant can be heard from the town. I wonder what is happening. What is wrong? Or I am just being negative? Is it a celebration?
I am filled with curiosity. I am inquisitive at the best of times and right now, I am rushing because of my excitement dragging Toph along until she stomps her foot on the ground and somehow, I end up a mile away looking at her. I guess that I deserved that.
"Twinkle Toes, haven't you learnt your lesson? No one rushes Toph Bei Fong!"
"Unfortunately, yes."
And I have the bump to prove it. Anyway, I get over my slight pain soon and rush over to Toph and continue walking as if I wasn't just catapulted into the air, which is harder than it looks like, I can tell you that much for certain.
Why did I rush over to Toph you ask? Well, because I want to get to town as soon as possible and if I leave Toph, she will dawdle and probably stop off at various earthbending conventions, humiliating the fully grown men who have come to fight and they will go home crying to their wives. Trust me; I know the drill when it comes to Toph's little escapades. They are quite unique and they can happen anywhere, at any time.
And she is the greatest earthbender in the world. I am not being biased, because everyone we have encountered during our travels has remarked that she is indeed a great earthbender and is more likely than not, the greatest earthbender to have ever lived. I mean, she basically created metal bending, which by the way is so cool. I really want Toph to teach me, but every time I ask I receive a negative answer with many expletives.
It is quite scary to be honest.
"Toph, okay one rule, don't go to any earthbending convention and if you do somehow manage to go to one, try not to dent their egos too much."
Toph simply smiles and cracks her knuckles.
"I can't promise that, Twinkle Toes. But since you asked, I will try to resist the undeniable odour of the ring, even though you know I love it."
It really means a lot to me, that she will try not to go ringside, because I do indeed know the power the ring holds over Toph. And when Toph says she will not to do something, she usually keeps that promise. She calls it Bei Fong.
Is there a document somewhere that states "A Bei Fong must always keep her/his promise to their companions? If so, I really would like to read it.
And by this time, we arrive into the lovely, quaint town of Kono, which has a population of approximately one hundred. And we see (well I see, Toph hears and feels), Zuko and Katara standing on a podium looking bewildered.
What is going on?
It seems like I have voiced my thoughts aloud, because the happy/angry crowd turn to us, and to me in particular.
A little old lady who seems to be the Town Elder walks over to me, slowly but surely.
"These two are your friends?"
Judging by her voice, I say that this lady is kind and gentle. We have nothing to worry about.
"Yes Ma'am. They are our friends."
She chuckles, a delightful noise and pretty soon the whole village join in as well. Even though, it should be scary, I actually feel relieved that the mob isn't angry.
"Well, they have just won our annual Lovers competition. They are adorable and they look very good together. They were looking into each other's eyes, when we recruited them. Our town is known for its competition for couples all around the Earth Kingdom."
This definitely isn't what I was expecting. The crowd look at us expectantly.
I begin to clap.
In unison, the townspeople begin to smile. This is mildly scary, but I have seen much scarier sights in my time.
I have gained their approval.
"Thank you Avatar. Save us and we will be eternally grateful."
This little old lady is like the spokesperson for the town. She is the picture of health.
Katara and Zuko walk down the podium towards us. As they walk, the townspeople cheer and congratulate them. If only they knew what Toph is planning. They would love her. In my opinion, I think that Katara and Zuko have liked each other for a while, to be honest. Toph is just trying to get them admit to us that they are a couple. I don't know what they are so afraid of. Everybody accepts Zuko now. The past is forgotten about.
For weeks on end, Katara would completely ignore Zuko, she wouldn't make food for him, and so he had to make his own, while we dined on Katara's culinary specialities. If Katara didn't want to cook, okay that would be fine. We could all cook, but no, she simply didn't make enough food for him to join in with us. I think that she regrets it now. We held an intervention when Zuko was practising firebending, telling her that she is changing into a monster. Everybody had something nice to say about him. Sokka said that he was great at sparring, both with bending and also his dual dao swords. Toph didn't have a bad word to say about him. We all like him.
Eventually, Katara got to know him and they soon became inseparable. Like the saying goes, you can't judge a book by its cover. Or like Toph would say, books don't do it for me. I think this holds an important message for me and now I really need to do something fun, because hey I am twelve and I am not going to be twelve forever. Live as you mean to go on. I am filled with a feeling of contentment. Life is good.
Of course, I won't be saying that when the time comes to attack before Sozin's comet arrives. So YOLO.
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I hope you all like this chapter. Finally 2000 words!
EDIT: 10/7/14 Okay this is acceptable. Except for the use of YOLO :/