Chapter 10: The Great Breakthrough

I awoke in the middle of the night, Toph curled up next to me. Trying to move without disturbing her, I unconsciously lifted her with my tail and set her down a few paces away-

Wait, tail?!

My head whipped around to find the foreign appendage, and there it was, lying idly on the ground right behind me. It was about five and a half feet long, half a foot in diameter at its thickest point, slightly flat and bone-white, deadly looking spikes protruding horizontally along the tail every half inch. It was tipped by a lethal arrowhead that spun like a drill when I concentrated on it. All in all, it was pretty damn awesome. Now if it could only retract...

As my mind started rambling, I drifted back off to sleep, my tail coiling around me as I curled up.

We started for Ba Sing Se at dawn, making our way along the narrow trail once again. Aang and I were at the front of our group, while Toph and Katara took up the rear. My tail waved idly with the faint breeze, and I could feel the refugees freeze up as it passed close to them. Well, you can't please everybody.

"We should arrive at the outskirts of the city in about half a day's time," Aang said to me. He looked back towards Ying. "Do you think that's enough time for her to get there before she has her baby?'

I cocked an eyebrow. "Have I ever had a baby?"

Aang frowned. "Not that I know of."

"Then do ya think that I would know how far along she is and if it's safe to continue traveling?"

"I... guess not."

I smiled. "Well then." And that was the end of that.

We carried on with light conversation, which revolved around the sudden appearance of my tail most of the time. Surprisingly, the whole gang seemed to be cool with it- hell, Sokka was even brave enough to touch it (though I swear that if tails could glare, he would be curled up in the fetal position).

Presently, I turned my head to look at Toph. "Yo, midget!" I smiled at the tic that suddenly appeared on her forehead. "Do ya know how much longer we've got to walk?"

"How the hell am I supposed to know, you idiot?! I'm blind and, last time I checked, I'm not a fucking psychic!"

I wrinkled my nose playfully. "Damn, you have a foul mouth."

She smirked. "I learned from the best."

"Pfft, flattery won't- whoa, shit!" I leaped backwards several feet as my foot dipped into the shockingly cold ocean. "What the fuck?"

"That's water, Loki," Katara smiled. "It makes you wet, you can drink it, and guess what? Some people can even bend it. How about that?"

I snorted, coming down off of my perch atop Sokka's head. "Ha ha. Sarcastic Katara makes a rare appearance." I shook my foot and tapped into my Seismic Sense, finding something interesting. "Weird…"

"What's wrong?" Sokka asked.

"There's no land after this point," Toph replied. "It's like a cliff- there's no way across unless we swim, and I know damn well that I'm not doing that."

"Well thank you for the unimportant explanation, midget, but, picking up where she so unceremoniously left off, Katara and I could create ice floes for us to use as stepping stones." I grinned at Toph. "Provided you guys don't slip off, we'll be fine."

"Shut up and do it then."

"Okay, then. Katara, if you would be so kind." The Waterbender shrugged, eventually walking up to the edge of the path right alongside me.

"Everybody follow right behind us," Katara said, not turning around as she focused. "Hold somebody's hand, because it's going to be slippery."

"No shit…" This earned me a vicious slap on my arm, courtesy of the angry bender next to me. "Oww, geez. Joking aside, everybody ready?"

Our group nodded (not that we could see it), and Katara started to freeze a large portion of water. As soon as it was done, I leapt onto it to test its stability, and immediately started to create another floe as Katara led the others onto the first. We continued like that, alternating until I jumped onto the solid ground of the other side.

I turned to Katara as she led everyone off of the final ice floe. She was panting slightly from the exertion, and looked relieved to be done. Knowing her, she was probably worrying that someone would fall-

Shit.

"TOPH!"

I whipped around just as she slid off of the ice. Flailing her arms to regain balance, a sharp gasp escaped her as she fell. Unthinkingly, my tail snapped toward her, quicker than I thought possible, wrapping around the tiny frame just as it hit the water. It took a moment before I recovered from my shock, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief as I started to bring her out.

Until something tugged at my tail.

There was no time to grab hold of anything as Toph and I were dragged into the water. I saw the sea start to roil before I went down, where I was so intent on freeing the both of us that there was no concentration in me for bending. It was when I noticed how clear it was underwater when I caught a glimpse of it. A flash of verdant green scales… then a set of razor-sharp teeth.

