A Kiss in Ba Sing Se

[A/N: How precious is life. Is it the life itself that is valuable or the people that we share it with that makes it priceless for us? A life worth living or even fighting and if need be, dying for.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The Last Airbender

Enjoy.

Comment if you wish. All feedback is welcomed.]

Chapter 63

Precious Struggles

The Avatar stood in front of the full length mirror adjusting his tan sash and quietly chanting the ceremonial prayer that accompanied the placing of it as Gyatso had taught him. As a boy, Aang sometimes struggled with the various mantras that related to the different articles of dress until his teacher made them into a simple song. Now it was second nature to him as he hummed along. The other day as he dressed in front of Toph, she overheard his ritual. "That's beautiful Twinkle Toes, sing it louder," she requested as she rested her head upon her hands. While he was singing each prayer out distinctively, she would occasionally have him pause and explain the meaning and relationship between cloth and mantra. He was blessed that she wasn't being snarky or patronizing, as she could have been, but Toph appeared truly interested in his now extinct culture.

As he was lost in the warm memory, a cold chill ran down his spine. Aang felt the presence appear as if out of nowhere in the room, just off to his left, away from the view of the mirror and out of the sunlight. Though it's aura wasn't strong, he knew its vibe. "Water is her weakness," he thought even as his gray eyes flashed briefly. The edges of the mirror frosted up as a mist formed about knee level. Aang tried to pinpoint her location but she was too evasive. Finally he tilted the mirror in the direction of the strongest sensation in the room with a small gust of air. The Avatar gasped in shock at the sight cowering in the corner deep within the shadows. The mirror had reflected the morning sunlight directly onto her causing the Rakshasi to try and veil her stark appearance.

Aang still recognized the small, emaciated and naked creature from her big, white-less eyes. "Hidimbi... uh, by the Four Winds, what happened to you?" he asked still not believing how thin and frail she appeared as he stared into her red-rimmed eyes trying to read her feelings.

The Rakshasi was no longer the tall menacing figure that did battle with the Ga-Aang the night prior. She now appeared as someone to be pitied. The man-eater was of a smaller stature than the first time he saw her in the spirit/dream world. Though she was in human form, both her horns had evidently been shattered down to near her skull and the long, snake-like tail was no where to be seen. her once full golden mane was now only a few strands that hund coarse down, The succubus' leather-like wings were shredded and the top supporting bones broken at an irregular angle. It was clear this was an act to cause her as much pain as possible. They were dragging on the floor behind her. Her legs and arms were abnormally thin and her once voluptuous breast appeared like empty grain sacks, the nipples sucked into them. Her once dark and shining skin now looked translucent and thin as if made of rice paper that could tear away at the slightest touch. Huge lesions and burns blotted Hidimbi's body. It was also quite evident she was in great pain wherever the light struck her.

"Pl-please Avatar... I-I'm a being of the night in your sphere! My wounds," she seethed in sharply, "...they burn in this accursed light! It's... killing me," she groaned trying to pull back further into the shadows.

Aang diverted the mirror away as he turned around to face her. "Sorry, is that better?" he inquired even as he closed the window drapes with a long flowing current of air about the room. All that was lighting the room now was the glowing green crystal sconces.

The feeble looking succubus nodded as she slowly limped out of the shadowy corner and into the room. "For-forgive me... Avatar. I-I... I've made a most... eg-egregious mistake... in thinking you would..." She suddenly paused and stared at him for a long moment with her mouth open.

"Hidimbi?" Aang prompted her. "Hidimbi, you were saying something?"

The creature's small mouth was drawn tight as if fighting something, She shook her head as if trying to break out of a trance. "Eh... yes. I was apologizing... yes that was it," she muttered gingerly shuffling closer. "I-I thought you were the... you were the one to break her heart. I was so, so, wrong," she sighed now gazing up at the at the high ceiling.

"I would have if you hadn't shown me how stupid i was," he admitted with a half smile. "But Toph and I are all good now. I really don't care what she was born as, only that she was... and I really do love her, I swear, Thought Seer and all."

