A/N: Again, I'm sorry this one is taking so long. I had a huge block, but I've gotten over it a bit. Thank you everyone for being so patient and here's some excitement for you. Thank you and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar
Chapter 14
Toph hurled boulders at Aang and Haru relentlessly, and though both were blocking, they had no room to make an offensive. She was pouring everything into every strike and Aang was doing all he could just to dodge and re-direct her attacks. She had just pounded Haru with a boulder and sent Aang flying into the air when she felt Zuko approach her. Toph redirected a boulder from Haru to Aang and blocked a blast of air from the Avatar when Zuko dropped into a fighting stance, facing her.
"No Zuko, I won't fight you," she told him with a scowl while kicking up more boulders and sending them at Aang and Haru.
"I'm here to make this a fair fight," Zuko said. "If you won't fight me, you'll have to defend yourself from me."
Toph hesitated a moment at Zuko's tone. He was determined, but she also heard a small smile and a touch of sorrow. She pounded another boulder into Haru and redirected Aang's earthen attack, trying to ignore Zuko until she felt the heat of a huge blast heading her way. Spinning, Toph brought up a shield, and felt the fire almost blast through it. She felt Haru and Aang become surer in their movements, glad for the respite Zuko was giving them, and started to send attacks her way. She sent a boulder at Zuko to throw him off before she ducked under Aang's blast of fire and heard it hit Haru's boulder. Toph twisted, moving into the earth and felt Aang send a tremor her way as Zuko blasted the ground above her.
She felt the heat of Zuko's blast as she re-directed Aang's tremor to destabilize the Fire Lord. She knew Zuko wavered as the tremor hit him, but he took it in good stride as Haru sent a wave underground towards where she had been. But Toph had moved and created a breathing hole a few yards away from where she had been. All three men stopped when Haru's wave passed by, undeterred and Toph started to smile. She brought the earth up around Haru's feet and bent the metal buckles of his boots together without him noticing while also sending waves of earth at Aang and Zuko. Aang countered by creating an air scooter and outrunning the wave, but Zuko surprised her by actually jumping over the wave and firing at her breathing hole.
Toph's smile instantly evaporated and she moved, sending more boulders and waves at Zuko before coming out of the earth behind him and sending earthen ropes towards him and Aang. Haru was caught with his buckles bent together, just trying to stay out of the way as he tried to get his boots off.
"I'm sorry," Zuko said as he sent a fireball at her.
Toph just frowned and brought up a wall of earth to intercept the fireball, keeping Aang at bay with her earthen ropes.
"You should have thought about that before you put yourself in more danger," Toph said as she captured Zuko's wrist in an earthen rope.
Zuko just blasted himself free and sent another blast at her. "I'm always in danger, but at least Kuzon may be in less danger now."
Toph noticed Aang and Haru stop attacking and just watching, Aang helping Haru by starting to bend the buckles free of each other as Zuko and Toph stepped closer to each other, exchanging blows.
"That isn't good enough," Toph told Zuko. "And you know it! I am not going to let you sacrifice yourself!"
"No, you won't," Zuko said with a slight smile while evading Toph's boulders and sending blasts at her. "That's what I'm counting on."
"What?" Toph asked, confused. Her momentary pause let Zuko step closer and he grabbed her arm. She growled and tried to shake him loose, bringing up earth to separate herself from Zuko, but he blasted through the earthen wall with his other hand and stepped even closer to her.
"Even if they know you're protecting Kuzon, they won't expect you to be protecting me," Zuko said softly, his face inches from Toph's. "I still need you to protect Kuzon first, but I know you'll watch out for everyone. That's who you are."
Toph tried to shake her arm free of Zuko's grip, but knew the truth of his words. She was still angry at him though, and decided to let him know it. "I can't watch anything! Unless you hadn't noticed, I'm blind!"
"No, I am," Zuko said in his gentle, calm tone. "I'm sorry Toph. I should have let you handle Jasmine and told you about what I had planned. I still need you. As my friend and to watch over Kuzon."
