Author's notes: Thanks so much for reviewing ...I'm having some fun with this, though I'm afraid I've encountered a couple setbacks. A lot of the ideas I previously had for this story have already been explored by some talented writers (and faster typers)...and I'm kinda finicky about doing my own thing.

Remember that kid in kindergarten class that couldn't stand it when their drawing looked like everyone else's? That's me '

I know it's impossible to not cross ideas...but the original plot I had for this looks exactly like a story I just read. Whoops. Therefore I'm going to try to revamp some...which could take awhile.

Listen to me...trying to sound like I know what I'm doing. Blah.

Oh...and the geography of the show confuses me somewhat. The scale of the map on nick's website for instance...can Ba Sing Se really be that big?? If something about the geography seems off, I welcome your opinion. Maybe I can fix it...or maybe I can pull out my shiny artistic license.

Disclaimer: I own nada.

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I eye her state critically. First the greenish purple bruise painted over her left eye and temple, then the sling supporting her right arm, and finally her lack of breath as she rambles on and on about what happened. She explains how she found Appa and how, soon after, her group was ambushed by three Fire Nation girls.

She's somber now. It doesn't take a genius like me to know the fight hadn't gone well.

She explains that she woke up much later, after some brave locals fought the massive fire, fearing it would spread to their homes. That's when they'd been found. They'd been lucky to be seen in time; most of them were saved.

Most of them...

The Fire Nation group had left them unconscious, and her unclothed, assuming the fire was enough to take them in their weakened states. One of her close friends, overwhelmed by the thick, rancid smoke, had suffocated before help arrived...while Suki slept, unable to help.

I thank whatever Mighty power there is that it wasn't her.

The rest of the warriors were given sanctuary in a native's old home while they recovered.

I sit next to her then. She refuses to show her sorrow, instead staring angrily at the floor...at some unseen enemy. Her red eyes tell me she's done enough weeping. I think of my mother, of Yue; I can sympathize with that. Tears have never brought back anyone important to me either. A couple of her Kyoshi warriors, in considerably worse states than their leader, sit in the corner of the room, also frowning darkly.

Toph's the first to speak after Suki finishes, "We're glad you're still with us."

Toph knows better than to say 'I'm sorry' for something she has no power over. I appreciate that about her.

Suki shakes out of her trance at the young girl's words. Her eyes lighten slightly, "Me too."

Me three.

Amazingly, she's able to shake her dark thoughts...or at least push them aside, "Listen to me...I still haven't asked why you travel through here, and without your other friends."

She's changing the subject. I want to tell her that I don't mind listening if she wants to talk, but I respect her space. Instead I briefly explain what's transpired over the last week. I don't go into much detail, as details still hurt too much to go into. I gently inform her that the Kyoshi's garments gained Azula access into the Impenetrable City.

She looks ashamed. Stupid girl...as if she had any control over what happened. I tell her as much. It's worth the punch I receive, if it distracts her from her unjustified feelings of guilt.

I told her about the ensuing battle, the fatal blow dealt to Aang, and the quick escape to the Eastern Air Temple. She gasps when she learns that Aang died, but breathes a sigh of relief when I tell her he's recovering.

Toph snorts at Suki's display of fear, "Have a heart attack, why dontchya? He's the Avatar...ya gotta trust him. That's what the guru guy told us to do anyway... That's why we left."

I lean behind Suki and gesture wildly at Toph to shut up.

"I can't see that, you idiot."

Suki turns, and I feign an extravagant yawn, arms stretched and all. It doesn't take much acting...I'm really pooped.

"What are you doing?"

Crap. "Uhh...Nothing?"

"You don't want me to know where you're going. Why?"

Astute. The girls in the corner look up in curiosity. I search my brain for an excuse.

"On second thought, Serpent's Pass isn't that far from here...there's really only one place you would be going...Do you really think I'm that stupid?"

I blanch. And then my heart skips a beat. She's so cute.

"Uhhh...no?"

Toph snickers.

"Well, don't make it sound like a question!"

Oh...heh. I scratch the back of my neck.

She quickly collects herself, "Why go back? The two of you can't take that group on alone."

Toph's brows furrow. I'm sure her ego didn't take that last comment particularly well.

"Suki," I grapple with my words, "I don't want to get you involved."

"Way too late."

"Suuuuuki...."

"None of that whining crap," She's suddenly standing in front of me, "You're obviously over that chauvinist mentality if you've let a twelve year old girl in on your plans..."

"HEY! "

"...and those girls in Ba Sing Se owe Kyoshi Island a debt for its loss. I'm a capable warrior...I can help you!"