Double shit.

Is there any way my luck could suck more?

Believe it or not, yes. Yes there is.

A broad tail smacked into my face and I was sent flying for the second time in as many days. I shot out of the water like a bullet, but I wasn't gonna smack into something hard or clip off the top of the pass, oh no. That wasn't happening again if I could help it. It hurt enough the first time.

My tail coiled as it slammed into the side of the cliff, and I blasted towards the water. A fin had breached the choppy sea, signaling that whatever had hit me was serpentine. Then the thing reared its ugly head, and I found out firsthand how much of an understatement 'serpentine' was.

The sea serpent had to be about as long as a small town, the green scales glimmering in the bright sunlight. When it roared, I could get a good look at its maw and the giant deathtrap that lay within. It was scary, yes, as it was supposed to be. But now wasn't the time for being scared. That can always be saved for later. Or never.

I slipped into the water with a great splash, hurtling towards the depths where Toph was sinking, still and pale.

No. I drove deeper into the sea towards the person who was now my best friend. I grabbed her and held tight as I swam back to the surface, determined to not let her die.

I broke the surface of the sea pretty close to the side of the pass where our friends were waiting, and found that Aang and Katara were taking care of the giant serpent. That was fine, 'cause the only reason I'd turn away from saving Toph from death was to kill that serpent myself. But it was under control, so no worries there.

"Oh, come on. Don't you dare die on me now." I placed my hands on her stomach, bending the water up into her throat. She coughed weakly, trails of water and saliva running down the side of her cheek, and I breathed out another sigh of relief. She was okay.

As I repeated the process, she blinked her eyes open, and finally came back with a giant, hacking cough that sent water flying into my face.

"Okay, that was disgusting." I wiped my face with my sleeve, and then wiped it on her tunic. "Try not to do that again, alright?"

"Well I'm sorry for spitting up what was preventing me from breathing," she said, half moaning in pain. "Thanks, though."

"Mmhmm." I was still trying to get the spit and water off of my face.

Suddenly a giant crash was heard, closely followed by a splash. Aang and Katara glided toward us moments later.

"Is Toph alright?" Katara asked.

I snorted. "Ever the worrier, huh?"

"Loki…"

"Fine."

"I'm alright, Sugar Queen. Let's just keep going." She tried to get to her feet, but epically failed, falling backwards onto her butt. "On second thought, someone needs to carry me."

Sokka moved to do so, but I was faster, scooping her up with my tail and setting her on my back. "Better?" The others started laughing when I didn't hear an answer. Curious, I craned my neck to find her sound asleep, head resting softly on my shoulder. Her headband had disappeared when she went underwater, so her hair had fallen out of its bun and hung over my shoulder in loose disarray.

"Fine, then," I said, rolling my eyes. "Go to sleep." I wasn't really annoyed, though. It wasn't like she planned it.

The rest of the trek was slow going & uneventful, punctuated by short contractions on Ying's part. Therefore, it came as no surprise when we reached the other side of the bay in less than half an hour.

I set Toph down against a large rock, then proceeding to sit down myself. Heavens knows I never get a break.

"Ah!"

My point exactly.

"Damn it, what happened now?" I asked, irritated.

Ying cried out again, hunched over in pain. "The baby's coming! NOW!"

"Well, that's fucking fantastic!" Sokka exclaimed.

"Sokka!"

"Sorry, Suki…"

Katara breathed out a long sigh. "Focus, everybody. Sokka, I need you to go get me some warm water. Suki, I need you to help me deliver the baby."

I quirked an eyebrow. "Are you sure you know what you're doing, Katara? 'Cause you seem mighty calm right now."

"Of course I do," Katara replied, helping Ying to a large boulder. "Gran-Gran has asked me to help with live births plenty of times."

"There's a difference between getting water and actually delivering the baby, you know."

Katara scowled. "I'm perfectly capable, Loki. Now can you wake Toph and tell her to come help?"

Now I scowled. "She needs to rest, and I'm perfectly capable of doing anything she can." I stopped there, pondering for a moment. "Actually, make that most of the things she can."

