Okay I put in a lot of facts about how I see Zuko's past in here, you don't like then skim, most won't pop up again so no biggy. But I have an idea about what happened to Lu Ten. if you want my opinion on the matter then review and let me know. otherwise I shall stew on it and you may be stuck with a Lu Ten fic. Okay took much longer than expected, blame midterms, actually I have a test on tuesday but I felt like I owed you guys BIG! anywho, enjoy and tell me what you think :D


Aang walked the halls, his footsteps echoing. He breathed in deeply and continued walking to Toph's room. He knew she had to be very angry, she had yet to come seek him out. That look she gave me when I told her I was going…it was like she was daring me to. but I had to go. He swallowed the lump in his throat and approached her door. He knocked but silence was all that answered. He knocked again and tried the handle. It was unlocked.

"Toph?" he opened the door and was greeted by a neat and tidy room. He blinked in confusion. That's not like Toph. His eyes fell on the dresser next to the mirror. All by itself lay her green silk flower.


"Shut the door behind you," Zuko sighed as he collapsed into his chair. He contemplated laying his head on his desk and slipping into a coma.

Hakoda closed the door and followed the young man. "You didn't need to do that."

Zuko looked at him confused. "You mean the tub?" Hakoda nodded. "She just lost her bending, it's like losing…your skin or something." Zuko sighed. "When the eclipse happened I felt empty and like I wasn't even myself. And I knew that my power was coming back."

"Not many men would have done it." Hakoda frowned. "They would have let her cry."

"She shouldn't be alone," Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Why do you want to marry her?" Hakoda stared down at the man.

"Huh?" Zuko blinked.

"Why do you want to marry my Katara." He glared.

"I love her." Zuko said simply. Hakoda glared. "I guess you want the father talk."

Hakoda crossed his arms.

Zuko shrugged. "I love the way she mothers everyone else. I love the way she smiles after kicking some butt. I love that smile she gets when she knows she's done something wrong and doesn't care. I love her…." ZUko frowned in concentration, he chewed his bottom lip.

Hakoda stared at him.

"…her bitchiness." Zuko grinned. "She's not her without it." He looked up at Hakoda's shocked face. "Sorry."

"No," Hakoda shook his head. "Though I may have called it something else."

"You haven't been on the front end of that viperwasp lately have you?" Zuko grinned.

"Call it a father's love. I guess I fell for Kya's…stubborness when I met her. Used to make me so mad but now I miss it so much." Hakoda sighed.

"W-…" Zuko frowned. "…I don't know if it would help…but would you like to meet the man who…ordered it?"

Hakoda stared at him.

"It may help you get some closure." Zuko tried.

"I've met him." Hakoda turned away from Zuko. "Though I might like to see how far he's fallen."

"You've met?" Zuko asked.

"I was the leader of the invasion." Hakoda said quietly. The color drained from Zuko's face.

"Chief Hakoda, I didn't think…I didn't realize-"

"Where is she?" The doors slammed open and a very angry Avatar entered the room.

"Katara?" Zuko stood quickly.

"No, Toph!" Aang said angrily. "She's gone." "What do you mean gone?" Zuko lowered himself back into his seat. Hakoda was starting to see dark circles underneath the young man's eyes.

"Her room is clean, her stuff is gone and she left this." Aang held up the silk flower.

"Did you have a fight?" Hakoda asked.

"No, we did not have a-" Aang stopped as it dawned on him. "No, she wouldn't leave me." he looked between the two men. "She said she'd give me another chance."

"I think your chance is up." Zuko said quietly.

"Shall I call to have this repaired?" Hakoda turned to see Iroh standing at the door that was hanging off of one hinge. "I don't think this door can take much more."

Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. "Sure, just yell at one of the guards to take care of it."

"I will soon, I brought you something." Iroh gestured to the tea cup he carried. "Also to let you know that Ursa is already planning out the invitations."

"Invi-" Zuko stopped. "Already?"

"Most Fire Lords are already married when they inherit the throne. This will be a great occasion." Iroh grinned and set the steaming cup on Zuko's desk.

"Did you see Toph go?" Aang asked Iroh sadly.

"Miss Bei Fong seemed quite upset when she left, though I would be too if I had to travel to the Earth Kingdom so quickly." Iroh chuckled.

"What?" Aang stared at him and then turned on his heel and with a gust of air was gone.

"I don't think he's coming back." Hakoda said in the wake of door debris.

"Wonder how Arnook will take it." Zuko sneered. He grabbed the cup off of his desk. Zuko stared at the contents and brought it up to his face and then set it back down.

Iroh raised an eyebrow, but Zuko didn't notice.

"Uncle." Zuko sighed. "I don't care, I really don't but…"

Iroh stared down his nephew.

"Can you please tell my Dad." Zuko finished quietly. "He should know."

Iroh's eyes lowered to the floor, he let out an inaudible sigh.

"I mean I don't care but…" Zuko frowned and gripped the cup again. He sighed and gave no further explanation.

