On with chapter 3! I wrote this in less than a day, and I sort of like it, although some explanations are little to long in my opinion. But anyway : hope you'll like it! Note that this takes place one month after chapter 1 and 2.
Oh yeah, right : I totally forgot the disclaimer for the first two chapters, so here it is... hope nobody will sue me!
Disclaimer : I don't own Avatar-The Last Airbender. If I did, this story wouldn't be a fic but the first episodes of season four.
Chapter Three: Letter
The small ship arrived in the South Pole's bay around noon.
It was a ridiculously small boat, dark green and with the Earth Kingdom insignia printed on its sail. The kind of ship that had completely disappeared from the seas a hundred years ago.
Now that the war was over, they were slowly returning, re-establishing communication around the world. Messages, letters and goods could circulate freely from a nation to another on those small merchant ships that had, a little more than a century ago, insured wealth to the Earth Kingdom. It was although very rare for such ships to reach the South Pole, and when they did come, it was always to transmit important political messages from the Earth Kingdom, North Pole or Fire Nation to the Southern Water Tribe's chiefs, Hakoda and Sokka.
Important political messages, crucial information on the situation around the world and the steps made toward balance and peace... or at least, most of the time.
Because, once a month, something infinitely more important arrived on those ships, something Sokka awaited to receive with incredible impatience.
Something that always brought him a smile that lasted for days.
Something that eased the constant pain in his chest, the one that had been there for four years and whose existence he denied, although to everyone else it was beyond obvious.
Sokka had spent the entire morning training outside the village with Katara and Aang, his sister manipulating the snowy terrain against him and his friend alternating between icy gusts of air and a variety of water-related attacks. The young warrior twirled with surprising grace in the middle of the turmoil of elements, avoiding and deviating blows with practised movements of his sword and countering attacks with the force and precision that only belonged to great masters. Of course, his two comrades where going easy on him, as even a master bender wouldn't be able to so much as threaten the waterbender and avatar separately, let alone together. But those battle simulations were excellent to form the sword master's reflexes, agility and wits. They also allowed Katara and Aang to hone their own skills, as none of them knew for sure if peace would last in the world and when they would have to fight for their lives and for the universe again. Not to mention, if the non-bending Sokka didn't stand a chance against the fury of the elements, he was basically unbeatable for whoever didn't master them.
In the past six years, he'd become as sharp, versatile and deadly as his sword.
One of the greatest sword masters and warriors the world had ever known.
He didn't boast however, something he would've certainly done when he was only nothing more than an obnoxious, sarcastic, yet caring, ingenious and insanely brave sixteen-year-old. With the new skills and extra muscles had come an uncharacteristic humility and almost unfaltering confidence and optimism.
Almost unfaltering.
He had also proved to be a born leader, the simple idea guy growing into the fine strategist that had helped repress so many rebellions in the Fire Nation. He also had a lot of ambition for the South Pole and promised to make a great leader for his home tribe. Yet, for himself, he only seemed to want to lead a simple life, accomplishing his duty as leader and right hand man of the Avatar and Fire Lord the best he could, his heart seeking peace...
...and above all, seeking love.
He ducked as a water whip passed swiftly over his head, rolling onto his side to avoid the small but powerful spiral of wind Aang had sent his way. With a few fluid parades of his sword, he destroyed the dozen ice daggers his sister threw him, managing to touch her left shoulder lightly with the tip of his sword, therefore winning the battle against the waterbender. The water tentacles she'd begun to create around her phased back into snow, gently falling to the ground at their feet. Katara congratulated her brother with a warm smile and Aang descended (or rather drifted) from the ice cliff he'd perched himself on to put a hand on his shoulder. Sokka grinned happily, wiping the sweat on his forehead with one hand and sheathing his sword.
That's when Katara, turning in the direction of the village, spotted the Earth Kingdom Ship in the bay. She signalled its presence to Aang and her brother enthusiastically, but was still slightly confused when Sokka took off without warning, half running and half sliding down the moor towards the port.
- "What's up with him?" the young woman asked her boyfriend, one eyebrow cocked in curiosity.
The Avatar grinned mysteriously, eyes shinning as he wrapped an arm around his girlfriend's waist, kissing her tenderly before answering:
- "I'd say he's got mail".
