Hey There,

Update number four in this mini arc! Yay-ness! Can't wait to get this one going, so without further ado. Let's go!

Special thanks to Rose-Aki for her lovely review. My nerves were shot posting yesterday's chapter and your words put me at ease. Couldn't wait to share this one after that tougher post. Hope it's reaching you well!

Standard disclaimers apply - I do not own any of the trademarked things mentioned beyond this point. I am merely borrowing all of it for my own plot and plans. Most will be returned unharmed.

Dedicated to "Avatar Island" and all of it's wacky inhabitants, as well as it's other co-keeper and creator. God bless you, and hope this makes ya smile!

"They Forgot!"

Chapter 15 - The Lettercarrier

((Mai's Perspective))

It was done.

I'd done the thing I set out to do. I confronted my parents, about their obvious scare tactics. Having quickly seen through their schemes and designs. I hope I have finally proven once and for all that I am not a person they can bend to their will. That this time they stick with that assumption because I had done so in front of the press. I hope I had made them feel as small and stupid as they'd made me feel. Countless times before today.

I didn't know that I would also be saving them both from another assassination attempt. That I would still be bleeding freely and they still wouldn't want to do the right thing. That they had never apologized to me, they apologized to Zuko and Aang. Never to me. When I really think about it, none of that should really shock me at all. How sad is that? Even then, both Zuko and Aang would have to really make them a laughingstock too. Before they would even consider that they could have overstepped somehow. Then and only then, would they be remotely decent… and I think even that's too strong of a word… For what they are.

I was dealing with a fresh crush of emotions and racing thoughts. As I sat silently, processing it all while we were waiting for our friends to come back. Zuko sat next to me, holding my hand and watching my every breath. So afraid I would keel over from whatever poison had just been used on me. Even though I easily identified it and assured that it wouldn't hurt me. The brownish-yellow powder caked on the dart tip, the funky-earthy smell were all uniform, it was a toxin called "Amberniese." I was resistant to it before I could even read the labels on the bottles of the poison my master was exposing me to. It's very easy to come by in the inner-crescent shorelines of the Fire Nation.

So while I knew this was a well-organized hit on my family. These mercenaries weren't above using a cheap toxin, easy to come by and trace. This told me, today's amateurs we'd caught weren't the real enemies. They were just pawns in a bigger game that is been going on for far too long... a game I was sick of and would probably have to end before I could leave that house... even if I wanted to leave since Zuko's banishment all of those years ago.

Aang told us he was gonna stand over at the edge of the roof and watch for our friends. But I really think he'd sensed that my boyfriend and I needed to talk more than anything. Too bad he didn't realize how different Zuko and I are when things like this happen.

Zuko would need to talk it out, scream and punch a lit fist through a few things. Before he could be anywhere close to okay again. Even though these happenings were more directed at me, I wasn't fully convinced that my fiancée wouldn't still need some of these outlets (if not all of them). Before he could calm down too.

Me, I was the polar opposite.

I couldn't talk about this now.

I needed to calm down first and right now I just needed to think, and collect my myself. I could only do that in an intense quiet. I know my silence isn't a comfortable one, for anyone around me. Zuko included, but I had no choice. It wasn't that I wouldn't talk, it was more simply I couldn't.

Even if Zuko knew this, as well as I did. The moment Aang was out of earshot, Zuko asked me so softly only I could have heard him. "Are you okay?"

I answered him without hesitation, "Yes." He saw right through the quickness and shortness of that reply.

"Really?" He questioned, "You don't look fine, at all."

"I ca-can't talk about it yet." I managed to say, even though it felt like every syllable was being pulled out of me by force, "Not yet." I managed between my teeth.

Zuko said, "I know… and I think I understand," even though our processes are so distinct. I was glad that Zuko was respectful of my own process. Even if it was hindering his own.

"Whenever you are ready, I'm right here." He'd said to me sounding distant, even though he was right next to me. Just because my thoughts were all so wrapped up in what just happened. I somehow heard him over the keen ringing in my ears. That came along with the replay of all of the traumatic things that had just taken place. Along with a few darker memories from the past, I really wish I could forget. Why do these things like to gang up on you, mentally? Kick you when you're already down, to make pulling yourself back up that much more difficult?

