Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender. :)
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Chapter 18: Speculation
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The gathering had been over for quite some time and many of the guests that did not live nearby had chosen to stay in the great structure that the "party" had been held in. Ru, Ami and a few others were still organizing sleeping arrangements-- for the plan would only take place in a few days' time, and they worked as quickly as possible so that they might continue planning the onslaught with their leader.
Suddenly the door to Azula's private chamber swept open to reveal Ty Lee. "I have the information you asked for," she murmured, looking particularly displeased.
"And...?"
"We had exactly three-hundred and four guests attend," Ty Lee informed.
Azula frowned. "Who was working the door?"
"Loru," Ty Lee replied.
"Mm... too bad. I really liked him." She picked at a hangnail. "Tell Mai that instead of sulking she'll engage in target practice at first light. The back room on the left wing- it's the only room made of brick that's still standing."
Ty Lee nodded and turned to go, but as an afterthought, she asked, "Are you sure that Zuko and the Avatar came? It could have been anyone else, anyone in the world. How do you know it was them?"
"Loru is no fool. If even the tiniest mistake was made on an invitation, he would have seen it, and he would have let no one in without one of these cards." She tossed one at the acrobat. "The fake invitations were perfect copies, and the only way you can achieve a perfect copy is with the royal stationery."
Ty Lee's eyes grew wide at Azula's brilliance.
She was about to leave the room when Azula called after her. "Deliver a message to Loru. Tell him to report to the back room on the left wing at first light."
Ty Lee nodded.
"And Ty Lee? One last thing." Azula waited until Ty Lee was watching her, then said, "No one hears what we've said tonight. If you wish, you may tell Mai -she will learn this anyway- but no one else. Are we clear?"
Ty Lee nodded again and Azula watched her go, slightly discomfited at the knowledge that her brother and the Avatar had heard her speech but a bit comforted by it all the same.
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As soon as the gang returned to the palace, Zuko went ballistic. He'd called a meeting between himself, Toph, Sokka, Aang, Katara, and six of his most trusted councilors.
"In light of new events that have taken place or are planned to occur very soon," he began, "I have called you here today to discuss a few very important matters." His throat was extremely dry and tight and he could barely speak. "Lin," he whispered, gesturing for the woman at the door to come to him.
She arrived at his side in an instant. "Yes, Your Highness?"
"Water..."
"Right away, Sir." She scurried out and was back in a flash. This was one of the reasons Zuko chose her to work for him - she worked quickly and efficiently. Another reason was her confidentiality - he could trust her to keep quiet in situations like this. These qualities were also what caused her to be the only maid in the room.
She handed the cup to him and he nodded his thanks. "Now then..." The slow murmur around the table ceased, and all eyes turned to him. "I have a task for each of you. This is a matter of prime importance... Kahn."
"Your Highness?"
Zuko 's face was dead serious the show that he meant business. "I want you to invite a councilor from the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribe to personally discuss a few things with me. Mamoru, put the palace on alert and double the guards on duty at all times. Luvik, tell the maids to begin preparing the rooms in the right wing for honorable visitors. Every room. Kano, invite these people," Zuko commanded, handing the man a list of names that no one in the gang recognized. "It's composed of personal friends, advisors, governors, those type. Not that's it's anyone's business."
Kahn, Mamoru, Luvik, and Kano disappeared. This only left two more councilors and the gang.
"Lipao, send a troop of your best observers into the forest. If there is an attack, I want to know about it."
Lipao hesitated.
"Now."
The man jumped up hurried out the door. "Okay, I want Aang patrolling the skies. Katara, you'll organized the waterbenders I called for when they get here, but until then I want you helping Aang. Two sets of eyes are better than one, and if they're coming by way of the river, two waterbenders can hold them off longer than one. Earthbender... you, Boomerang Boy, and Lonin - my sixth counselor - will stay with me. I know that we don't know exactly when the attack will happen, but I want to be prepared. That's why I'm getting everyone stationed already. They will sleep at their posts if they have to."
Katara and Aang left the room.
"Now, Lonin, I want you to come with me to my library for a moment to retrieve a few books. Lin, you too. Come on." He opened the door to leave, then turned to Toph. "If someone's coming, tell Boomerang Boy to lock the door. Only let one of us in here. This is a private room and no one is permitted in here unless I personally admit them. When we return, the Water Tribe Peasant-"
"We have names, you know. I'm Toph, not Earthbender. Say it with me- TOPH. One syllable. Oh, and him? He's not Boomerang Boy or Water Tribe Peasant. He's Sokka. SAH-KUH."