Toph stopped struggling and ducked her head, hiding her face behind her bangs as Haru and Aang watched the situation from the sidelines. She knew Zuko spoke the truth and she wanted to watch over Kuzon still. She had promised Mai that she would watch over Zuko and Kuzon, and she was always good on her word to her friends. Toph felt tears come to her eyes at the thought of Mai and realized she missed her friend more right then than since the Fire Lady had died. Mai had always been able to keep her smiling whenever she started feeling sad or angry at dignitaries or snotty suitors or even Zuko. Mai's dry sense of humor and ability to see things as they were and state them plainly always made Toph feel at ease.
"I miss her," Toph whispered.
"I know, me too," Zuko whispered back, releasing his hold on Toph's arm. "I miss her every minute of every day."
Toph heard the sorrow in Zuko's tone and punched his arm gently, startling him out of his downward spiral.
"Hey, no getting depressed with me around," Toph said as she turned to smile up at Zuko.
"And that goes the same for you," Zuko said with a small smile in his tone.
Toph's smile widened and she hooked her arm through his, starting to lead the way over to Aang and Haru who were still watching them, almost in a state of shock. She moved her hand slightly and Haru's buckles returned to normal.
"Sorry about that," she told Haru with a smile. "Had to get you out of the fight before I took it up a notch."
"Still think I can't handle it?" Haru asked with a little bit of anger in his tone.
"You kidding?" Toph asked with a smirk. "I know you can't. How often did I pound you into the dirt just then?"
"She's right, none of us can compare to the great Toph Bei Fong," Aang said with a grin and a hint of sarcasm.
"Only you when you get all glowy and Sparky here on a good day," Toph said with a smile. "Although Sweetness on pms can do it too."
"Yeah, don't go near Katara when she's angry," Zuko said with a shudder.
"Why?" Haru asked, bending the last of the dirt off of him. "She's sweet and gentle. Probably wouldn't hurt a fly."
Toph and Aang started laughing and Toph knew Haru was looking at them oddly.
"Katara threatened me when I joined Aang," Zuko said. "And I believed she would do it if she wanted to. Have you even seen Katara when she's angry?"
"Nope," Haru said and everyone else sighed.
"He'll see it eventually," Toph sighed. "Just so you know Pansy, Katara can do a thing called bloodbending. I'll leave you to think about that. But I need a nice hot bath to relax now. Thanks for the spar, guys."
Toph turned to leave, letting her arm fall free of Zuko, but the Fire Lord just walked with her back towards their rooms.
"You know, I'm fine walking by myself," Toph told Zuko with a small frown.
"Yeah, but Kenin and Seth will kill me if I'm not surrounded by guards or near you," Zuko said with a smile.
Toph smiled as he referenced his oldest and head guard and the grandfather's protégé, Seth, who Toph was quite fond of. "Seth's really doing a good job then," she remarked and felt Zuko nod.
"Yes, Kenin loves Seth, even though he's an earthbender. But they don't want me out of sight of at least five guards or you. He trusts you, both of them do."
"Good to hear that," Toph said with a smile. "I'm glad someone in this place does."
"Toph, you know I trust you with my life. That's why I still want you to watch over Kuzon. They may not be able to contact her, and may still be planning to go after him," Zuko said in a serious tone.
Toph nodded, knowing the renegades could still try and target Zuko's son. "Don't worry," she told Zuko with a smile. "I'll be watching out for both of you. I may have agreed that I would protect Kuzon first, but that doesn't mean I won't make sure you don't get killed either."
She felt Zuko nod before they reached their rooms. He stopped Toph with a gentle touch on her arm and she turned to him, questioning him with her expression.
"Toph, I am sorry. I'll keep you better informed of my plans in the future. But even you know that outbursts may still happen between me and my family,"
"I know," Toph sighed. "Why do you even visit them anymore?"
"Because I still have hope for Azula. And she and Ozai occasionally let details slip about their old organizations and…"
Toph softened as she heard sorrow enter Zuko's tone. "I know you're still hoping to find your mom," Toph said gently, laying a hand on Zuko's arm. "I know you'll find her one day."
Zuko nodded and started standing tall and proud again. "Thanks Toph, but we have bigger things to think about first. The talks and the festival. As for today, I'm thinking a simple dinner with the gang and the kids."