The succubus tried to smile. "Thank goodness. My Queen deserves to be loved. It has been so allusive to her for so long," she retorted enjoying the cool of the darkness,

Aang returned the smile cautiously. "Is this the result of my friends last night?" he asked gulping hard as his eyes adjusted to the low light and he saw the severity of her wounds.

Hidimbi shook her head. "No, even though they fought valiantly for you and the priestess was obviously very skillful, those injuries were easy to overcome. Like razor-hornet stings, hurts but nothing serious," she attempted to joke with a small laugh followed by a series of deep, rattling coughs.

He at once instinctively stepped forward.

"No, stay back!" Hidimbi shouted. "She sent me here... sent me to you," she gasped trying to recover from her coughing spell.

"Who sent you?" the Avatar asked holding his position. "Was it the person or spirit responsible for doing this to you?"

The Rakshasi gave him no reply as she began to stare through him. "So... tired... so wanting," she exclaimed in a trembling low voice. "So, so... much chi... so much lust..."

The airbender took in a deep breath feeling the danger level in the room rise along with his heartbeat. "Hidimbi... I know you're hurt. Let me get Lili or Katara to come and help you okay?" he offered now moving slowing away.

She was matching his movement but forward. "No, Avatar, Great Bridge Between our Worlds, you are the only one who can help me. I need mana. I need it from a human male. I swear, only enough to restore my strength and heal these injuries," she pleaded inching ever closer.

Aang swallowed hard. "B-but you're a succubus. You feed on sex... right? I really can't..."

She tried to stand more erect. "I-I know, I no longer have the beauty I once did... milord, but if you can see past this hideous form for but a moment, it will be restored, I promise," she stated trying to preen herself by running her bony fingers through the few stands of her remaining hair.

"You mean, you want me to kiss you?" he inquired as he held back the urge to vomit in his mouth.

She looked down in despair. "A kiss... only if such a simple act would be enough," she sighed and then looked up in hope. "I could take your manhood into my mouth. As long as you released, that should be an ample start."

"Ample start to what?" Fong asked as she jumped between them brandishing a wide blade dagger.

"Here is the box Songbird," Lili said as she promptly handed it to her petite cousin. "Are you hurt?"

Toph shook her head slightly as she was clearly focused on what appeared to be an ornate, seamless, marble cube.

"Arghhhh... Toph! When were you going to tell your own mother that something's wrong?" Poppy asked as she rushed in directly behind the first lady. Please Pumpkin, I'm your mom!"

"Lili! You told my mom!" Toph screamed out just about dropping the box.

"No, of course not!" her cousin yelled back. "She followed me in! I-I haven't said anything!" the countess defended herself, too tired from the night before to care about etiquette at the moment.

Toph pointed a finger Lili's way. "Then how does she know that something is wrong, huh? Tell me that Miss Sassy-Pants!" the princess countered angrily.

Lili threw up hands in frustration. "Oh by Earth! You know I hate it when you call me that! How am I suppose to know why your mother knows what she knows... she's your mother song-bird!" her cousin sighed rolling her big jade eyes. "Why don't you ask her!"

"Calm down hun," her mother replied gently. "Didn't you think I'd figure out something was wrong when I could walk right in and you not even acknowledge me Pumpkin?" Poppy asked as she stepped over to her glowering daughter. "And then there is Lili passing you that box. Didn't you say, and I quote, 'I'll never summon even a single one of those bitches like your things mom,' you said to me when you received it on your 12th birthday," the queen reminded her. "Something must be really distracting you... or scaring you to have you so off Pumpkin and for you to finally pull that out."

The small earthbender turned her face downward. "It's nothing that we can't handle mom, so please... let me and Katara take care of this?" she asked gently turning the warm cube around in her hand.

"But honey, is she willing to help you when you're going on a date with her boyfriend today?" her mother threw in suddenly.

