Okay so I'm trying to figure out how not to make this confusing by putting some light on some subjects…anyone wanna tell me what specific points I could try to enlighten for you? Lol But know while you may have questions and that I possibly created more of those dang questions than answers, that I will try as hard as I can to explain it all. T.T Be patient with me please.
Sokka wanted to be mad at Katara but after a while he just stopped. He felt as though it was pointless to be mad at her when he had so much more important things to do. Like find Zuko for one but he also needed to master his new unlocked powers his sweet soul mate had bestowed upon him.
Bestowed my ass he cruelly switched our powers. The first thing I'm gonna do is strangle him when I see him.
No sooner had he thought that a wave of arctic ice hit his face making him gasp in surprise. If he never learned how to control this power then he was doomed and he would gladly blame Zuko.
"Having fun?" Toph snickered from on top of a rock several feet away.
"Shut up." Sokka said clearly out of breath.
"Touchy aren't we?" She chuckled. "You know maybe learning earth bending stances would help you improve your concentration and in turn allow you to more easily control your power."
He looked at her incredulously as she sat there with a smile on her face waiting for his answer. Her idea sounded idiotic to him at first but now that he thought about it maybe it wasn't so bad after all. Earth bending was supposed to be the most trying to learn because of how much concentration it took to move a huge boulder. Hell it still took a lot of concentration to move a rock the size of your palm.
He walked up to her and nodded his head. "Sure let's see how this goes but if it doesn't work out I'll figure something else out."
"Fair enough." She said. "So let's get started shall we?"
"No break?" Sokka whined.
"Stop your whining you big baby." Toph scolded. "Now get into position."
"Do you even know how wrong that sounds Granny?"
Toph smiled sweetly at him. "Of course I do. Now do you want to repeat that last bit?"
Sokka gulped in fear. "No ma'am."
"Good."
Sokka got into one of the many earth bending positions he had seen Toph teach Aang when he had begun learning and stayed that way for hours until he could feel his concentration waning. That's when he changed his position and let Toph throw boulders at him at the same time. Though he knew his life was partially in danger he also knew Toph wouldn't let anything happen to him. Hopefully.
Maybe.
"What the hell are you doing?! Man up and stay put for as long as possible!" Toph yelled at him.
Never mind she really was trying to kill him.
"Are you fucking insane?!" he yelled at her while still doing what she said.
"Absolutely and I love every minute of it!" she yelled back.
Sokka scoffed. Of course she would say something like that and love it at the same time. She was such a weird person.
"Goddamn grandma." He murmured under his breath.
When a lone piece of rock sailed so close by his head he knew she had heard him somehow. God he could feel the wind off that one. Deciding it was best he keep his mouth shut he smiled weakly at her and went back to his stances. After a moment he thought vaguely of taking a break but knew she wouldn't have any of that. So he did the only thing sure enough to piss her off more than him calling her grandma.
He ran.
After a moment of shock and confusion from Toph's end she finally processed what he had done and now set off to go beat the living shit out of him. No one ran from her training. No one.
Everyone seemed to tell her mood was a murderous one and immediately got out of her way and steered clear of her. When Aang tried to talk to her she shoved him aside still searching for that little asshole. If and when she found Sokka she would rip him a new one.
After what seemed like hours she stopped searching for that dumbass and went to the surface to cool off. She could still feel Zuko's heartbeat on the surface and knew he was still here. Unlike Zuko Sokka knew how to mask his heartbeat which was highly annoying. Zuko was probably trying to find a way to apologize for burning her feet. It seemed like something he would ponder if his scar was any indication. She had caught him a few times in the past when they were fighting lightly touching his burned eye every time someone mentioned any type of scar. He was self-conscious of it and barely realized it.
She came across a clearing with huge boulders surrounding the edges. The middle had the softest grass she had ever felt and as she walked into the middle a cool breeze blew against her. There was something serene and powerful about this place and vaguely she remembered making this herself a lifetime before she met Sayele and Zrae. This was the point where it all started. This was where she saw what was to happen in her next lifetime and how she set into motion everything that allowed Sayele and Zrae to meet. She had taught Zrae's mother how to open gateways anywhere on the earth which saved the young pups life in the end.
Not wanting to ponder too much on the past she sighed and sat down in the middle of the circle. She emptied her mind of all thoughts and emotions gathering the ancient power within her to try and activate the circle runes hidden underneath the boulders. Because she hadn't tapped into her powers this much in the last two lifetimes it was a bit tiring to say the least but she finally had enough to activate them. Slowly letting out the breath she had been holding she sent a signal to some of her friends who were slumbering inside a mountain not too far off.