By the time Aang and Katara reached Gran-Gran's hut, Sokka was already seated by the fire, repeatedly hitting something on the ground before him with his machete. It was a block of dried clay, about the size of a small trunk but unusually light, with his name carved on it. An identical block was set on the table in the corner, making Katara beam as she urged Aang to earthbend it open. Meanwhile, the water tribe warrior managed to break open his own block, pulling out the stone tablet it had been concealing; it was covered in writing, carved deeply on its surface with a perfection that clearly spoke of the identity of the message's author. Sokka's heart lifted in his chest, his mouth breaking in an insanely happy grin as he held Toph's version of a letter.
When Toph was living with him at the South Pole, she'd once complained that she couldn't read the letters Aang and Katara sent them continuously while they were gone on their 'restore-balance-and-peace-to-the-world-after-the-war' mission. Being as dense as ever, he'd brushed it off, saying there was no problem at all since he was there to read them for her. He'd learned that day that, when Toph complained about something, it'd better be taken seriously. She'd flung a fire rock to his head, scathingly retorting that she "wanted to do it for herself" and that he "wouldn't always be there to read to her like a mother read bedtime stories to her kids". And, what if one day she received something private? She didn't want the meathead stuffing his nose in her business.
That's when he got another of his brilliant ideas, the type that had earned him the title of 'Idea Guy'.
Toph couldn't read what was written on paper... but what about what was carved in stone?
She couldn't write with ink and a pen...but she could carve words in the stone with earthbending, couldn't she?
That had been the beginning of a long year of efforts and patience teaching Toph how to read and write with earthbending.
But it was well worth it.
She was a surprisingly good student, putting as much effort in learning the different symbols Sokka traced in a small patch of earth in the center of Gran-Gran's hut (earth which had to be imported from Kyoshi Island with Suki's help) as she had mastering earthbending. It wasn't so much that she enjoyed writing and reading (she wasn't the intellectual type, and kept repeating that "words were better spoken aloud then written down") but she was determined to prove everyone that she could do absolutely anything, even read and write.
It took a lot of patience and creativity on Sokka's part, but in the end, she became rather good at it.
Meanwhile, he'd learned to carve stone with a pick and hammer (his artistic talents had greatly improved, thank the spirits, although his carvings were much less neater than her perfect, earthbended symbols).
And then she'd returned to the Earth Kingdom, and both were more than happy that they had a way of communicating.
During four years, they wrote to each other about once or twice every month (they would have written more, but a month was what it took for the Earth Kingdom boats to travel all the way to the South or North Pole or Fire Nation, depending on where Sokka was). No matter where he was or what he was doing (he kept going to and fro from the North Pole to the South Pole to the Fire Nation, on diverse political and/or war missions) he waited for each one of these letters like his life depended on it, and it helped him survive the fact that he was away from his best friend.
It had been four years since he'd last seen her in person.
Since they spent most of their time in the Earth Kingdom, Aang and Katara got to visit the young earthbender frequently, and Sokka kept wishing he was that lucky. After Toph had gone back to Gaoling, he'd been stuck at the Northern Water Tribe for a year: being the ambassador of the Southern Tribe, he'd occupied such an important position he couldn't have left it for even a day, let alone a three weeks trip to the Earth Kingdom.
The next two years he'd spent in the Fire Nation, helping Zuko repress the rebellions that had erupted everywhere on the territory. The situation being critical and he being in charge of the Fire Nation imperial forces, he had more than his fair share of responsabilities. He'd also become the mediator of the fragile alliance between the Water Tribes and Fire Nation on Zuko's and Hakoda's demand. All in all, he hardly could've abandoned his duties to visit Toph.
The last year had been the hardest: he missed Toph like crazy, more then he'd ever thought possible, but new responsabilities had kept him imprisoned at the South Pole, his father having judged that it was time for him to begin taking the lead of the Tribe. As a result, the constant letters he and the Blind Bandit exchanged and the news he regularly received from Aang and Katara were all he had to stay in touch with his best friend.
