Wow, it seems like I started this story yesterday and now we're already up to fifteen chapters. I guess time flies when you're having more fun than a human being should be allowed to have. A big and hearty thanks to Tsukikage1213, and Realfanficts for their reviews since day one. Thanks guys! Now Enjoy! And Happy Halloween guy!

Chapter Fifteen

Toph and Yue

Shandrey's full attention was on the script overhead; script she could read as clearly as English.

"Here before thee waits Gaya, Arc Mage of the Earth." Like a long awaiting trigger, Shandrey's words broke the enchantment holding the wall upright. There was a loud crack and a bright flash. The four of them took several startled steps backward. In awe, they watched as the glass wall slowly melted away, revealing the darkened outline of a person. Still in slack jawed paralysis, all of them saw the wall's occupant fall to ground and actually sputtered a painful yelp. Shandrey began to move forward to help but Elm held her back. Now they heard their discovery utter a tired groan. A hand moved out of the darkness and moved against the solid earth. Katara cleared her throat and spoke.

"A-Are you okay?" The now freed prisoner stood up suddenly, having recognized Katara's voice. In a frustrated huff they stepped into the light with folded arms.

"Well it's about time! What took you so long, sugar queen?" Katara's jaw hit the floor and stared in utter amazement.

"Toph…." Shandrey passed her eyes back to Toph. Indeed she was real and standing very impatiently before them.

It was as though time stopped within their earthen alcove. Toph, though they were useless, kept darting her eyes between each of them. From the master earthbender's perspective, the four of them appeared as pale silhouettes within a universe of shadow and outlines. Toph was growing more and more impatient by the second.

"Is it not enough that I've had to wait down here for who KNOWS how long?"

"Toph…" said Katara walking forward. "What…..are you doing here?"

"Well that's a bit a story, one I'd like to tell somewhere else if you don't mind." Katara became slightly dazed in staring at her friend. The feeling was akin to coming face to face with after decades of being apart. The youth twisted her head back at their leader.

"Shandrey?"

"Right, let's get back to Regan's."

"Hold IT!" Shouted Toph. They froze in their tracks. Her feet brushed against the ground ever so lightly. "Who are these people?"

"It's okay, they're fine Toph. These are my friends-"

"You're what now?" posed the cross Earthbender. Katara was at a bit of a loss for words as she could see where Toph was coming from with her question. At that moment though, Toph must've gotten a clearer picture of Shandrey's face. She stepped closer Shandrey and studied her.

"Yue?"

Shandrey chuckled. "No, but I do get that a lot."

"You're not Yue, but you-"

"Look like her? Yeah, that's also a bit of a story."

"Guys we should probably go," said Nayia. It was not so much the suggestion that roused concern but the tone in which it was spoken.

"Something wrong?" asked Elm.

"Let's just say…..chevaliers can sort tell when others are close by." That was all they needed to hear. A mass exodus of the cave quickly took place. As they made their way back up the long hillside, they kept their eyes and ears open for any sign of attack but nothing came. Of course none of them enjoyed being agitated, but to Nayia's credit it did grant them a speedy getaway. Shandrey led the pack as usual, her step never faltering, however suddenly a sickening feeling struck her quick as lightening. The waterbender was taken completely off guard and she toppled against a tree.

"Shandrey!" exclaimed Nayia. They gathered around her and took her to a park bench. They had almost made it back to the public and passersby were now glancing strangely at them.

"We're just a little sick," said Elm with a smile as they walked by. Katara summoned a stream of water from a nearby fountain, much to the users shock and awe. As soon as she had the whole of the water hovering above her palm she offered it to Shandrey who in turn drank it with gusto.

"Better?"

Still dizzy, Shandrey nodded. "Yeah, thanks."

"What just happened?" asked Toph.

Katara and Nayia exchanged looks. "It's your baby isn't it?" Once again the bystander attempted to take a drink, only to have it snatched away from him now by Shandrey. She unceremoniously commanded the water to splash upon her, and so it did right in her face.

"It was hoping it wouldn't start this soon."

"Baby?" said Toph. "You're pregnant?" she said to Shandrey.

"Come on," said Shandrey. With Katara and Elm's help she stood up and steadied herself. "Let's keep moving." Toph was of course used to simply moving on when given this order by Aang and thus she did……..directly toward the busy traffic. All pairs of eyes darted to her.

"NO!" They all lurched forward and yanked her back before she could step out onto the road. Irked, Toph tore herself free of them.

