A/N: Sorry this took so long. I had hoped to have it up by Tuesday, but it's been a crazy week. Two storms in three days dropping 5 feet of snow at my work, and causing tons of accidents with highway closures. We still need to shovel out the animals, but at least they have food, water and shelter. I'll have the next chapter up by the end of the weekend and my husband is coming home for two weeks. Yay!

Well, read, enjoy and don't forget to review!

Disclaimer: Don't own avatar

Chapter 11

The next day found Aya and her friends heading back to the palace for more politics, but it would be a much shorter day with the preparations for the ball. Jet watched Aya leave with her friends, worried about her as she went to the palace. He had overheard her talking to her mother about another dream and wondered how often the gods had visited her. Kana had healed him again that morning and he slowly got up and stretched after the teens had left. Toph came into the main room at that time and smiled at him, gesturing him to follow her. He did so, carefully testing his body as he followed the Fire Lady out to the garden. She turned to face him and he noticed how serious she was.

"Is everything all right, my lady?" he asked.

She smiled. "You can just call me Toph, Jet. I don't go for any of that formality." He nodded and she continued. "I am a little concerned. Aya told you about her dreams?"

Jet took a deep breath. "Yeah, she said the gods had visited her in a dream and told her to stop Long Feng from starting another war. Did she have another dream?"

Toph nodded, starting to look downcast. "Yes, she's had three total. We're expecting Long Feng to attack tonight, especially with Aya's dream of the earth goddess two nights ago. So, I'm going to teach you some more earthbending. According to my daughter, you're a fast learner. That's good."

Jet swallowed hard and nodded. The news of the gods talking to Aya so much disturbed him. Anything that had to do with spirits and gods wasn't good for mortals like him, and now that he was going out with Aya, the interaction of the gods was sure to affect him as well. The expectance of Long Feng to attack that night hardened Jet and he was determined to keep Aya and the others safe.

"What do I need to do?" Jet asked.

Toph smiled. "Follow my lead," she said and started earthbending. Jet studied her for a moment before he started copying her movements. Although he did them the same as she did, the results weren't the same. Smiling, he closed his eyes and focused on what he could feel. Once he started feeling how she moved the earth, he opened his eyes and copied her again. Toph seemed surprised for a moment when he did what she did perfectly, but then she gave him a wry smile and stepped up the pace. Jet kept pace with her for a while, but then she was doing things that he could hardly see and comprehend, much like when Aya had made the figure of the woman. As much as he tried to keep up and copy Toph's movements, he couldn't.

"Well, you are a fast learner," Toph remarked when she finally stopped and Jet stood, panting and sweating after trying to keep up with her. "But you're still new to feeling the earth. You'll be fine tonight."

"Why am I going again?" Jet asked, studying Toph as he regained his breath. "I'm sure it's not just because the king thinks I saved Aya."

Toph smiled a knowing smile that told him she still held many secrets. "You're right. You're also going to protect my children. I know the kids can take care of themselves, but I want extra protection. You're just about healed, and Kana will just about finish you up when they get back, before you go shopping for an outfit tonight."

Jet groaned at the thought of shopping for fancy clothes. Toph heard it and gave him a wry smile. "Don't worry, it won't be too bad. The clothes will be comfortable, and you'll need them in case my husband arrives tonight."

Jet stopped wiping the sweat off his brow and stared at the small woman before him. "The Fire Lord? He's coming here?"

"Relax, Jet," Toph said, walking up to place a hand on his shoulder. "Zuko's nothing like his father or sister. He knows Aya is safe and wants to meet you. He's also worried about Long Feng. All of us are. The only reason the creep is going after our kids is because of us, we're the ones that killed his career and control of the Earth King."

Jet nodded. "Yeah, Aya told me about it. And now that I know he's the reason my father… well, I want to make sure he's put away for good."

He started to walk back inside, his ribs bothering him, but Toph stopped him with a touch on his arm. He turned back to her and saw her studying him intently. Her misty green eyes seemed to see right through him and he almost stepped away from her.

"Are you sure you just don't want revenge, Jet?" she asked.