The look of shock on the princess's face was soon replaced by anger once more. "LilI! You can't tell me that you didn't tell her that!" she roar as her tight lips quivered.

"No she didn't," Poppy replied as she too glared at the countess. "An issue I intend to address later with all my appointees," she threatened causing the countess to swallow hard. "I had to hear it second hand from that gossip monger Puck. Do you two realize how upsetting it is to have that ball-less, pompous, old fart inform me that my very own daughter is going on her first date? If your father hadn't reminded me that you're technically an adult now... well, just say, I was a bit upset," Poppy stated taking in a deep breath.

"I beg your forgiveness your Majesty," Lili broke down bowing to the floor and recalling her station. "It was an incredibly busy day an-and the plan for a date to my knowledge were never confirmed. Isn't that correct you're majesty," she asked Toph pensively.

Toph nodded. "That's right mom. I said after the tables had turned on Sugar Queen that we could call the whole thing off," the Princess confirmed, her face now turned towards the Queen. "But no, Miss High and Mighty kept on saying that I had to go through with it now and that it was a matter of honor. What does a girl from a frozen dung heap know about honor?" she snarled.

"At least enough to honor a bet," her mother corrected her. "From what I know of the young woman, she's someone to be admired, not ridiculed. Didn't you just say you were going to ask for her help in this matter of yours... whatever it is Tophy?"

The flush that shot across the princess' face born from her mother's rapier sharp wit just made the situation worse. "She's reliable enough, I suppose, but I'm not going out on a date with her lame brain boyfriend. Geez, it was just a joke, a stupid joke!' she yelled stomping her bare foot.

Toph's heart starting racing as she felt the mood in the room grow heavier.

"Oh yes you will young lady," her mother replied through gritted teeth. "Joke or not, all of the palace, no... all of Ba Sing Se is now expecting to see you two out on a date! You should have thought about the consequences before you stated the wager, Bei Fong!"

The princess's face became a deep scowl. "No way! Absolutely no way! What is dad going to say..."

"TOPH CHING-LAN MEI-XING JIAO SOO HAAN BEI FONG!" her mother screamed into her face just a couple of centimeters apart. "Do you take me for a fucking moron or some stupid man!"

The young earthbender swallowed hard at the use of her full name. "Eh, no... mother, whatever do you mean?" she asked nervously as she began to feel weak in the knees.

Poppy took in a long deep breath. "I saw the way he was looking at you in the coach, at the Announcement... and practically any time he's near you daughter of mine. In fact, all of Puck's people say it's obvious that he is completely infatuated with you to one extent or the other."

"That idiot," Toph huffed under her breath as she crossed her arms.

Poppy smiled like a moose-lioness cornering her prey. "That young man is smitten with you, and you know it Toph. You're a Truth Seer. You can't help but to know it, don't you? Is he the problem you were going to address with that box and Katara? What were you about to do? Make her forget, or rather, stir her blood enough so that she would ravish him and put this all to rest?" her mother asked with a sinister chuckle.

This time Toph took in a deep breath, "You have found me out, as usual. The latter," she stated as the small box rotated in the air above her hand. "Aang... uh, confessed to me that he loved me. I, well, you know me. I'm just not ready for something like that and so I thought if Sweetness upped the goods, I would just be a vague memory in the afterglow."

Her mother hugged her strongly. "No, no, no, no you won't my dearest. If anyone will be a vague memory in the afterglow, it will be that little water witch," she said emphatically kissing the top of her daughter's head. "Oh, my little girl has finally grown up. Please understand Toph. The House of Bei Fong needs the Avatar in order to survive and stop the resistance we have been encountering. If he is in love with you, he will be committed to our house! It is your duty now my love. You are a woman Toph. You must use any means to secure him! Am I being clear?"

Suki heart just about leaped out her chest as the suite door opened. She fought hard to keep her composure as he strolled quietly into the sitting room that preceded the bedroom.