She's becoming agitated. I get the feeling she doesn't take orders that well. Maybe if I can just calm her down...

"Please Suki...you're hurt. This is very risky," I try to pull her down next to me but she refuses my touch.

She points at her sling, "This? It's only a sprain. Ya know, just like that muscle in your head!?"

I cross my eyes as her finger zooms in on my forehead, and then I'm trying to protect myself as she drives her point across with a series of rough jabs...point...ha, ha---

OUCH...ouchouchouchouchouchouchouchouchouch...!!!

She finally stops. I glower and rub my poked skin, while she wraps up her argument.

"And if you can function with such an obvious burden. So. Can. I "

I glance at Toph, who sports a wide smile. This must be so entertaining from an outer perspective.

The earthbender breaks into the conversation, "We're going to free our friend Iroh, and convince him to teach Aang firebending."

"Toph!"

"What?...She's right Snoozles. You're being all stupid and overprotective," her face contorts, "It's nauseating."

"I'm going."

"Wha—No!"

"Sorry, but two against one says 'yes'. Besides, you could use the extra set of eyes."

A groan.

Suki cringes, "Heheh, sorry Toph."

I sigh in defeat. Girls working as a team are simply too powerful for one guy. And with Katara undoubtedly furious about my leaving, and Toph's short temper, and Suki's ability to dissect everything I say...ugh...

I can only pray Aang's on his feet by the time we return.

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Suki told Toph and I to get some sleep while she packed a few essentials: she'd wake us in a couple hours. Funny, it'd felt as though my eyes had just closed and a second later I was being shaken awake. I've come to the conclusion that two hours is just a cruel way to trick a body into thinking it's rested.

A couple of Suki's friends have been glaring at me since I woke up. I guess I'd be wary too. Here I am, 'stumbling upon' Suki...yet again...Coincidence?

They think not.

I've essentially coerced their leader into deserting their safe -albeit decaying- haven, so she can do my fighting for me in an exceptionally risky mission...in their eyes at least. I'd never coerce Suki into doing anything this dangerous...just like she'd never lie down and accept my sensible suggestion that she stay behind.

I hear them whispering again...so I throw one of 'em a wink.

Might as well enjoy myself if they're going to hate me anyway.

Their whispering stops abruptly. The taller of the two sends an obscene gesture in my direction...which I interpret to basically mean, 'Don't get cute with us.'

Heh...okie dokie.

Suki walks into the main room, dressed in an outfit befitting a teenage earth kingdom boy: loose pants that fall to her knees and a simple sleeveless shirt, wrapped around and tied into her cloth belt. A sheath is strapped there, as well as her traditional fan.

Without thinking I comment, "I thought you're fan was taken."

Her eyes cast down briefly, "It was. I'm borrowing this one."

Borrowing?...

Realization hits me...Her friend...the one she lost. The two girls in the corner bow their heads in respect.

"I see...You'll do her honor then."

The corners of her lips lift slightly.

"Thank you."

A short time later we were ready to depart. Appa had been surprisingly happy to see Suki, giving her a wet kiss almost as soon as she walked out of the old hag house. Toph and I laughed at that...I mean, it's funny, right? Suki simply gave me a sly smile before putting me in a choke hold and hugging her cheek to my own...

Appa slobber and all.

Jerk.

Toph stopped laughing then, her face a bit red: expression unreadable...strange. The warriors that came out were similarly cold about our flirtatious display, which is completely unfair. I can't help if I'm irresistible.

Suki gave long hugs to her warrior sisters, her sling long since abandoned, and told them to be ready for pick up on our way back to the Eastern Air Temple...like I was really going to stop for them.

Her warriors wave up at her even after we disappear into the black night.

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Thirty minutes into our journey and I hear Suki's stomach grumble.

Toph leans her head over sweetly, "Oh Suki, you have to try some of this stuff. It's delicious."

Uh oh...never trust Toph's 'sweet' voice.

Toph passes her a familiar canteen: one of the ones Guru Patik packed for us. Suki accepts it with a smile and takes a small sip...

...and promptly spits it into the cool night air.

"IIIICK! What the hell!?"

Toph grins.

"Initiation complete."

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A half hour later...

"And that's the tale of how I stuck three fishhooks in my thumb."

I gape in her direction, admiration clearly written on my face.

"I knew we were meant to be Suki...I just knew it."

Toph sighs from where she lay, "For the love of all that's good and holy, please don't have children."

High above us, the moon laughs.

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Another hour later...I've disengaged myself from conversation while I steer Appa, lost in my thoughts. Vaguely I hear whispers.

"Why does he look constipated?... It's not that juice, is it!?"

"No, no, no...he's just formulating."

"Formulating?"

