TWENTY: Fortitude.

Sorry I was MIA there for a while. School kicked my butt after winter break. Good news, though: I'm on my spring break, so expect another chapter or two.

"Fortitude," began Master Piandao, looking grave as he went through some fluid movements with his sword. Like a moving rock, slowly rolling from one position to another. His path might not be as fast as it once was (since the master was approaching a graying age), but he would get there eventually. "Fortitude is a strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain, or adversity, with courage. Today, we will work on our fortitude."

Sokka nodded, mimicking his master's movements. His muscles stretched and bowed, preparing for the vigorous workout they were accustomed to. Every morning, Sokka started out his day by training with his old master. Sometimes he would go spar with Suki, though that hadn't happened lately. Her new boyfriend always stood near them, his thick eyebrows frowning the whole time… he almost laughed, imaging –

"Are you focusing?" Piandao asked suddenly, recognizing the far-off look in his student's eyes. Whether he was thinking about meat or girls or something else entirely, he didn't know. But he knew that Sokka needed to be focused.

"Yes, Master," he said, frowning.

Piandao sighed, sheathing his sword. He coughed once, before speaking. "Sokka, I don't think you're focusing," he said, his voice unnaturally loud. The dark-skinned man paused, tilting his head to the side as if waiting for something.

"Yes, I promise, I'm – " Sokka began, flushing slightly as he, too, sheathed his sword. "I was just distracted for a –"

"Shh," Piandao shushed, clearing his throat. "I said, 'Sokka! I don't think you're focusing!'"

The Water Tribe man blinked, bewildered. Was Piandao going senile in his old age? He paused, approaching his master cautiously. "Master Piandao? Are you alright?" Clearly, something was wrong. "Do you want to take a break or someth-"

Sokka didn't get a chance to finish his sentence, as the ground wavered beneath him. He glanced down, unsure of what was happening but knowing he should move as quickly as possible if he wanted to avoid getting swallowed by the earth.

Moving quickly didn't seem to help him at all. The ground caved, burying him (and his recently recovered meteorite sword) up to his neck. Panic flooded through him. There were no Earthbenders on Kyoshi Island, how was he supposed to – and then the panic was soothed by the sound of laughter. It was in-your-face laughter.

"Toph!" Sokka yelled loudly, several emotions weaving through his head. He was a bit annoyed, first of all, because she chosen the worst moment to interrupt his training. Embarrassed, of course, because he had been so easily distracted and captured. Happiness was there, too, because he hadn't seen his old friend in years. Something else was waiting patiently, too, buried under the rest of the emotions.

"Hey, Snoozles," came a voice, one he scarcely recognized. He had last seen (and heard) Toph when she was fourteen, so he hardly recognized this voice that actually sounded… old. "How're you?"

He scoffed, craning his neck to see her standing a few feet away. "Uncomfortable. Could you do something about this?" Sokka questioned, aware of just how tight the dirt was around his chest. "I can't really breathe."

"So quit talking," she suggested, before blowing the hair out of her face in concentration. This woman before him had the same black hair as his Toph. The same eyes, the same green clothing. But she had grown a little taller, a little more… hip-y. Like some cross between a young Ty Lee and a fourteen-year-old Toph. He frowned, feeling awkward as she stood before him.

Toph paused, before giving the ground a swift, glancing kick with her heel. The man felt earth rise up to meet the bottom of his shoes, propelling him upward. He closed his eyes, expecting to be rocketed a few extra feet higher than he needed to be. She used to do that a lot, hurt him when he didn't need to be hurt… Instead, he was gently set on his feet.

He opened his eyes, surprised. "Nice work," Sokka complimented lightly, watching the stranger's hand as it reached to brush his tunic off.

"You've got some dirt on you," she told him, grinning. The stranger transformed. There she was. His old Toph with the same mischievous smile and the same amazing talents. "How'd that get there?"

"Oh," he said vaguely, glancing around for Piandao. The man had vanished, though, evidently satisfied with the way he had introduced Toph. "I don't know. You want to take a walk with me while I try to find out?"

Another grin. She nodded, rubbing her arm. His blue eyes trailed up her arm, noticing that there was a dark arm band against the pale skin. "You kept it," he said, surprised. It had been nearly seven years. Why would she keep it?

"Yeah," she said with a shrug. "Why wouldn't I?"

"It's old," he said with a nod, beginning to propel his feet forward on one of the many dirt paths around Kyoshi. "I thought you would have traded it in for something else."

"You don't trade in something just because it's old," Toph scoffed, frowning at him. "I haven't traded in you for a new friend, have I, old man?"

Sokka laughed, almost painfully aware of just how much older than her he was. "Right," he agreed. "Thanks for keeping me, Mighty Toph."

She grinned again, playfully punching him in the arm. But it wasn't a hard punch, it was a soft one. Her knuckles gently grazed his skin, glancing off to the side. "I'll always keep you," Toph assured him. "Don't worry. You're my best friend."

His lips pulled into a grin. "Good," he said, tossing an arm around his friend's shoulder. "I'll keep you, too. You're my best friend, too, Toph." And yet. The word seemed… inadequate, with the way his heart was skipping and jumping at her words.

Eww, this was gross. I'm really rusty, my skills have definitely declined a little bit. I guess it's like riding a bike… so bear with me. And sorry about the uploaded-three times thing.