"I will tonight." Iroh smiled weakly at his nephew.

Zuko smiled weakly as well and took a large gulp of his tea.

"Sorry." Iroh sighed.

"For what?" Zuko asked as he brought the cup to his mouth again. The smells tickled his nostrils and his eyes widened. "Uncle?"

Zuko's eyes rolled back and he fell to the floor.

"Zuko!" Hakoda rushed to the man.

"He's fine." Iroh stated as Hakoda kneeled next to Zuko.

"It's a strong sedative but nothing more." Iroh sighed. "Zuko in the right state of mind would know better than to take any cup from anyone and just drink it. If it had been someone else it could have been poisoned."

"But it was posioned!" Hakoda stared at the old general.

"He knew what he had done, the second he smelled it." Iroh looked at a few papers on his desk. "He should have done it before, with the activities of the day he's gotten sloppy and should take his rest, but of course he wouldn't." Iroh chuckled. "Don't worry, it's just a sedative."

"So, we just leave him here?" Hakoda looked down and saw Zuko snoring softly.

"What are you crazy?" Iroh looked at him. "He could be assassinated. we need to get him into his room."

Iroh grabbed Zuko's legs as Hakoda grabbed his legs and they carried the sleeping man into his bedchamber. They hoisted him onto his bed, Iroh tossing a smaller blanket over him. A sliver of drool creeped out of his mouth.

"He said…" Hakoda looked at the man. "He said that I could meet his father."

"I thought you had already." Iroh said quietly as they left the room.

"I have, I didn't know that you knew it." Hakoda looked at the broken door.

"Zuko's guards will be outside in just a moment." Iroh nodded in the direction of the door. "I know my brother and he is one of the most sadistic men on Earth. I knew even before he was Fire Lord that he would go with my father and teach the captives 'lessons'. He thought it was a true delight."

The guards stepped through the broken door, lifted their face masks to Iroh and then stood by it.

"Then Zuko doesn't know?" Hakoda asked as they left the room.

"My nephew has a blind eye when it comes to his father." Iroh stated. "It is much better now than it once was, but he still will want to seek approval from his father."

"Approval?" Hakoda laughed. "The man is horrible."

"But he's Zuko's father." Iroh sighed. "There isn't a man alive that can say that they don't want their father's approval even if it's in the smallest degree. Zuko understands the horribleness of him and knows that he will never get it but he can't help himself."

"He has had years of his approval why need more." Hakoda asked.

"Zuko has never had his father's approval." Iroh stopped to look at Hakoda. "And he never will."

"I mean when Zuko was small…" Hakoda began.

"Come with me." Iroh grabbed Hakoda's arm and pulled him toward the cellars. "There is something you should know."


Toph kicked at the sheets, pulled them off and then pulled them back on. she turned onto her side and then her other, cursing at the over softness of the bed. She lay on her hand and the space earth bracelet rubbed her temple. She growled and tossed it across the room.

"I don't need you!" She growled. the quietness answered.

"I don't need you," She said again quieter, tears in her eyes.


Hakoda raced after the man who seemed to be heading through the underground tunnels at high speeds.

"Do these lead to the prison?" Hakoda gasped for air.

"Not directly." Iroh paused and looked around; they were alone.

"What was that all about?" Hakoda clutched his chest.

"Zuko is Avatar Roku's great grandson." Iroh frowned. "I give you this knowledge because you should know and I don't think Zuko will ever say it himself. I only know of one person he has actually told himself."

"How…" Hakoda stared at him, "But he's Sozin's great grandson….who? Katara?"

"He's both. and yes your daughter is the only one that he's told. Ozai married his mother who is the granddaughter of Roku. He did this against his father's will and earned disfavor but Ozai loved Ursa with all of his heart.. When Zuko was born Ursa wanted to name him Zoku, a combination of Sozin and Roku's names. My father wouldn't allow it and threatened to disinherit him. Ozai came up with a compromise of Zuko. To Ozai, Zuko's birth was a reminder of his weakness in the eyes of his own father."

"Weakness?" Hakoda stared at him.

"Because he had no choice but to obey." Iroh began walking again. "As Zuko became older he had his father's temper there was no doubt but he also had his mother's heart. My father and brother believed he would not be suitable for the throne. When Zuko began to tell of us dreams he had, dreams that were reminiscent of Roku's last day on Earth, he was tested to see if he was the Avatar. When the sages said that he wasn't, my father was weary of him and the man he could become."

"He was tested.? Hakoda walked by his side.

"Zuko was not told of his heritage so he had no idea that the two heritages were warring inside of him and it made it difficult for him to firebend or swordfight. My son saw this and knew what the problem was."

"You have a son?" Hakoda asked.

Iroh ignored the question and continued. "Zuko idolized my son and tried to be like him, they had the same type of ideals. My father knew this and it made him angrier that Lu Ten continued to try to tell Zuko of his heritage. Whenever Ozai tried to win favor from our father, my father would bring up Zuko and tell Ozai how Zuko has scarred this family. When Azula was born, Ozai tried to win favor by naming her after my father. It wasn't until she turned to be a prodigy that my father began to be happy with Ozai again.