More silence passed over us, before Aang announced that our returning party was in sight. Ty-Lee and Suki came back into view shortly after that and we were off again, for the island. The feeling, even on the roof of that place had been so stifling and overwhelming. I don't think I was able to take a full breath till we were airborne again.

It took leaving the Capital, for me to realize the bright side of all of this. Besides Tom-Tom's gift, and presence, of course. I still couldn't believe he'd remembered. Even if he did remind me when his birthday would be.

The other good thing to come from this was the obvious saving of both my parents. Regardless of their treatment of me, Tom-Tom, or their people. I was happy that I was able to foil another plot to kill them. That my skills, knives, and knowledge of poisons had helped. Even if they couldn't have cared less and never thanked me. Even if I could understand some of their subject's dislike of either of them. I was happy that they got to live to see another day… I doubted they would share that same sentiment if the tables were turned.

I tried to think about that and all of the positive things that came of this too. But my neck was hurting, (I'd lied to Tom-Tom) and my feelings were still so hurt… it was extremely difficult to block out all of the anger, rage and pain (physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually). I know that the trip back to the island was at least an hour, but I was so out of it. It had felt like minutes.

I must have looked awful, because before I could even attempt it myself. Zuko was picking me up and insisting on carrying me to Katara. She'd already been alerted to my condition and was setting up a place to have a healing session. I wanted to argue with Zuko the whole way to her, I knew I wasn't exactly light and he's no beefy earthbender. A few such men who worked for the inn offered to take me from Zuko on the way in, he turned every offer of help down, flat. I wanted to tell him, "I could walk," that he could, "Put me down." But again, the words all stayed in my throat because I was still not able to talk. The words wanted to come, they just wouldn't.

Once I was placed in front of our friend (Katara). Toph came over and made Zuko leave the room. I was thankful because I didn't want him to see any of what my treatment was bound to be. But I couldn't help but wonder where Toph took him. Even if I tried to prepare myself for the cleaning and treatment of my poison-coated wound. I was trying to mentally prepare for the searing pain and mindset of not making a sound. No matter how excruciating this would be, I couldn't let Katara know how badly this hurt. I was already biting my lips to keep any sounds in... when out of no where and unexpectedly... my whole world went black.

((AN:I didn't even plan this initially... but as this part is entitled))

(Toph's Takeover)

I know I'll never explain it to a person who relies on their eyes all the time. They never get it.

But when you're standing near a person who's dealing with ANY of the things Zuko was. While he was pacing like a nervous new parent in the makeshift healer tent Katara had set up and Katara was just looking at Mai's wound.

When you can't look at him like a seeing person can. You can feel it crackling away under the surface of everything he says or does. Like a flame crackling as it burns. Aang, Suki and Ty-Lee were all just as bad. I didn't know everything that went down, I just knew whatever they'd seen had upset them all and Mai was more hurt than she was letting on too. I'm blind, sure... but I'm not that blind.

They didn't know Katara had already warned me, it would be my job to get the rest of them out of there. I needed to distract them so that she could work on Mai, and give Mai her full attention. This would be nothing new to Katara, she'd treated ALL kinds of wounds throughout the war. But the 'Sugar Queen' had warned it was gonna be painful. Take it from someone who receives her care regularly. She doesn't play around when she gives you a warning like that!

None of the people standing there could have handled watching her going through something like that. Not after having to see Mai already go through whatever had happened back at the capital Fire Nation city (Yeah, I know the capital was named Ozai, by Ozai, I just don't acknowledge that bastard).

So I dragged them all, like dead weight behind me, till we entered my training mazes. Which I would like to point out, that these mazes live on the other side of my island. That was quite the distance to drag a bunch of bodies all trying to bail on me. They all kept trying to run back and witness the thing they really shouldn't! No matter how I tried to sugar-coat things.

See what I did? Sugar-coat? Sugar Queen?