"What's wrong with you people?! Don't we have to be somewhere?"

"You can't just walk out into traffic like that," said Elm. "It's not safe." Toph rolled her eyes and turned back to the intersection.

"Oh for crying out loud, we don't have time for this!"

"TOPH WAIT!" Too late. Toph easily attracted many looks of shock as she calmly walked out on the busy streets, of which were at least five lines in width. They ran to catch her but they were blocked by the speeding cars. As Toph walked many cars skidded to a halt or swerved to avoid her, a chorus of long and short horn blows filled the surrounding air. Nayia's hands were over mouth and Katara's eyes slowly came to a close as Toph began forcing earthen barricades on both sides of her. Those that were not fortunate to stop early enough found themselves ramming straight into Toph's protective barriers. Eventually Toph made it to the other side and turned back to them, waving her arm.

"See!" She called back. "Now, it's perfectly safe." Shandrey appeared less than amused but it seemed it was all Elm could do to suppress his laughter.

"No no no, you're completely underestimating the potential resale value here." Regan walked about his study with a bluetooth head set in his ear. "I'm telling you, this is forty acres of premium timber. In these chaotic times, people would relish the presence of a reliable vendor such as yourself." He paused, allowing his possible customer to speak. "I'm well aware of the interest rates of today; some countries aren't even countries anymore. That's the bright side of this land……no one knows about it, except you and me. I'm willing to sell it off to you at a very generous price, it can't be beat." After a moment Regan began nodding with a satisfied smile. "Wonderful Yuri, you won't be disappointed. Laters!" He pulled out his headset and tossed it on to the table.

"Yup, business is booming."

KNOCK. KNOCK. The sounds rattling against his door drew his attention in a most peeved way. Naturally he assumed it was Shandrey and her friends, probably asking to stay yet another night.

He swung open the door. "One night means one……" But it was not Shandrey standing on his front porch. Three business suit clad Japanese men stood before with faces so stony it was a wonder they didn't crumble before his eyes. One of them slowly removed his sunglasses.

"Mr. Regan."

"Koji! Now this is……surprising."

"Naturally, we have something very important to discuss. I would prefer not to talk outside."

"Well okay why don't-" Abruptly they pushed past him and entered single file. "…Why don't you come in?" He closed his door, locked it, and sighed heavily. "So, as long as you've invited yourself into my house can get you anything-Oh" Upon turning he found a cocked and ready pistol being aimed at his forehead. The hired crook held the end of the black barrel firmly against Regan's scalp. Koji helped himself to generous ration of Regan's brandy.

"Now that you mention it, I would like our money back."

"Koji, I told you…..I told you there was risk and that's the way it is in business. You gotta understand I tried to warn you to sell before it was too late." Koji sat down and took a swig of his drink.

"Do you think I am a fool, William?" Regan could only shrug. "My master, he wanted me to return with our money as well as your head." Regan's eyebrows shot up. "But, I am a civilized man of action. Produce the money, and you will live to swindle someone else another day."

"I didn't cheat you, Koji!" demanded Regan. "You gangsters are all the same; you're looking for a sure-thing in a slot machine!" Koji shot up and unsheathed a short blade from inside his jacket. He placed the sharp tip beneath Regan's chin.

"Do not raise your voice at me."

Regan maneuvered his neck around the blade. "Listen, I don't have your money because I didn't take it. You lost it all by yourself. You want it back? Then leave me alone and go….rob a bank or something."

Koji smirked. "Decades of world wide turmoil have done nothing to change Americans I see." He took away his sword. "Defiant to the last." Koji turned away just long enough for Regan to make his move. Like the Flash himself, Regan grabbed the arm of the man holding the gun to his head. He twisted the weapon around until he was able to fire it upon its user. Unfortunately the other thug and Koji were too quick and Regan was sent to floor with gunshot wounds to the shoulder and the thigh. Koji reached down and ripped the gun from Regan's grasp. "Fine! I will take your head and whatever valuables I find in your humble home." He raised his sword above his head and took aim. Yet before he could deal the deadly blow, Koji felt the weapon rapidly heat up. Soon it became too hot to hold on to and he dropped it with a yelp of pain. He and his remaining goon looked ahead of Regan and found Elm entering with everyone else in tow. The fire from his hands died down to nothingness. Shandrey stepped around Elm and placed her hands at her hips.

"Sorry fellas, this is our motel."

"And just who are you?" asked Koji. None of them replied. "Fine, you are merely more strange people in a sea freaks."

