Back... with a VENGEANCE! Kinda... Guys, it's been years! And the craziest part, is that in those years, I... did not actually gain possession of the Intellectual Properties rights of these characters or the world of A:TLA. I did however get a degree and into law school. Anyways - on to the story!
Years later, when all the actions that these words relate are little more than a memory in the minds of those involved, it will be claimed that the invasion on the Northern Water Tribe by a small group of great benders, and Sokka, Southern Water Tribe General, marked the beginning of the end of the "Little War." Of course, I know differently. As long as I live I will tell anybody who will listen how I got the boulder rolling. Hell, I was half way out with nothing more than a fine strand of iron minerals and ink by the time they even got around to trying to free me. Ok, ok… so I always conveniently leave off the part about being completely, hopelessly, utterly lost in the midst of nothing but snow and ice and winding corridors. So lost, in fact, that I never really made it out of my cell all the way. I did, however, manage to raise enough havoc, that when they did begin their assault, it was not hard for them to find me.
Maybe I should explain a little more carefully. You see, Hahn was as much of an idiot as I had bargained for. Perhaps even more than I bargained for. I made a point to show him that I could bend the ink sitting on his desk, and yet he doesn't have the brains to ask somebody to search me afterwards? It was a simple action, really. Cause a distraction first by splashing ink in his face. Then the escape plan begins with concealing a small quantity of ink under the paltry amount of clothing and fur they allow me to wear.
As soon as I was locked into my cell I made for the bed, and dug under the pillow to find the ice carved heart that Soggy had made for me. Taking the ink from under my furs I wrapped the ice chunk in a thin lair of iron and mineral shavings. I had just enough left for an impossibly thin but solid bendable rope to use as a handle for my new heart shaped flail. The fun part could wait till morning.
So what if the escape plan never panned out alone.
Alright, alright… I'll admit… there was no detailed escape plan.
The plan was to destroy those sick, water-bending sissy freaks. Especially that one prick that always talked about Fancy Feet like she was an object to be abused. He was going to be the first to drop, and I DID have that planned out, thank you very much. And my plan worked perfectly.
That is, until the other guards came.
The next part of the plan also turned out right. Granted the rest of my plan was rather simple: Survive.
"Lunch time, sweet-heart." A smile crept across her face at the sound of approaching foot-steps in the snow.
Crunch.
It had been a long day waiting for him to start his shift.
Crunch.
He had no idea how dead he was.
Crunch.
THUD.
"What was that?"
"It's my new toy. You'd love it. My husband made it for me."
The food slides under the door in its usual tray. "You know you're not supposed to have toys, dear. Especially ones from your husband. Now slide that under the door and I won't have to come in for it."
THUD.
"No, that's alright, I'm gonna play with it some more in here."
THUD.
"Toph, you know you're outnumbered, you have nothing to bend, and you can't see anything around you."
"Hmm… Two out of three right isn't bad." THUD.
"That's it, I'm coming in there."
Toph could hear the door melt away in an instant. She heard a footstep against the beaten snow. Then another. All she needed was to hear him say something so she could locate his head.
"Alright, where's this toy. Let me see it."
A black, heart-shaped, iron plated block rocketed across the room, pushing through the guard's eye and into his skull. With another movement Toph pulled her toy back out, and back to her hand. "Eww. You said you wanted to see it, not get it all disgusting and gooey." She kicked the lump of a guard on the ground. "Last time I let you play with one of my toys."
"Ok, guys, welcome to the Oasis. Welcome back for most of us I guess. Weird that we only had one guard in –"
"Sokka, you're rambling."
"Sorry, sis. Da Shan, you will be staying here. I'm sure Zuko is sorry for the mess there. Zuko, apologize to Da Shan."
"Sokka, you're rambling."
"Sorry, Zuko, but that's just gruesome, look at him!"
"Sokka"
"Fine. Da Shan, once we head out that door, I need you to block it with a your earth bending. When we come back we will have Toph with us. She will open it for us, so do NOT under any circumstances let anybody through that door. Got me?"
"Understood, sir."
"It's just after noon right now. That's on purpose. They have lots of water benders, we're the ones with Zuko. We need to storm in while we have at least that one little bit of an advantage. Katara, Zuko and I will be looking for Toph instantly. You know what that means, Jung, right?"
"Distraction?"
"Yup."
"…You want me out first, then?"
Sokka walked up and embraced Jung. "Don't you dare forget the main part of this plan."
"Survive."
Zuko and Katara came up to join the hug, but Jung broke it up quickly. "We need to get moving on this." She walked straight up to Da Shan, grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him into a kiss. "You are to forget that kiss on the head from last night. That is our first kiss, and that is how you will remember it. Got that?"
Katara watched, smiling from the other side of the pond. "Seriously, what the hell did Toph do to you to make you this way?"
"Hush.. I'm going. Do your job, Sugar Queen, especially that surviving part. I'll see you back here in no time." Jung spun her staff in her hand and walked straight to the door and opened it.
"Get to the prison! Quickly!"
"Guards! Guards!"
"She's slaughtering 'em in there! Get some back up, quick!"
Jung closed the door and turned back to her friends. "So, umm…. Change of plans. Let's go beat 'em up and get my mom back. K?"
"But… it was such a great plan!"
"We know, Sokka. I'll still stay back here and block the door, still? Compromise?"
"But…"
"Sokka, we're moving! Come on!" Katara was shouting from the doorway as everybody began piling out.
"It's ok, Aang. You don't have to look so saddened. There is nothing to worry about."
"I know." Aang sniffed slightly. "They're my friends. I know them well. I am not concerned for their health or well-being. It's just, so much pain. So much loss is coming. I only hope that my friends will not lose themselves. I hope only that they know the time to show mercy, and when to subdue instead of destroy their enemy."
Kuruk slowly approached behind Aang and Roku. "Toph was right. Twinkle Toes. Here, have some leechee nuts and enjoy the show."
Aang smiled, and grabbed a snack.
Kuruk - the badboy Avatar incarnation? I like to think so at least...
Goodnight! I'll return.