A brief smile graced Katara's lips before she returned her focus to the task at hand. "In that case, make an earth tent. A large one."

I scoffed. "Is that the best you think I can do? Please." I got into the horse stance and constructed a small square hut with a sloping roof for the birth to take place in. "You wound me." Though I was glad to help, that's where my involvement ended, and I retreated to the rock Toph was propped up on. There was no way I was seeing another birth for as long as I lived.

A groggy yawn sounded next to me as Toph awoke. "What did I miss, Bones?"

"The baby's about to be born."

She paused for a moment before shrugging with another yawn, turning her back to me. "Alright. Wake me up when something interesting happens, 'kay?"

I shrugged and waited a few minutes before pinching her ass, prompting her to yelp and slap me on my arm.

"Now that was interesting."

"Shut up."

"In about ten minutes, we're gonna set off for the Walled City again," I said. "And I know damn well that I ain't carrying you anymore."

"You didn't have to pinch my ass to tell me that."

I smirked. "I know."

Toph slapped me again, this time making me wince in pain. She eventually got up though, but I think that that was because of the incessant crying now emanating from the earth hut.

"Sounds like the baby's out," I said, getting up.

"No shit, Mr. Obvious. Now come on. I wanna get a look at the baby."

"Of course, little girl." I rolled my eyes as I was lifted a couple feet off of the ground, my weight supported by my coiled tail. By swiftly straightening and coiling it, I hopped after my friend. "You want to look at the baby with your two, perfectly-functional eyes."

The petite Earthbender raised her hand to hit me again, but by that time, I was already in the air. "You know what I mean."

I couldn't help but respond again. "But I doubt that Ying is gonna put her baby on the ground just so you can see it, you know."

Toph smirked slightly. "You're a cheeky little bastard, you know that?"

"Well ain't that the kettle callin' the pot black."

She chuckled aloud at that, a sudden change from her usual demeanor. I would've commented on that as well if I hadn't nearly bounded into the top of the hut's doorway. Stopping just in time, I stepped back on solid ground & slipped in after Toph.

The infant's wailing had turned into a low coo, the sound reverberating off of the earthen walls. It looked like a girl, and a very content one at that. Toph seemed to notice, too, but how she did was beyond me.

"She sounds healthy," she said. "And somehow… squishy."

Suki, Katara, and I gave Toph an odd look. After a long silence, all three of us finally said: "What?"

Sokka took a quick peek at the baby, who looked back at him with wide, hazel eyes. "I agree with Toph on this one, guys. She definitely looks squishy."

I quirked an eyebrow, something I seemed to be doing a lot these days. "How- you know what? Forget I even attempted to ask." I turned to the doorway, outside of which Aang was standing guard, a depressed look on his face. I exited the hut and tapped him on the shoulder. "Go on, kid. I think you might want to see that."

He nodded sullenly without any verbal response and walked into the hut.

Sighing, I stretched out the kinks in my back. Aang's depression is getting to me. If he doesn't snap out of it soon, I swear to high heaven that I gonna straighten him out myself.

"Alright, time to go." I peeked into the hut. "I'm off to Ba Sing Se. Anyone care to join me? No? Well, then." Before they could respond, I was speeding down the desert path, my bones rearranging themselves to allow me to run on all fours. I was faster this way, and it was by far much more fun than running on two feet.

A few minutes passed before I could see the Wall. I stopped for a moment to gaze at the stone wonder, then continuing on my run across the barren wasteland that led to the city. I looked off into the distance to see a huge dust cloud, but I paid it no mind seeing as I ran headfirst into the wall right after spotting it.

Dazed, I sat up to get a proper look at the cloud. Though, it was still blurry since I had just nearly concussed myself. Shaking my head quickly, I lengthened my nails slightly and began the run up the wall. It was slow-going, and the wall seemed like it reached up into the heavens, but I eventually made it to the top.

And the sight that greeted my eyes when I reached the top rocked me to my core.

I looked over the wasteland to see Aang and the others traveling towards the wall on a rock platform. I waved my arms rapidly, nonverbally telling them to hurry. It was a few minutes before their platform reached the wall, and I helped Toph raise the platform along the wall using our Earthbending.

"Look to your right!" I yelled down to them. "There's something you gotta see!"