"Freak?" blurted Toph. She pushed past the group and made her way directly in front of Koji. "You calling me a freak?" He looked down at her and noted her grayed irises. He smirked, said something to his comrade in Japanese and two began laughing at her expense. He bent down lower and spoke in a sappy voice.

"Well aren't you a cute little girl." Toph's eyes narrowed to slits. Katara and Nayia meanwhile helped Regan back up to his feet. "Maybe you should stand aside before you get hurt."

"Yeah right." The dark haired Earthbender gave the floor a light stomp of her foot and both gangsters were blown up through the ceiling via two stony pillars. Once they were too far away for their screams to be heard, Toph blew a strand of hair out of her hair and lowered the pillars. She turned back to the group with a very satisfied smile upon her face. Regan arched a brow and pointed at her.

"Okay, who's that?" Shandrey was growing to like Toph more and more by the second, thus she took it upon herself to introduce her.

"William Regan, meet Toph." Regan now displayed a look of curiosity and wonder.

"Toph…..the greatest Earthbender that ever was. That Toph?" Naturally Toph was more than willing to welcome the praise and pretended to file her nails.

"Yes, but please…you give too little credit." Shandrey chuckled and turned her attention to Regan's wounds.

"Oh my, William we need to take care of that." They led him toward his bedroom. As she followed behind them Shandrey said with slight annoyance; "By the way, you could've told us you were on bad terms with the Yakuza."

Regan cocked his head. "Honestly, I was counting on you to save me. He paused just before entering his room. "Thank you, my faith is……monumentally restored." Shandrey shook her head; oh the times she would have loved to take him out into the woods and shoot him. She and Katara joined Regan in his room with a large container of water in preparation for the healing process. Elm proceeded to remain on the door's threshold in order to watch but he was intercepted by Nayia.

"Hold it there, stick boy." They heard Toph snicker triumphantly, having found the proper nickname for him. Nayia ushered him back to the living room and stared him down. "Okay, let's have it." Elm's eyes darted about, trying to deduce what she was talking about.

"Have what?"

"I'm going to be an Aunt, how could this have happened?" Her voice was quiet but it was teetering on the edge of serenity. "Well?"

"Well, when a man and woman are married…..or not it tends to turn out that way." She scrunched her eyes shut then reopened them and he could literally see the flames burning within them.

"And nobody considered telling me?!"

"Hey, as I understand it nobody but Shan and her mother knew." He could tell Nayia was finding that hard to believe. It was just so fantastic, how could the father not know he was going to be a father?

"Really?"

Elm shrugged. "She didn't want Lee worrying while they trotted off on this latest escapade." Nayia turned away from him and began pacing around. "You aren't really upset are you? They're finally having a baby."

"Believe me; I haven't heard happier news in years. But you can be sure I'm going to hog that kid of theirs as much as humanly possible." Elm nodded matter-of-factly.

"Yes, after so many years the two of you will have something to fight about again."

JOINING LEE…………….

The members of Hotaru's cult still lingered in the general vicinity of the Moon Tower, mostly due to Hotaru's wish to draw whatever energies she could from the shrine. The sum of Lee's life has been a series of adaptations; hardly if ever has the samurai been thrown into a situation he had a difficult time dealing with. His captivity within Hotaru's clutches seemed to be no different. The sun was hanging brightly in the sky and beneath it was Lee, practicing his sword forms. His gi lay and outer shroud lay upon a snow covered rock nearby, thus he worked shirtless and also without shoes. It was apparent from his motions and clarity of mind that if he so wished Lee could easily cut one of falling snow flakes.

From a fair distance, Mockingbird sat upon a rock and watched him with her legs held against her chest. She had taken on an alternate form, to escape the sun's deadly effect on her kind. Her lips quivered between a smile and a straight face, though the hunger in her eyes was unmistakable. Hotaru approached, pulling a silk scarf around her as she walked.

"I do hope you're keeping that feral imagination of yours tame." Mockingbird giggled and licked her two fangs.

"It's a constant struggle."

"He knows very well that you're watching him," said Hotaru.

Mockingbird narrowed her eyes, as if to zoom in on him. "Yes, but does he know that I want him to know?" Hotaru studied her servant for a moment. It was now time to strike a nerve.

"And what of his friend? The one called….Elm?"

The shape-shifting vampire looked away with a hiss. "What of him?!" Hotaru straightened herself erect.

