Chap 9- The Water Tribe Ambassador

Katara arrived a few days sooner than expected, but the celebration welcoming the Water Tribe Ambassador was lovely, befitting her position nonetheless. The Fire Lord, in his Royal gown, the Avatar, in his official robes, and almost everyone else there, dressed just as beautifully, to welcome her. Katara was flattered by the reception, but more importantly, she was glad to be back among her friends again. So many people were there, but she noticed the absence of one immediately. Toph was no where to be found.

It didn't take them long to see who the surprise guest was. He walked alongside Katara. Suki laughed because she had been right and Sokka lost the bet. "Backrubs for a week!" she whispered and Sokka groaned for the sake of appearances, but really, he wasn't going to complain about being able to sneak into his girlfriend's room every night for an entire week.

The surprise guest had been none other than Iroh. Those gathered there cheered his return. Zuko was touched that the surprise was for him. He hugged his uncle as he fought back the tears in his eyes. Iroh looked years younger and it was clear to all that living in the Earth Kingdom had been good for him.

"I'm glad you're here, Uncle," Zuko said. It was the first time since leaving the Earth Kingdom and The Jasmine Dragon to begin his work as Fire Lord that they were together again.

"As am I," the older man replied. "I am happy to be in the Fire Nation once again, but this time as your guest, Fire Lord Zuko."

"You don't have to call me that," Zuko insisted, smiling sheepishly.

Iroh smiled at his nephew. Being in the Fire Nation had done the young man good. Zuko might have looked a little tired, but what was far more important, the Fire Lord looked happy. "It is what you are, nephew. You should be proud of yourself. I am."

"Come," Zuko said to both his uncle and Katara, "There's something I want you to see."

...

The music was lively and there were many couples on the dance floor dancing. Some twirled, their skirts so close to Aang, he had to step back to give them space. Aang was elated that the new Fire Lord brought back dancing in the Fire Nation again. He was surprised to see that a few individuals seemed to know many of the historical dances he remembered. Iroh, especially, was an expert.

On his way to ask the band to play a certain song he loved dancing to, Aang caught a glimpse of Katara as she danced with a Fire Nation nobleman. The floor length gown she wore in her Water Tribe colors, made her eyes sparkle brilliantly. Her hair was half up, half down cascading over her shoulders. And, she was smiling like she was truly enjoying herself. She looked beautiful and Aang sighed.

During the weeks following the day she broke up with him, there had been an ache in his chest for a long time whenever he looked at her, but the pain that had seemed so sharp then - like it would never go away - was very dull now and almost completely gone. Of course, it still hurt that she wasn't his forever girl, but he didn't feel like crying at the mere thought anymore. As he watched Katara dance, he wondered why that was. Perhaps like the saying went, time did heal all wounds.

"Hey, Aang!"

"Oh, hi, Sokka. Where's Suki?"

"She's still not ready! Can you believe it?"

"I'm sure she just wants to look nice," Aang replied. He remembered how long Katara took to get ready for any Earth Kingdom function.

"Well, yeah I guess, but look at me! I look good and it only took me five minutes. How long does it...take...to...?"

Aang followed Sokka's line of sight. Suki had just walked into the ballroom. She looked very nice in a long sleeve, green dress that swept past her feet. Her hair was pulled up in an intricate design and she smiled when she spotted Sokka practically drooling. Aang watched in amusement as his friend walked towards Suki as if in a trance.

"Ah, to be that young and in love."

Aang turned to see Iroh standing next to him.

"Yeah, they look pretty happy, don't they?"

"That they do," Iroh agreed. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed the Avatar sigh deeply as his expression turned somber. "Why are you not dancing?" Iroh asked.

"Oh, I was going to."

"So, you have a partner in mind?"

Aang's eyes involuntarily found Katara again. "No, not really."

Iroh placed a hand on his shoulder. "The night is still young, as are you. You would do well in remembering that there are plenty of elephant koi fish in the sea."

Aang smiled at the older man and his reassuring words. Together they watched the dancers a few moments longer. Iroh excused himself once tea was served and the Avatar was left alone, leaning against a wall, listening to the music. Not too far away, Suki was trying to show Sokka how to dance with comic results. Aang chuckled, but he couldn't help wonder what it would be like to dance with someone you loved and who loved you back. He thought he had experienced that once, but it had all been one-sided.

Aang took a seat in the nearest chair. He must have looked pretty pathetic sitting there by himself because soon Suki asked him to dance. Then, shortly after that, Katara did. And though it was nice, it was nothing like the time they danced in the cave. Still, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Even Zuko was smiling as he talked with Mai, who surprisingly, was smiling as well. A few people came up to talk to Aang about Avatar business, but for the most part, they left him alone to enjoy the festivities. And, really, he couldn't complain because all his friends were there. All, except one, actually. Aang wondered where Toph could be and why she hadn't arrived yet. Knowing her, she'd miss the whole thing. The thought made him smile, but before he could continue with his musings, Sokka's strange behavior caught his attention.

...