"That sounds good," Toph said with a smile. "Now for my bath."
She knew Zuko was smiling as she walked to her room to find Ming there and was shortly relaxing in a nice hot bath.
XXXXX
Once Jasmine had left, Toph was more relaxed. There were still the talks and the ever present danger of another attack, but life continued on. Toph was surprised at how everything seemed to calm down after the monster in law had left and Lord Thom Hu said that he and his son would stay through the festival, but would leave right after. Toph only let a small smile come to her face as Thom told Zuko that Jasmine had returned to Omashu the morning after she had been kicked out of the palace.
Even Chang seemed to have calmed down, and became mellow during the talks, though Toph could tell his heartbeat and pulse sped up occasionally. But she and Shin Fu kept a firm control of the talks and they actually started making progress. The Fire Nation was starting to implement some of the new farming techniques thought up by Wan Lo and several Earth Kingdom emissaries and several fishing techniques suggested by the Water Tribes. Toph and Aang repeatedly warned about over fishing and Wan Lo even asked Toph about it on one of their dates.
"It's about balance," Toph had told her boyfriend. "If you take out one species, the others suffer."
"It doesn't work that way with plants," Wan Lo remarked, but Toph had shook her head in denial.
"Yes, it does. Think about it, Greenie. A lot of insects kill plants, but a lot help them. It's all about the balance. Say you take away the ladybird beetle that eats aphids. The aphids would overpopulate and destroy plants. The plants would be devastated and then the aphid population as well as all the animals and people that depended on those plants would suffer. We're all part of the balance."
"You sound like the Avatar," Wan Lo said with a smile before he kissed her. "I'm convinced, thanks."
Toph had just smiled and kissed him back and enjoyed the three dates she had with him as the time of the festival neared. As the festival neared, Toph started getting worried. There were no new attacks, and Cherise, the turned renegade, was back in the laundry. But though she had apparently gotten into Marja's good graces, no new information came their way about any plans for attacks. Two nights before the festival, Toph was on another date with Wan Lo, but wasn't enjoying herself, no matter how much Wan Lo tried to cheer her up.
"You should be happy," he said as they walked in the park. "The talks are going well, and there haven't been any new attacks."
"That's the thing," Toph sighed. "I'm worried about the festival."
"You think they'll try something then?" Wan Lo asked and Toph felt him start to worry. She just shrugged in answer. Wan Lo pulled her behind a tree and kissed her soundly. "What may happen may happen," he said. "But I see your mind is miles away. I'll take you back. But Toph, please, if you don't feel like going out, don't feel obligated to me to go on a date."
Toph smiled at how well he understood her and kissed him. "Thanks, Greenie. I'll keep that in mind. But Sparky may still make me leave to get me to stop worrying."
"Then we'll do something fun instead of just walking around," Wan Lo said with a smile before he led her back to the palace. Toph kissed him again before he left her.
The next day, Bumi and Arnook arrived and both leaders greeted Zuko with their sympathies and then both congratulated Zuko on being a father.
"It's hard, letting them go. You'll understand when he gets older," Arnook said and Toph knew he was talking about his daughter, Yue.
"He's like a little you," Bumi had said with a cackle when shown the prince. "You sure our little Blind Bandit can watch over him?"
"Better than you can, Bumi," Toph replied with a smile and Bumi started laughing. The gang dined with Bumi and Arnook and went over the plans for the next day. Iroh, Bumi, Arnook and Aang would give speeches before Zuko and then the festival would begin. The kids would remain inside in safety, except for Kuzon. Because he was the prince, and the people would want to see their prince, Kuzon would be taken out by Kalaya during Zuko's speech and Zuko would announce his son. When Zuko finished, Kalaya would take Kuzon back inside to the other kids who would have guards around them. Toph, Katara, Suki, and Sokka would be up on the dais with Zuko and the other leaders as war heroes with ten guards surrounding Zuko in the shadows. Ty Lee, Haru, and the remaining twenty guards who weren't watching the kids or around Zuko would be in the crowd, ready to stop anything before it started. A small contingent of soldiers would be surrounding the square, mostly for show. But they could help if things got out of hand.