"Ursa began worrying for Zuko and watched over him constantly. She saw the looks on the guards faces and knew that an 'accident' could easily befall Zuko. When my son was killed, Ozai begged for the throne. Azulon excepted under one condition: Zuko's death."

"What?" Hakoda stumbled.

"Ursa lied to my father and he signed a document stating that Ozai would be Fire Lord, and then she slit his throat, to save her child. And then she left and Ozai blamed Zuko for her departure. he moment Zuko stepped out of line, to defend his own people, Ozai took the oppurtunity to scar and banish his son. As a joke he told him that he could come home when he had the Avatar."

Hakoda stared at Iroh. "Does he…know?"

"He now knows of his heritage and what his mother did to save him, and everything past that. I didn't have the heart to tell him that he was hated from birth." Iroh turned and the tunnel began going upward.


Aang gripped Appa's reins. I hope Zuko gets that note, I must have left the bag with him. I will take care of the Air Nomads when I get back, I just have to find her. Appa soared higher and Aang looked toward the stars. He moved the reins so that they were headed for the Bei Fong Estate.


Tam breathed in the evening air, he looked toward the dimming sky and found himself imaging flying bison overhead. he sighed and rubbed his temple. I guess some things never change. he shook away the memories of childhood and began to walk toward his home, he stopped as he saw the woman.

A woman was walking steadily toward their village, her sleek dark hair was pinned back into crisscrossing braids, and her robes were light green with elegant designs along the sides and bottom. She was obviously a noblewoman of some sort. As she walked closer to the village, people began to stop and look toward her, she didn't seem to notice.

The woman paused momentarily, as if waiting for something.

"What do ya want?" Tam stared at the woman. the woman smiled and began to walk to him. Tam frowned as she stood in front of him; she was blind.

"My name is Toph Bei Fong." The woman dipped her head slightly. "I am a good friend of the Avatar and I am here to help you to the Eastern Air Temple."

"Eastern?" Tam stared at the woman. "He said the Southern."

"Things came up." Toph smiled sweetly. "The Eastern Air Temple is really the best idea, especially when trying to regrow food and having everyone readjust, It's not too far from here."

"And the Avatar picked you to lead us?" Tam snorted. "You're just some little blind girl."

Toph smiled at him. Inside she wanted to punch his face in. I should have just stayed in bed instead. She dug into the bag that hung from her shoulder. Toph pulled out several rolls of parchment. "These are a few documents that will help us get to the Air Temple in case we are stopped."

Tam unrolled the parchments. "The seal of the Earth King? of the Avatar….of the Fire Lord?" Tam stared at the woman. "Aang promised to not speak of-"

"The Earth King doesn't know." Toph quickly interjected. "The Fire Lord is the reason that Aang was even able to find you, and he wishes to help."

"Like hell." Tam snarled.

"Fire Lord Zuko has sent an airship to the temple already, it's filled to the brink with food and other supplies."

"And what if I said that we don't want it?" Tam tossed the parchments back to Toph, who caught it easily.

"HE said that if you didn't want it then he understands and that he will bring it back." TOph smiled. "The men on the ship don't even have to leave the ship if you want, but I recommend getting the food, at least to get started. How many people are going to the temple?"

"All of us." Tam looked around at he gathering crowd.

"I thought some were staying behind." Toph tilted her head in question.

"I won't leave my family." Tam sighed. "We will leave at dawn." "Don't you want time to pack?" Toph rose an eyebrow.

"After years of hiding from Fire Nation, we are always ready to go, and Aang said we'd be leaving soon." Tam nodded toward a building, "You should rest for the night before the journey. Will Aang be joining us then?"

"I'm not sure," Toph said quietly. "He had something that couldn't wait."


Hakoda breathed in as he stared at the steel door. I am not afraid. An image of the laughing Fire Lord hovering over him, flashed through his mind. Anger surged through the chief's blood.

Iroh pushed open the door and Hakoda quickly followed to see what had become of the Fire Lord. He couldn't help the smirk that came over his face as he spotted Ozai hunched over, his hair tangled and overhanging his face. His tidy beard was ragged and hair was growing all along his jawline. Ozai's eyes darted upward to the pair.

"If it isn't my big brother," Ozai sighed. "I see you've managed to add back a few pounds."

"Your son requested I come to see you." Iroh frowned.

"Too scared to see me himself?" Ozai snickered. "I guess he could just look into a mirror instead." Ozai stood up and leaned against the bars. "Though at least I don't have that hideous scar."

Ozai tilted his head and an amused smile overcame his face as he saw Hakoda. Hakoda frowned. The man wasn't lying; aside from the scar the resemblence was impeccable.

"I doubt he wanted to ruin such a special occasion." Iroh told him. "Zuko is getting married." Ozai turned his head swiftly. "He wanted you to be told before the announcement."