"Oh, hey Suki. I didn't know you you would still be hear," Sokka stated as he smiled causally at the fully dressed seated woman. "Were you waiting for me?"

She looked down and shook her head. It was such an obvious lie she was sure he saw right through her pretense.

"Well that's good," he replied as he kept moving into the bedroom. "Eh, I'm really tired right now and I need a serious bath. Also, isn't Ty and your honor guard expected this morning?" he asked leaning on the door jam.

She smiled as best she could in not feeling his usual warmth. "They're all here already and are getting quarters assigned," she informed him with a tight, thing grin. "The airship they came in on from the Fire Nation had some mechanical troubles or they would have been here last night. But I guess it worked out for the best with that monster and all," she concluded trying to read his pleasant expression.

"Yep, funny how those kind of things work themselves out," he agreed. "It's good to see you in full uniform too, and I do like the look of these new ones. The chainmail bra I think really sets it off," he pointed out stroking his chin and nodding.

She rose seductively. "Nothing is stopping you from a full... hands on, inspection Sokka," she offered as she stuck out her perky chest. These outfits are much lighter and easier to move in. We can, check out just how much," Suki said with a wink.

She was encouraged when his grin got larger with a twinge of the old familiar lust but then it faded just as rapidly. "Suki-kins, you're so tempting, but really, I'm not up for it right now," he admitted with a small yawn. "It's been a rough night. I'm gonna skip breakfast too and probably see you at lunch, okay?" he commented with a wave before disappearing into the shadows of the bedroom.

The alarmed look on the Fan Master's face was visible through her heavy makeup. "Sokka, my Sokka! The man who can eat and fuck in his sleep, sometimes together, skipping on a offer for sex and a meal... on purpose! What has happened to you?" she mentally recoiled as she covered her open mouth. "Did you lose your manhood,' she now questioned in fear recalling what Soo Ming had warned her of if he was not treated in time.

"They're breaking my arms Toph!," she screamed out in pain as the two djinns had her bent over to the waist, her arms extended straight back to the shoulder, threatening to dislocate them. "Who are these vile beings that are desecrating my person? I sense no water in them!"

"Oh that's right, you've never met them have you Sweetness, eh, I mean Wu," the princess said as she disrobed and strolled into the sunken tub. "How very rude of me my dear," she apologized mockingly. "Well, I'll do the introductions. Lets get started with the tall, goofy one."

The 192cm (nearly 6ft) tall being seemed to be truly hurt. "Please your Majesty, I try my best, but this world is so strange to me," she whined in a somewhat childlike voice that contradicted her size and strength.

Toph smirked shaking her head. "As if that makes a difference. Anyways, I call her Annie, short for Anromia. And the intense one closest to your throat right now I call Mimi. Her real name is Tsimi. Funny, how I can recall their true names, but nicknames are so much more fun, don't you think, Wu? But Wu is such an easy name we never needed to shorten it," she mused.

There as a moment of tense silence as the princess ran her fingers through the waterbender's hair. "You are so pretty. This color, what is it called?"

"Brown or auburn," a voice answered from the far corner of the bath.

"Lili! Lili help me!" Katara cried out. "Toph's a Mind Raper! You have to help me," she begged struggling in vain against the creatures that effortless held her.

"I cannot Lady Wu and I find the term, Mind Raper, especially offensive when referring to my noble cousin," the countess exclaimed as she stepped forward. "I am here to assist her Majesty, not you. Please relax and be assured that all that is happening is for your best interest, or rather that of your present life, the Ambassador Katara."

The malevolent sneer on the waterbender's face frightened the countess to the point she stood frozen in place.

"Oh sweet Lili. How foolish you are not to help me. Your waters are going to taste so good when I drain them from your gasping lungs," Wu threatened with a lick of her lips.

The light patting on Katara's head now turned into a painful tug as her head was jerked up to stare into the muted eyes of the angry princess. "You harm my cousin, you take one drop from her, and I will bury you alive Wu, Katara or not. I swear it by my father's throne!" Toph spat as she twisted the hand full of hair hearing it strain against the scalp.