"Look at me, Chevalier." Always under the spell of Hotaru's influence, Mockingbird rotated her head back around into full view. "Last night, within the Moon Tower, I felt your feelings toward this man resonate."

"Don't….Don't know what you mean," shivered the slave. Hotaru completely ignored her denial. She simply stepped closer so that neither could look anywhere but into each other's eyes. She took a vice-like grip of Mockingbird's jaw and held her steady.

"You had best not allow your paltry romances or vendettas to jeopardize my mission, or I just may command to see your true form in this better light!" The self proclaimed "Fire goddess" turned away and looked at Lee off in the distance. "Is that in any way unclear to you?" Mockingbird already began skulking off.

"Of course not, goddess." In the blink of an eye she was gone and Hotaru began walking toward her hostage. The area around him was a mess of his footprints. He swung his sword about and ended the form with the decapitation of an imaginary foe. Hotaru could only smirk as she thought that maybe he was referring to the fallen Tommy. She calmly walked into the confines of his circle and began navigating it around him.

"Do you always train in inhospitable conditions?" Lee did not look away from his work.

"It makes it easier to perform in favorable ones."

"How true, how so very true," mused Hotaru. Lee stopped and twisted his head to the side to look at her. "Curiosity abounds; what do you think about when you perform such movements?"

"I think only of what a prisoner can at the moment; escape." Hotaru chuckled derisively.

"Such futile thoughts……"

"So I am told, constantly. Escape is possible and I will soon." He appeared as though he was finished but Hotaru had other plans. Her index finger traced a stream of fire in midair and upon her taking hold of one end the flames died away revealing a slim and razor sharp sword. His eyes roamed over her weapon, it was anyone's guess as to how she would wield it. Hotaru stuck it in the ice to free her hands and began removing her billowing robes. Once she was down to her pants and a sleeveless tunic she retrieved her sword.

"Shall I tell you what else is futile?" Lee felt as though he was being confronted by a young child, eager to prove she could be just as good a swordfighter. he placed himself in the most basic defensive position and she in one of clear offense. Hotaru made a fragile promise with herself; no qi magic. A thin layer of snow was beginning to collect on the two while they waited. Sure enough, it was Hotaru who would first loose her patience. As if she possessed the winged feet of Hermes himself, Hotaru suddenly shot forward.

Their weapons sang as they clanged and slid against one another. Lee swung himself out of a blade lock and thrusting his hand forward sent a wave of telepathic energy at her. Hotaru was surprised to be suddenly forced back but she was quick to recover.

"So, that is how he wishes to play." she thought. Though he was far out of range of a normal kick, Hotaru leapt forward and brought her foot thundering down to the ground. In do so she produced a wave of bright blue flame. Lee's eyes widened and darted back. He waved his sword behind him in a last-gasp attempt to use his mental powers to cut he wave around him. His plan only half succeeded; though the blunt of the wave was diverted around him, the pure inertial force threw him hard against one the large frozen spheres. The struggle was great, but Lee was able to right himself using his sword as a lever. He had just risen to his feet when he realized Hotaru was once again upon him. Bold and unabashed, Lee charged straight into her. They traded a series of attacks and defensive blocks. Both blades locked together and their masters swiveled them down toward the ground where they entered a greater wrestle.

You…know the sword!" sputtered Lee. Hotaru, having lost as much breath as he, nodded.

"A…Azula's finest!" He felt her grip soften and her breathing slow. She had not even been fighting, only amusing herself. And now she was done. Lee took his sword from Hotaru's and carefully backed away from her.

"Why do you wish to throw the world into chaos? Has it not been through enough?" Hotaru tossed her weapon away but it disappeared before it hit the ground.

"I don't, I have only its best interests at heart. And you will not be a prisoner for much longer. We will see Yue again, as we are searching for the same thing. When that time comes I will bargain your life for the Moon Crystal."

"She will refuse," said Lee proudly.

"Then I seem to Yue better than you do. She will give it to me or you will die. Now I suggest you return with me to the camp, we will be leaving soon." She turned and standing prim and proper took her leave. Lee had been redressing in his layers of gi's and robes.

OUTSIDE REGAN'S HOUSE………………

It turned out that after having his life saved, possible for the third time, Regan had grown immensely more hospitable. Shandrey and Katara finished healing his wounds and he was currently resting in his room. Shandrey, Katara, Toph, Elm, and Nayia all sat around outside on a very large wooden porch. They sat on wooden benches built into the hardwood sides and railing. Before them was a moderate fire raging within a metal pit within the floor. The air was a little humid but there was a slight breeze which negated it to an overall mild atmosphere.