With everything set, Toph, Zuko and their friends had a private meeting before they all retired for the night. A messenger came and bowed to Sokka before handing the water tribe warrior a scroll. Toph waited along with everyone else as Sokka read the letter. He seemed to get worried and worry was in his tone when he finally spoke.
"Someone broke into one of our warehouses," Sokka said. "Teo, Haru and I invent so many things, we often just store them or the plans if they can't be put into use at the moment or if they need to be worked on more and we're stuck. Haru, they broke into warehouse two a week ago, but Teo and everyone are still trying to find out what was taken. Once they know, they'll let us know."
"What was in there?" Aang asked.
"A lot of stuff," Haru answered. "Everything from fishing to flying stuff was in there."
"Flying stuff?" Aang asked.
"Yeah, you know Teo loves the air. He was trying a few things out with gliders and balloons."
"Does this change anything for tomorrow?" Toph asked.
"Shouldn't, but we won't know till tomorrow," Sokka said with a shrug.
They went over the last few things and then went to bed. Toph woke to Zuko getting up the next morning and groaned, sure it was dawn. Ming came in and, noticing she was up, herded the earthbender into a bath and then a helped her into a lovely dress. Toph smiled as she felt the dress. It was one of her favorites, silk, light and comfortable. It showed off her features, was green, but she could earthbend comfortably in it. Once Ming was done with her hair and makeup, Toph knocked on the side door and entered Kuzon's room when she felt Zuko heading towards her.
"Morning Sunshine," Toph said with a smile and then smiled to Kalaya who handed her Kuzon.
Kuzon did his little laugh when she picked him up and she felt him reach for her hair.
"No, no, little one," Toph said with a grin. "No pulling on hair today. I need to look good, even if I don't care about it."
She heard Zuko and Kalaya laugh lightly. "You look great, and he won't mess you up at all," Zuko said with a smile. Toph grinned and swung Kuzon around in a circle, causing him to laugh before she handed him back to Kalaya.
"Ready for some breakfast, Sparky?" Toph asked. Zuko chuckled and hooked his arm through hers before leading her to the dining hall.
Aang, Sokka and Haru joined them for breakfast while their wives got the kids ready and then they all met up in Kuzon's room before the festival started.
"Relax, Zuko," Toph said as the gang dropped off their kids to Kalaya and two wives of Zuko's guards, Gail and Kin. "I've got your back."
"I know, thanks Toph," Zuko said before he took a deep breath to calm down, but Toph still felt him twitching in agitation. The time came when they needed to leave the palace and Zuko's guards surrounded the group as they made their way to the dais and met Bumi, Arnook, and Iroh waiting there. Walking out into the sunlight, Toph was almost overwhelmed as the crowd cheered when Zuko got out there. She thought that if the people loved him this much, the renegades might very well be outnumbered. But only if the people stood up for themselves. Iroh started by saying how much the country had grown since the end of the war and how the peace had helped their economy, but Toph sent her senses outwards as she stood next to Sokka and Suki.
She felt Kalaya bringing Kuzon closer, being surrounded by five guards while five others surrounded Kuzon's room where the other kids were. Toph singled out the guards she knew as they moved throughout the crowd and watched them. She felt a little bit of earthbending as Bumi started his speech and found Seth subduing a drunk quietly. Toph started getting bored while Arnook spoke, but kept her attention on the crowd. Finally it was Zuko's turn and he gestured and Kalaya brought Kuzon out and the crowd roared. Toph tried to drown out the crowd and felt some people congregating on the right side and then some scuffling started and Toph noticed Payan being subdued. She made a motion and two guards started heading towards the scuffle while Zuko spoke. But, before the guards could reach Payan, a horn blew from the area.
Zuko stopped and Toph felt everyone turning to the group as several people set up a small perimeter around a few people. The guards in the crowd and soldiers started moving that way as a man spoke out.
"You really want us to believe that this is right?" a man from the center of the area called out. "This false peace, this weakness! We are Fire! Pure and strong and the traitor prince wants us to be subject to those who should be subject to us!"
