Chapter 11: Unexpected Faces

**I don't own Avatar…even though I wish I did…


"Do you mind explaining to me again why exactly we're back at the stupid Earth Rumble Six arena? I mean I may be blind but I'm not brainless and going back to the place I was captured seems like a brainless idea to me, no matter how important you say it is." Toph had been asking Ty Lee different variations of this question since they had left Toph's personal prison, but Ty Lee had refused to give her a straight answer and, eventually, had stopped answering her. Toph had been taking out her anger at Ty Lee's silence through her earth bending and had managed to get them to the arena quicker than even she thought possible. Unfortunately, they were now wondering around the hallways surrounding the arena trying to find 'something' and Toph was unable to channel her frustration into an equally contrastive way.

"Alright listen up, perky-pants. Not answering me is no longer an option. I could trap you in the earth, leaving you here to slowly starve to death as you try to dig yourself out or you could answer me so that I know why the hell we've come back!" Although she initially intended her threat to be idle, Toph's irritation had grown to a point where she wasn't sure if she was serious or not.

"Quon took something that he had no right to take. We are going to get it back." The determination and anger in Ty Lee's voice was so unexpected that Toph was speechless. She wondered what would make the usually perky, annoyingly happy Ty Lee sound like Zuko, back when he was going through his I-must-please-my-father-even-though-he- is-a-complete-ass phase.

Ty Lee recognized Toph's surprise and sighed. "Ohh Toph! I didn't mean to go all grumpy-Zuko on you; it's just that I can't tell you what he took. Just trust me please. I got you out of the house, didn't I?"

"If by 'got me out of the house' you mean blocked the chi of all the guards we encountered and left a huge trail for Quon to follow when he returns, then yeah you did. Now, could you just tell me what we're looking for? I have a way better chance than you of finding whatever it is your looking for."

Toph could sense her hesitation, but Ty Lee knew Toph was right. "Okay, ummm…we're looking for a person."

Toph froze. "A person? Quon imprisoned someone else? And he has them trapped down here? Who did he take? Wait, more importantly, who does that asshole think he is?" Toph's anger and hatred were clear in her voice as she spoke about Quon. Although she hadn't wanted to help Ty Lee in the beginning, it would be a cold day in hell when she let Quon, or anyone for that matter, hold someone else prisoner.

"Uhh…..it's not important who it is. No one should be held prisoner...like this." Though Ty Lee stumbled over her words, Toph let it go.

"Okay, whatever. Let's just rescue this person and get as far away from Quon as possible." Toph was still standing still, but now she focused on what the earth was telling her. She felt the soft movements of the animals that lived in the dirt, the slight shifting of Ty Lee next to her and minor, steady movements that came from further down the hallway.

"Okay, there's something down this hall on the right." Toph started walking slowly down the hallway, staying alert for movement that felt aggressive. They had almost reached the end of the hall when Toph stopped. "Here. There's definitely something in there. I'm pretty sure it's a person, I just don't know if it's the right person. Be careful when you…" Toph didn't get a chance to finish her warning before Ty Lee stormed through the door. Toph sighed and followed after Ty Lee.

As Toph stepped into the room, she got a better sense of what the room contained. It was large and open but also completely bare, except for a tall pole that stuck out of the middle of the room. Someone was leaning against the pole, and as Toph crept closer the person stirred. From the way the pole shifted with the person's movements, Toph could tell the person was chained to it. Toph got the eerie feeling that the person had moved so that he or she could look directly into Toph's sightless eyes.

"I suppose you're here to save me." Toph had thought the person would sound scared or desperate, but was surprised when the voice sounded calm, cool and mocking. It took Toph only a split second to recognize that voice, and as she did ice filled her veins.

Toph slowly turned toward Ty Lee. "You brought me here to save AZULA?"


Aang sat, quietly meditating, trying to determine what he should do next. The coward in him wanted to take his glider and find Toph himself, but he didn't want to leave Appa and Momo behind again.

"I did not know that running away from problems was becoming a regular habit in the life of the Avatar." Although the voice had a soothing rasp and a calm demeanor, Aang couldn't help but jump in surprise.

"Avatar Roku? What the….?" Aang looked down and realized that his body had become nearly see-through. "Huh…Oh...uh…sorry Avatar Roku. I didn't realize you were here."

"Aang, I am always here, ready to give guidance when you feel it necessary." Roku smiled at Aang. "Now, what can I help you with?"

"Uh…well…I keep offending my friends. I haven't been around them for years and everyone is different now. I'm different too, I guess. I asked them for help, but I don't know if having them help was the right decision after all." Aang blew out a deep breath and looked at Roku expectantly.

"Aang, we are not slaves to fate. Every decision we make can change the course of the future and our attitudes towards our decisions can influence the future as well. While you may assume that having your friends along will cause you to fail, you have the power alter your behavior and influence the outcome of your journey. Whether your friends help or hinder is truly your choice."

As Aang considered Roku's word, realization dawned. From the beginning he had doubted his friends and the choice he made in asking them to help. He chose to withhold information and not trust his friends fully and as he looked back on his actions, Aang was embarrassed by his actions. He knew what he had to do.

Aang thanked Avatar Roku, bowed in farewell, and returned to his body, ready to face the truth and his friends' reactions.