"How did you get here?" Katara asked Toph. Everyone was snapped out of the trance they were in while looking into the fire and stared at the Blind Bandit.

"I'm sorry Katara, but for a while…….we thought you were dead," said Toph softly. "You disappeared and we didn't have a clue where you went."

"But you must've had some idea," said Shandrey. "Otherwise you wouldn't be here." Toph grinned and nodded.

"It took a while, but you're right."

-----

The pub was filled with the sound of people cheering and drinking and regales of stories past. Toph sat lonesome at the bar and if her eyes could see they would be staring at the wood surface. She and her friends had lingered still in Yue's village for days now. It was not but a few days ago that they witnessed someone very dear to them suddenly disappear. In fact, from the moment Toph sat down the young girl had been somewhat catatonic. She, Aang, and Sokka had effectively delayed the continuation of their journey. The barkeep came by and took away her empty glass. She looked up at him and tossed the old man a coin.

"Thanks." She stepped off of her stool, decreasing her height significantly. On her way out she grabbed a shawl of Earth Kingdom design. The winds were calm that night, but the air was still very frigid. It didn't do well in making people look forward to breathing. It was lucky that Toph knew the way back to their temporary hut by heart; her feet couldn't last long in the ice cold snow, thus she wore sandals. As she walked she thought about what could have been done to save her. There was obviously nothing any of them could have done, but possibly there was someone who can. When she finally reached the door to the large barn, and opened the door, a few snow flurries followed her inside. Aang and Sokka both sat up against Appa, both glanced at her momentarily then went back to staring vacantly at their fire.

"I guess Sokka did his best to cope by trying to take his mind off it as much as possible. He kept insisting that we needed to get moving or we'd miss the invasion. But Aang wouldn't budge."

Sokka stood up and stretched his back out of stiffness. "Well, I'm serious this time guys. We really reallllly really really should get moving." Aang stared madly into the fire and sighed.

"No."

"Aang, we don't have a choice!" exclaimed Sokka. "We've been planning this thing for months, we can't miss it!"

"We can't do it without Katara!" snapped Aang. "We can't……." Sokka folded his arms.

"I'm sorry but it looks like we're gonna have to, this is a war." Aang shot a look up at the hunter/warrior. "In a war…….there are casualties." The airbender suddenly shot, staff in hand.

"How can you say that?! How can you just take her memory and throw it away?!" Sokka pushed Aang away with an infuriating amount of force.

"You……are not the only one who feels that way! She was my sister. I hate talking about her in the past tense but that's way it is."

"Umm, guys…" Toph attempted to get her word in. The boys however were still locked in a battle to the death.

"I refuse to accept that she's gone for good." said Aang. Sokka didn't care for yelling at his friend. "There has to be another explanation." Sokka leaned against Appa, making the large animal growl slightly, and shrugged.

"Maybe, but you know what we saw. Who could possibly know anything about that?"

"Eh-Hem!" They turned and realized Toph was still with them only by now she was impatiently tapping her foot on the ground. "There's probably someone in this town that might." Aang and Sokka glanced at one another then they shouted at her together.

"Well why didn't you say so!" The earthbender could only slap a hand to her face.

The hut that Toph inevitably led them to was of course the one occupied by Yue and her young sister Aleu. Again, this was a time when Katara's presence would have been most appreciated as she knew Yue better than they did. They rapped on the door and after a moment of waiting it creaked open and Yue stood before them.

"Oh, hello there. Please come in." They did so most happily, eager to get out of the cold. She had Aleu pour them each a cup a tea then also for the two of them. "So tell me Aang," said Yue as she received her own cup. "What brings you all here tonight?"

"We want to know exactly what happened to Katara," he replied. Yue looked at each of them. She knew they were very smart and that eventually she might have to explain things to them in greater detail. She smiled and nodded.

"Yes, the problem is….is that I am not precisely certain either. I have only my theories."

Sokka nodded. "Gowd, lebs start width thofse." He spoke with his mouth full of bread. Yue racked her brains for the simple explanation she could muster. Honestly, sometimes it was difficult for her to understand.

"From your description of the portal and the means by which it was conjured, I would guess that they were attempting to open an aperture in time. Katara may either have been sent into the past or the future."

Sokka's chewing came to a steady and slow halt. He swallowed and gawked at her. "You're kidding right?"

"You asked," replied Yue.

"What can we do?" asked Aang.