Toph frowned as some of the crowd cheered the man, but the guards were already there and subduing the people around the man.
"You may try and drown us out!" the man called when two guards reached him. "But we will return stronger than before and put the real Fire Lord on the throne!"
Toph scowled, but kept sending out her concentration, trying to see if it was a distraction. She didn't feel anything, but then a whirling sounded from above and behind her.
"Oh no," Sokka said and everyone except Toph turned their face towards the sound. "Toph, shield!" Sokka cried as Toph felt metal heading towards her from the sound. Toph nodded and instantly brought an earthen shield over the people on the dais as she felt Aang doing the same for the people closest to the dais. The metal hit the shield and Toph knew it was a bomb before it exploded on them. The shield barely held as Kalaya covered Kuzon with her body and the guards moved to cover Kalaya and Zuko. Dust fell on everyone and Toph lowered the shield after a few seconds of silence.
"Sokka, what was that?" Katara asked, coughing slightly from the dust.
"One of Teo's inventions," Sokka replied and Toph knew he was looking around for it. She heard the whirling sound coming towards them again.
"Sokka, does it have any more bombs?" Toph asked.
"Yeah, one more, but it'll have to be on top of us to get a good shot."
"Not going to get one," Aang said and then jumped into the air. Toph heard him snap out his glider as Zuko turned to Kalaya and Kuzon.
"They're fine, Sparky," Toph said. The whirling sound came closer and the crowd started to panic.
"Everyone, calm down!" Zuko yelled out to the crowd. "The Avatar is taking care of it. Soldiers, make sure the people exit in a safe manner!"
Toph heard the whirling sound move around and heard a few blasts of fire and air above her before something happened to the whirling machine and it changed pitch and started heading right for them.
"Kalaya, get Kuzon out of here," Zuko said, but Kalaya was almost frozen in fear and shock. The guards who had been covering her started to move her away, but the whirling sound came closer.
"No time," Toph said and created another shield.
The machine hit and Toph felt someone on it for a second before it exploded on top of them. The shield cracked and both Toph and Bumi tried to repair it, but it continued to splinter, pieces of rock starting to fall. Toph moved to Kalaya who was closest to her. Toph pushed Kalaya down over Kuzon and then moved to be over both of them as she strengthened the shield around them. She felt Bumi strengthening the shield above him and everyone else as Katara knocked pieces that fell away with waterwhips. Arnook was doing the same and it felt as if Iroh, Zuko and his firebending guards were trying to bend the heat of the explosion away while the two earthbending guards followed Toph's and Bumi's examples while the one waterbending guard followed Katara's example.
Just when she thought the explosion had worn itself out and the earthbenders could start strengthening the shield again, another explosion was felt through the rock and Toph protected the crying baby, but felt several large chunks falling. She moved a few away from people as the other earthbenders did, but then she felt a large chunk falling towards Zuko. Knowing the other earthbenders were busy and barely holding her own shield over herself and Kuzon, Toph called out.
"Sparky, move!"
He didn't and merely looked up, and Toph thought he might move, but he didn't. Knowing he'd get squashed by the rock heading towards him, Toph shifted some of her focus to the rock and nudged it away from Zuko as some of the rock above her started to fall.
"Toph!" She heard Zuko call and then felt him start lightning quickly, hitting the rock above her before jumping away from the rock falling towards him. Toph just continued to cover Kalaya and Kuzon with her body as dust and small rocks pelted her, and felt rock catch Zuko's leg. The heat above them was suddenly gone and Toph felt Aang land near them, bending the earth away from everyone.
"Katara!" Aang cried when the earth above them all was off to the side and Toph felt Aang jump to his wife, helping her up as the people slowly got up. Toph helped Kalaya up and felt Kuzon was ok, but he was crying loudly. She felt Wan Lo hurry towards her from where the politicians had sat below them, but ran past him and to Zuko as two of his guards helped him up.
"Zuko, are you ok?" Toph asked, stopping in front of the Fire Lord as Wan Lo looked at her from behind her.