"What whore agreed to that?" Ozai scoffed.

"My daughter, who just so happens to be the same woman who helped overthrow your reign." Hakoda growled.

"You look familiar." Ozai grinned. "If I'm not mistaken you scream like a woman."

"You are." Hakoda growled.

"No wait, it was about a woman." Ozai grinned. "Blue eyed brunette…I think. it's so hard to remember all those throats I've slit."

Iroh grabbed the back of Hakoda's robes as the man tried to grab Ozai through the bars. "You stupid bastard!" Hakoda yelled as Ozai laughed.

"I do enjoy these visits." Ozai turned to his brother. "I do have a question: this woman that my son is marrying, is she the one who bloodbends?"

"Why?" Iroh loosened his grip on Hakoda's robes.

"The woman who stopped Zuko from being killed?" Ozai asked.

"Yes." Iroh watched his brother. "How did you hear about that?"

"You hear talk." Ozai inspected his dirty nails.

"So you do care whether he lives or dies." Hakoda snarled.

"Oh I always have." Ozai smiled.

"It hasn't been discussed when the wedding will take place but I'm assuming sometime in the fall." Iroh went back to his previous subject.

"Why not sooner?" Hakoda turned to look at Iroh.

"Zuko is Fire Lord." Ozai said simply as he leaned his head against the bars. "If he doesn't have an enormous frivoulous wedding then people will talk. Unless he already knocked up your little girl."

"I'm starting to wonder why Zuko doesn't just have you killed." Hakoda frowned at him.

"This is crueler." Ozai sighed. "I have nothing to do but sit here and think about things; things that I've done, things that could have gone another way. I think about how Ursa hates me yet loves me. I think about how my fat idiot brother spends all his time in a stupid tasteless tea shop in the one city that hates him the most. I think about how my daughter is stuck playing a pawn in this new scheme of things or just end up like me. I think about how my son spends all his time trying to not be like me." Ozai tilted his head and smiled as a glint filled his cold yellow eyes. "I think about how Zuko trusts people way too much. I think about how he has guards there to protect him. I think about how those helmets seem to cover their faces."

Iroh stared at Ozai. a hollow silence filled the room.

"Wait," Hakoda stared at him. "Did you order the assassination on your own-"

"I think about how people still wish to see me on the throne." Ozai snickered.

Hakoda jumped as Iroh kicked the prison door down.

"Well look whose still working out-" Ozai was cut short as Iroh threw him back into the wall, his hands found his throat. "Well looks like my brother is still in there somewhere." Ozai let out a strangled laugh.

"You ordered the attack on Zuko!" Iroh growled. Hakoda blinked as he looked at a new man. He had always heard of the dragon of the west but to see this darkened version of Iroh was something else. This man before him was looking for blood. "Your own son!"

Ozai's laugh quickly became a cough. He reached up and began to grip Iroh's wrists, trying to pull at them. Hakoda frowned as he watched Ozai pull them away and then began scratching at the fingers that held his throat. Ozai's speech begame gurgled. Hakoda stepped forward and could feel the heat radiating from Iroh. He could see the flesh of Ozai's throat turning red around his fingers.

Hakoda clenched his fists as he felt a cold happiness fill him. The man who was responsible for his wife's death, the man that had tortured him, the man who had tried to burn the world to the ground, was going to die.

"Uncle." Zuko sighed. "I don't care, I really don't but…"

Iroh stared down his nephew.

"Can you please tell my Dad." Zuko finished quietly. "He should know." Hakoda raised an eyebrow as he noticed sadness on Zuko's face.

"Iroh." Hakoda said quietly. Iroh was staring into Ozai's face as Ozai was clawing at Iroh's arms. "Let him go." Iroh turned his head slightly as Ozai began to turn blue. "Zuko."

Ozai fell to the floor in a crumpled mess, coughing as he tried to breathe again.

"If it wasn't for Zuko, you'd be dead." Iroh said coldly. "You don't deserve a son like him."

Ozai rubbed his neck. "I think I've said that his entire life."

Iroh kicked Ozai in the face.


Hakoda's footsteps echoed in the empty hallway. He tried to blink away the images he had just seen. A brother attempting to kill another brother for attempting to kill his own son. Hakoda sighed. What would bring a family to this? He thought of his own son. An image of a young Sokka grinning at him awaiting approval for a knot he had tied. Hakoda stopped. he thought back to Zuko asking for Iroh to tell his father. He just wants approval and he'll never get it. A creak brought Hakoda back to the present. Sokka yawned as he stepped out of his room, his wolftail was askew while a section of his hair stood on end. He stretched and headed toward the kitchen.

"Sokka?" Hakoda quickly caught up with his young son.

"How is it possible for her to hate fire flakes all day but crave it all night?" Sokka turned toward his dad, dark bags underneath his eyes.

Hakoda opened his mouth to answer but stopped. He pulled his son into a tight embrace. "I'm proud of you." Hakoda said.