Anyway! My Mazes live in their place because they're ALIVE! They're not built to just test earth and metal benders either. They're made to test EVERYONE! Every forum, bender or non-bender. Not to mention the rest of our group (the fun people anyway, Kiyoshi warriors off duty, white lotus old people sentries looking for fun, and some of my students, Sokka for no apart reason) were all waiting for their cues inside the catacombs. I wasn't even exactly sure where they had all ended up... even if I had some guesses. I'd set this up just for these people specifically to blow off a little steam after whatever HELL they'd had to cross to get back here.

No one complained more than Zuko during this whole trip across my island. Not even Ty-lee, who's usually the biggest powderpuff when it comes to my island's elements (and lack in population... personally I thought it was a perk!). But no, Zuko even out-b*tched her. Even tried to leave, until I had to spell it out to him. "Hey! Listen Hot-Head! Katara asked me to make you all leave. So she can work on Mai and concentrate. To give her what she needs, while not having to worry about further traumatizing all of you."

Zuko shouted at me (Not realizing his volume just proves he needs this), "I DON'T CARE IF IT TRAUMATIZES ME, TOPH! I NEED TO BE THERE!"

"NO!" I shout right back at him. "What YOU need is to put your flaming fist through something and imagine it was Mai's attacker! Admit it, hot hands! You're itching to rectify a little violence on WHOEVER tried to hurt someone we all love. Someone you love more than anyone else, you told me so yourself, two days ago. You asked her to marry you. You can't just let that fester inside of you." I could feel him step back from me. I continued. "Stop worrying about what she needs. She's got what she needs, Katara is seeing to that. This is about what you need. And I'm telling you all to go crazy on my new training maze. Go to town, raise hell for all I care. If Hell should show up, it'll be the third time this week, whatever it takes to make you feel better, I'm saying do it. So when we go back to Mai. You can ALL say that 'you're okay' and actually MEAN IT! Now go in there and don't waste my efforts!"

Finally, I got them all to enter the maze and blast through targets of all orgins. They weren't even at the end of the first hall passage before it was already getting fun for all them. They were even starting to laugh as they all fought their way through. Being surrounded in masters of all the different forums and still sweating in certain tough spots. Really restored my faith in the perfection of our creation here. Even Twinkle-Toes the master of all FOUR elements had thumbs-upped me and said, "Cool Work Out Toph! Way better than those first trails we ran. When this place first came to be. Love the upgrades you've made."

"Yeah! I'm proud, these days. too!" I boasted because I could. Then I told them, "Now that we have all completed a full run of the labyrinth. Feel free to go check on Mai now. You've all passed my test, I do hope you're all feeling better." That and I knew enough time had passed for Katara to work her healing water magic on just about anything Mai could need. As Zuko was heading back I asked him, "Feeling any better, Hot-Head?"

"I am," Zuko acknowledged before saying, "Thanks Toph! I didn't know how much I needed that."

"Anytime, Hot-shot!" I waved off before we all walked back toward where we'd left Katara and Mai. Sokka and the others slowly came staggering behind us. It would seem that even being a boss level in the mazes is a full workout on everyone. PERFECT! My next personal goal was to set Azula loose in there and see if we can help her regain a little more control. But her husband, "Kavin" sounds like Cave-man for a reason, and was telling me that could have to wait till the next time she's here. Or till she was "more emotionally ready for such trials." Whatever that means, what a throw pillow!

So my students would be facing a whole new system of tests when they all returned to the island. Because watching all of these masters inspired me to revamp things again before classes begin next Wednesday...

I know, I'm the Best. Sifu. EVER!

((Mai's Perspective))

I must have passed out during the healing session... how pathetic is that?

The only problem with this is that I never pass out, ever. I'm no fainter! So I was mad-suspicious that my healer (Katara) had done that on purpose to save me from remembering what she'd had to do. When I called the waterbender out on this and let her know I would have preferred to remain aware. She'd told me, "And I would have preferred to not have to treat you for such things. But we can't have everything we want. You've already had to endure enough today. I wasn't about to make you suffer through anything else."

I'm all too familiar with how long and grueling these things run. Maybe she was doing me a favor, I still felt weird though. Katara healed most of it, but it would still need to be bandaged overnight. Just to keep it clean, while it slowly closed up. The poison makes it so much harder and slower to heal.

Zuko was back to holding one of my hands, Ty-Lee had my other the moment they returned. I must have looked terrible, none of them looked any less worried than they had been before.