They followed my instructions and looked, spotting the problem that I had presented. It was a huge drill, segmented into four parts, and it was traveling towards the Outer Wall at a slow but steady pace. It was flanked by around ten tankers. And the worst part? It was Fire Nation.

When the others got up to the top, I saw the dismay on their faces. "Even here we aren't safe from the Fire Nation!" Ying said, her face one of extreme sadness. "What will this mean for our child?"

"Your child will be fine, Ying." Everyone turned to Sokka as he spoke up. "Loki, you need to-"

"What are you doing up here?" said a voice. Two guards had approached us without our knowledge. "Citizens aren't supposed to be on top of the wall."

"Oh, I was just leaving," I replied, promptly turning around and running to the edge of the wall. "And Toph, ya need a new headband. You look like a little devil."

I could almost hear the tic. "I'll show you a devil, you asshole!" she screamed. But fortunately, she didn't get to follow up on that particular threat as I was already gone over the side.

The ground came towards me at breakneck speed, and I literally hit it running. I sprinted towards the drill my excitement getting a hold of me. I suddenly felt a light weight on my head and I let my hand wander up to feel what it was. Trying to tug it off was met with resistance, but it eventually yielded, and a sharp pain shot through my skull. I didn't stop running though- I was almost there. I brought down my hand to see what I held.

It was a helm… well, a skull made to fit like a helm. And what's more, it was the skull of the saber-toothed tiger, one of the very, very few pure animals. Only found in the wilderness of the Shadow Islands. The eyes bore into my soul, hollow, and the fangs would go on either side of my face down to chin length if I chose to wear it. If.

'Cause this was what I wore back then.

I decided to wear it right before I nearly ran headfirst (once again) into the drill, narrowly avoiding it by springing right over the side, and good thing, too. A boulder, and I mean a huge fucking boulder, had lodged itself in the earth where I had stood not a moment ago. But I had no time to find out where it came from because I had landed on the other side of the drill where yet another surprise awaited me.

And this one was scarier than the last.

"Hello, Shadowbender," said Granz.

Damn it all to the deepest pits of the spirit world.

"What are you doing here, Granz?" I asked, more than a little perturbed.

The Lightbender sniffed, glaring at me with reproachful eyes. But they had something else glinting in them now. Respect. "After our battle, Azula found me. In exchange for my help in securing their rightful position as ruler of all of the nations, I would be granted full access to their resources and the honor of catching and executing you myself."

I snorted. "You do remember who won our fight, right? I doubt you'll be catching me anytime soon, much less execute me."

"I'll make you eat those words, Loki." Granz slid into the starting position for the Dragon Fist. I'm not surprised.

"Oh, we're on a first name basis now?" I slid into my own stance, Liger Fist. It's been a long time since I've done it because I use Demon Palm most of the time. "Cute."

Fire enveloped his fists and feet, something that seems to be a prerequisite for his particular brand of fighting, and he rushed towards me, arm poised to impale yet again.

I quickly sidestepped the flaming thrust and kneed him in the ribs, something that should've broken them due to the way I utilize my style. But he just rolled with the impact, twisting and driving his knuckles into my jaw with brutal force.

My head barely moved as I tasted blood, and I winced as I felt the burn the fire had caused. He was a couple feet away from me now, ready to deal another blow. I thought for a second, and then lashed out with a diagonal palm strike to the cheek. Granz' head snapped up, and I used the opportunity to deal a shattering blow to his ribs. I felt one crack under the force of the punch.

He grunted in pain and tried to land a haymaker, but I batted it aside and twisted into range, slamming my elbow into his sternum. Then, twisting again, I elbowed him again in the crook of his neck, sending him staggering sideways.

Granz spat out a glob of blood as he turned to face me once more. "You've gotten better."

I smirked. "Can't say the same for you."

"I'm sure." He spat a pure white fireball at my face, rushing me once again. I dispelled the fireball, burning the sleeves of my clothes, the same ones I wore when I beat Toph in Earth Rumble 6. A quick slash sliced ripped a gash in my tunic and my chest, and suddenly I was sprawled on the dry earth, sent flying by a flaming roundhouse kick. I jumped up instantly, and, with the aid of Airbending, quickly sliced an 'L' onto his chest out of sheer spite. Blood poured out of the wound like a fountain.