He took a deep breath and smiled at her. "Yeah, I just want to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone, especially Aya."

Toph nodded and let his arm go, moving quickly so that she was ahead of him. Ty Lee was waiting for them and instantly hooked her arm through Jet's and led him through a hallway he hadn't been through.

"Now that you're done working, you need to bathe before you try on all those clothes," she said with a smile and Jet frowned, but let her lead him to the baths. He refused help and when he was finished, found his clothes missing and a simple set of red and black clothes waiting for him.

"You're near Iroh in size," Toph said from outside the door. "So these are on loan. Hurry up, they're coming and then you'll go out with Sokka and the guys."

Jet scowled at the red clothes, but put them on, trying to hide as much of the red as possible. He took a deep breath before he exited and found his swords in the main room. Just as he hooked them to his belt, Aya and her friends came in. Kana, Hakoda, Kuzon and Iroh all stopped, seeing him in red and black, but then the water tribe siblings and Kuzon were snickering and Jet felt his cheeks heat up in embarrassment as Aya questioned her friends with her expression.

"You look good in black," Iroh said with a smile. "But you look better in green. Don't worry, Sokka will make sure you look good for tonight."

Jet smiled weakly back at Iroh, glad the firebender wasn't making fun of him for being in his clothes. The faster he was out of Fire Nation clothes, the better he would feel. Kana approached him and pulled some water onto her hands and soon the slight ache in his ribs and ankle had disappeared. As Kana healed him, he noticed Ty Lee, Song and their daughters come into the room and the girls started whispering excitedly as Aya started looking downcast. Once Kana had finished, Ty Lee, Song and Sokka started herding the teens out and the group was soon surrounded by five guards. Jet fell in alongside Aya and glanced at her a few times, waiting until they were alone.

"I don't like shopping," she whispered to him before he could ask what was wrong.

"You're a girl, why not?" he asked.

Aya frowned at him before she smiled and waved a hand over her eyes.

"Sorry," he muttered and she giggled lightly.

"It's ok. All I care about is comfort and being able to bend. I know the women and Kana will fawn over how nice I look, but as long as it's comfortable, I won't care. Why were you so…agitated, earlier?"

Jet smiled. "Ty Lee or your mom took my clothes while I bathed and your mom gave me some of Iroh's clothes to wear for the moment. They're a little…short."

"And they're Fire Nation colors," Aya said with a smirk. "I don't care, I can't see them."

Jet's smile broadened, but then he stopped when the group stopped in front of a shop. Sokka was grinning and Hakoda was as well while Iroh and Kuzon started looking downcast.

"Here's our stop," Sokka said. "Ladies, we'll meet you back at the house."

Jet and Aya both sighed, but they smiled at each other as Kana and Iroh hugged quickly before Ty Lee escorted the girls away as Sokka led the guys into the store.

XXXXX

Aya smiled as she felt Jet and Iroh rise as she, Kana and Marissa walked downstairs. The guys stopped suddenly, including Kuzon and Hakoda and she and the other girls blushed, sure the guys were stopping suddenly because of them. Jet walked up to her as Iroh walked up to Kana and the freedom fighter followed Iroh's movements of holding out his arm for Kana. Aya smiled at Jet and hooked her arm through his as the adults approached the teens.

"You all look so beautiful, and handsome," Ty Lee sighed and Aya blushed as she felt her friends do the same and Jet seemed to get nervous.

"I'm sure you look great," Aya whispered to him as The Duke gestured and several guards surrounded the group before they started to head to the palace.

"Yeah, I'm just nervous about the slimeball and the possibility of your dad showing up," Jet muttered.

Aya felt her jaw drop in shock. "My dad may show up?" she asked.

"Yeah, didn't your mom tell you?" Jet asked, confused.

"It was supposed to be a surprise," Toph said suddenly from behind them and it sounded as if she was frowning at Jet.

"You didn't tell me that," Jet replied, frowning back, and Aya laughed lightly, moving closer to Jet. Toph laughed as well and Aya noticed the others listening in.

"Yeah, well, he may not even show up tonight. He's trying out that new balloon and is expected to arrive tonight, but I doubt it," Toph stated.

