Hello all! I soo appreciatte ur reveiws. I just tingle with enjoyment. This chapter is a good one I thought. I'm sure you will all like it as well. Without furthur ado, I give you my next chapter in, The Light Within...

Disclaimer: No I do not own Avatar. This is ludacris...I need a lawyer...jk...but seriously

---Break Ups and Make Ups

Mai stood, stared at Zuko. Her eyes dripped with hatred for the Water Tribe Peasant.

How could he? After all that they've been together for almost two years, he'd throw it all away for a runaway bride.

Composing herself, Mai turned to stare at her reflection in the vanity mirror. She could hear Zuko's restless feet moving back and forth, ready to leave. Mai had known that Katara was leaving; she saw her leave after all. Through her window, Mai saw a dark shadow run across the grass.

It could be none other than Katara. Who else would run from their own wedding?

Mai dusted some pink rouge against her cheeks for something to do. "What will you do now Zuko?"

She had heard him screaming down the hall about an hour ago, looking for his runaway bride that technically, wasn't his.

Clearing his throat, Zuko said, "I'm breaking off the wedding. The Avatar's wedding is off as well, so you don't need to worry about anything." His voice was soft, but commanding as well. Zuko began again, as he saw that Mai wouldn't say anything to him, "I would like it if-"

Mai looked at him in the mirror again. "No Zuko, I think it best if we weren't friends."

"That wasn't what I was going to say, Mai. I would like it if you would leave. I have no need for you here." After an abnormally long pause, Zuko left.

Mai refused to show emotion. Maids had come in to help her pack, but she shooed them away. If only Azula were here, she'd tell Mai to stop being such a baby.

But Azula had never been in love.

Aang had sobbed his heart out. His soon to be wife had fled. Without a trace of where she was going. Toph had stood in the door, waiting to approach him.

Last night, at the final dinner party before the wedding, Toph had felt the nervous vibrations of Katara. Toph knew exactly what was going to happen. Katara was going to leave. Before Katara, Toph had never been jealous of anyone. There was no need to.

Until now.

To Toph, Katara had stolen the one happiness from her. Sure she had friends. But that didn't compare to being in love.

Toph knew that Katara didn't love Aang, Katara was more of taking over responsibility, or feeling obligated to someone. Someone like Aang.

But Aang should have been hers. Aang should have seen how much Toph loved him. Now, with Katara out of the picture, Toph could finally tell him. She could make it up to him. Taking purposeful strides into Katara's old room, Toph stood beside the bed where Aang lay, waiting, waiting for him to notice her.

A wearisome and heart hurting Aang looked down into Toph's upturned face. Her cheeks were a rosy color and her lips were slightly pink. Blinking, Aang couldn't seem to think that this was Toph.

"Hey Twinkle Toes, how you feeling?" Her voice held a touch of sympathy that Aang had never heard before. I

t startled him. "WH-What?"

Toph could sense him looking at her even though he was on the bed. Today, Toph didn't want to look like a little girl. She was at the marrying age; she might as well act like she wanted a husband. If only it could be Aang.

Toph had let her hair down, her bangs were parted to the side and she wore a dark green dress with a bright yellow sash. In other words, she was stunning. Aang could only gawk at her goddess like beauty.

In their group, Katara had always been the soft one, more approachable. Toph, on the other hand, was a diamond in the rough.

But today, right now, Aang felt his worry and his moroseness slip from his shoulders. Just looking at the girl before him had left him with a new found hope.

"Better, much better."

Toph smiled slightly and blushed a little as well. Punching him in the arm, she said, "Good. Now come on, I want you to take me to the turtle duck pond."

Aang air bended himself from the bed and made a great show of it. Too bad Toph couldn't see. Oh well, she was tougher and better than any other girl he had ever known. After all, she was tougher than Katara.

For once, that made him smile instead of smirking as he was wont to do. "At your service."

Aang held out his arm before her.

She giggled-what a cute little noise-and took his hand instead, dragging him out of the slightly stuffy room and out into the light.

In the early evening, Mai left. The sunset was still hot against the horizon, portraying the beauty of the Fire Nation in all its powerful glory.

Zuko sauntered out of his room, and into the hall. If any of his people knew he had left, there would be grave consequences. Especially now since Mai was on her own. Zuko decided the only way out was to disguise himself.

Dressing as the blue spirit, Zuko stalked into his Uncle's receiving room. There, Iroh was drinking tea with Kanna. They made light chatter.

Yet Zuko was at a loss. A map was spread before them on the redwood table. Iroh looked up instantly, as if he could sense his nephew. He was not frightened.

Well, Kanna was, she gasped and almost spilled tea all over herself, but caught it back in the cup at the last instant. "You should never scare an old woman young man, it is quite uncalled for." Kanna scolded him with humor in her aged blue eyes.

Zuko didn't lift the mask up, instead he looked down to see what the map was, but in an instant, before Zuko noticed, the map was gone. "Wasn't there a-"

Iroh played the role of the innocent at Zuko's gaze turned lethal. "Why, we are only having tea good spirit. Should you like to join us before you go?"

Zuko then took the mask off, a puzzle marking his features. "Oh, just sit down. We might as well tell him, Iroh."

"Tell me what?"

Iroh nodded thoughtfully. He wasn't usually known to getting to the point like Kanna was. "Sit down nephew. We have a plan for you."

The puzzlement crept back into his golden eyes. "I thought I was supposed to do this on my own." A statement of curiosity.

"Everyone needs help along the way. Katara did. And now we are going to help you." Kanna patted a chair next to her impatiently.

Startled at the discovery, Zuko sat beside her. Iroh hesitantly took out a map, crinkled at the edges, ripped in small parts in the middle. The map was of the Earth Kingdom...and an island next to it. In beautiful script, above the island read, The Island of Kyoshi.

Weren't Sokka and Suki living there? And a flicker of light burned in Zuko's minds eye. "What is this Uncle?" Although, Zuko already knew...Katara left for the Earth Kingdom.

"Why, it's a map of the Earth Kingdom, Zuko!" A bored glare crept from his eyes. Kanna rolled her eyes, said, "This map will help you along the way. We already pinpointed places Katara is heading or has headed. Who knows? Just be careful..." She truly sounded worried.

Maybe she wasn't worried for him. Maybe Kanna was worried for her granddaughter. It didn't matter though, Zuko was always careful. At least, he hoped he would be this one time.

"Thank you." After bowing he took the map from his uncle and checked its thoroughness-for Iroh was known to skip a few details-and put the Blue Spirit mask over his face once more.

Heading toward the door in legthly strides, Zuko confirmed his safety in the hall and slipped out to the waning light left over from the sun's descent over the pale blue sky.

Sorry no Katara. But she was mentioned was she not? Ha I got rid of Mai! And I made her look stupid! (mwahaha) I did love the break up between Mai and Zuko, it was sweet. But where do you think Aang and Toph are going in their relationship? interesting... I love the blue spirit, he has stealth, mystery, and sex appeal! but anyways...i hope you enjoyed this chap and I expect 4 reveiws, k? ok. id love to hear from u soon babes, l8tr :P