Of course, he'd pleaded her time and time again to come visit him. But the little blind girl had obligations of her own in her home nation: she was one of the Earth King's privileged advisors, although she operated from a distance, her parents insisting that she remained home. She was also the earthbending teacher of the newly restored Dai Li, the agents travelling all the way to Gaoling every other month to receive her particular training. Those activities, however, where done in secrecy: Toph's parents refused that she become a war figure, and she herself didn't want the glory (Aang suffered a lot from being watched by the entire world every minute of his life, and she had always hated to draw unnecessary attention to herself. As if it weren't enough, most people didn't seem capable to see beyond her tiny figure and blindness and consider her as the hero and powerful bender she was, preferring to regard her as an abnormal phenomenon). Anyway, her parent's approval was more important to her than celebrity.
But Sokka could be very insightful when he wanted to (in contrast to his usual obliviousness), and in spite of her denial, he knew full well that, if she didn't come to visit him, it was mostly because her parents refused that she left Gaoling. Of course, her parents' opinion had never stopped her from doing what she wanted before, but in the last four years, pleasing them seemed to have become her major goal. She made a lot of efforts to be the daughter they'd always wanted but, according to her letters, they were never satisfied. Still, she tried, even though she clearly resented them and was (she'd never admit it, but he knew her so well he could tell just by reading what she wrote) unhappy in her current life. Now, why she would rather avoid displeasing parents she had a hard time loving then visit her best friend, he couldn't decipher.
Little did he know, Toph was deliberately putting a distance between them in a desperate and painful attempt of getting over her impossible love for him.
The letter was short, but it warmed Sokka's insides like nothing else could:
Hey Snoozles,
What's up? Still alive from your last tournament with Sugar Queen and Twinkletoes? Really, you should stop measuring yourself against the two second greatest (I being the first, obviously!) benders in the world; it isn't healthy for a guy's self-esteem if he loses too often! Trust my experience: in my years of competing in Earth Rumble 5, I've seen quite a lot of men fall into depression after getting beaten by a 'little' blind girl.
He could almost hear her laugh, and he laughed himself as he read on:
Anyway, to answer your question, yes, I'm still training the Dai Li, although we have to remain very discreet. They are making progress but...they're not anywhere near my level! As for metalbending... I'm still hesitating to teach them this technique. I like being the only metalbender in the world, and since even Aang wasn't able to do it when I tried teaching him, I doubt they'll do any better.
The Earth King still relies on my advice for the rebuilding of the region of Omashu. It's a very delicate task, seeing that most of the former inhabitants have fled the country during the war and hesitate to come back (can't blame them: the place is very creepy and nearly deserted, or so I was told). There are also all kinds of rumours about a strange epidemic that emptied Omashu during the war: a disease called "Panda-pox" or something (what the heck?). Got any ideas, oh great Idea Guy?
For a minute, the Water Tribe man had to stop reading, his vision blurred by tears of laughter. He would have to tell Toph what the so-called epidemic truly was: that is, a brilliant plan of his to help the citizens of Omashu escape the Fire Nation. Katara and Aang looked at him questioningly while he nearly rolled onto his side with laughter, before returning to the reading of the letter the earthbender had sent them.
Apart from that, I fought with my mother. Again.
Sokka's smile disappeared, replaced by a concerned frown.
I left the house a couple of days, but now I'm back. As always. I know what you're thinking: why don't I just leave for good or, in the least, stay with you at the South Pole for a few weeks? My answer, dear Boomerang, is the same as ever: I can't spend my life running away from my family and denying my heritage, so I'll have to make it work out with 'mommy' and 'daddy'. And escaping with you to the other side of the world again is not the best way to do that. Sorry.
I hope to 'see' you eventually (hehe,you get it?). I miss not being able to punch you.
Take advantage or your right arm while it's still healthy (because believe me, you won't be able to even move it once I'm through with you).
Lots of punches to the arm, Toph.
Sokka sighed, his heart suddenly clenching in pain. How he missed her! How he whished for her small but determined voice, her mischievous grin and wide, shinning green eyes... even her punches! How he wanted to just sit there beside her, talking about nothing in particular, or simply waiting for the satisfying cry of surprise of the person they'd just pulled a prank on! How he yearned to be outside, walking with her around the village with her petite yet strong hands cutting the circulation of his arm...