"Hey, that's my invention you're talking about," Sokka stated, sounding ruffled.

"And my dad and you made the first one," Teo said with a smile. "It should get him here tonight, but who's running the Fire Nation?"

"Sweetness and Fan Girl along with the old dunderhead advisors. He's going back as soon as he can, but he wanted to come here when he heard Aya was captured, but he had a hawk and learned about Jet and Aya getting free of the slimeball," Toph said.

Aya felt Jet get nervous again and squeezed his hand, feeling his meteorite ring on her arm. She was sure he smiled at her, and they walked in silence the rest of the way to the palace. Luckily it wasn't too far since Teo lived in the upper ring, and then the teens were escorted to a side room as the adults were escorted to the main hall to wait for the king and princesses. Once in the small room, Aya felt the princesses approach them as well as something underneath them. She smiled as she felt Jet's, Iroh's, and Hakoda's swords in the stone floor, sure that her mother had put them there earlier in case their hunch on Long Feng was correct. Introductions went around and Aya was impressed at how easily Jet had moved into acting like a noble as he bowed to the princesses. Soon the two girls were chatting with Kana and Kuzon was steadily creeping closer to Jenell. Ty Lee's and Song's daughters were in the main hall with the adults since they weren't royalty and Aya grew bored as they waited for the king so they could start. She didn't like being in the small room, waiting for who knew what, and Jet seemed to feel the same, though he was calm on the outside.

A servant soon approached with drinks and Aya took a glass when the platter finally came to her. She moved to drink it, but then the smell reminded her of something.

"Stop, don't drink it," she called out and heard several people sputter and stop once the servant was gone.

"Aya, what's wrong?" Jet asked and she felt him still holding the glass.

"It's Forkroot, who's drunk it?" Aya asked, turning to her friends.

Hakoda, Kuzon and the princesses had drunk it already and Iroh had had a sip, but Aya had stopped Jet and Kana from drinking it.

"Aya? What's wrong?" Iroh asked in a whisper as he edged closer to her.

"It's a drink that stops bending," Jet replied. "How did you know?"

"I smelled it," Aya replied as she sent out her senses. She didn't feel anything unusual, yet. Maybe they were waiting for it to take effect. "After having it twice, I'll never forget that smell."

"You had it twice?!" Iroh hissed, before turning on Jet, scowling by his vibrations.

"Iroh, calm down, I understand why I had to drink it and did so willingly," Aya said, hoping to calm her brother down.

"Well, it shouldn't affect Hakoda or I," Kilana said. "We don't bend."

"I'm not too sure," Hakoda said, starting to sway. Iroh and Kana went to him, and helped him into a nearby chair as he stumbled. Aya felt Kuzon and Jenell start to sway as well and Iroh faltered as he helped the airbender into a seated position next to Hakoda. Jet picked up a glass and it sounded as if he smelled it.

"It's not too noticeable," he said, handing the cup to Aya. "The forkroot almost overpowers it, can you smell it?"

Aya took the glass and took a whiff and smelled something that she had only encountered twice before. She nodded, pouring the liquid into a plant. "Shirshu venom, barely noticeable."

"Shirshu?!" Kana gasped. "Well, at least that wears off soon."

"I don't think we'll have time to find out," Aya replied. She felt several people earthbending towards them and dropped into a fighting stance between the earthbenders and her disabled friends. Carefully, she moved the swords in the ground so that the earthbenders wouldn't notice them and she could pop them up to their owners at the right time. Iroh, Kana and Jet picked up on what she was doing and Jet took a stance between her and Iroh with Kana on Iroh's other side. Just as everyone got into position, ten Dai Li burst into the room, followed by Long Feng. Aya felt the Dai Li and another twenty earthbenders in hiding closing and sealing the doors. She also felt earthbending start around the main hall and hoped her mom and the others were ok, but knew she had to focus on Long Feng.

"Well, aren't you a smart little princess," Long Feng said in his slimy voice when he found himself faced with four benders. "Dart them."