"Fine, whatever. Sokka and Toph, then. When we return, Sokka will help us ascertain a winning battle strategy and you - Toph - will head out on the grounds. You're a blind earthbender who sees with her feet. We'll use that to determine if any... unwanted beings happen to travel into our midst and Lipao's troops miss them."
"Yes Sir," Toph mumbled sarcastically, standing up and saluting Zuko. "Aye, aye, Sir."
Zuko muttered something under his breath and Toph resisted the urge to chuckle.
Then the two men and maid were gone. Toph plopped down in the large, most comfortable chair at the head of the table -Zuko's chair, no less- and propped her feet up on the table. "So I guess pretty soon I'll be patrolling the grounds for Miss Anger-Management - and by that, I mean she actually happened to miss her anger-management class. Quite a shame. I've heard bonding with dolls does wonders for the temper."
Sokka nodded. "I'm sure she could do well with a few lessons."
"Yeah. How about that speech she gave? Something of ingenious, wasn't it?"
"Heh, yeah. That was crazy."
"And Ru was there. He knows what he's done to you, knows how he's hurt you. Heh, he wouldn't have that spring in his step if he knew what was coming to him."
"You know, you don't really have to do this. Get revenge for me like that," Sokka said, looking over to her. He saw the anger in her sightless eyes. He knew what it was to hurt like that, but it was odd that someone felt that hurt for him. And Toph, of all people!
"Yes, I do," she said. Her tone was definite. She did have to get her revenge. Not only had Ru hurt Sokka, but Ru had been trying to do that to her - he would have caused her the hurt that Sokka was going through. He had thrown two ginormous blows in her direction, whereas had he actually hit his proposed target, she would only have one hurt to heal. Ru saw his shot to her heart as better on his part, but in fact it was twice as worse. He had hurt Sokka - Sokka! - and Toph would not let him get away with what he'd done. Sokka had been in and out of it, probably edging death, and it had taken everything she had inside of her to leave her feeling empty of compassion. She had no sympathy within her. She wanted to taste the sweet flavor of revenge, and she would make sure she got her fill it was only right.
The two sat in silence for a while, both thinking thoughts of the other.
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"Aang?"
"Yes?"
"Have you noticed anything between Sokka and Toph?"
Aang nearly toppled over. "Toph and Sokka?" he asked, attempting to airbend himself onto Appa's saddle. He veered to the right, however, and landed with an "Umph" on Appa's hind leg. "You mean... like, Toph and Sokka? Like, together?"
Katara's palm flew to her forehead. "Yes, together!"
"Oh. Um..." Aang tried to straighten his thoughts as he once again tried to hoist himself on his bison's saddle by means of airbending. This time he was successful. "I... uh... wow. I never thought of that."
"You mean you haven't seen the hints?" Katara asked. She had climbed into the saddle while Aang had spiraled away from his intended target and was giving him a slightly bewildered look.
"Hints?" Aang asked, climbing onto Appa's head and grabbing the reigns. "There have been hints?"
"Yes, there have been hints! How could you not have noticed? I mean, ever since our journey to Ba Sing Se four years ago! ...Do you think he likes her back?"
"How should I know? I haven't noticed any of these so-called 'hints,'" he replied, using air quotes around hints.
"I think he does," Katara said, answering her own question. Aang rolled his eyes at her girlishness and was suddenly thankful that she couldn't see his face.
"I'm sure Toph wouldn't pursue a guy she has no chance with," Aang murmured, hoping to contribute to the conversation.
"You know, I don't think she would either. Besides, he practically risked his life to save her. I mean, he would do the same for any of us, but to be there so fast, he had to be keeping an eye on her, right?"
"Good point," Aang agreed.
"And she stayed up with him that night on Appa. Did you notice?"
"No. I was asleep."
"I was for a while, too, but I guess I was roused by the sound of something other than Appa's occasional grunt and Momo's nightly chittering. Toph was talking to him. I didn't want to intrude, though, so I dozed off."
"What'd you hear?"
"I blocked them out. It seemed kind of personal, and it would have been rude to listen in on a private conversation."
"Oh, come on! There was your proof for this so-called relationship and you just blocked it out?"
"Yes!"
"Okay, so I guess you'll have to find out whether or not they like each other some other way."
"I guess I will."
Katara really had no intention of snooping in her brother's and best friend's business. She had a feeling that, once this was all over, she'd have the proof she wanted.
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