Zuko even kissed me, right in front of everyone. On the lips, it was short, but he NEVER does things like that. Ty-Lee was way too happy about it, bouncing next me with excitement. Azula had said, "He should kiss her more often. They're getting married for crying out loud!"

Aang sat at the foot of my bed after that and asked, while everyone was still inside of the tent. "You don't have to answer now if you're still tired or not feeling well. But I was just wondering, about what you said earlier... about the longer answer. Could you tell us what else you know or how you know so much about poisons?"I was about to explain too when everyone (and I do mean EVERYONE) started getting on Aang's case about my needing to rest. The Avatar apologized and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything by it I was just curious... you know?"

"No, Aang's right," I said sitting up and feeling a little better just having done that. Zuko and Ty-lee propped me up on the pilllow that had been behind my head. As I explained all I had figuired out. Where the poison was from, what it was called and that these men weren't my father's real enemies. These were lowly hitmen for hire, going down for a botched job. Then when Sokka and Suki were both asking about my history in the same awe as Aang. I had to tell an even deeper secret from my past. Something I knew Zuko didn't know about me yet.

But I tried to be brave as I explained, "I had my first experience with ingesting poison when I was three years old. I had been carried to a banquet with my parents and a part of my father's meal had been poisoned on the sly. But he didn't eat any of it because I did, it was the only thing I'd eaten and I nearly died because of it. By the time my parents had realized what had happened to me, I was nearly dead... some doctors didn't think I would make it. I almost didn't... But after surviving that, I was immune to a few things, and my parents were a little crazy about me growing more resistant of such things as I grew up. My master who taught me how to fight, also taught me about this and exposed me to as much of his know-how as he could, when I was his student."

Aang said, "Jeez." quietly after my little harrowing tale.

Zuko squeezed my hand and asked, "You were only three?"

I forgot about my neck an nodded before the pain spiked awfully. I spoke up instead and said, "Yes."

My fiancée said, "I'd heard about that and knew it had happened before I knew you. But I didn't know you were only three, that's terrible."

I tried to lighten the mood a little by shrugging, "My uncle always teases me about it, saying he thinks that's why I didn't get as tall as the rest of the grown people in my family."

Sokka remembered him and asked, "Your uncle, the warden at the Boiling Rock?"

"That's him." I affirmed, "I know none of you had very good experiences with him yet. But he was the person who lined my up with my Sifu and he's always looked out for me since that scary time. I hope that whenever we do this whole wedding thing. He will be one of the people to surprise you with how sweet he actually is... even though he hides it very well."

Zuko smiled for the first time in ages and said, "Then I can't wait to get to know him better."

When I tried to stand up, one look at me, had Katara telling me (when it came to her plans that had been moved to today), "Let's try again tomorrow, Mai. I don't think you're up for so much today." After I had thanked her for helping Tom-Tom surprise me this morning. For the healing session and humanely knocking me out.

I told her, "No, I would like to see the sights around the island. Like you were talking about this morning." When everyone looked at me so unbelieving, I explained. "I've spent enough time letting my darker thoughts run wild. I still can't talk about what happened, but a little distraction could really help me refocus."

So the tour that Katara had been promising for days finally took place. While I'm sure it was lovely. I can't remember most of it. I had really hoped that I could just look at something else. Or think about something else for a little while and forget about this morning. But as it turns out… I couldn't seem to bring my mentality back to the island. I was still on the rooftop of my parent's house, not leaving fast enough, no matter what I did.

By the time we were finished with the tour, the sun was setting and dinner time was nearly here. I still wasn't feeling any better, and still felt like I was too quiet even around Azula and Ty-Lee. So as everyone else headed back toward the Inn. I continued to walk along the shoreline of black sand and look up at the colors. It was the prettiest thing I remember seeing, it even stood out against all of my darker thoughts.

As I said, my fiancée was never far.

So the moment I wandered off from the group and kept wandering the beach. Zuko was right on my heels. Asking me, "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine." I tried to assure him.

But he asked me, "Why don't I believe you?"

I had to say, "Because you know me better than anyone. You can see how I'm not even really here right now."