Aya felt the darts heading towards them and brought up a wall, stopping them. She felt more darts coming and Jet shifted his weight, bringing up more walls to stop them and sending out two attacks, sucking two of the Dai Li into the ground. They quickly got out as Aya tried to think of a way out of it. There was definitely a disturbance in the main hall, but four benders facing Long Feng and ten Dai Li weren't good odds. She knew they could beat him, but Iroh wasn't fully there and a dart could push him over the edge. He was barely standing as it was with the toxins in his system.

"What do you want, Long Feng?" she growled.

"Well, she speaks, and it's a surprise Jet survived. Though his father did, so I guess stubbornness runs in the family," Long Feng remarked dully. Aya felt Jet get angry, but he didn't move. "I would have thought you'd have guessed it, little lady. I intend to take back what was mine and cause the downfall of those who took everything away from me."

"Azula took it away from you," Kana stated. "She's dead."

"But your parents turned my king against me," Long Feng growled before charm entered his tone, which made Aya shiver in dread. She would much rather have his angry tones than charm. "Now I have princesses from every nation here, as well as the crown prince from both the Fire Nation and Water Tribe. And the Avatar's son. I can take the women, kill the men, and I will inherit the world."

Aya felt herself grow pale. She also felt everyone else stop for a second and the Dai Li must have noticed it because they shot more darts at them. Aya reacted and drew up another wall, but one dart got through and hit Kana. Iroh caught the waterbender as she fell and moved her behind him before facing Long Feng again.

"You'll never get away with it," Iroh growled.

"Of course I will," Long Feng remarked and Aya felt him lift his hand to motion another attack. She kicked the ground, causing the swords to pop up to their owners, including Hakoda's who she left in front of him. The Dai Li stopped, unsure as they now faced benders with weapons.

"Long Feng," Aya said. "I propose a deal."

He stopped suddenly and turned towards her. "Yes, Princess? What kind of deal do you propose?"

Aya took a deep breath. She knew she could do this, but he was such a turncoat, she wasn't sure if he would honor it. "I challenge you to an earthbending duel. I win, we all go free, you can even leave peacefully. You win…I'll marry you."

She heard everyone gasp and stop, watching her. "I accept," Long Feng said with an ugly smile in his tone.

XXXXX

Zuko landed the balloon in front of the palace and hurried in. The guards were missing and he knew something wasn't right. He saw a few servants as he entered the palace and then earthbending attacks were heading his way. Knowing he could defeat the earthbenders after so much practice against Toph and Aya, Zuko jumped over the waves heading his way and shot fire at the two servants. They were surprised and Zuko quickly drew his swords and charged them. Soon the two were knocked out and he heard a commotion from the main hall. He continued to head that way and was faced with a mixture of kids and teens when he reached the great door.

He studied them as they faced him, ready to fight. The youngest seemed to be no older than ten and they were unsure as they faced him with bows, swords and two in an earthbending stance. Zuko smiled slightly and created fire around his swords. A lot of the kids started looking scared and then two large teens were heading his way from his right.

"No, stop," one of them said.

"Jet's alive and this guy's on our side," the other one said and Zuko stopped and stared as the kids dropped their stances and started looking confused. He turned to the two and noticed they were twins.

"You're friends of Jet?" Zuko asked, keeping the fire around his swords.

"Yeah," one of the twins said, gasping for air. "And we know Aya too. Who are you?"

"I'm Aya's father," Zuko said and the twins drew back, startled before they looked at each other and grinned. They turned to the kids and moved to join them, opening the door. Complete chaos met Zuko's eyes. He spotted a lot of kids and teens as well as servants fighting nobles. He spotted Toph, Aang and Sokka fighting off the servants, and noticed they were being gentle with the kids. Zuko turned to the twins. "You guys seem to know the kids. Stop them before someone gets hurt."

The twins nodded and started heading into the main hall, shouting orders to the kids as they passed them and Zuko hurried towards Toph and Aang, taking down earthbending servants on his way.

"Thought you might show up when the fun started," Toph said as he took out a servant near her.

"What's going on?" Zuko asked as he shot at a servant and dodged an arrow from a kid.