Lost in his nostalgic thoughts, he didn't notice the Avatar and his sister casting worried glances in his direction and whispering amongst them.
- "Look", Katara breathed urgently in Aang's ear. "He's doing it again! Laughing his head off one minute and then becoming all lost in thought and depressed the next. What's wrong with him? He does that every time he receives a letter from her!"
- "Isn't it obvious?" the airbender whispered back. "He misses her like crazy!"
- "But why? I mean, sure they're best friends and all, but this is coming out of hand : he acts like he's being separated from his girlfriend or something!"
The last air nomad looked at his hands, which fumbled nervously with his tunic
, trying to hide his sudden unease. Katara was right: Sokka behaved as if he'd been forced away from the love of his life. But he was the only one who knew it wasn't just as if. He wondered briefly if he should tell the waterbender what he'd figured out a month ago while talking with her brother in the moonlight: that Toph and Sokka were meant to be, but that neither of them knew. He decided against it: it wasn't his secret to tell. Especially when the two main people involved didn't know the said secret themselves.
- "...and Toph isn't any better!" the water tribe girl continued in a hushed voice. "You remember when we saw her two months ago? She refused to admit it to me when I asked, but she misses him terribly. Remember her reaction when she received that letter from Sokka? I never saw her so happy! And they can't even visit each other! They haven't been together in years! I wish we could help them..." she mused.
- "We could try sparing Sokka some free time so he could go for a visit," the Avatar suggested.
- "And just how would we do that? In a week he has to go to the Fire Nation for a month's time to help consolidate the alliance between the Northern Tribe and Fire Nation. And after that, I'm pretty sure he has to come back here to help build the new Southern Tribe village in the east. He hardly has time for vacations!"
- "That's true," Aang began slowly, an idea progressively forming in his mind. "But... what if someone else went to the Fire Nation in Sokka's place? That would leave him a month's time to visit Toph!"
- "And who exactly could replace the Southern Water Tribe leader-to-be and the Fire Lord's right hand man for such a delicate operation?" she looked at Aang as if telling him to reactivate his brain before speaking anymore nonsense. The young man smiled at her.
- "The Avatar, of course."
- "Aang!" Katara whispered in disbelief. "Have you forgotten that tomorrow you and I are leaving for Ba Sing Se to help the Earth King deal with the Fire Nation rebels who have infiltrated the outskirts of the city? You can't take Sokka's place at the Fire Nation!"
- "The invasion in Ba Sing Se is minor. The Earth King has the Dai Li, he hardly needs anymore from us then some advice on how to deal with the situation. You have lots of experience with the rebels and you know Ba Sing Se. I'm sure you'll do fine without my help."
The waterbender finally seemed to consider what her best friend and lover was telling her. She thought for a moment before answering.
- "This could work... but what will Zuko say?"
Aang shot a glance at Sokka, who was now re-reading Toph's letter with mixture of happiness and sadness on his face. Katara followed his gaze, whishing more than ever to help her brother. The two looked back at each other with a new determination.
- "Zuko will understand," the Avatar murmured. "He'll be more than happy to offer Sokka the chance to reunite with Toph. After all, he's the one who first noticed that he wasn't doing very well. Said he kept talking about Toph, kept asking if he could take some time off to visit her while he was at the Fire Nation. But Zuko couldn't spare him, so he had to refuse. I'm sure he'll be glad to spare him this time."
- "You're right," Katara smiled. "Sokka can fill you in on everything you need to know, and I'm sure the Tribe won't mind being represented by the Avatar this time around."
- "So it's settled, then!" Aang exclaimed a little too loudly.
- "What are two talking about?" Sokka interrupted abruptly. He eyed his friend and sister suspiciously, and he could tell by the looks on their faces that they were up to something.
Katara just giggled, and Aang grinned at him widely before replying:
- "Sokka, how'd you like spending a month in Gaoling?"
Yup, that's it for now! How was it? The next chapter should be up soon. And this time, Sokka and Toph will be finally reunited!
Thanks for reading this, I know it was kind of long and some paragraphs are bunched, but keep in mind that these three first chapters are mainly to set the characters and plot. Next chapter should hold less explaining and more dialogue and action...hopefully.
Please review!