"Fine," Zuko growled and tried to step forward, but Toph felt him falter as his ankle gave way under him and she caught him.
"Kaluk, Kenin, take Zuko and Kuzon inside at once," she said and the two guards hurried to help Zuko inside, though Toph knew he didn't want to go. She gave him a stern look and he sighed, nodding before he leaned on Kenin as they hurried inside and Kaluk helped Kalaya in. Toph turned to Sokka, Suki, Katara and Aang, as well as Bumi and Arnook.
"Anyone who doesn't feel safe, go in. Sokka, what was that and how many more are there?"
"That was the only one," Sokka replied. "Teo called it an airplane."
"I'll handle the crowd," Aang said and Iroh nodded, moving to help the Avatar.
"Li," Toph said, turning to one of the guards who had remained outside. "I want those men who created the disturbance brought in and questioned. Get me when you have the speaker and apparent leader alone."
Li nodded and hurried to the guards and soldiers who had the men in question under custody as Toph heard Aang and Iroh calling out to the crowd that the festival would be delayed, but that everyone was all right. Toph felt each of her friends and found only minor injuries, mostly shock. Katara approached her and started healing a few cuts Toph didn't even know she had.
"Zuko's not the only one who got injured," Katara said when Toph tried to move away from the waterbender. Toph sighed and let her friend heal her. Once Katara was finished, she hurried into the crowd to heal any bystanders who had been injured and soon Kalaya and the elderly healer from the palace were doing the same. Toph felt Wan Lo hurry to her again, and she tried to smile at him.
"I'm ok, Greenie. Just help the people who need it," she told him.
She felt him stop and study her before he nodded and moved to help the healers and doctors in the crowd tend to the dozen or so people who had been injured, either by the explosions or the people leaving in panic.
Bumi helped the few earthbenders clear away the rubble as Arnook went inside and Toph soon followed Sokka and Suki to Kuzon's room, finding Zuko very moody, but everyone was ok.
"Zuko, you ok?" Sokka asked.
"No, I'm not," Zuko growled. "I knew they would attack, but I didn't expect something like that. What was that?"
"An airplane," Sokka sighed. "It's Teo's invention. It's a glider with a simple engine so he can travel without relying on the air currents. But a few kinks in the engine delayed us from putting it into use for him. It looks like they worked out the kinks, but I didn't expect him to head straight for us with the last bomb. That guy was crazy to kill himself!"
"Now you know what I'm dealing with," Zuko sighed. He got up, and several guards moved to help him, but Zuko waved them off and limped to the crib.
"At least Kuzon is ok," he sighed and Toph sighed as well. Kuzon was safe, and so was Zuko. Toph sank into one of the chairs near the crib and heard and felt Zuko do the same. He was obviously in too much pain to make it back to the bed where he had been sitting. Toph found the twins being entertained in her room along with the babies by the two older women. Toph felt depression start to sink in. The renegades had known how to get around her. They had found a way to get to Zuko and Kuzon from the air. If it weren't for Sokka's warning, she would have been too late. Even then, Zuko had still been injured. Toph didn't know if she could protect Kuzon if they were attacked by air again. She heard Sokka, Suki and a few of the guards talking in a corner.
"Zuko…" Toph started, but Zuko moved and laid a hand on hers.
"I saw your thoughts," he said in a low tone so no one else could hear. "And no, you're the best for this. No one else could have protected Kuzon and me like that. They probably won't try that again because it didn't work."
"But it almost did," Toph protested.
"Sokka said it was the only one, and they stole it a week ago. They haven't had time to build more, or probably even find out how to reproduce it. We know what they look and sound like now, so we'll be prepared."
Toph opened her mouth to protest again, but Zuko beat her to it. "No more protests. Kuzon and I still need you."
Toph felt the truth and smiled at her friend. "Well, at least the speeches are done, and you guys are safe for a bit."
"Yeah, now for some rest," Zuko sighed and sagged in the chair. Toph just chuckled and sighed as well, feeling Kuzon sleeping peacefully as the others talked and some people came and went until Li approached her, telling her he had two men for her to question. Toph smiled at Zuko and followed Li out to question a few bad guys.