"Unfortunately there is not much we can do," said Yue. "Our power to intervene depends greatly on which direction in time she has traversed. If it is the past then I am afraid we can do nothing. However…" It was this ray of hope that garnered their undivided attention. "If she has gone to the future there may be something we can do."

"You can bring her back?!" asked Sokka excitedly.

"No," said Yue. His face slumped back down. "But we can send her some help."

"How?" Yue was always reluctant to tamper with destiny, especially on this grand a scale. But these were turning out to be extraordinary circumstances.

"One of you will have to follow after her in the form of deep hibernation. Through the centuries you will remain completely unaged until the time that you are once again awoken." There followed a thick silence between the downsized group. Three pairs of eyes darted to one another, wondering if any of them was volunteering for such an insane mission. Aang turned back to Yue with an incredulous look.

"You can't be serious."

Yue took another sip of tea. "I am."

"How long would the…….one of us be frozen?" asked Sokka. Yue shrugged.

"It is impossible to say, and as I said, we have no way of knowing whether or not she did travel to the future. I cannot and will not lie to you my friends; the risk in this endeavor is most extreme." Despite her warning, the Avatar had long ago made up his mind.

"Alright, I'll do it!" Of course he immediately received two recurring protests.

"What?!" exclaimed Toph.

"Aang, you can't," said Sokka.

"Why?"

"Because, and yes here it comes: you're the Avatar. We could totally miss on this one and we need you here to fight the Fire Lord."

"But what if I can't defeat him because I needed all of you there to help me."

"I doubt that one twinkle toes," said Toph.

Yue then said, "Which ever one of you decides to go, if you and Katara succeed in returning then it will matter very little on what happens later. Everything has changed with Katara's absence, it will surely change back with her return." The hut descended once again into silence. Finally Toph rose to her feet.

"I'll go." The two boys looked up at her.

"Toph…."

"The Avatar can't play hokey on fighting the Fire Lord and Sokka needs to help lead the invasion. I'm the best choice." Yue glanced between the young warriors. Aang still believed with much zeal that it should be his responsibility. The same could easily be said for Sokka, but deep down but of them knew she was right. They both gave their silent agreements and Toph nodded to Yue. The ebony haired waterbender rose to her feet.

"So be it."

-----

Toph tossed a few twigs into their fire. "She and I traveled to a dense forest west of Omashu and I dug us a cave. She told me that she would begin spreading rumors that this was the focal point for the earth spirit, a clue that would one day lead you to me."

"That ancestor of yours sure did plan ahead," said Nayia to Shandrey. Shandrey glowed with pride of her older self.

Toph continued. "Yue warned me once again that I could be stuck down there forever and I told her once again that I didn't give a hoot. The last thing I remember is her saying some weird words then I felt sleepy. The rest……you know." Katara sighed and began pacing around before them. She then stopped before Toph.

"Well I am really glad to see you, but the fact of the matter is now you're stranded here with me. Unless we find a way at the end of this quest, we'll never go home."

"What quest?" asked Toph irreverently.

"We're looking for the four element crystals," said Shandrey. "Together they'll unlock the power behind Aang's ability to enter the Avatar state." Toph should have begun keeping note of all the crazy things she was starting to hear.

"That sounds mighty farfetched."

"The same could be said about time travel," said Elm. Toph more or less agreed then moved her shoulders up and down.

"Okay, so we go get em'. What's the problem?"

"A Fire Nation sorceress is also after them," said Katara grimly. Toph's eyebrows raised. "Yeah, I guess you have a clue why she would want it." Toph again blew hair out of her face.

"It figures that after all this time the Fire Nation is still a royal pain in the butt."

"Ohhh it gets better," chuckled Nayia. "Besides her qi magic and masterful firebending, she's got a handful of crazies that bow at her feet and sport there own ugly talents." As though Toph needed more convincing, Nayia then added; "Oh yeah, and a few of them aren't even human." Toph shook her head and looked back up at Katara.

"Well gee whiz Sugar Queen, you sure can get into em'."

"I have a plan though," said Shandrey. "A way to deal Hotaru……..but you're not gonna like it." Nayia could tell what was coming. She quite nearly reamed Shandrey the night before over it. Now the poor waterbender was about to take it again three fold.

And there, Toph's weird appearance has been explained in full. Unfortunately we won't see Aang and Sokka again until the end. There are more than enough good guys and bad guys running around without the story getting too confusing. Next chapter is one its way…..stay tuned folks!