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tight. "Where are you then?" Zuko asked me before he answered himself. "Your back home still... aren't you."

"I really wish it didn't affect me at all," I confessed. "I wish I could fix it, but I have no idea how to do that. I just can't seem to focus or lighten up… no matter how much I want to. And can't really talk about it either. Without getting too upset."

"Okay, okay," Zuko muttered kissing my bandages and making me feel better than anything Katara had done. Zuko asked himself, "When I got this peeved… what did uncle do… AH! I know what to do."

"What?" I asked, having no real clue what was going on.

My fiancée grabbed my hand and said, "Come on, over here!"

As we ran I was asking him, "Where are we going?"

"Don't worry! I know the island pretty well." He boasted. "I took several trips here as it formed and helped Toph make a lot of the decisions. There's a cool place this way Katara left out of her tour. Come on! It's not far."

Something about the running with him, hand-in-hand really made me feel like we were kids again. It really took me back to the happy times we'd shared back then. All of the good ones had really ever been with him Azula or Ty-Lee, after all. After having to dig up some of the darker themes of even those simpler times. It really did remind me of the happier times that were still awaiting three-year-old me, that I could have missed out on if I hadn't made it through that first trial when I was so young. I found myself grateful that I got to know all of these friends. Even if especially the person running with me again now.

We reached the place he was talking about. I couldn't believe Katara hadn't included this place. It was quaint and small, but secluded and hidden in plain sight. Because a few sand dunes made this place completely invisible if you were looking this way from the Inn. Probably no matter which floor you were on. It would still be completely hidden.

Twelve huge polished and perfectly rounded black boulders made a perfect circle in the black sand. Not only was this place surrounded by dunes but it was also trimmed in palm trees. Making the whole place seem like a magical oasis or something out of a children's book. We both sat on one of the rocks and still had plenty of room for a few more people to sit on the same rock with us. As he caught his breath. Zuko explained, "Toph made this place… for meetings and impromptu classes… Cool, Huh?"

"It's Beautiful." I allowed still facing the sunset, while Zuko fully faced me. "But did we have to run here?"

"Yes…" He insisted, "The others are bound to notice we're gone…. I wanted to make a clean getaway."

"Why?" I still had no idea where he was going with this and the wind was starting to pick up.

"Does your fiancée really need a reason to want to be alone with you?" He asked, me all cute.

"No," I said, as I found myself smiling a little, still looking up.

"Since you can't talk to me… about what's going on." He began. "Because you're too pissed, too hurt, too done. And I get that. I want to try talking to you and telling you something you actually don't know about me."

"That I don't know?" I repeated.

"Yeah." He said with confidence. "This is something only my Uncle knew... no one else."

"I bet I know too." I challenged him, even if I was intrigued.

"No way, I never told anybody about this." He asserted, very firmly.

"Then let's hear it?" I encouraged. "So I can prove you wrong."

After a deep breath, he confessed, "I've never once told you, why there aren't very many of your letters to me left. From all of our years apart."

I had to admit, "No, you haven't shared that little tidbit with me. Why don't you have a lot of your letters from that time? When I have nearly all of yours still intact?"

"Because when we started writing back and forth. I would always carry your newest letter on me. Everywhere I went. I'd pull it out and read it over and over. I never went anywhere without taking you with me." He explained so sweetly.

"Well, that's kinda cute, but that still doesn't explain where they ended up. Or why you don't have them anymore."

"Yes it does, you're just missing the point." Zuko tried to explain again. "I took you everywhere with me… Literally every place. Do you realize how many times your notes and letters were destroyed by the people I had to fight? All of those Fire Nation Agents from my Father's back pocket? Azula! Aang when he was my enemy. Or Sokka, Katara, and Toph too for that matter. How many times they'd confront me before they got away, how many times I was doused in water, ice, and snow, if not nearly drowned? Smashed with earth, rock, mud, clay, sand, freaking Boomeranged, Blasted away by air, and landed somewhere awful. I even had fire thrown back at me, sometimes... and sometimes I was that much madder at them after a battle, BECAUSE I'd had one of your letters in my pocket. That was ruined, or missing forever after that."