"Long Feng started his coup," Toph replied with a frown as she subdued two teens with earth, capturing their arms and legs with earthen cuffs. "He took control of the Freedom Fighters and just as they started attacking us, I felt earthbenders head to the kids. Aya and Jet are holding them off."

"So this Jet is an earthbender?" Zuko asked as he edged closer to his wife and shot fire at a few more servants and startled some kids before they could shoot at him.

"Yep, and he's good," Toph said with a proud tone. "Aya taught him well."

Zuko smiled. He was proud of his daughter as well and the fact that she had taught this Jet so well in such a short time filled him with pride. Within minutes, the servants were subdued and the kids had stopped attacking. A few were injured and quite a few of the teens were treating their friends. Zuko stood with his wife and friends, watching the teens treat the others, Ty Lee, Song and their daughters helping. Toph suddenly turned pale and Zuko turned to his wife.

"Toph? Toph, sweety, what's wrong?"

"Iroh's hurt," Toph said and Zuko saw tears come to her eyes, though she refused to let them fall. She turned and started stalking towards the door. Aang moved and cut her off.

"No Toph, there are earthbenders holding the door," the Avatar said as Zuko watched the situation unfold. "If we burst through that door, the stalemate could be disrupted. Our children could be hurt."

Zuko watched his friend's face and saw Aang was using every part of his willpower to stop Toph and stop himself from rescuing his own son. Zuko walked up to Toph's side and placed a hand on her shoulder. Toph instantly turned and hugged Zuko tightly. The Fire Lord knew his wife was crying into his chest, hiding herself and her tears from the room.

"Aang, what's going on in there?" Zuko asked sternly.

"Long Feng and his Dai Li are facing Aya, Iroh and Jet," Toph answered. "The princesses, Kuzon, Hakoda and Kana are down. It feels like they're drugged, but they're awake."

Zuko just hugged his wife. "Iroh's been drugged slightly, and can barely stand," Toph said, choking back a sob. Zuko just nodded. They both knew Iroh never did well with drugs. Zuko himself had been like that as a child, but he had grown out of it while Iroh hadn't. If Iroh received too high of a drug dosage, he could die. Noticing the teens and kids starting to guard the servants and the injured being led away, Zuko guided his wife to a chair near them. They had just about reached it when Toph stopped, suddenly pale, almost white.

"Toph, what's wrong?" Zuko asked, and couldn't keep the worry out of his tone.

"Aya's fighting Long Feng, and Jet and Iroh are going after the Dai Li. But, something's wrong. Something's different. I think…I think Aya's firebending."

Zuko stared at his wife and knew she was concentrating. Aang approached them slowly.

"We know the gods are using Aya for a reason," Aang said, meeting Zuko's eyes and trying to calm his friend down. "She's had three dreams where she's met the gods and has firebended before when Long Feng tried to kill Jet."

Zuko nodded, knowing Aang was right. The gods had used him and now they were using his daughter, all to stop wars. He just had to have faith in his daughter. And he did. He finished guiding his wife to a chair and sat her on it.

"Twinkles, we have to do something!" Toph stated, frowning at the Avatar once she was seated.

"I know, and we will, as soon as we know the kids aren't in danger," Aang said, trying to reassure his friend.

Toph nodded and Zuko glanced around. He saw teens and kids as well as a few nobles moving around, helping those who had been injured, but turned back to his wife when Toph gasped. She was paler than before and her hands were shaking. Zuko kneeled and placed his hands around hers.

"It's Jet," Toph said, tears coming to her eyes and starting to fall down her pale cheeks as she turned her face up to his. "His heart stopped and Aya's…something's wrong. Zuko, we need to get in there!"

Zuko nodded and let go of Toph, striding towards the door. He knew how hard it had been for Toph when he had almost died, and if Aya loved Jet as he had gotten the impression she did, she would react the same way Toph had, with anger and grief. Aang tried to stop him but Zuko brushed past his friend and glared at the teens between him and the door.

"Get away," he growled and only gave them a moment. They stared at each other before they started running away from the door as he started the movements for lightning.