"I'm just raiding the kitchen." Sokka blinked.


Toph breathed in the morning air and smiled. It was a new day and so far things were going good. Tam had finally stopped grumbling and the other villagers were finally beginning to talk a little.

"So you know the Avatar?" A young boy asked her.

"I do." Toph smiled in the direction of the boy.

"You have funny looking eyes."

"JAY!" a woman yelled at the boy. Toph frowned. Aang always said they looked pretty.

"What?" The boy turned to look at his mom confused.

"It's okay." Toph smiled at the boy.

"Why are they like that?" the boy tilted his head in question. Toph could feel his mother quickening her pace to reach the boy.

"I'm not sure. I've been told my eyes are different, but it may have something to do with me being blind." Toph stepped over a rock in the road.

"Nuh uh." The boy almost tripped over another rock. "I've seen blind people and you can't be. You aren't using a stick to see and you're not falling everywhere."

"I see in a different way." Toph smiled. "With earthbending."

"You're a bender?" The boy skipped excitedly. Toph noted that he seemed a little bit lighter on his feet than others and she doubted it was just his happy outlook.

"I'm sorry, is he bothering you?" Jay's mother grabbed onto her son's hand.

"Actually he's fine." Toph smiled.

"Can you create earthquakes? How about a rockalanche?" Jay jumped up and down excitedly.

"You're like Aang when he was learning to earthbend." Toph giggled.

"So are you going to live with us at the temple?" Jay asked.

"Uh-"

"Mom says that you and the Avatar are going to get married."

Toph stumbled on a rock that time as she felt her cheeks warm.

"So, where is the Avatar." Tam piped in. Toph breathed in.

"Our friend Katara was kidnapped, he went to rescue her." Toph tried to keep her voice steady.

"Do you mean the 'Ice Princess'?" Jay's mom asked interested. Suddenly Toph was flocked by several women starving for gossip. Toph smiled weakly, it was going to be a long two days.


Zuko jerked awake as he snorted in a snore. He groaned loudly and scratched his head. He blinked as he yawned and noted that the room was upside down, he also noted that his good eye didn't want to open. He attempted to roll to his stomach but instead fell to the ground. Sighing and hefted himself to his feet. Zuko stretched out and smiled at the way his body reacted. He hadn't felt this well rested since…

Zuko stopped dead. "UNCLE!"


"I was thinking of mixing to the nations' colors." Ursa smiled at Hakoda. "As a symblance of our two cultures melding."

"That sounds good." Hakoda nodded. "I do want to walk Katara down the aisle, it is tradition for the father to give away the daughter."

"Of course." Ursa tapped her jaw thoughtfully. "We must discuss with Katara about the dress, she will be crowned Fire Lady later in the day or right after so it must have some air of royalty to it but I think it should be very waternation."

"I think it should have our colors but I doubt that Katara would welcome a full fur robe in this weather." Hakoda smirked.

The door to the tea room burst open.

"Where. Is. He." Zuko stood in the now open doorway. He was dressed in his Fire Lord robes, his face and hair was washed, his good eye was blackened and swelled shut. His scarred eye darted around the room in a rage.

"Iroh felt the need to follow the servants out earlier." Ursa sipped her tea. "Sweetie what happened to your eye."

"Ask him!" Zuko pointed at Hakoda. "Did you have anything to do with it?"

"Do with what?" Hakoda raised an eyebrow.

"The tea." Zuko growled.

"Nope." Hakoda turned to Ursa.

"You gave him a black eye?" Ursa asked. Hakoda shrugged. Zuko rolled his eye and walked away. a few seconds later his head poked back in.

"If you can attempt to keep this engagement quiet for a few days-"

"of course." Ursa smiled.

"Also, there's an earth kingdom family I want to invite so let me know when you start the invites." Zuko's head vanished again.

"Do you think he'll find Iroh?" Hakoda asked.

"Only if he wants to be found." Ursa sighed. "May I ask you something?"

"What's that?" Hakoda took another sip of his tea.

"What happened last night?" Ursa looked at the chief.


Katara wriggled her toes in the bath water. She sat on a chair as her legs dangled over the side of the tub, the water cooled from last night. she splashed her feet around trying to pull back a memory of being able to feel the water. She sighed as she leaned over her knees.

"How's it going?" Hakoda asked as he shut the door.

"I didn't even hear you open the door, I was concentrating so hard." Katara smiled.

"Any luck?" Hakoda asked as pulled a chair next to Katara.

"No." Katara wriggled her toes again. She tugged her leggings up a little bit more so they wouldn't get wet.

"I'm proud of you." Hakoda blurted out suddenly.

"I assumed you'd be saying the exact opposite." Katara turned to look at him.

"I just realized that I don't say it enough to your brother and you." Hakoda flicked off a piece of lint on his pants.

"This doesn't have anything to do with you visiting Ozai last night does it?" Katara looked at her father. Hakoda looked down. "Servants talk." Katara explained.

"Have you met Ozai?" Hakoda asked.