"You're serious?" I had to ask him. "You really don't have many of my letters because you tended to carry them on you all the time?"

"Yep." He nodded. "The few that survived were the ones I managed to hang on to. Against all odds, or favorites that I took better care of."

"Like which ones, for example?" I asked, turning completely to face him now. Completely invested in this rare thing I didn't know about him.

"Well, one of the letters I kept safe was the first letter you ever sent to me as my girlfriend." He smirked, "That was a good one, for example. But I was also home by then, not getting into nearly as many fights anymore... well, for a while, anyway. Everyone thought Aang was dead and it was easier."

"Glad to hear that one is safe," I said trying to play it cool, you don't know the look he was giving me. "That letter went through a few drafts before it was right. Writing a friend who became your boyfriend is no mean feat."

"The finished product left an impression," He leaned in. "A good one."

"Okay, I'll admit that was something that I didn't know about you." I had to give him. I still had to know, "But why did you decide to tell me that now?"

"My Uncle." He said with a shrug.

"Your Uncle?" I repeated when he simply nodded his head up and down. I said, "Yeah. Sorry. I'm gonna need a bit more than that."

He described, "Whenever I was too mad to think, whenever I was so angry I could have thrown things… and I usually did back then. My Uncle would always keep talking to me, just prattling on for days sometimes. About the silliest things till I came out of it." Then he tacked on quickly. "I'm not trying to make you talk right now and I chose something far more interesting for you. It's just… I thought it might help… even a little. You asked Katara for a distraction from what was going on in your head. When the view didn't cut it. I tried this."

"I'm glad that you did," I told him honestly, "It snapped me out of it."

"Are you okay?" he asked like he'd been holding back that question the whole time. "Be honest, are you alright?"

"I'm not exactly fine yet, but I am feeling better," I told him.

He made me look at him as he said, "I feel like it's all my fault-" I tried to cut him off, but he insisted. "No, if I had just never said anything. None of this would have happened, we could have stayed in our little happy engagement bubble. Just a little longer, I feel like I've just wrecked… absolutely... everything."

But I reminded him, like I had reminded myself on the ride here. "No, if we hadn't had to go back there today. My parents could have both been killed. If I hadn't been there with you and Aang. There's no way that assassin would have gotten caught. You saw how there were no guards around, at the very least my father would have been shot. Possibly right in front of Tom-Tom too. Who's to say our assailant didn't have more darts to blow?"

"Are any of them resistant to any poisons like you?" Zuko asked, numbly.

"No." I revealed and I could tell by the look on his face. That this had never once occurred to him. Not in all of his wallowing and pity partying he had been doing all day. Adjacent from my own self-loathing and self-deprecating. So I continued, "Zuko, whatever reason brought us there, at the right time. Whatever happened afterward, I'm trying to be positive. It isn't my natural state, so it's been an uphill climb all day. But no matter how I hate everything else about that trip today… It's never enough to make me regret going, or what I did to save them." I said before muttering. "Even if neither of my parents really deserved our help."

"I never realized-" He admitted, relieved, and more than a little overwhelmed.

That was the moment that all of the rocks started to move at a speed that shouldn't be possible. It was taking us back to the resort, and I grabbed onto Zuko and held on for dear life. The surface of the rock we were sitting on was smooth and shiny for a reason. We were sliding everywhere at first. Till we were both hanging on to each other in the rock's perfect center.

I said, "I hope this is Toph... doing this..."

"I hope it is too." He smiled a little too big. Then he said, "Sorry, I'll try to pretend this is the first time this has happened to me. And I'll try even harder to hide how I'm enjoying it."

"Be serious, Zuko." I said firmly swatting at his arm.

He maintained, "I am being serious. I'm not even smiling right now... even though I really want to. Just sit tight, we'll probably end up at the Inn again."

"How is Toph doing this? Where is she?" I asked.

"She's probably at the Inn, I don't pretend to understand how she does any of the crazy things she does... ever. I just yell when it interrupts my day." He explained.

"Are you gonna yell today?" I had to ask him.

He gave me a sly look as he said, "Not when you keep grabbing me like that."

"Even when I'm armed?" I reminded.

He replied, "Especially then."

