Author's unnecessary note: Hi everybody! I don't really have anything to say since I'm submitting my first several chapters at the same time. Oh well. I wrote all of this months ago and now that I look back at it, I find that I disagree with half of it. Still... it's just a fic. For the record, I don't actually think Toph would have been bossed around by her parents anymore. And don't be put off by the enormous series of Kataang fluff I have going on; it will all get more action filled later on.
Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender... I don't own it.
Chapter Two: Toph's Letter
Toph Beifong marched, furiously, through the courtyard of her parent's estate. She slid the front door open and stepped in. Looking straight forward with her blank, sightless eyes, she addressed the two people sitting before her.
"Mom, Dad… I think it's time you swallowed your pride! You have to let me write to my friends! It's Aang's birthday today!"
Her father sipped his tea and looked at Toph with strict mannerisms. "Toph, you and your wild group of friends will never see each other again while you're in my house. The Avatar kidnapped you!"
"I ran away with them! I taught the Avatar—the boy that saved us all— Earthbending! You're both just narrow-sighted JERKS! I won't be here much longer if you have to know!"
Toph stormed out of the house with her arms crossed. I'm probably the only one in 'team avatar' who's not enjoying themselves!
A short vibration—Toph sensed the presence of a guard. It was Fen-Su, a young man hired by the Beifongs to keep an eye on Toph. He was kind and understanding, so Toph didn't mind his presence.
"Toph, I would be happy to write that letter for you."
Toph turned in surprise at his statement and hugged him, even though he was in the vicinity of two and a half feet taller than she, being thirteen, and he being twenty-one.
They walked to a small shed where Fen-Su kept his quarters. A small candle lit a writing desk. Fen-Su pulled out a bit of parchment and a quill. "Okay, I'm ready."
"This one is for Aang—wait, Twinkle toes.
Dear Twinkle Toes,
I'm writing from a sunny paradise in the Southern Earth Kingdom. Well, you know I can't actually write, but you understand of course. No matter how nice it is to see home, I was sick of it within two minutes of arrival. I miss you, Katara, Sokka, and Suki so much! My parents are insane and this place isn't feeling like home at all. I can't leave the grounds, I can't get away to fight without getting caught and I can't act like me. I'm sure you are all having a better time together than I am alone. That's why I've decided to break out of this prison at all costs and reach you in the South Pole—no matter how cold and miserable and earth lacking it is.
Happy birthday by the way! This letter probably won't reach you until days after the celebration, but better late than never.
Toph Beifong, Master Earthbender
I'm the greatest Earthbender in the world actually.
I Rock
Fen-Su looked at the final product. "That's a strange ending, don't you think?"
"Nah, they know I rock."
Suki, even though her absence was hard to handle, was still the leader of the Kyoshi warriors. Her duties were to train the girls in the way of Avatar Kyoshi, but Ty-Lee was doing fine in that field. It was because of this trust in the acrobat, Ty-Lee, that Suki could enjoy her time here with Sokka, Aang, and Katara.
Still, she never expected to be doing something as silly as penguin sledding in the barren ice hills of the Southern Water Tribe. Sokka took her hand and pulled her towards the herd of otter-penguins. When he attracted one with a fish, he gestured for Suki to climb onto its back.
"Milady. Your penguin awaits."
Suki was hesitant. "Won't I hurt it?"
"No, they've got strong backs—trust me."
"Okay…" Suki climbed onto the penguin's soft back and screamed as Sokka climbed on with her and sent the penguin flying down a hill. They landed in a pile of snow laughing hysterically until Sokka noticed Aang and Katara approaching from the other side of the hill.
"Oh great! Here come the two kissy faces."
Suki punched him in the arm mildly. "Be nice Sokka! It's Aang's birthday!"
Katara and Aang helped Sokka and Suki out of the snow. Katara laughed at the sight of the penguin beside them. "Aren't you both a little old for penguin sledding? You're going to hurt the poor thing's back."