"No." Katara stared down at the rippling water. "I'm afraid if I did, I would kill him for everything he's done to our family….and to Zuko's."

"Yeah." Hakoda sighed. Katara raised an eyebrow. "Iroh filled me in."

"You do realize that if you are looking for the man that is a father to Zuko, you'd be looking for Iroh, right?" Katara asked, her eyes going back to the water rippling around her legs. The ripples were getting larger and dissapearing, moving toward the edges.

"Yeah, he's a great man." Hakoda sighed. "He'd do anything for Zuko."

"Zuko wants to have him named grandpa when the time comes around." Katara frowned at the rings, rings of water that seemed to float to edges. As they moved further away the less visible they became, but Katara could still see them. a sudden image flashed in her mind: tiny hands reaching into a basin of water.

"I know you feel down right now about the bending." Hakoda sighed. "But things will get better."

Katara nodded as she stared into the water. Echoes of giggling seemed to float in her ears, popping noises followed. She shook her head as her father continued to talk.

"-won't be so bad." Hakoda continued as Katara closed her eyes. She opened them again, and stared at the ripples. She lowered her hands into the water, drenching them before bringing them up to her face. As if on their own accord, her hands cupped and wrapped around each other around her mouth. She clamped her lips together and made a loud popping noise as she pulled her hands away.

A tiny bubble floated in front of her.

"That's my little girl." Hakoda said quietly.


Zuko strolled up to his uncle quietly as the man engaged a councilman in a deep conversation.

"I'm sorry may I borrow him for a moment." Zuko smiled broadly as he grasped Iroh's arm. The councilman stared at the smiling Fire Lord as if he had lost his mind.

"ZUKO!" the three men turned to see a very happy waterbender racing their way. Zuko frowned at the woman. "I thought you were staying in your room to practice your blood bending." He said loudly.

"Oh, I needed some fresh air." Katara smiled. "I was thinking about the first time I ever bended."

"And you're smiling?" Zuko raisd an eyebrow.

Katara smiled broadly as she took her waterskin and opened it to allow some water to get on her hands. Zuko waited patiently as she cupped her hands and made a loud popping noise.

"A bubble." Iroh stared at the small bubble that soared between them.

"Oh for the love of-" The councilman walked off.

"How?" Zuko stared at her.

"Dad says it's the way I learned how to bend. Maybe my bending was just really weak." Katara smiled again. "I can feel the water again…sort of."

"Fire Lord Zuko!" Zuko turned to see a guard walking toward him, this guard wore brilliant red stripes along the mantle; a prison guard. The guard raised his face plate showing his face until Zuko nodded. "I need to speak to you about your father."

"Is something wrong?" Zuko asked.

"Zuko-" Iroh began.

"There seems to have been an attack on him, but he's fine now." The guard stated.

"An attack?" Katara frowned. "What kind of an attack?" the guard looked at her hesitantly before continuing.

"It seems as if his throat was burned massively, as if someone choked him while firebending." the guard bowed. "We have healers taking care of him." The guard rose to his full height before heading on his way.

"Uncle?" Zuko turned to look at him. "Can we talk in my office?"


Aang sighed as he looked over the city. So far no sign of Toph. He watched as Toph's father and mother walked the garden. Aang relaxed against Appa's sleeping form. I will wait and see if she's here. He planted his bare feet on the ground and attempted to feel for the petite woman.


Hakoda poked at a geostone that sat on Zuko's desk. It had to be a gift from the Earth King. The door opened quickly and Zuko power walked in followed by his Uncle. They walked straight past Hakoda and entered his bedroom, Iroh shutting the door behind him quietly. Hakoda shrugged and poked at the geode.

A large crash made Hakoda jump. He turned in the direction of the crash and raced toward Zuko's bedroom door. He opened the door to see Iroh pinching the bridge of his nose and Zuko's forearm dissappearing into the wall of his bedroom.

"Did I miss something?" Hakoda asked.

Iroh shook his head. Zuko stared at his dissapearing arm. He pulled on his arm, attempting to withdraw it. He sighed as it wouldn't budge.

"Let me help." Hakoda walked up to him.

"He tried to have me killed." Zuko stared at the wall.

Hakoda stopped.

"And it almost killed her." Zuko growled.

Hakoda looked at Iroh.

"Zuko-" Iroh began.

"And you tried to kill him for it?" Zuko turned to look at his uncle. "Is there anyone in this family that doesn't want to kill each other."

"Not really." the three men turned to see Azula standing in the doorway. "When you're done we need to talk about those guys attacking those colonies."

"Get out." Zuko said quietly. Azula rolled her eyes and walked out.

"I was wrong to do it." Iroh said.

"No you weren't." Zuko yanked his arm out of the wall with a sudden yank. He stared at the gaping hole. "Do we have anything to cover this up?"

Iroh opened his mouth once but shut it again.

"What would you put over it?" Zuko turned to Hakoda. "What does the water tribe hang?"

"Ceremonial furs mostly." Hakoda stared at the hole.