Granz retaliated quicker than I thought possible, hooking his leg behind mine and flinging me by my arm into the drill. The machine hissed out steam as it inched forward, followed by a shattering crash as it hit something. The steam obscured my vision for a moment before I rolled out of the way of Granz' axe kick. It made a crater where I had been not a second before. I suddenly realized just how close I was to being completely done.

I lashed out again, twice this time, my nails slicing into his cheek and up along his arm. My opponent flipped backwards out of range before I could hit him again, and a moment later, he sliced downwards with his arm, a crescent of fire blazing a trail towards me. I raised my arms to block, my Bone Skin making a shield that made the fire dissipate harmlessly. Granz kept sending 'em though, each one hotter than the last until finally, I heard a crunch as his heel impacted my bone shield, smashing right through its center and catching me right in the chest.

He went to kick me again, the adrenaline pumping through his veins making his flame burn white-hot instead of blue. I brought up a rock wall to block the incoming attack, simultaneously leaping backwards out of range in order to catch my breath. I was able to concentrate for one second before he came at me again.

I ducked under his right arm and twisted it back brutally, eliciting nothing more than a grunt from Granz. My fist slammed into his spine in rapid-fire succession until I heard a subtle crack. He whipped his free arm back to clip me in the head, but ended up only hitting my saber-toothed helm, which made him wince sharply. Ignoring his pain, he then ducked under and twisted his arm back into its rightful position. He grabbed me by what was left of my collar and, with a surprising amount of strength, flung me over his shoulder. I landed hard on my right shoulder, but rolled back up to face him again. Just a little bit closer now…

Granz suddenly tensed, and I could see him shiver slightly. "Loki…"

"Yes?" I replied. My eyes were lidded from exhaustion and a smile was creeping its way onto my face.

"Where is your shadow?"

"It's right behind you."

Granz whirled around, but it was too late as my obsidian-black shadow smashed his face with its heel, sending him crumpling to the ground, blood leaking out of his mouth. My shadow looked at me with a proud smile. I smiled back. It looked exactly like me.

I had it dissipate and it returned to its rightful place on the ground. At this point, I turned my attention back to Granz. He had gotten to one knee at least, and looked up at me with blood running off of his eyelids. "How are you still standing?" he asked hoarsely.

"Believe me," I said. "It's taking all of my concentration to talk and stand at the same time." Any other retort I had was cut short by an enormous shockwave that rolled across the wasteland, propelling Granz and I back several feet. The drill abruptly stopped hissing and grinding and came to a complete stop, sludge blasting its way out of every nook and cranny and flooding the entirety of the land. The blood and the sludge mixed to make a very sickly, off-pink color that nearly made me scrunch my nose up in disgust. Yup, this was definitely Aang's doing.

Granz got to his feet faster than I did. I tried to look at him, but the sun was blinding even in sunset, its rays preventing me from seeing him. When I was able to see again, Granz was gone.

"Huh." I took off my tattered tunic and wiped up my upper body and face. In a few moments, it was free of sludge, and I draped the unusable cloth over my shoulder. My wounds and burns started to bleed again, and I winced slightly as I started towards the back of the drill. I had no energy to jump over the top.

Once at the back, I spotted Katara, Toph, and Sokka. They were all drenched in gunk, but they seemed okay for the most part.

"Loki!" Once they had spotted me, they ran over. "What happened to you?" they all asked simultaneously.

"A Lightbender happened, that's what. And Katara, if I hear one thing from you that even remotely sounds like 'I need to get you fixed up', I'm gonna slap you in the face."

She pouted indignantly. "Well, excuse me for caring!"

"You're excused."

Katara huffed and began walking to the Outer Wall, Sokka in tow. I felt a light punch on my shoulder and winced, turning to the source.

"You okay?" asked Toph.

"Of course. No worrying from you, I see. Unlike last time."

She smiled. "I know you can handle yourself."

I laughed aloud at that. "Thank you, but I nearly got my ass whipped."

"Then maybe you're not as good as you say you are," she said, gently touching the burn on my face.

I tousled her hair; unusually straight when out of its bun. "I beg to differ, little girl. I beg to differ. Now, come on. This sludge is disgusting."