These friends were generals of the war between the Slayers of Vire and the Spirits of the Heavens. Suffice to say they were not from any world they could think of and their powers were so immense it was frightening. Only Sayele and Zrae ever had the power to match them. But they were magnificent and wonderful friends and loyal to their cause. They had always said they favored the Spirits because of their innate ability to care for others before ever thinking of themselves. That and the Spirits weren't supposed to live off their emotions so Sayele and Zrae intrigued them.
Toph remembered when she had never known war or fighting on the lands until the Slayers decided they wanted this world and the spirit realm for themselves. Bloodshed had been the worst of her nightmares in the beginning and it only grew worse from there. No one had been safe including her.
A lone tear made its way down her cheek as she relived the memories of losing the one person she had to watch die in her arms. Pale skin getting paler, colder and losing life. Bright lavender eyes losing the once wonderful light they had held in them and a small sad smile. Whispers of goodbyes and a light touch on her cheek were the last memories Toph had of her.
And just like that you disappeared from my life Alilian. Why can't I find you?
Behind her Zuko stood there and watched Toph activate the runes and when he saw that she was crying he didn't know what to do. In all honesty he wanted to comfort her but he was so awkward with that department he couldn't bring himself to try. He was curious to her sadness though he knew better than to ask. She looked to be grieving someone.
Zuko having thought he intruded on her privacy enough slowly backed away and made to leave only to have her stop him.
"I may be physically blind but in a way I can see you Zuko." Toph stood up and faced him. "Just because you think I want privacy doesn't mean we all get what we want. How did you grieve your mother all those years ago? In a room full of people or behind the confines of your bedroom? Knowing Azula she probably intruded on you anyways. Am I right?"
Zuko could only stare at her in disbelief. "Azula's always been a monster to me. She mocked my mother's death and then laughed in my face."
"It figures the stupid witch would do that." Toph sighed. "I'm sorry about what happened to your mother but your sister Azula wasn't and isn't right in her mind. Something's wrong with her that no one can ever be able to repair the damage that's been done. In a way you're still attached to her because of your mother but you'll have to let her go as well when the time comes."
"How do you know all this?" the fire prince narrowed his eyes at her. "You act as if you know Azula more than anyone. How?"
"Let's just say she's easy to read but hard to figure out." Toph smiled at him. "Why did you come here?"
Zuko looked surprised and confused.
"I really don't know why I walked this way only that something pulled me here."
"So you can feel it…" Toph murmured as she walked towards him. "This is a special place built before the Western Air Temple existed. Its foundation is stemmed in magic so strong it will take millions of years for it to diminish on its own. The circle is what connects each and every branch of the world's magic together. Kind of like a portal to untapped energy. Though only a handful of people in existence can activate this power including me."
"Wait, magic? What are you talking about and how do you know so much about this place and this power?" Zuko seemed a bit on edge with the new information she laid on him.
Toph smirked. "Because I made this place lifetimes ago."
To say Zuko was shocked was a little of an understatement. He couldn't possibly wrap his mind on how she could have made something so monumental to the world. And yet he realized the world never spoke about the place he and Toph were at. There was no documented proof of this place, no stories about it or even whispers of rumors. Suffice to say this place didn't exist.
"If this place is that old then why do people not know about this? How could it have been here this long without others finding it?" he questioned. "And how could you have made this on your own that long ago?"
"Simple. I've hidden it and I'm an old soul." Toph smiled innocently. "Anything else you'd like to know?"
"Yeah but I can't really think of any way to word them at the moment." He deadpanned.
"Good because here comes Sokka." She smirked when she felt his heart stutter. "Does the water tribe warrior affect you so much because you like him a lot?"
She knew he blushed by his heartbeat and the way he froze his body.
"Hit the nail on the head eh?" she snorted when Sokka finally stopped beside Zuko.
"Do you have to pester everyone or is it just certain people that meet your qualifications?" Sokka slightly sneered at her.
"Certain people but you Sokka are in a league all your own." With a smug smile she walked off.
Zuko had watched with interested eyes but wouldn't really look directly at Sokka himself.
"Come on Zuko lets head to the camp and officially make you one of us." Sokka deliberately bumped into him and smiled warmly. "I don't bite but Katara might though."
"How can I go back after what I did to Toph?" Zuko looked so downtrodden Sokka wanted to comfort him.
"She doesn't blame you for that. Her feet have healed and while they were out of commission she had a blast ordering me around." When Zuko gave him a disbelieving look he chuckled. "Look she and I may be the only ones who want you around in the group aside from Aang. He wants to become friends with you, Toph wants to annoy the hell out of you and I want your company."
"You…?" Zuko questioned.
"I want your company Zuko. That's the truth I give you." Sokka stepped forward and put them nearly nose to nose. "What say you faouri?"
The word faouri seemed to trigger some sort of memory from what Sokka could tell. Zuko's eyes had widened slightly in recognition then in confusion.
