Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender, and I am making no money or profit off of this fanfic.
Summary: "My Dad changed his mind. He said I was free to travel the world."
A/N: Thanks goes to my awesome reviewers: SCWLC, JackieStarSister, SnoopyGirl213, CrazyDyslexicNerd, Somariel, lokoforsonic9559 and mr. ronald weasley.
CHAPTER THREE - REUNION
After the Defeat of Fire Lord Ozai, and the Coronation of Fire Lord Zuko, Fire bending Sifu to the Avatar (and didn't that promise to be another interesting story!) the Bei Fongs received another letter, this one from Master Katara.
To Lao and Poppy Bei Fong,
You may or may not remember me, but I am one of the Avatar's Water Tribe companions. As the war is now over, my brother and I look forward to returning home and seeing our family again. I do not know what Toph or Aang have planned at this time, but I know that we will be stopping at Ba Sing Se in two weeks from the date I write this letter, and staying at the Jasmine Dragon on the Inner Ring for a while.
I am extending an invitation for you to join us there, as a surprise for Toph, who I know is struggling with how to act in regards to seeing you again.
With respect and best wishes,
Katara of the Southern Water Tribe.
The Golden Seal of the Flying Boar was only slightly less powerful than the Personal Seal of the Earth King. As such, it opened doors and broke rules that would otherwise take weeks to get through. Therefore, a journey that would take most people at least a month was accomplished in only slightly less than a fortnight.
It also got them straight to the Upper Ring, and the Jasmine Dragon, with minimal fuss, and no officials demanding papers that would have to be signed and witnessed by five different officials, no more than two of which could be found at any one time. Lao Bei Fong might be a merchant, but even he admitted that the same paperwork that secured a deal or bargain could also be a colossal nuisance.
The Jasmine Dragon was a beautiful and tastefully decorated Tea Shop, where the sound of a Tsungi Horn and the voices of several teenagers could be heard drifting out. Toph's parents paused outside the door for a moment, sending up a brief prayer of hope to the spirits. They had anticipated this moment for months, but had not expected to be so nervous at the opportunity to see their daughter again.
'Merciful Guanyin, please – ', "Toph Bei Fong, you get back here this instant! Sokka, don't you dare try to hide her!"
Their hesitation was swiftly interrupted by a feminine voice raised in a near-shriek, followed by mad cackling and their daughter's distinctive voice, filled with a fiendish glee. "Oh, lighten up, Sugar Queen!"
'Sugar Queen'? They didn't remember any of the Avatar's group going by that name…
The first voice didn't seem inclined to listen, much less comply. "You stop that, or I swear I'll scrub your feet down daily! I'll drag you to every spa in Ba Sing Se! I don't care if you think it's a healthy coating of your element!"
A spa? Maybe this was something that Poppy and Toph could bond over, since Poppy could never hope to understand Earthbending on the instinctive level that Toph seemed to. She wasn't about to force Toph to be a proper lady wrapped in silk and jewels, but maybe she could convince her that looking pretty wasn't a bad thing, and at least it would be a starting point.
As they entered, Lao couldn't help but ask the obvious question; even though he wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer. "Sugar Queen?"
The conversations inside screeched to a halt, as did Toph, which caused the Water Tribe girl chasing her, Katara, to barely stop in time to avoid knocking both of them over. Toph slid one foot gently over the floor, testing for something. "Mom, Dad?"
Months of worrying and the relief of finally seeing Toph again had Poppy sprinting across the room with a muffled sob, yanking her startled daughter into an embrace. "We missed you, Toph. I'm so glad to see you again."
She had been about to mention being glad that she was safe, but decided that since the overwhelming desire to keep Toph safe had been part of what made her leave, perhaps it wasn't the best choice of words. She was glad of her restraint as, for the first time in far too long, Toph carefully hugged her back. "I missed you guys, too."
She pulled away as Lao approached. "But what was with sending Bounty Hunters after me? They sent a note saying you were in Ba Sing Se and wanted to talk to me, and then locked me in a metal box! I had to invent a whole new style of bending to get out!"
Lao spluttered. "I asked Master Yu to help us find you and gave him money to pay for expenses! Are you saying he hired Bounty Hunters? I can't think of ten in the Earth Kingdom that I'd trust to retrieve a runaway goose-dog! When I get hold of him I'll…"
Toph suddenly scowled, on the verge of an indignant, and probably impolite, reply. Katara, wearing an expression that Poppy recognized from her own mother trying to avert a fight before it started, quickly intervened. "Actually, Master Yu and his friend were the bounty hunters."
Lao looked torn between shock and fury, so Poppy stepped in, years of playing hostess kicking in. "Perhaps we can discuss this sitting down? Or privately, if you prefer, Toph. Young man, is there any tea left?"
A tall young man with a large burn scar covering one eye, grumbled something about having thought his tea-serving days were over, but exchanged a quick smile with the other young people as he brought the tea-tray over. "Don't worry, Uncle brewed it."
That went a little over the Bei Fong's heads, but it was clearly an inside joke, as several of the group, namely Katara, the Water Tribe boy, a girl in the outfit of a Kyoshi Warrior, and a robust old man, snickered quietly. A tall, morose girl with black hair and pale skin didn't change her bored expression, and the Avatar seemed to be trying to decide if laughing would offend the boy, whose gold eyes gave him away as Fire Nation.
Several very tense minutes later, Toph finally broke the silence. "Let's stop dancing around. Why are you guys here? It had better not be to drag me back home! I can take care of myself!"
Poppy couldn't supress a wince at her daughter's defensive opening, and winced again at Katara's not-quite-a-mother reprimand. "That doesn't mean that you have to do it alone, Toph. At least hear them out."
Poppy did have to smile, however, when Katara's tone really did turn into that of a mother, when she turned to scold the Avatar for trying to feed a peach tart to his pet lemur. Maybe there was a nice Earth Kingdom boy she could introduce Katara to…
Lao had started talking while Poppy was thinking. "We know, Toph, and I should have addressed that I was amazed and proud of you before I got angry at your recklessness and grounded you. We won't force you to do anything, but we don't want to spend the rest of our lives as strangers, either. Will you give us a chance?"
Another very long moment in which no one seemed to so much as breathe. Then, Toph Earth bended herself over the table, landing in between her parents and reaching out. "Yes."
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A/N: And "Letters" is finally finished! I'm not quite sure about the ending, but it was the best stopping point I had.
Thanks again to everyone who was nice enough to review! If you liked this story, I have another Avatar: the Last Airbender one in the works, entitled "The Other Water Tribe Girl". Go check it out!
Thanks, Nat.