I kept wanting to try jumping off, but we were simply moving too fast. The speed held us down in a way that made it hard to judge anything. So we both ended up holding on and letting it pull us right back to base. When we arrived, Toph said, "Not again! Zuko, that is the third time I brought these boulders in and you just rode along. These volcanic boulders are for meetings, teaching classes and the Rock Races my students throw on the weekends. They weren't made for mushy tactics and kissy face!"

Zuko teased back, "Sorry not Sorry Toph, not my fault she couldn't keep her hands off me." He lied playfully while I was smacking him just as playfully.

"You wish!" I bit back, only making his smile widen.

"Yeah, I really do." He teased.

Sokka again appeared behind Toph to tease, "Somebody sounds jealous! Just cause no one's ever played 'kissy face' with her down by the dunes-EHH! OUCH!" That was when two of the boulders crushed Sokka between them behind Toph. Who "Hmm"-ed liked it served him right. Before she said, "Look, Meat-head has found himself a moron-sandwich. Isn't karma a b*tch."

Zuko climbed off and offered his hand to me to help me down, off of the huge rock. "We just needed to talk a little, in private."

Toph said, "Well, I'm sure today was tough. You okay, Mai?"

"I'll survive." I shrugged.

"Glad to hear it," Toph did say kindly before turning back to Zuko and saying. "I'll let it slide this time, for Mai's sake. But both of you head inside and get something to eat. After dinner, my class has arranged something cool to entertain you tonight. Eat up and I'll show you what I mean."

The thing Toph had planned was what her students had been calling "Rock Races." They all took turns earth-bending those same huge rocks Zuko and I had been sitting on earlier. They would move them around a huge oval-shaped ring of palm trees all lit up with lanterns. Each of the huge slippery stones had a rider, and an earthbender controlling it. Toph kept placing my rock (with me on it) with some of her most talented earth benders and my rock won more often than not. But as we were all pushing each other off and doing anything we could to distract each other as we raced. It was a total blast. Azula and Kavin even stuck around and both rode in races... I think everyone managed to win at least one race each too.

After one of the worst mornings or days. It was crazy to have spent so much of the night laughing and playing like this with our friends. Who were all way competitive and weren't beyond a little friendly cheating, playing dirty or shoving one another. Benders and non-benders, kids, adults, and old folks altogether.

We all had done our best to brush away all of the sand from our clothes. But when you fell off, and everyone fell off at some point. You got covered in sand, and it went everywhere, literally every where! I lost count of how many times Katara was checking my bandages. Fessing about how she'd begged Toph to wait for one more day. So when we were heading inside. I found out it had been a part of the plan for everyone to split up and meet up at the hot springs. There was one for all male guests and another for us girls.

I was so tired by then and was gonna skip it, till I heard this had all been a part of the planning for me. I couldn't say no to that, not after all they'd done for me today. I had to go... and even the newlyweds were splitting up for the real first time since they'd said, "I do." If Azula can go, I really have no excuse.

The same time I was getting swayed by nearly all of the female people on the island. Zuko totally got talked into it by the guys. So I went with the girls and he went to the other side with all of the boys.

Not only did the girls prepare face masks, and some other spa treatments I can't remember. But Katara styled my hair a little differently as I soaked some of the sand and dust away. I did feel better when I left and felt like a new woman. It just so happened that this new woman needed to sleep.

By the time I FINALLY got to our room again. I could barely keep my eyes open. Which was good, because usually whenever I have had to confront my parents like I did today. I tend to sit up and stew all night, even if Zuko is with me. Even if he can sleep after something like that. I'm usually not able to nod off till late, if at all. That wasn't gonna be a problem tonight.

Even though I was alone and Zuko was still out with the guys. Which was bizarre when we girls had more of a spa experience thing going on. I did fleetingly wonder what could be keeping the guys longer than us. But I was too tired to wait and find out. I just got ready, climbed into bed, and fell right to sleep immediately. Hoping that Zuko wouldn't be too long and wouldn't be too sad to find me this way.

That's it for this chapter!

But don't worry, I will be posting more tomorrow! Please review, if you can, I love hearing from you. Hope you're having a great day. Much Love!

~DarcyBeDippy85