"Can we get one, one that Katara would like?" Zuko stared at the hole.

"There's a mantle I can get for her, it's usually worn during the solstice." Hakoda watched the young Fire Lord.

Silence engulfed them.

"Your father is a stupid man." Hakoda blurted out. Both Iroh and Zuko turned to look at him. "Any sane father would realize that he have an extraordinary son to be proud of. Hell you took away my daughter's honor and I still can't help but be proud of the things you have accomplished, and can't wait to be able to call you my son. Your uncle even calls you son! Ozai is a fool!"

Zuko stared at him as if he'd grown an extra head.

"I agree." Iroh smiled. "Now let's go get some tea and talk about this mantle."

Zuko stared at the hole for a moment.

"I promise you, that I won't turn out like him." Zuko turned to look at Hakoda.

"I know you won't."


Aang watched the setting sun as he sighed, worry settled inside of him deeply. She's not here. He didn't dare go in and ask her parents where she was, no need to start a panic, but he knew that she hadn't been anywhere near here. Her arrogant strong steps were no where near here. Aang leaned further into Appa's fur and watched the pink sky fade to red, purple, dark blue and finally black. Stars twinkled above him. The wind picked up and blew flower petal by his nose, Aang looked again and sighed as he flicked off Appa's shedding coat. I miss you Toph.

Giggling. Aang flaoted upward with his airbending as he heard a woman giggling. he saw a young brunette giggling into her hands and running off.

"Wait!" Aang ran toward her but she darted in another direction. He followed her trail only to realize he was no longer by Appa's side but inside a stone building.

"Hello?" His voice echoed. laughter echoed after it. The woman ran by in fine silk robes. "Wait I just want to talk to you." She passed behind him going down another hallway. "Huh?"

He ran as fast as he could, laughter surrounding him. He ran past a door and stopped. backing up he looked to see a huge balcony, overlooking the clouds surrounding the building. The woman kneeled next to a small boy who was laughing with her. The boy turned to him and smiled right before twirling a staff and running toward the edge of the balcony, where he opened the glider and soared into the clouds.

The woman turned to him and smiled.

Aang awoke with a start. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. Aang jumped up and began to toss his things back into Appa's saddle.

"C'mon buddy, we're heading for the Eastern Air Temple."


Toph laughed at the young boy's antics. He was clearly a gifted bender but under the circumstances it wasn't the best thing. His mother was allowing him to bend to stay in the air a little longer but wouldn't budge on letting him try the air ball.

Toph's laughter died in her throat as she felt rumbling heading their way. She frowned as she tried to figure it out, it reminded her of the old war machines that the fire nation used. She tilted her head and noted that the wheels turned with help from rocks jutting out from the earth.

"Quit bending." Toph said quietly to Jay. His mother stopped and turned in the direction of the rumbling. They were getting close.

"What is that?" Tam looked toward Toph. "Friends of yours?"

"No." Toph said quietly. A group of 8 benders approached as two of the metal war machines moved in front of them.

"What's going on here?" one of the men looked around at the people. "Travelin'?"

"Hello sir," Toph bowed at the man. "My name is-"

"Where ya'll headin?" One of the men walked near Jay. Silence answered him.

"Ya'll Fire Nation?" One of them asked. a few of the villagers eyed each other.

"Why would that matter?" Toph said nicely through gritted teeth.

"It matters quite a bit actually." The first man said. Toph tilted her head, that was their leader. "See we don't like Fire Nation."

"We especially don't like a bunch of colonists who think they own the place either." Another man growled.

"You think that we're fire nation colonists?" Tam asked incredously. "Well we're not so piss off!"

"I don't think I like your tone." The leader said. the men behind him snickered.

"Well I don't think I give a ratmonkey's ass." Tam growled.

"Do you know who we are?" The leader asked.

"You're the men who have been attacking the Fire Nation villages and killing innocent people." Toph growled.

"And you have led another one straight to us." The group of men began laughing loudly.

"They're not Fire Nation." Toph clenched her fists.

"I can tell you're not," The man hooted. Laughter surrounded her again. "What's a little woman like yourself doing out here? Bad things can happen." Wolf whistles and more laughter.

"Get behind me," Tam whispered.

"C'mere." The leader reached out to grab Toph but she swatter his hand away.

"Leave." Toph said angrily.

"I get her after you." One of the men hooted.

"Maybe you should be taught your place first." The man reared back his fist and flung it toward her face.

"WATCH OUT!" Tam yelled. He started to reach out, waiting for her body to be thrown backward. He looked up to see her holding the leader's fist inches from her own face. The leader's face was wrinkled in confustion and pain.

"Do you know who I am?" Toph's hand clamped down harder on the man's dirt ridden hand. She pushed his palm backward into his arm forcing him to his knees.