Katara awoke early. She wanted to make a good impression on the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation council. If they knew she was serious about working with them to help solve the problems currently plaguing the world, they might be more willing to help her do it. But, before she went down to breakfast, she stopped by the room Aang had informed her was Toph's.

The young Earthbender had not been there to welcome Katara the previous night. At first, Katara assumed it was simply because Toph didn't much like all the pomp and ceremony, but when she failed to show up to the dinner or the newly minted dance hall afterwards (where the Avatar graced them all with his rendition of the phoenix flight and elephant strut), Katara began to worry. Making matters worse, Toph wasn't in her room.

"Morning, everyone," Katara smiled at her friends, who were already gathered around the Fire Lord's private dining table, ready to begin breakfast, "Does anyone know where Toph is?"

Sokka and Aang looked at each other from across the table.

"She's not in her room?" Suki asked.

"No. Is she usually up this early?"

Sokka and Aang exchanged another glance.

"I've only seen her up before lunch once," Suki replied. "And, I practically had to force her to get up!"

"Maybe she had something to do today," Sokka said as casually as possible. "Maybe she's busy."

"Yeah, busy," Aang added.

Katara looked from her brother to the Avatar and back. She narrowed her eyes. Their attempts at nonchalance couldn't be more obvious.

"What are you two not telling me?"

No one said anything. Sokka filled his mouth with food, so Katara was forced to turn to the youngest person at the table.

"Aang?"

"Yes, Katara?" he tried to smile as innocently as possible.

"Why isn't Toph here?"

"Um, well..." he tried to come up with a really good and convincing excuse. "She's...busy?"

"Aang."

The Avatar sighed. Toph was right, he was a terrible liar. "She might be mad at you."

After most people had gone to sleep and the party was winding down, Toph finally showed up. Of their friends, only Sokka and Aang were still up. Well, Sokka had a little too much Fire Whiskey and Aang was trying to get him to bed. When they asked where she'd been she seemed reluctant to admit it, but eventually said that she hadn't wanted to be there. When Sokka asked if it was because of Katara, a moment before he threw up, Toph had not replied, so they assumed she was. Aang tried to talk to Toph, but she didn't stick around to listen to him.

Katara's eyes were wide. "She's mad at me? Why?"

Aang, with Sokka's help, went on to explain that Toph had been mad at them, too, when they arrived. Maybe because they had all said they wouldn't be gone long, but they were. And, Katara was the worst offender, not bothering to show up until now.

"But that's ridiculous!" Katara yelled, "It's not like we didn't want to be here with her! There's just things we need to do at the moment! Things to help the world! Like trying to get everyone to agree to the Peace Treaty! And, rebuilding everything that was destroyed during the war! And-"

"Hey, I'm on your side, "Sokka said, hands up in the air. Normally, he didn't like taking sides, but he did think Toph was being unreasonable this time. "And can you please stop yelling!" he added, cradling his head in his hands.

"I can't believe you got drunk with out me!" Suki whispered. "And is that why you didn't show up to my room?" she asked. Sokka mumbled an apology, but Suki ignored him, crossing her arms and turning away.

"What do you think, Aang?" Katara asked, oblivious to her brothers antics.

He shrugged. "I think I can see why she feels the way she does."

"So, you think I'm a horrible person, too, is that it?"

"No," Aang shook his head. Even though Katara broke his heart over a year ago, he still cared a lot about her. He always would. She was his family and he thought her one of the most wonderful people in the whole world. But, just like he didn't want Katara feeling bad, he didn't want Toph feeling bad either. "You were doing important work, Katara, we all know that. But, Toph was here for a long time. All alone."

"Apparantly, I still don't count for anything," Zuko muttered as he walked into the room. He took his seat at the head of the table.

"No! That's not what I meant! Ugh!" Aang threw his hands in the air. "I'm not saying Toph hasn't had a good time here or that she hasn't been well taken care of because she has, on both counts, but we told her we would see her in a few weeks and it's almost been a year."

Katara thought about that. The year had gone by quickly for her. Most of the time, she actually felt like she needed more hours in the day to do everything she wanted. But, Toph didn't have her responsibilities and maybe the year had gone by slowly for the young earthbender. If things had been the other way around, Katara might have felt abandoned, too.

"Does anyone know where she is?" Katara asked, her voice softening.

"I have an idea," Aang replied.

"Can you take me to her?"

He nodded and even though she hadn't had anything to eat, she followed him out.

Suki watched them go. "Do you think we should go with them?"

"Nah," Sokka groaned, "They'll be fine."

"I wasn't asking you!" Suki snapped.

"Ah, stop yelling!"

"I was asking Zuko!" she yelled again making Sokka groan, then she turned to the Fire Lord, "What do you think?"

Zuko didn't want to get in the middle of whatever was going on with them. "I think I'm not very hungry," he replied and left his private dining area.

...

Aang led Katara far from the palace to the outskirts of the city.

"You sure you know where you're going, Aang?"

"Yeah," he said, "Toph's been coming here since before we arrived. On days I didn't have any Avatar 'mumbo-jumbo' - as Toph likes to call it - she let me tag along. I'm surprised she did after the first time though."