"That word…" Zuko leaned forward unconsciously.
"You'll know what it means in time." Sokka stepped back and smiled. "For now though let's get you settled into our little group."
Zuko looked perplexed at his actions and it made Sokka want to chuckle but he refrained.
They headed down the path Toph had made for them indicating to Sokka she thought he was dumb enough to get lost. She really got on his nerves. On the way he would look over at the fire prince and notice little things about him like how held his body as royals do with their shoulders back, how he walked with a sort of grace only he could achieve and also how he favored his left side as if in shame. It was the scar that had hurt him and his father giving it to him was most likely the one thing that hurt the worst. To top it off the fire king held no true love for Zuko though he favored Azula for her cruelty she was a lost cause the moment she was born.
"You should never feel ashamed of your scar. People will always shy away from your difference of them no matter if it's your scar, your title or the way you blend in a crowd they will always give you a wide berth to begin with just as anyone would before getting to know a stranger." Sokka bumped into him. "Besides people mostly think beautiful men such as you are beyond their reach."
"You don't even know me and yet you barely treat me like a stranger. Why?" Zuko looked him solemnly.
"Would you believe me if I said I know you to an extent?"
"Not really and yet I feel compelled to believe you." It seemed as though a thought struck Zuko. "You're acting completely different from all the other times I've seen you."
"I never thought I of all people would attract your attention." Sokka smirked at the sudden blush. "So how different am I and is it in a good way?"
"…I feel as though I should ignore you." Zuko huffed in embarrassment.
Sokka laughed lightly before putting an arm around the fire prince's neck. "Aw, come on now I'm being as friendly as I can possibly get and still you want to be mean. And for the record I'm not mocking you or playing you I'm truly trying make friends with you."
"…You're more…you if that makes sense." Zuko thought for a moment. "Come to think of it I don't really know you and yet that's the best way I can describe how you're different now and it's in a good way too."
"I'm glad you thinks so because the others wouldn't be as insightful." At Zuko's quizzical glance Sokka smiled. "They see me as only someone without any bending powers so I'm weak in a way but I come up with the large plans and have everyone else set them into motion. And apparently I'm also a klutz so that doesn't go over well with my sister. Like I said she may bite so tread carefully."
"You know how to instill confidence in everyone don't you?" Zuko deadpanned.
"I try and fail, what can you do?"
"Absolutely nothing but run the other way."
"But if you do that I'll be lonely! Don't leave me with these savages!" Sokka got down on his knees and hugged Zuko's waist. "I'll beg if I have to!"
Try as the prince might he couldn't make the water tribe warrior let go. "I won't run away so let go of me."
"Okay!" Sokka got up and started walking as if he had never been groveling a moment ago.
Zuko sighed thinking this was going to be another one of those decisions he would come to regret in the near future. Times like these he wished his Uncle Iroh were with him instead of elsewhere in the world. When he looked at Sokka though he was calm and underneath inside his mind he felt as though he knew him from somewhere else in his life before searching for the avatar.
"It strikes me now that you and Toph seem vaguely familiar."
Sokka froze for half a second before turning to him. "Zuko, you may not realize it yourself but you're a treasure that needs to be protected and the people I grew up with will not see it that way and yet I will fight them to protect you. I always knew there was good in you as did your uncle but if you can't see it then how do expect someone else too?"
"Treasure huh?" Zuko looked away. "If I'm such a treasure then why did my father scar me?"
"Because he's a heartless asshole who's blind to what's in front of him and his daughter walks in his shoes. Don't let his vision cloud your own Zuko I know you're much more important to the world so stand with me and fight."
Not knowing what to do let alone say Zuko walked by him. "You sure have a way with words now than you did a few weeks ago but thanks."
Sokka smiled after his prince and followed him like a loyal servant. He had meant every word told to Zuko and wouldn't take them back for the world. True he had a lifetime of precious words but he would make due with these little encouragements. Zuko was always watching him in their fights and that had never gone unnoticed and now that he knew why he wouldn't take it for granted.
Oh, Zuko I hope you get your memories soon I miss you.
Short damn chapters. I wish I could give you more and I will next time I promise! I'll make the next chapter at least 6,000 words long!
I know there are some I haven't replied to who reviewed and I would like to say thank you so much and I hope you keep enjoying future chapters!
Let me clear this up at least. X3 Sokka was a very great and powerful fire dragon in his past lifetimes but Zuko came up with a spell to switch their powers in death and thus was born Zuko of the fire nation and Sokka of the water tribe. Sokka's an arctic dragon and Zuko a fire wolf. Zuko is still the Spirit of All and hopefully I'll be able to explain it more in the next chapter. Hopefully being the keyword.
Bye and hope you enjoy!