"Yeah...Ya know the sprain in his brain that you pointed out?"

"Uh huh."

"He's been formulating a plan for the last two days. His poor pea-sized brain must be in agony."

A vein in my forehead pops.

"How tragic."

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Suki shifts uncomfortably for the fifth time in the span of a few minutes.

Toph sighs, "Could you just find a position and stick with it?"

Suki smiles apologetically, "I'm sorry...but we've been flying for a couple hours...and I need to...take care of some business."

I look up, raising an eyebrow. Suki blushes.

"Don't look at me like that...I mean, I know you said that you traveled fourteen hours straight yesterday, but don't you ever have to...yaknow?"

One of the many rules I've learned while hanging around Toph. Try to avoid the issues that embarrass you...or suffer.

"Number one or number two?"

Suki stares incredulously at my blind friend.

"What?"

Toph points toward a pot strapped to Appa's saddle, "Number one..."

She points toward a second pot, "...or number two."

She must be reveling in Suki's discomfort.

Suki turns green, "What?!?!"

Silence.

Toph and I burst out in laughter and I slowly steer Appa toward the ground. Suki breathes out a sigh of relief when she realizes Toph was just pulling her leg.

After I catch my breath, "Oooh...the look on your face."

Toph rubs a tear from her eye, "Yeah...of course we make pit stops..."

"Ha...ha."

Toph scratches her chin, "Well there was that one time when we'd been chased for two days straight and Sokka couldn't hold it..."

Oh yeah...I'd forgotten about that.

Suki raises an eyebrow, "What'd you do?"

I recall the incident, "Well, I'd been holding it for at least an hour...and we just so happened to fly over a fire nation camp..."

Suki's eyes widen, "You didn't."

I smile wickedly, "I don't think I've ever felt so relieved...and on so many different levels."

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We land in a woodsy area just as light appears on the horizon. Suki immediately runs into the thick foliage. I study our map while Toph makes her traditional earth angel.

"We're close to Serpent's Pass...I'd say we only have another half hour."

Toph now lies still in the dirt, content.

"And your plan?"

"Errr...I'm getting there...just waiting for a bit of inspiration."

"Good."

"You're not mad?"

"Far from it...ya see, it's normally after you say things like that that we coincidentally run into said inspiration..."

Hmmm...never thought about it that way.

A rustle in the bushes. Suki breaks through, her face white and breath short, "You guys have got to see this."

"Case in point."

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"I spotted them while I was...er...ya know."

"Peeing?"

"Shhh...keep it down!"

The three of us squat in the shadows, peering through the bushes into the Earth Kingdom camp. Soldiers mill about, performing various chores. It appears they're getting ready to move out.

Looks pretty legit to me.

I raise my eyebrow and glance at the older girl, "And what makes you think they're imposters again?"

"Other than the fact that I saw one of them bend the fire out a minute ago?"

Sarcasm...gotta love that girl. I scrutinize the soldiers once again, looking for defects. It's hard to make out their physical features at this distance, but I'll hand it to Suki...something definitely doesn't feel 'right' about them.

Toph speaks up, "She's right. Those aren't earthbenders."

"How do you know?"

"The ones practicing their stances," She points to a few soldiers on the east side of camp, "Those stances are definitely not connected to my element."

Toph knows her stuff. They really are imposters...seems like Azula's strategy to enter the formerly Impenetrable City has spread. She probably has hundreds of these troops heading for Ba Sing Se. This could be disastrous.

But it could also be fortuitous.

Toph was right...I've found my inspiration.

"I've got a plan."

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Light. He reflexively tries to bend an arm over his eyes from the fierce brightness, but finds he cannot. The joint in his elbow aches dully, and the muscles are weak. All of his muscles feel like mush in fact...and the pain in his bones is only increasing with every second.

And still the light tears into his skull. He turns his head away from the pain, into the shadows. He wishes to stay in his dreams, where he and his friends only know happiness, and never know war.

An accented voice. "You shouldn't shy away from the light, Aang...Your dreams are only illusions...sweet ones, but still deceiving. You must wake to reality. It can be harsh, but it can also be good."

An image of Katara -sweet, loving Katara- enters his mind.

"She is quite good, yes?...But only because you ran away so long ago did you ever meet her...likewise, only because you ran away did this war begin."

The boy's chest, already in pain, feels even more constricted. Tears fall from closed eyes.

"Now now...You must remember that everything happens for a reason...that all events are connected, both good and bad. Now turn your face back to the light, and relish in this insight."

Grey irises slowly appear behind thick lashes. The first thing they focus on is the face of a pretty water tribe girl. After that, the light doesn't bother Aang at all.