Sokka shook some snow out of his hair and wrapped an arm around Suki. "Yeah, yeah… what are you guys doing out here? Shouldn't you be making out or something?" He asked sarcastically. Suki shot him a deadly glare that said stop teasing!
Aang pulled his hood up to hide his red ears. "We don't make out."
Katara shot him a questioning glance and then turned to Sokka. "Um… he's right, we don't. Besides we came out here to practice some waterbending."
Sokka began huffing in an annoying fashion. "Why? Aang's already mastered all four elements!"
Aang rolled his eyes. "Only to the point where I could defeat Ozai… I still need to master firebending and refine my earth and water skills."
Katara pushed Sokka aside and moved on towards the coastline. "That's why I'm here."
Sokka and Suki turned around to face the two waterbenders as a globe of water passed between them. "Well hurry up; the feast is in two hours and you both need to clean up some." With that, they left the two alone.
Aang moved his right arm in a swift flowing motion and large spike of ice shot up. He continued moving in fast waves and the spike dissolved into water.
Katara nodded. "Good concentration and execution, but your form is a little sloppy since last time."
Aang sighed. "I feel like refining the elements is harder than just learning them."
Katara smiled encouragingly. "I know you'll get it perfect. It'll just be a few more tries…"
After a half an hour of training, Aang and Katara sat beside the water and relaxed.
Aang took a sip of water out of Katara's canteen. He sighed happily. "Water has always been the easiest of the elements for me to learn. I guess I owe more than half of that to you."
Katara also took a sip from the canteen. "Well, you are an airbender."
Aang looked at her curiously. "So?"
"Water and Air are the elements of serenity and peace. They go hand in hand—there's water in the air, and there's air in water. They have so much in common… sort of like you and me. Our bending is driven by the same cause. I'm the last southern waterbender, and you're the last airbender. We both compensate for what we're both missing."
Aang nodded. "You're right, Katara. I don't know how the same could be said for fire and earth."
"It can't be said for the other elements."
Aang stood and stretched. "Well, I guess the only question, now, is which one is better."
Katara looked up at him confusedly. "Which what is better?"
"Oh, you know—Air or Water… which one is better. There's only one way to find out."
Katara got up as well. "Oh, no. I'm not going to fight you Aang!"
"You're just afraid of me!" He laughed playfully.
She pointed her finger at him. "I'm afraid that I'd whip your butt so hard, I'd be insulting your people." She laughed, yet also kept a tone of seriousness.
"We'll see…"
They faced each other from about ten yards away. Katara eyed Aang carefully. "You can only use airbending Aang! Don't cheat!"
Aang grinned at her with swagger. "You know me Katara; I don't cheat—unless I'm losing. And we both know that couldn't happen!"
Katara lifted a stream of water. "Are you gonna talk all day, or are we gonna do this?"
She sent a lightning fast whip his way. Aang dodged it and had to dodge repeatedly as Katara sent water projectiles flying his way. Aang ducked and rolled using his specialization in evasion. At two different points, he blasted a large gust of wind her way. Katara flipped out of the way on both the occasions and kept up her water bombardment. Katara knew she couldn't give Aang an opening. Eventually, she had had enough. She lifted her hands in the air and watched as the ice beneath Aang crumbled and Aang fell.
She ran to the edge of the hole, she had made to find Aang rubbing his head at the bottom. "Spirits… my head."
Katara gasped. "Oh no, did I hurt you, Aang?"
Aang laughed and flipped out of the pit, landing directly behind Katara. "And, BOOM! You're blown away!"
Katara turned around and smacked Aang on the side of the forehead. "That's not fair! I thought you were hurt!"
Aang laughed even harder. "I can't help how much you love me!"
She giggled and pushed Aang to the side. "You're just lucky I didn't use some blood bending on you."
Aang shuttered. "You wouldn't do that—would you?"
Katara started towards the town again. "Maybe… if you cheat again." She smiled to show that she was joking, and held out her arm, beckoning Aang to take his place next to her as they walked back to their home. The celebration of Avatar Aang's fourteenth birthday was in an hour after all.