Katara seethed in sharply. "Ahhh... there you are Ci Quan. Still so beautiful... an-and yet... so temptingly deadly," she gasped against the strain on her neck. "I honor you... sister Lili, OW! No, noo... harm will come from my hand. I swear by Tui and La," Wu stated as Toph tossed her head forward letting her hair go.

"Why don't I believe you Wu?" Toph asked as she started to stroke her hair again. "I know, because your lips are moving you murderous cunt!"

"Kiss me and know the truth of my feelings for you Ci Quan," she challenged with a hungry smile.

"Sorry, but I rather not be poisoned again Wu. That was a pretty low trick, even for you," the princess retorted as she flicked the waterbender in the center of the forehead. "Ooh, that may leave a mark. It's getting really red," Toph stated as she started to chuckle.

Wu's brow furled as much from the strike as it did from curiosity. "Ci Quan, I thought you were blind?" she asked as she stared into the cloudy eyes of the earthbender. "In fact, I was going to heal those for you as a sign of my love."

"Impossible, even for you," Toph stated with a low sigh. "My dad cursed these eyes as a condition of my returning to this plane."

"Then how are you seeing now?" Katara asked out-rightly.

"She's borrowing my sight," Lili spoke up, a quiver of fear still evident.

"Oh, how very quaint. Still I guess it's better than the dark, right Ci Quan?" Wu commented sarcastically. "Why not let me replace those cursed eyes my love! Instead of just borrowing your cousin's sight, why not just take some useless peasants? it would be a simple matter for me to switch them out for you. If you are feeling merciful, then I could take an eye from two different people and that way no one is left in the dark... how does that sound?"

"Can... can she really do that?" Lili asked in amazement.

"Yeah," Toph grumbled

Lili clasped her hands together, "Then cousin... Songbird, take one of my eyes..."

"NO!" Toph yelled. "You... we, cannot trust this witch! She will end up owning you Lili, body and soul if you give into her!"

"But Toph, it's your chance to see... just like you're seeing now!" Lili implored her. "I only need one eye. Maybe we could swap an eye," she further suggested.

"Now that's true devotion and love Lili. I was truly mistaken in threatening you," Wu admitted with an honest appearing grin. "That sounds like a fair proposal since even being worthless, her eyes are quite compelling."

Toph frowned deeply. She wasn't sure if it was Wu's smugness even though she was at a disadvantage or her eyes being called worthless that set her on edge. She was now really pissed off. "Wu, Mimi will be doing the honors of making you my good old Sweetness again, so I think it's time we said our goodbyes... like forever," she clarified about to signal the djinn.

Wu quickly spoke. "So... uh, my liege, these are your demons?"

"We are not demons," Annie snapped at her. "They are spirit beings from the netherworld and we are clearly halflings! The spawn of deities and titans! We are no lowly demons!"

"I really don't think she cares for a lesson right now Annie, she's just trying to buy time," Toph explained as she streamed her hands through the warm water of the tub. "But your stall tactic isn't gonna work this time... my love. You see Annie, Wu thinks she's smarter than everyone else. She's so opinionated, only what she thinks has any validity to her, isn't that right, My Right Hand?"

Katara swallowed hard. 'I-I know what it appeared like back then, but I was just trying to fix things, make them right between us. When he showed up, he began ruining it all, don't you recall Ci Quan?" she moaned as she bit at her lower lip.

Once again Toph was face to face with the waterbender. "Only thing I recall is the sandal being on the other foot as you sealed me in that damn iceberg, Wu," she reminded her. "Let's go check out the most beautiful lake, you said. It was so blue and pure I could see 20 meters to the bottom. I didn't know you were going to take and make it my tomb!"

"I never meant for that to happen... you forced me!" Wu yelled back, her shoulders jerking from the strain.

Toph's jaw was shaking. "Oh yeah and I made you use succubus essence to beguile me and play upon my affections too! Face it Wu, you're just a soulless harpy!" she accused turning her back on the struggling woman.