"Really? Why?"

Aang smiled at the recollection. He hadn't had any cactus juice since that time, and he wished he could remember more of what happened, but it was still a fond memory waking up with Toph and having a bending battle on their island. It was like something they would have done before the war ended. Back when his biggest concern was mastering all the elements.

When Aang looked sideways at Katara, he realized she was still waiting for an answer. "Oh, um, I drank...something I shouldn't have and I flew us over the ocean and got us stranded on an uninhabited island. Toph hurt her arm and her leg, but she's fine now!" he added after he saw Katara's worried expression. "Sokka and Suki came to find us on Appa and Zuko named the island after us, so that was cool. Toph says she doesn't think it is, but she has to, right? It's not everyday you get an island named after you."

Katara smiled at his barely contained excitement. "So, where's this Toph & Aang Island? Or, is it Aang & Toph Island?"

"It's Taang Island, actually." When Katara raised a questioning eyebrow, Aang shrugged. "Sokka picked the name."

"Ah, of course, he did," she laughed. "So, apart from getting an island named after you, how have you been?"

He thought for a moment and was surprise when he found himself smiling. "I'm...good," he answered honestly. He'd been pretty happy since arriving in the Fire Nation. Sure, he sometimes wished he didn't have so many Avatar responsibilities, but Toph always found a way to easily distract him. They spent most of their free time together and because of that they had gotten into all sorts of trouble. Zuko even threatened to kick them out of the Fire Nation on two different occasions. Toph dared him to do it, knowing he wouldn't. Instead, Zuko gave them a long, long lecture late one night, which Aang was certain Toph slept through.

"I'm glad you're doing well," Katara said. She'd been worried about him. He hadn't seemed like himself while they were in the Southern Water Tribe or in the Earth Kingdom either. Not even with Bumi when he traveled to Ba Sing Se for the Peace Treaty talks. Aang had been distant and often chose to go off on his own. But, she could see he was doing better now and was happy to see him look more like his old self again.

They continued walking in silence. Katara glanced around. Wherever they were headed, it was far from the Palace and she could see the difference. Some buildings looked dilapidated, the paint long faded. The streets were full of holes and the people littering the streets looked dirty and in some cases, in need of a doctor. She wondered if Zuko realized these people needed his help.

"Here we are," Aang said. He opened the door to The Fire Dragon and walked in after Katara. He searched the small establishment for Toph. When he didn't see her, he asked the man behind the bar.

"Try next door," he said.

"Thanks."

Aang and Katara went to the adjacent restaurant named Spice and Dice. Aang walked in and noticed there were more unsavory looking characters there than at The Fire Dragon. The place was full, however. If someone wasn't eating, he or she was gambling near the back, while a live band played on a small stage.

"Mmm, smells good," Katara said.

Aang searched for Toph. He smiled when he saw her at a table near the corner. His smile faded when he realized she was sitting across from and talking to a boy that looked vaguely familiar. "She's right over there."

"Yeah, I see her."

The moment they walked in, Toph raised her head for a second, but made no other sign of recognizing them. Aang watched her lean in close to the boy, say something that made the boy grin, and then she got up to leave the table.

Aang and Katara exchanged a worried look.

Toph walked along the furthest wall, then past them without a word or so much as a glance in their direction to head out the back door. It was as though she didn't know them. Katara quickly followed her out. Aang turned back to look at the boy, but he had left the table as well. When Aang stepped outside, Toph was nowhere to be seen.

"What was that about?" he asked, confused.

"I don't know," Katara said. "I guess she must be really upset. Come on, if we hurry we might catch up to her."

...

Having missed breakfast, Zuko was starving. He returned to the dining area for something with a little more sustenance than tea and fire cake, which he had in his study. When he placed his hand against the door, he heard someone moan.

"Oh, Sokka..."

Zuko blushed as he stumbled back away from the door.

"That feels so good..."

Blushing furiously, Zuko turned on his heal and headed as far away from the dining area as possible.

On the other side of the door, Sokka smiled. With everyone gone, the quiet helped his headache go away. "Didn't I tell you I gave the best backrubs?"

Suki stood and stretched her head side to side. "Wow, Sokka. You got all the kinks out. Thank you!" she said and kissed his cheek.

"So, am I forgiven for accidentally getting drunk without you?"

"Not yet," Suki grinned, "But I'm sure that after a few more of those, I can be persuaded. Now, let's go see if the others returned already."

...

Spliting up to cover more ground, Aang and Katara spent most of the morning looking for Toph, but she wasn't anywhere they could find.

"Anything?" Aang asked when he ran into Katara again.

"No," she sighed. "Maybe we should head back. Toph might have gone home again."

"Yeah, okay."

They followed the same path back to the Palace. The hustle and bustle of the morning had died down and their walk was a quiet one. Aang wasn't sure if that was the reason he felt uneasy all of a sudden. Every few steps he felt the need to look over his shoulder. Strangely enough, it felt like they were being watched. When he and Katara rounded a corner to enter the Fire Nation Capital, a pair of hands reached out and grabbed them.