There were loud rumbles as two of them men pulled large rocks from the earth and threw them at the tiny woman. Toph pushed the leader into the ground, punching one rock away and kicking away the other. Another man reared up a large boulder from the ground and flung it for her head. Toph grinned, running straight for it, jumping and throwing her forhead into it. It shattered around her as she hit the ground again, gripping the earth with her toes.

"The name's Toph, as in the world's greatest Earthbender." she smirked.

Three of the men raced toward her, pulling up jagged rocks and throwing them toward her and the villagers. She twirled around and lifted her arms up, Tam jumped into his airbending stance as he felt the ground move beneath him, suddenly all of them were lifted into the air twenty feet on the large platforwm. He could hear all the rocks hitting the platfrom below.

"Wow." Jay whispered.

Toph turned and began punching at the ground and upward, large rocks began to shoot out toward the men. Three of the men turned and ran.

"Oh no you don't." Toph shoved her feet downward and began jogging into the ground, propelling toward the men as the earth moved underneath her. She moved in front of them, jumping and hitting the ground with her fist first, creating rocks jutting outward into the men, throwing them backward unconscious. She spun on her heel and threw her arms out, tossing a wall out toward the other men. The leader and a lanky man propelled themselves upward with a columns of earth, the other three were thrown into the side fo the villagers' platform.

Toph turned as the two Fire Nation machines moved closer to her. They used the small opening to earthbend large boulders of rocks in her direction. She kicked them into pieces. She grabbed one of them out fo the air and threw it right back at them, barely denting the machine.

"You can't get us in here, you little bitch!" The man laughed.

Toph smirked and sauntered up to the machine, ducking everytime they shot. She slammed her elbow down into the machine, a creaking and grinding of metal against metal resounded as the metal cuffed her elbow. She gripped it tightly and yanked hard, ripping the metal sheet straight off. The metal formed a gauntlet over her hand which she plowed into the top of the machine and ripped the entire top layer off.

"Ah fu-" The man started right before Toph punched him in the face.

"Huh, maybe I shouldn't have done that with the metal." Toph stared at the unconscious man.

Suddenly the ground exploded with hundreds of particles thrown toward her, she moved quickly in front of the villagers platform, creating a wall to protect them. Another man began to throw sharp rocks toward her. The lanky man began to create a column. The leader began to make the earth rumble, shooting spikes out from underneath her own feet.


Aang raced Appa as fast as he could toward the Eastern Air Temple. Please be there. A column of dust rose ahead of him. He frowned and looked down to see earthbenders fighting, he shook his head and continued on. A loud screeching of metal made him look down. A petite woman held up a gauntlet of metal. Aang blinked and almost laughed aloud. Of course she's in the middle of the fight, must be earth rumble 19 or something. HE cringed as he watched her punch the man in the face, she stared at the gauntlet and then shrugged. Aang sighed as circled back around, he looked back down when she created a wall behind her, he rose an eyebrow confused. He looked down at a lanky man creating a column of stone and then just sitting on it, staring her down.

Toph began to jump back and forth laughing at the other man trying to stab her from underneath. She jumped high as several rocks jutted out, at the same time the lanky man jumped up, slicing a section of rock off, creating a huge jagged rock and sending it straight for her face. Toph sent a rocks to the other two men knocking them down. Aang felt his hands clench the reigns as fear gripped him. Toph stood straight, no longer in fighting stance, laughing as the stone raced for her.

Aang jumped, breathing in and twirling his staff, pulling in all the air that he could and then shoving it out straight at Toph, sending her backward into the stone wall. Toph slammed into it and then slid to the ground only a few seconds before the rock tore through the wall right where her head was.


Toph groaned, trying to figure out what in the hell just happened. The vibrations seemed to be coming everywhere. Is this what Sugar Queen means when she says 'seeing double'. Toph felt her stomach flip flop, she grabbed the back of her head and frowned. I'm going to guess that's not water. She pulled her hand back, rubbing her thumb and index finger together, feeling the warm sticky blood. There was a slam on the ground near her. Great, now would be a good time for your help Tam.

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM MY GIRLFRIEND!" She heard someone roar. Dirt began to float around her.

"Are you okay?" Toph jolted when she realized that Tam was right next to her.

"Where the fuck did you come from?" Toph bit out.

"You're not really a noble waoman are you?" Tam sighed. "Come on." He hoisted her into his arms. before she could protested she felt him jump up in the air. Unlike with Aang, it felt way too uncomfortable to hover in the air for such an extended time. The second he touched ground she moved out of his arms.

"Is that the Avatar state?" Jay asked in awe. Toph started to shake her head.

"It is." Tam said quietly. But he only does that for Sugar Queen.


Oh my freaking god. I just sat up all night typing this, god I hope you guys like it because now I must go study. and to be honest I have absolutely no idea when I can get back to this story, aside from abour may 14th or so. (end of school). okay now I have proofread it. I think it's good but if it sucks let me know and I'll re proofread it and re load the page or what not, good god It's 6am…darn my need to write….ugh. please review…please. please please please…..I'm going to go to sleep or possibly watch my name is earl on netflix….or both….zzzzzzzz