"Tha-that's not true blessed Ci Quan. I only thought to use it... you know, to reintroduce ourselves. See, I've changed and I'm listening milady! I'm begging you, please have mercy!" Wu began to wail.

"Stop trying to delay the inevitable Water Witch of the North," the Princess barked in a regal tone. "Face this with some damn dignity. Do you recall how much mercy you showed me! None, not one little bit though I pleaded with you as well! We had made love, exchanged vows, that very morning and you still betrayed me most foul! How do you expect me to forgive you after 100 years of being sealed away in that frozen hell! I prayed each and everyday for release, but no one came! Then I started to pray for revenge. My body finally gave out and I was able to return to the spirit world but my father, that sonofabitch! He told me, "Zhinu, this was a good lessen for you. You can't trust mortals! He let me suffer... because of you... you witch!"

Wu was shaking her head frantically. "I-it was a mistake! It wasn't suppose to end like that! H-he, that maniac, stopped me from coming back to release you!" Wu cried in a mournful voice. "I-I was betrayed by my own priests calling themselves this White Lotus Society before I could kill that pompous fool. They told him I had assassinated you and destroyed your body. I tried, I truthfully tried to tell him that you were still alive but he just wouldn't believe me. He raped, and ravaged every part of me for more than a year and all that time I pleaded with him to send his best ice mages to break your tomb. Even when he turned me over to his personal guard and they carried out even more atrocities than I care to recall upon me, I implored them to save you. When they impaled my beloved brother before my very eyes and emasculated him, I again petitioned for your well-being Ci Quan, you must believe me!" she wept bitterly as her tears fell like rain into bath's water.

Toph appeared unmoved. "Show her your bite Mimi. This is what you have to look forward to Wu," she sneered hearing the waterbender's thrashing about even more. "Consider it your last kiss."

The smaller djinn handed her iron hold off to the taller one and Katara/Wu let out a yelp of pain.

"Easy ladies," Toph warned sardonically, "Can't afford to break the waterbender... she's not really herself at the moment."

"Yes your Highness, we understand that you wish to recover you friend with the least amount of injury," Mimi iterated moving in front of the ambassador.

Katara's big blue eyes went wide with fright as the sunlight illuminated the short, topless, ebony skinned woman with the snow white hair. Mimi stepped around to face her.

"Get away from me you freak!" Wu growled trying to summon some sort of bending but her chi had been stymied as well.

"I'm not a freak, milady. I'm djinn and a servant of the most Royal Zhinu," she mildly said.

"Please Toph... Ci Quan, don't send me away!" Wu implored her as her voice cracked.

"You had your life Wu. This life belongs to the Katara you and the you right now, needs to give it back," the earthbender told her solemnly. "If you knew just how much I loved you back then, well this situation probably wouldn't be happening now... my precious sister," the princess exclaimed as she nodded to Tsimi.

The djinn opened her mouth as four long fangs jutted out. The two on top longer than the two at the bottom.

"Toph... please... don't let her do this," Wu pleaded trying to strain away from the inhuman hold. "Don't let this thing kill me!"

"Wu, sister, don't you understand," Toph sighed as she turned to face her, "... you're already dead."

A look of confusion swept the waterbender's face."I don't understanddd...," her last word faded just as soon as the fangs sank deep into the top of her shoulder and the blood started running freely from the punctures. The djinn's eyes turned blood red while she drank from the waterbender and Katara started to moan and then go limp. The water of the tub around them soon became crimson as well. Anromia now released her and Katara arms fell over the back of Tsimi who still had her jaws clamped.

Suddenly Mimi pulled back her head retracting her stained teeth. The djinn laid the limp waterbender back into the bloody water.

"My Queen she is ready. The other personage and the Rakshashi venom is purged," Tsimi informed her softly. "Her mind is open."

The Truth Seer waded over and placed her fingertips at Katara's temples as she dove into the mind of the precocious Water Tribe girl.

Toph suddenly stopped and pulled her hands away. "Anromia, taste the blood in the water," she commanded.

The djinn drank a handful, savoring the flavor.

"Do you taste the Rakshashi? Can you track her?" the princess asked with growing urgency in her voice.

Annie took another sip. "Yes, your Highness. She is not far. She is in this realm," the djinn informed her.

"Go, KILL!" Toph screamed pointing at the exit.

In an instant with a puff of black smoke, the djinn was gone.

Lili's heart started beating wildly as she saw the panic in her cousin's face. "What's wrong Toph, what's going on!"

Fong slashed at Hidimbi once more, keeping the haggish appearing succubus at bay. "Begone with you!" she yelled "I will not let you get to him!"

They had already tried for the door and to exit through the passage, but even with the speed of an airbender, the Rakshashi was able to block them in. Aang had thought of flying up through the skylight but when he saw Hidmbi easily crawl across the wall like a canyon-crawler, and leap as high as a rabbiroo, he abandoned the plan. His frontal attacks were also ineffective as she dodged ice, air, fire and earth just as easily all together, or in any combination, in the close quarters. Aang could hear the guards banging at the outer door asking if he needed help.

"AVATAR, Let us in, we can help!" the soldier called though the door. "The door, it's frozen solid!"

"Leave!" Fong answered breathlessly, even as the succubus reached for the Avatar once more. "If you open that door, you put your lives and everyone in the palace at risk! The Avatar and I can handle this."

Hidimbi withdrew her arm in pain as the dagger slashed down across her forearm. Aang noted that it sounded more like metal striking stone than anything of human flesh.

"That's number five," Toph's brown-eyed cousin taunted the snarling man-eater. "You're clearly slowing down bitch! It won't be long before I have your head!"

The Rakshashi hissed as she examined the new wound. It was true that the purity of the silver was weakening her and the little creature was starting to feel more desperate. "Please Avatar, why won't you help me? Don't you have an obligation to all spiritual beings?" she sued even as tears rimmed in her exoctic eyes.

"Not at the cost of his own life you selfish beast! Haven't you already lived thousands of years?" Fong defended him as Aang once more tried to focus on an escape plan not wanting to see any more hurt or suffering. "Accept your fate!"

Hidimbi bared her sharp teeth. "Said like a true mortal! What do any of you know of the delights of the Ethereal?" she asked as she locked eyes on the airbender. "Your lives are just a breeze or a spark amongst the flames to us. You all should be honored that can we can give you the gift of a pleasurable death."

Fong smiled. "Stand and drop your guard and I will bestow the same honor on you as you desire for him. I can assure you beast, I will make it painless," she replied holding up the bloodied blade. "Or do you prefer to be hacked apart, little by little."

"These days, I have known too much fear... these days," Hidimbi confessed. "I'm a queen among my people and look at me, reduced to chasing a man around a room like some rabid wolf-bat. I can't tell you the shame and humiliation I feel right now. I-I hate her... I hate that witch. She... she's stolen everything from me! She sent me here! No, she discarded me here like I was so much trash! She said, feed or die, your Highness and then she laughed at me, breaking my lovely wings. She shredded them with the barb from my own tail..." the man-eater yammered away as if looking for some mote of sympathy.

The Avatar leaned over to speak into his bodyguard's ear as the succubus rambled on. "Fong, she seems to be drifting again. Do you think we can end this without killing her? I can try and bury her again or freeze her to the floor," he asked hoping for a positive answer.

"She's preparing to die or she's going to give it one last try to devour you Aang. I think she's trying to have us drop our guard, but I could b wrong. I don't perceive a good ending either way your Grace," she whispered back as the succubus continued to mutter on before them.

"Aang help me... please help me! Fong is trying to kill me!"

The Avatar blinked and looked to where the Rakshashi was once standing. There now stood, bleeding an naked, his beloved.

"T-Toph! Wha... how... why are you here?" he asked in utter disbelief.